Businesses that handle credit card payments and the information of their respective owners are eager to check all the compliance boxes with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). The new PCI DSS 4.0 version has stricter rules and more security-specific requirements. While the policies can help you protect cardholder data and ensure secure payment transactions, the standard has become too complex to be handled manually. To enforce PCI DSS compliance comprehensively, more sophisticated software solutions will be required.
However, with numerous tools claiming to address all compliance pain points, choosing the ideal one can be overwhelming. The wrong choice can lead to hidden compliance failures, workflow delays, legal penalties, and reputation damage.
In this blog, we will compare the top 10 PCI DSS compliance tools available on the market so you can decide which one would be most appropriate for your compliance goals in 2025.
Top features to look for in PCI DSS compliance software
Understanding which features are still relevant in 2025 is essential to make an informed decision about your ideal PCI DSS software.
The most relevant and useful features to look out for include:
1. Pre-mapped controls and policy templates
In the summer of 2024, National Public Data (NPD) suffered a breach where the malicious actor leaked the Personally Identifiable Information (PII) data of 170 million people. The breach did not happen because the actor cut through advanced defense systems but because NDS had archived a file containing passwords for the website’s administrator in its sister website RecordCheck.net.
If the NPD had followed PCI DSS compliance standards, it would have ensured mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA), secure credential storage, and restricted access to sensitive files. If they had a solution with security policies pre-mapped to compliance controls, it would have eliminated manual compliance management.
So, your tool of choice must have a slew of automated processes to manage compliance, which saves time and ensures that the organization is always audit-ready. For example, Scrut has a policy library encompassing 100+ policies and thousands of controls for various compliance regulations, including PCI DSS. Every control and policy is meticulously aligned with PCI DSS standards and vetted by industry experts so you can confidently implement best practices. It also allows you to add or customize policy templates at no fee, helping you scale compliance without additional overhead costs.
2. Continuous monitoring and security alerts
Your PCI DSS compliance software must automate continuous monitoring and report compliance gaps. It must also frequently validate each compliance artifact and ensure that all security controls remain effective and up to date. This proactive approach enables the early detection of vulnerabilities, reducing the potential for costly breaches. This feature helps you pinpoint potential compliance deviations and suggest pre-defined or customized remediation efforts.
The platform must be able to send alerts to relevant team members—including creators, approvers, and publishers—about pending tasks or critical issues to enhance accountability, accelerate response time, and ensure that compliance gaps are addressed promptly.
A compliance management tool for PCI DSS or any other standard should offer monitoring, real-time data visualization, report generation, and more. For example, Scrut provides specialized dashboards to manage multi-framework compliance and monitor controls, policies, risk management, etc. Users can examine specific metrics with comprehensive dashboards, such as compliance status, control effectiveness, risk severity, and remediation strategies.
3. Integrated risk and vendor management
PCI DSS mandates regular risk assessments, such as vulnerability scans, vendor risk evaluations, business impact analyses, and gap assessments. This is because data breaches, unauthorized access, and service disruptions from third-party providers can jeopardize your compliance efforts and expose sensitive financial information.
This makes integrated risk and vendor management a non-negotiable feature in any compliance software.
Your software should offer detailed insights into internal risks, such as system vulnerabilities and external risks, like vendor non-compliance or data mishandling. You must be able to conduct thorough assessments and prioritize risks based on severity from the platform.
For example, with Scrut, you can efficiently evaluate third-party vendors, assess their compliance posture, and mitigate any associated risks. You can also implement effective treatment strategies tailored to your organization’s risk appetite. This proactive approach helps maintain secure vendor relationships while avoiding potential compliance pitfalls.
4. Automated evidence collection
Anything can constitute evidence during a data breach investigation or general audit. Reliable PCI DSS software collects access logs, firewall configurations, vulnerability scan results, and more. It also integrates with different systems and environments (such as cloud platforms), such as mobile device management, identity providers, cloud service providers, and Human Resources Management Systems (HRMS).
This reduces audit time and ensures accuracy. Manual evidence collection can often lead to missing documentation, incorrect records, or other irregularities that a PCI DSS compliance tool can more effectively address.
5. Intuitive auditor collaboration and visibility
Effective auditor collaboration can significantly reduce the time and effort required for PCI DSS audits. Your platform must have a built-in audit trail feature ensuring a tamper-proof record of all changes made during audits, including details such as username, timestamp, and the nature of the change. Every update must be automatically logged, providing a clear record for auditors to review. With this feature, auditors can also leave comments, tag relevant stakeholders, and track task statuses, making the audit process more transparent and efficient.
Top 8 PCI DSS Compliance Automation Tools in 2025
1. Scrut Automation
Scrut offers a holistic PCI DSS compliance platform that empowers your organization to protect critical customer data more confidently. The automation tool takes care of your security and compliance workflows with the help of pre-built PCI DSS controls and features for uninterrupted compliance monitoring. This is essential to keep your business prepared for timely action against potential compliance deviations and even more prepared to mitigate any security mishaps.
Scrut handles PCI DSS compliance, which helps your customers build confidence when making payments to your business. It ensures it can translate the compliance standard’s complex requirements into ways that align with your business goals and use cases.
Features
- Pre-built policy templates and controls for PCI DSS: The tool offers 100+ policies and controls that help effectively translate the policies for your business and its use cases. It has an in-built editor that can help customize these controls according to your business needs.
- Continuous monitoring: Scrut ensures real-time monitoring and data visualization with a live dashboard. Compliance monitoring is constant and automated, keeping tabs on any real-time incidents and potential violations.
