QSA_New_V4 Practice Exam Questions with Answers Qualified Security Assessor V4 Exam Certification

Requirement9.9.2of PCI DSS v4.0.1 mandates that entitiesregularly inspect POS devicesto detect signs of tampering or skimming. This includes physical inspections to identify unexpected additions, unauthorized stickers, broken seals, etc.

Option A:Correct. Regular inspection for skimming/tampering is required.

Option B:Incorrect. There is no mandate for manufacturer serial number verification.

Option C:Incorrect. PCI DSS does not require routine replacement of device identifiers or labels.

Option D:Incorrect. Devices may be investigated if compromised, but not necessarily destroyed.

PCI DSS clearly states inRequirement 11.4.5and in theScoping Guidancethat if segmentation is used, the assessor must verify thesegmentation is effective— meaning it must be technically and operationally validated to ensure that it properly isolates the Cardholder Data Environment (CDE) from out-of-scope networks.

Option A:Too narrow. While allowing only necessary traffic is important, the verification involves more than that.

Option B:Incorrect. Payment brands do not “approve” segmentation.

Option C:Incorrect. PCI DSS focuses on effectiveness, not brand-specific device use.

Option D:Correct. Assessor must ensure that segmentation controls areproperly configured and function as intended.

According toSection 7 – Description of Timeframes Used in PCI DSS Requirements, the PCI DSS defines "quarterly" as:

“An activity performed once per calendar quarter (i.e., one time in each three-month period), or as close as reasonably possible to the calendar quarter.”

Option A:?Correct. This aligns precisely with PCI DSS’s definition —once in each three-month calendar quarter.

Option B:?Incorrect. PCI DSS doesnotdefine quarterly by a fixed number of days.

Option C & D:?Incorrect. Specific dates or months are not prescribed.

According toRequirement 1.2.1of PCI DSS v4.0.1, network security controls (NSCs), such as firewalls and segmentation controls, are used torestrict and control trafficbetween trusted and untrusted networks. This includes logical or physical network segmentation.

Option A:Incorrect. Anti-malware is addressed in Requirement 5.

Option B:Correct. NSCs control and restrict inbound and outbound traffic between logical and physical network segments.

Option C:Incorrect. Vulnerability management is under Requirement 6.

Option D:Incorrect. PAN encryption is covered in Requirement 3.5.

According toRequirement 3.5.1.2, whendisk-level encryptionis used (e.g., full disk encryption), access control must beseparate from the operating systemto prevent unauthorised users from bypassing controls by booting the system.

Option A:?Correct. Disk encryption must useindependent authentication mechanisms.

Option B:?Incorrect. Sharing authentication with the OSviolates independence.

Option C:?Incorrect. Association with local accounts may not ensure separate access control.

Option D:?Incorrect. Key storage within user accounts is not secure or compliant.

PCI DSS allows for theuse of truncation and hashingfor protecting PAN, butRequirement 3.4.1and its guidance warn againstcombining hashed and truncated PANsin such a way that the original PAN could be reconstructed. If both formats exist,controls must ensurethey can't be used together to reverse-engineer the PAN.

Option A:?Correct. Controls must ensure PAN cannot be reconstructed using both versions.

Option B:?Incorrect. A hashed PAN does not need truncation — hashing is a separate mechanism.

Option C:?Incorrect. PCI DSS aims to prevent correlation, not encourage it.

Option D:?Incorrect. They can coexist, but must be secured so that PAN cannot be derived.

? Visitor Management Requirements:

PCI DSS Requirement 9.3 specifies that visitors must be escorted at all times in areas where cardholder data is present to prevent unauthorized access or breaches??.

? Invalid Options:

B:Visitor badges must be distinguishable from employee badges.

C:Visitor logs are necessary but do not need detailed personal information like addresses.

D:Retaining visitor identification for 30 days is not a requirement.

According toSection 12.2.3.3 of PCI DSS v4.0.1, aPartial Assessmentis defined as a result whereat least one PCI DSS requirement is marked as “Not Tested.”This is typically seen duringgap assessments or pre-validation efforts, not official compliance validation.

Option A:?Incorrect. SAQs are self-assessments; Partial Assessment is a different concept.

Option B:?Incorrect. Interim drafts are not labeled as “Partial”.

Option C:?Incorrect. That is a misinterpretation of segmentation by payment channel.

Option D:?Correct. "Not Tested" = Partial Assessment.

According toRequirement 9.4.2.2, visitors must beescorted at all timesin areas where cardholder data is stored or processed. This is a key component of physical access control and is intended to prevent unauthorised access or tampering.

Option A:?Correct. Escorts aremandatoryfor visitors in sensitive areas.

Option B:?Incorrect. Visitor badgesmust be distinguishablefrom employee badges.

Option C:?Incorrect. PCI DSS requires name and firm represented, butnot full address or phone.

Option D:?Incorrect. Visitor badges must besurrendered or deactivatedimmediately after the visit ends.

? PCI PIN Transaction Security (PTS) Standard:

The PCI PTS standard focuses on securing Point-of-Interaction (POI) devices, such as payment terminals, that process payment card transactions and protect account data during capture??.

? Clarifications on Covered Areas:

This standard includes specifications for physical and logical security controls to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive cardholder data on POI devices.

