Your Guide to Real-World PCI Penetration Testing for PCI DSS Compliance

Achieve PCI compliance by identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities in your payment processing systems.

Elevate Your PCI Compliance

Raxis delivers PCI penetration testing designed to meet the strict requirements of PCI DSS v4.0 while exposing risks traditional providers often miss. From deep cardholder data environment (CDE) assessments to segmentation validation and web application testing, our human-led, AI-augmented methodology ensures your organization is prepared — not just compliant.

A Proven Approach to PCI Penetration Testing

We blend human expertise with AI augmentation for superior results. OSCP-certified engineers lead PCI penetration tests using black-box, white-box, and gray-box methods, guided by OWASP, OSSTMM, and PTES. No harm to systems while maintaining strict boundaries and requiring approvals through secure channels.

Why Standard Scans Aren’t Enough

Many vendors stop at automated scans or superficial checks, leaving dangerous gaps open. PCI DSS compliance requires more than running a vulnerability scanner — it requires realistic, adversary-style testing. Raxis goes deeper, using targeted attack simulation, internal routing, segmentation testing, and web application validation to uncover risks invisible to checkbox audits.

The result: actionable intelligence that strengthens your defenses and satisfies PCI DSS requirements.

Tailored to PCI DSS v4.0 — Beyond the Checkbox

The latest PCI DSS v4.0 guidelines call for more comprehensive, context-driven testing. We align every PCI penetration test with applicable requirements, including:

Requirement 11.3 — External and internal penetration testing
Requirement 11.4 — Segmentation testing for out-of-scope networks
Web application and API penetration testing
Wireless network and rogue access point detection

Raxis ensures your testing doesn’t just pass an audit — it reflects real-world attacker techniques that could compromise your environment.

Confidence in Your PCI Compliance

With PCI DSS 4.0 bringing stricter requirements and shorter remediation windows, our PCI penetration testing validates your controls work as designed while positioning you for long-term compliance success.

Reduced Security Risk

Using advanced ethical hacking techniques with our PCI penetration testing, we simulate real-world attacks to uncover hidden weaknesses before cybercriminals can exploit them. Prevention beats reaction every time.

Build unshakeable customer trust

Many enterprise clients and government entities require PCI compliance before they’ll even consider partnerships, making our testing your gateway to lucrative contracts you couldn’t access otherwise.

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What is PCI Penetration testing?

It’s the process of testing your payment systems against real cyber attack methods. The results validate PCI compliance and strengthen your overall security posture.

Black, Grey, and White Box Testing for PCI Security

While PCI DSS permits all three penetration testing methodologies, our expertise ensures you select the approach that maximizes security validation while meeting compliance requirements efficiently. Every methodology serves different objectives, and we guide you toward the optimal choice for your unique environment.

Black Box

The penetration tester receives no prior information about the target systems, simulating an external attacker with no inside knowledge.

Grey Box

A hybrid approach where partial information is shared, typically including some credentials or limited system details.

White Box

The organization provides complete network details, system information, credentials, and documentation to the penetration tester.

Expert PCI Pentesting Guidance

Navigate PCI testing options with confidence

The PCI Security Standards Council recommends white box or grey box testing for most comprehensive results, but the right choice depends on your unique environment. Our consultative approach evaluates your infrastructure, compliance goals, and resource constraints to recommend the methodology that best serves your organization.

Maximize your security investment

Our PCI penetration testing services offer complete flexibility across black box, white box, and grey box methodologies. Whether you need external threat simulation, comprehensive internal assessment, or balanced hybrid testing, we tailor our approach to your specific compliance and security objectives.

Go beyond compliance checkboxes

While many providers default to basic black box testing, our methodology selection process considers your actual risk profile, compliance timeline, and business objectives to recommend the testing approach that delivers maximum value.

Transform testing complexity into strategic advantage

Our deep understanding of each methodology’s strengths and limitations ensures you invest in testing that strengthens security posture while satisfying auditor requirements and stakeholder expectations.

Differences Between PCI and Standard Penetration Testing

Scope and Focus

PCI Penetration Testing: Focuses specifically on the Cardholder Data Environment (CDE), including systems, networks, and applications that store, process, or transmit cardholder data, as mandated by PCI DSS.

Standard Penetration Testing: Covers a broader scope, potentially including the entire IT infrastructure, applications, or even non-technical elements like social engineering, based on organizational needs.

Compliance Requirements

PCI Penetration Testing: A mandatory requirement under PCI DSS Requirement 11.4, ensuring adherence to strict standards for protecting cardholder data.

Standard Penetration Testing: Considered a best practice but not always mandatory, unless required by other frameworks or organizational policies.

Reporting and Remediation

PCI Penetration Testing: Reports are tailored for PCI assessors, detailing compliance with PCI DSS, vulnerabilities impacting cardholder data, remediation steps, and often segmentation test results. Retesting is typically required to validate fixes.

Standard Penetration Testing: Reports are less prescriptive, focusing on general security improvements, with remediation and retesting varying based on organizational goals

Frequency

PCI Penetration Testing: Required at least annually or after significant changes to the infrastructure or applications, as per PCI DSS.

Standard Penetration Testing: Frequency depends on the organization’s risk appetite, budget, or internal security roadmap.

PCI Penetration Testing Cost Estimates

PCI penetration testing costs typically range from $3,000 to $50,000, depending on several factors:

Environment Complexity: Larger or more intricate cardholder data environments require more extensive testing, increasing costs.
Testing Scope: Testing internal networks, external systems, or both impacts pricing.
Methodology Choice: Black-box testing is often more cost-effective due to minimal prior research, while white-box testing, though more comprehensive, may increase costs due to its depth.
Additional Services: Optional services like social engineering, wireless testing, or application-specific assessments can affect the overall price.

For precise budgeting, we recommend requesting a custom quote. Our team will assess your specific requirements and provide a clear, upfront cost estimate.

Project Duration

The duration of a PCI penetration test typically ranges from three days to several weeks, influenced by:

Environment Size: Larger networks or complex systems take longer to assess thoroughly.
Testing Methodology: Black-box testing is generally faster, while white-box testing requires more time for in-depth analysis.
Scope of Engagement: Testing multiple systems or including additional assessments (e.g., segmentation testing) extends the timeline.

Ongoing and Hidden Costs

Achieving PCI DSS compliance doesn’t end with the initial test. Consider these potential ongoing costs:

Remediation Efforts: Addressing vulnerabilities may require software updates, configuration changes, or new security controls.
Retesting: After remediation, retesting is often necessary to verify fixes and maintain compliance.
Compliance Maintenance: Ongoing staff training, system monitoring, and periodic testing are essential to stay compliant, particularly for smaller organizations with limited resources.

PCI Penetration Testing FAQ

Penetration testing for PCI is vital for ensuring business continuity, achieving compliance, identifying vulnerabilities, and preventing the loss of intellectual property and data.

Raxis follows the prescriptive PCI Security Standards Council’s compliance requirements for PCI DSS v4.0.1.

Raxis offers a variety of penetration testing solutions to fit your needs, such as Raxis Strike and Raxis Attack.

Raxis operates within clear contractual boundaries and has strict policies against damaging or destroying customer property. The goal is to expose vulnerabilities without causing harm.

At the conclusion of testing, Raxis delivers your compliance-ready PCI report securely through the Raxis One portal. A debriefing call is scheduled to review the results and address any questions or concerns.

The duration of a Raxis Strike PCI penetration test can range from three days to several weeks, depending on the scope of the assessment. Reach out to our sales team to receive your personalized estimate.