Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) is a tool used to assess data security and security compliance in various industries, especially payment card processing (PCI DSS). It helps organizations analyze and evaluate their current security measures and compliance.
SAQ basic functions
- Security assessment. SAQ contains a set of questions that help organizations assess their security measures and identify potential vulnerabilities.
- Self-assessment. Organizations complete the questionnaire on their own, allowing them to analyze their infrastructure and processes in the context of security requirements.
- Standards compliance. SAQ is used to validate compliance with specific security standards, such as PCI DSS for payment card companies.
Types of SAQ
There are several types of SAQs, each designed for different scenarios:
- SAQ A. For companies that process card-not-present payments (e.g., e-commerce or phone orders) and outsource data processing entirely to third parties. These companies do not store, process, or transmit account data on their systems;
- SAQ A-EP. Similar to SAQ A, but applies to e-commerce where some of the data processing is transferred to third parties, but the company affects the security of the transaction;
- SAQ B. For companies using phone payment devices or imprint machines that do not store customer data;
- SAQ B-IP. For companies using Internet-connected devices that do not store customer data;
- SAQ C. For companies that accept payments via Internet-connected applications without storing customer data;
- SAQ C-VT. For companies using virtual terminals to accept payments.
- SAQ P2PE. For companies using point-to-point encrypted devices that do not store post-transaction data;
- SAQ D. The most common type for e-commerce where the company handles and stores customer data on its own. This SAQ requires a detailed report on security measures.
Completion of the SAQ is mandatory for many organizations that are required to comply with industry security standards. In addition, completing a self-assessment questionnaire helps identify and remediate vulnerabilities, which increases the overall level of data security. Also, the result of the self-assessment allows you to plan and implement the necessary measures to improve security.