? Invalid Options:

B:Secure coding practices are addressed by PCI PA-DSS (Payment Application Data Security Standard).

C:Cryptographic algorithm development is not specific to PCI PTS.

D:End-to-end encryption solutions are not covered under PCI PTS.

PerRequirement 2.2.5, allinsecure and unnecessary services, protocols, daemons, or functionsmust be disabled. This includes unnecessary features on firewalls and other devices. Disabling unneeded functions reduces the attack surface and aligns with secure configuration principles.

Option A:?Incorrect. Shared accounts violateRequirement 8.2.1, which mandatesunique IDs.

Option B:?Incorrect. Allowing all traffic is a violation ofRequirement 1.2.1, which requires "deny all unless explicitly allowed".

Option C:?Incorrect. Synchronizing rules may be useful but does not directly relate to hardening.

Option D:?Correct. Disabling unused firewall features aligns with secure configuration.

? Requirement Context:

PCI DSS Requirement 12.5 mandates that security policies and operational procedures are not only documented but also distributed to relevant parties to ensure clarity and compliance.

? Importance of Distribution and Awareness:

All affected parties, including employees, contractors, and third parties with access to the cardholder data environment (CDE), must receive and understand the policies. This ensures they adhere to the security measures??.

? Review and Updates:

Security policies must be kept up to date and reviewed at least annually or after significant changes in the environment. While other options such as encryption or restricted access are important for security, the critical focus is on distribution and awareness to ensure operational effectiveness??.

? Testing and Validation:

During assessments, QSAs validate the implementation by examining training records, communication logs, and acknowledgment forms signed by affected parties??.

? Relevant PCI DSS v4.0 Guidance:

Section 12.5.1 of PCI DSS v4.0 outlines that the dissemination of policies must ensure that all personnel understand their roles in securing the environment??.

PCI DSSRequirement 12.8.4mandates that an entitymonitor the compliance status of third-party service providers (TPSPs) at least annually, especially when those TPSPs store, process, or transmit account data on the entity’s behalf.

Option A:Incorrect. Entities are not responsible for conducting ASV scans on TPSPs.

Option B:Incorrect. There is no quarterly risk assessment requirement for TPSPs.

Option C:Incorrect. Incident response testing for TPSPs is not a direct responsibility of the entity.

Option D:Correct. Annual monitoring of TPSP compliance is explicitly required.

PCI DSSRequirement 11.5.2mandates the use of file-integrity monitoring (FIM) or change-detection tools to monitorcritical filessuch as system binaries, configuration files, and system parameters.

Option A:?Incorrect. Manuals are not critical system files.

Option B:?Incorrect. Regularly changing files (e.g., logs or temp files) are typically excluded.

Option C:?Incorrect. Policies and procedures are reviewed but not subject to FIM.

Option D:?Correct. System config and parameter files must bemonitored for unauthorised changes.

When a cryptographic key is retired and replaced, it is essential to ensure that the retired key is no longer used for encryption purposes to maintain the security of the cryptographic system.?

Option A:Correct. Retired keys must not be used for encryption operations to prevent potential security vulnerabilities. However, they may be retained for decryption purposes if necessary, such as decrypting existing data encrypted under the retired key.?

Option B:Incorrect. PCI DSS does not specify a mandatory retention period for retired cryptographic key components before disposal. Retention periods should align with the entity's data retention policies and legal requirements.?

Option C:Incorrect. Assigning a new key custodian is not a mandatory requirement upon key retirement and replacement, though proper key management practices should ensure that custodianship is clearly defined and documented.?

Option D:Incorrect. While data encrypted under a retired key should be re-encrypted with the new key or securely managed, PCI DSS does not mandate the destruction of such data solely due to key retirement.?

For more information on cryptographic key management practices, refer toRequirement 3: Protect Stored Account Datain thePCI DSS v4.0.1document.?Wikipedia

? Purpose of Classifying Media

PCI DSS v4.0 emphasizes the need to classify media based on the sensitivity of the data it contains. Media classification ensures appropriate handling, storage, and destruction processes??.

? Media Protection Requirements

Media containing cardholder data must be securely stored, transferred, and destroyed when no longer needed.

Classification informs the level of protection required, such as encryption, physical security, or controlled access??.

? Incorrect Options

Option B: Moving media quarterly is not a requirement.

Option C: Labeling as "Confidential" is insufficient without a comprehensive protection strategy.

Option D: Destruction schedules should depend on retention requirements and data sensitivity, not a universal timeline.

TheSoftware Security Framework (SSF)is intended to support entities usingbespoke and custom softwarewithin the Cardholder Data Environment (CDE). If the software is developed and maintained in accordance with theSecure Software Lifecycle (SLC) Standard, it can help demonstrate secure software development practices and potentially reduce the number of applicable PCI DSS requirements.

Option A:Incorrect. Not all payment software qualifies unless developed under SSF standards.

Option B:Incorrect. PCI PTS devices follow different hardware security standards.

Option C:Incorrect. PA-DSS has been retired; those applications are now listed as “Acceptable Only for Pre-Existing Deployments”.

Option D:Correct. Software developed under the Secure SLC Standard may help an entity meet some requirements in PCI DSS Requirement 6.