PCI SSC Assessor_New_V4 - Assessor_New_V4 Exam

The Secure SLC standard is one of the two standards that are part of the PCI Software Security Framework (SSF), which provides security requirements and assessment procedures for software vendors to integrate into their software development lifecycles and to validate that secure lifecycle management practices are in place12. The Secure SLC standard is designed to offer a more flexible approach to how the security and integrity of payment software is tested, and to address the evolving threat landscape and changes in software development practices3.

The PCI DSS Requirement 6 states that entities must develop and maintain secure systems and applications, and it includes several sub-requirements that cover variousaspects of software security, such as change control, secure coding, vulnerability management, and patching4. By using custom software that is compliant with the Secure SLC standard, an entity may be able to meet some or all of these sub-requirements, as the Secure SLC standard covers similar topics and ensures that the software is developed and maintained in a secure manner throughout its entire lifecycle1. However, this does not automatically make the entity PCI DSS compliant, as there are other requirements and controls that the entity must implement and validate, such as network security, access control, monitoring, and incident response4. Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

The other options are not true regarding the impact of using custom software that is compliant with the Secure SLC standard on the PCI DSS assessment. Option A is not true because, as explained above, the entity still has to comply with other PCI DSS requirements and controls that are not covered by the Secure SLC standard. Option C is not true because there is a positive impact to the entity, as it may help the entity to meet several requirements in Requirement 6 and to demonstrate that the custom software is secure and reliable. Option D is not true because the custom software cannot be excluded from the PCI DSS assessment, as it is part of the cardholder data environment (CDE) and it may store, process, or transmit cardholder data or sensitive authentication data. The entity must ensure that the custom software meets the PCI DSS requirements and controls that are applicable to it, and that the assessor validates its compliance4. References:

Software Security Framework Secure Software Life Cycle (Secure SLC) Standard

PCI Security Standards Council Publishes Version 1.1 of Secure Software Lifecycle (SLC) Standard and Program

PCI Security Standards Council Publishes Version 1.1 of Secure Software Standard and Program

PCI DSS v3.2.1

 The Software Security Framework (SSF) is a collection of standards and programs for the secure design and development of payment software1. The SSF replaces the Payment Application Data Security Standard (PA-DSS) with modern requirements that support a broader array of payment software types, technologies, and development methodologies2. The SSF applies to any payment software that is part of the cardholder data environment (CDE), which is the people, processes, and technologies that store, process, or transmit cardholder data or sensitive authentication data3. Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

The other options are not true regarding the applicability of the SSF to different software types. Option B is not true because the SSF is not limited to software that runs on PCI PTS devices, which are hardware devices that accept payment card data at the point of interaction. The SSF covers software that runs on various platforms and devices, such as web servers, mobile devices, cloud services, and embedded systems. Option C is not true because the SSF is not limited to validated payment applications that are listed by PCI SSC and have undergone a PA-DSS assessment, which are payment applications that have been validated by PA-DSS assessors and meet the PA-DSS requirements. The SSF covers payment software that may not be eligible for PA-DSS validation, such as software that is developed by merchants or service providers for their own use, or software that is not sold, distributed, or licensed to a third party. Option D is not true because the SSF is not limited to software that is developed by the entity in accordance with the Secure SLC Standard, which is one of the two standards that are part of the SSF and provides security requirements and assessment procedures for software vendors to integrate into their software development lifecycles. The SSF covers payment software that is developed by any entity, whether it is a software vendor, a merchant, a service provider, or a third party, as long as it meets the security requirements and validation procedures of the Secure Software Standard, which is the other standardthat is part of the SSF and provides security requirements and assessment procedures for payment software products. References:

Understanding the PCI Software Security Framework: New Educational Resources

PCI Software Security Framework Provides a Modern Approach to Payment Software Security

PCI DSS v3.2.1

[PCI PTS POI Security Requirements]

[Software Security Framework Secure Software Standard]

[Payment Application Data Security Standard]

[Software Security Framework Secure Software Life Cycle (Secure SLC) Standard]

[PCI DSS v4.0: Is the Customized Approach Right For Your Organization?]

According to the PCI DSS v3.2.1 Quick Reference Guide1, the assessor may use either their own template or the ROC Reporting Template provided by PCI SSC. This is one of the requirements for ensuring consistency and accuracy in ROCs.

 One of the best practices for hardening a firewall is to disable any firewall functions that are not needed in production, such as unused services, ports, protocols, or features. This reduces the attack surface and minimizes the potential for exploitation. According to the PCI Card Production Logical Security Requirements, section 3.2.1, “The firewall must be configured to deny all traffic by default and allow only traffic that is explicitly required for the card production environment.” Furthermore, section 3.2.2 states, “The firewall must be configured to block all unnecessary services, ports, protocols, and IP addresses.” References: PCI Card Production Logical Security Requirements, Card Production Security Assessor - Logical - Credly

PCI DSS Requirement 9.1.1 requires entities to use appropriate facility entry controls to limit and monitor physical access to systems in the cardholder data environment (CDE)1. A badge access-control system is one example of such a control, as it can identify who entered and exited the server room and when. However, this control is only effective if it is protected from tampering or disabling by unauthorized persons, as PCI DSS Requirement 9.1.2 states1. Otherwise, the access-control system could be bypassed or compromised, allowing unauthorized access to the systems that store encrypted PAN data. Therefore, the badge access-control system must be protected from tampering or disabling, as stated in option A.

The other options are not true regarding PCI DSS physical security requirements for a server room. Option B is not true because PCI DSS does not mandate the use of video cameras in addition to the existing access-control system, although it is a recommended best practice2. Option C is not true because PCI DSS does not specify a data retention period for the access-control system, although it requires entities to retain audit trail history for at least one year, with a minimum of three months immediately available for analysis3. Option D is not true because PCI DSS does not require the use of motion-sensing alarms in addition to the existing access-control system, although it is another recommended best practice2. References:

PCI DSS v3.2.1

PCI DSS Requirement 9: Upping Your Physical Security

PCI DSS Requirement 10: Track and Monitor All Access to Network Resources and Cardholder Data

According to the PCI DSS v3.2.1 Quick Reference Guide1, the assessor must derive testing procedures and document them in Appendix E of the ROC. This is one of the requirements for ensuring that testing procedures are defined and documented.

classifying media that contains cardholder data is intended to ensure that media is property protected according to the sensitivity of the data it contains, which means it should be markedwith labels or tags that indicate its level of confidentiality or integrity. This is one of the requirements for ensuring that media containing cardholder data is properly labeled.

The PCI DSS requires that the assessor validates that the sample of business facilities is representative of the entire population of facilities that are in scope for the assessment. According to the PCI DSS Requirement 12.8.5, “Maintain information about which PCI DSS requirements are managed by each service provider, and which are managed by the entity.” Furthermore, according to the PCI DSS Requirement 12.9.1, “For service providers, provide the written agreement/acknowledgment to their customers as specified at Requirement 12.8.2.” Therefore, the scenario that meets the PCI DSS requirements for validating the sample of business facilities is theone where all types and locations of facilities are represented, to ensure that the assessment covers the diversity and complexity of the card production environment. The other scenarios either do not account for the variability of the facilities, or do not follow the sampling methodology defined by the PCI DSS. References: PCI DSS v3.2.1, Card Production Security Assessor - Physical - Credly