PCI DSS Compliance for SaaS Startups
Tailored for SaaS and your role.
Head of Compliance Strategy • CPA, CISA, ISO 27001 Lead Auditor
Strategic Priorities for SaaS Leaders
Raphael N
Head of Compliance Strategy
Raphael leads go-to-market compliance strategy for high-growth SaaS and AI teams. With over a decade of experience across Big Four firms and fintech startups, he specializes in translating complex SOC 2 requirements into automated, engineering-friendly workflows.
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All RiscLens content is researched, written, and reviewed by compliance professionals with real-world audit experience. We maintain strict editorial independence and never accept payment for coverage or rankings.
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Audit readiness checklist
- •Define scope and evidence owners for PCI DSS Compliance
- •Map controls to your SaaS workflows
- •Confirm evidence cadence and review approvals
- •Document exceptions and compensating controls
- •Validate auditor expectations before kickoff
Evidence to prepare
- •Network segmentation evidence
- •Vulnerability scan reports
- •Access control logs
- •Security awareness training
Frequently Asked Questions
When does PCI DSS apply to SaaS companies?
PCI DSS applies if you store, process, or transmit cardholder data, or could impact security of cardholder data environments. Payment-adjacent SaaS may have compliance obligations.
How can SaaS companies reduce PCI scope?
Use tokenization, redirect to hosted payment pages, or leverage payment processors that handle card data. Segmentation and scope reduction can significantly decrease compliance burden.
What SAQ type applies to SaaS platforms?
SAQ type depends on your payment integration. SAQ A for fully outsourced, SAQ A-EP for e-commerce redirects, SAQ D for direct card handling. Most SaaS companies target SAQ A or A-EP.
About RiscLens
Our mission is to provide transparency and clarity to early-stage technology companies navigating the complexities of SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) compliance.
Who we serve
Built specifically for early-stage and growing technology companies—SaaS, fintech, and healthcare tech—preparing for their first SOC 2 audit or responding to enterprise customer requirements.
What we provide
Clarity before commitment. We help teams understand realistic cost ranges, timeline expectations, and common gaps before they engage auditors or expensive compliance vendors.
Our Boundaries
We do not provide legal advice, audit services, or certifications. Our assessments support internal planning—they are not a substitute for professional compliance guidance.
SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is a voluntary compliance standard for service organizations, developed by the AICPA, which specifies how organizations should manage customer data based on the Trust Services Criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
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