PCI DSS Penetration Testing
Penetration testing for PCI DSS Requirement 11.4 compliance
PCI DSS Requirement 11.4 mandates annual penetration testing of systems in and connected to the cardholder data environment, plus segmentation testing where applicable. NeedSec delivers structured, evidence-based penetration testing scoped to your CDE — covering applications, APIs, external perimeter, and internal network paths that could reach payment systems.
Practical assessment
Testing and review work is hands-on and tailored to your environment - not a generic checklist.
Clear, evidence-led output
Every finding includes evidence, business context, and a concrete path to resolution.
Compliance-aware approach
Work is structured around real security improvement - and mapped to relevant frameworks where needed.
What We Assess
Practical testing aligned to business risk
NeedSec combines manual testing, technical validation, and clear reporting so your team understands what matters and how to fix it.
Application and payment flow security — form handling, tokenisation, and card data processing
API and backend security — access control, authentication, and cardholder data exposure
External perimeter testing — internet-facing systems within or connected to the CDE scope
Internal network testing — systems and paths that could reach cardholder data
Network segmentation validation — confirming isolation between CDE and out-of-scope networks
Firewall and access control review — rule analysis, open ports, and unprotected service exposure
Authentication and credential security — default passwords, credential abuse, and session security
Encryption in transit — TLS version, cipher suite, and certificate validity across CDE systems
Vulnerability identification and evidence — CVEs, misconfigurations, and exploit path documentation
Log and audit trail coverage — detection gaps across CDE systems and access records
Third-party integration security — payment gateway connections and partner system access
Remediation-focused retesting — revalidation after fixes to confirm control effectiveness
What You Get
Clear deliverables for security, compliance, and remediation
Every engagement concludes with a structured deliverable package so your team can act on findings without guesswork.
PCI DSS Req 11.4 penetration test report
A report formatted to satisfy PCI DSS Requirement 11.4 penetration testing evidence.
Segmentation test results
Verification of whether network segmentation effectively isolates the cardholder data environment.
External perimeter findings
Findings from testing the CDE's externally facing perimeter.
Internal CDE exposure report
Findings on internal exposure risks within the cardholder data environment.
Evidence and impact documentation
Proof of each vulnerability alongside a clear explanation of its potential business impact.
Remediation roadmap
A prioritised plan for fixing identified issues, sequenced by risk and effort.
Executive risk summary
A board-level overview of overall risk posture, written without technical jargon.
Retest validation certificate
Written confirmation that retested findings have been resolved, suitable for audit evidence.
Need help scoping this service?
Tell NeedSec about your environment, compliance goal, or security concern. We will help define the right assessment approach.