Why should merchants hire a QSA company and what should be the criteria for hiring?

PCI DSS Compliance is a standard that provides a well-curated set of requirements for merchants or service providers. Service and Merchants are expected to follow these requirements as a part of the Compliance process and defense against data breach or theft. With stringent norms and enforcement of standards, the assessment of merchants and service providers for compliance with PCI DSS has become increasingly critical.

Independent or third-party security organizations called Qualified Security Assessors are certified by PCI SSC to validate an entity’s adherence to PCI DSS requirements. These assessors are referred to as “Qualified Security Assessor Companies or QSA Companies or PCI Consultants.