Software Security Assessment
PCI SSFSecure byDesign.
PCI SSF (SSS) ensures your payment software is secure by design, meeting modern threats with modern standards. 443 Labs offers expert advisory to help you align with SSS requirements through gap assessments, remediation guidance, and readiness support.
Payment Software Type
Primary function of the payment software
- GWPayment Gateway / Switch
- ADMPOS Admin / Kiosk / Specialized
- STEPOS Suite / General
- BOPayment Back Office
- MWPayment Middleware
PCI Secure Software Standard · SSS v1.2
Assessment Process
Understand Applicability & Scoping
Assess whether PCI SSF (SSS) applies to your software based on its functionality, deployment model, and data flow. We identify which programmes apply — SPoC, CPoC, SCP, or SFT — and define the assessment boundary and documentation requirements.
Gap Assessment
Review existing processes, controls, and documentation against PCI SSS requirements to identify gaps and areas of improvement across secure design, development lifecycle, data protection, and software integrity controls.
Remediation Support & Implementation
Prioritise and plan remediation efforts to address identified gaps. We provide hands-on guidance to implement security controls, improve documentation, and integrate secure coding, threat modelling, and testing practices into your development workflow.
Readiness Validation & Assessor Engagement
Perform a readiness review to ensure all requirements are addressed and your team is prepared for assessor engagement. We support coordination with a PCI SSF-qualified assessor, ensuring a smooth and informed certification process.
Key Domains Covered
The PCI SSS covers six security domains across the full software lifecycle. Every domain is reviewed as part of our gap assessment, with findings mapped directly to the relevant SSS requirements.
Engagement Deliverables
Advisory included.
Assessor-ready delivery.
Executive Readiness Summary
Board-level overview of your PCI SSF compliance posture, certification readiness, and key risk areas for leadership visibility.
Technical Gap Assessment Report
Detailed findings per PCI SSS domain — secure design, development, data protection, integrity, and lifecycle — with evidence references and QSA observations.
Remediation & Roadmap Plan
Prioritised remediation plan with timelines, ownership, and implementation guidance covering all identified gaps against SSS requirements.
Assessor Readiness Package
Complete evidence package and documentation set prepared for handoff to a PCI SSF-qualified assessor, minimising delays at the formal certification stage.
Lab-accredited assessors with specific SPoC and CPoC expertise
Application code review and SDLC security assessment included
Cryptographic control validation and key management review
Assessor-ready evidence package and documentation set
Why 443 Labs
The advisory difference that accelerates certification.
Security by Design from Day One
We embed secure design principles into your assessment approach — threat modelling, architecture review, and insecure default identification are standard parts of every SSF engagement.
Full Lifecycle Coverage
From secure coding standards and code review to third-party component management and patch delivery, we cover the entire software security lifecycle — not just the certification checklist.
CI/CD & DevOps Compatible
The SSS is designed for modern development workflows. We validate controls in ways that integrate with automated pipelines, incremental releases, and continuous delivery environments.
Assessor-Ready Documentation
Our readiness reviews produce documentation packages that go directly to the qualified assessor — reducing the back-and-forth that extends certification timelines and inflates costs.
Engagement Delivery
From gap assessment to assessor-ready in a structured engagement.
Our PCI SSF advisory follows a defined delivery framework — ensuring every SSS domain is reviewed, all gaps are remediated, and your documentation package is complete before assessor engagement begins.
Applicability & Scope Definition
Confirm which SSF programmes and SSS requirements apply to your specific software and deployment model.
Gap Assessment Review
Structured review across all six SSS domains with findings mapped to specific requirements and remediation priorities.
SDLC & Pipeline Integration
Guidance on integrating security controls into CI/CD pipelines, code repositories, and release management processes.
Third-Party Component Review
Assessment of all open-source and third-party libraries for vulnerability exposure, integrity, and licence risk.
Readiness Package Preparation
Complete evidence collection and documentation review to prepare your team for the formal assessor engagement.
Not Sure Where to Start
We'll tell you exactly what your payment software requires.
Whether you're validating a new payment SDK, managing a PA-DSS migration, or preparing for your first SSF assessment — our specialists will map the applicable requirements and scope the work accurately.
Common Questions
What is the PCI SSF Secure Software Standard?
The PCI SSF (Secure Software Framework) Secure Software Standard (SSS) ensures payment software is securely developed and resilient to evolving threats. It applies to vendors whose products store, process, or transmit payment data, replacing the retired PA-DSS standard.
Can modular or component-based software be partially validated under SSS?
Yes, the SSS allows for component-level validation, enabling vendors to certify specific software modules independently. This is ideal for SDKs, libraries, or plug-ins reused across platforms.
How does the SSS support CI/CD and DevOps environments?
The SSS is designed to accommodate modern DevOps workflows, allowing controls to be validated in incremental releases and integrated into automated pipelines with proper documentation and testing.
Is third-party code in scope for SSS validation?
Yes, all third-party and open-source components that impact payment data security must be assessed for vulnerabilities, integrity, and licence risks under the vendor's secure development lifecycle.
Does SSS require a threat model for the software being validated?
Absolutely. The standard emphasises threat modelling as a core requirement, ensuring that security risks are identified early and addressed through design and implementation choices.
Can vendors reuse previous PA-DSS documentation for SSS validation?
Some artefacts — like secure development policies or architectural diagrams — may be reusable, but they must be updated to reflect SSF-specific controls, scope, and lifecycle practices before they are accepted.
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Speak with a certified SSF assessor today. We'll map your programme requirements, scope your engagement, and deliver a timeline to certification.