- Evidence collection: More than 65% of all evidence collection can be done automatically with Scrut. The tool collects evidence from across applications and infrastructure to help you stay prepared for audits and investigations.
- Security and compliance dashboard: The live dashboard helps you consistently monitor all your PCI DSS compliance data. It tracks assessments, risk profiles, and more to help you ensure credibility with your stakeholders and customers.
Pros
- Simplifies compliance management with control and workflow automation.
- 24/7 monitoring with real-time alerts and detailed automated reports.
- Provides reliable evidence collection and transparent monitoring to maintain your business credibility.
- Scrut automates more than 80% of the evidence-collection process.
- Best choice to scale your compliance posture without incurring extra costs.
Cons
- The learning curve may be easier for users with previous compliance management knowledge.
Pricing
Contact Scrut to know the pricing details for compliance management, which includes offerings like:
- 50+ compliance frameworks, including PCI DSS.
- Automated evidence collection.
- Integrated risk and vendor management.
- Employee training and monitoring.
- Asset management.
- Access review management.
- Collaboration with auditors.
- Integrated trust page and analytics.
2. Astra Security
Astra Security helps deliver an assessment for PCI DSS compliance. This platform allows businesses to scan for vulnerabilities and track their state on its innovative dashboard. Astra offers features that make the platform reliable for handling sensitive customer data and ensuring business compliance.
Features
- Testing for PCI DSS: The tool offers manual and automated testing for different PCI DSS use cases. It also helps with detailed reports for the tests.
- Scanning Pages: Astra can help scan logged-in pages without requesting re-authentication.
- Business Logic Testing: This feature allows the tool to test for compliance based on different aspects of the business logic.
Pros
- Covers both automated and manual testing for compliance.
- Identifies potential vulnerabilities that can hinder compliance.
- Offers continuous vulnerability scanning.
Cons
- Requires a certain level of technical expertise in compliance management for effective remediation.
- The tool still has the scope for integration with various applications and infrastructure.
Pricing
Astra Security offers custom pricing for their product, which can be enquired about on their website.
3. Sprinto
Sprinto offers PCI audit software that has automated features for handling your data security compliance requirements. This tool helps monitor your system configurations for any potential compliance deviations and pre-configured audits.
Features
- Compliance monitoring: The automation-friendly feature helps track all necessary workflows for their compliance in PCI DSS scope.
- Expert guidance: Sprinto helps organizations train their workforce for PCI DSS compliance.
- Pre-configured workflows: The tool can automatically collect data relevant to PCI compliance and assign necessary tasks to ensure adherence to the standard.
Pros
- Automated audits ensure minimal manual intervention.
- Offers data collection for audit and investigation purposes.
- Helps organizations better plan compliance with expert guidance.
Cons
- The platform can be complicated, and experts need to navigate all its features.
Pricing
Sprinto offers custom pricing for their product, which can be enquired about on their website.
4. Qualys
Qualys offers a comprehensive view of PCI DSS compliance by accessing compliance data for auditing and listing the different resources available in the system. Qualys also offers all the usual features like cloud integration, continuous monitoring, and more.
Features
- Compliance audits: Qualys helps businesses ensure that their payment processing systems and related resources comply with the latest PCI DSS standards.
- Proactive scanning: The tool helps the organization scan its systems for potential data breaches and is, therefore, also helpful in achieving PCI DSS certification.
- Automated alerts: The tool can offer 24/7 uninterrupted monitoring and trigger customized alerts for important compliance-related events.
Pros
- The platform is well-designed and easy to use.
- The tool is consistently updated to meet any compliance standards.
Cons
- Users have reported control issues with the platform.
- The scheduling options are limited.
Pricing
Qualys offers custom pricing for their product, which can be enquired about on their website.
5. Orca Security
Orca Security offers PCI DSS compliance features for intrusion detection and threat scanning.
Features
- Vulnerability monitoring: The tool consistently scans the systems for compliance vulnerabilities and risk prioritization.
- Malware protection: The tool is also equipped to prevent malware attacks in case of compliance failure.
Pros
- Works well with all major cloud vendors.
- Offers actionable insights for compliance management.
- Offers data encryption features.
Cons
- Users have reported slow performance.
- Certain features are limited and can provide more information for audits.
Pricing
Orca Security offers custom pricing for their product, which can be enquired about on their website.
6. Secureframe
Secureframe offers tools to monitor services for PCI compliance. These tools can integrate with cloud infrastructure, generate automated reports based on risk assessment, and suggest remediation steps for potential compliance vulnerabilities.
Features
- Compliance management: The tool monitors data for compliance deviations and triggers automated alerts for potential dangers.
- Policy enforcement: Admins can set policy controls based on PCI DSS requirements to govern data security.
- Risk assessment: It offers in-built rules for automated risk scanning and profiling of internal resources and external vendors.
Pros
- Personalized onboarding and offboarding
- Automations for compliance management tasks to meet compliance standards promptly
- Integration with external apps and the cloud is easy
Cons
- Scope for improvement in tracking features
- Frequent coordination with the support team is required across tasks
Pricing
Orca Security offers custom pricing for their product, which can be enquired about on their website.
7. Drata
Drata’s offerings are helpful in evidence collection for PCI compliance. The platform offers features that help record necessary audit data, create inventories, and track various resources engaged in payment processing.
Features
- Compliance auditing: Drata can help analyze business data, record evidence for compliance audits, and offer insights into compliance vulnerabilities.
- Risk assessments: The tool also helps keep scores for risk profiles, which helps mitigate risks from third-party vendors.
- Sensitive data protection: Drata offers data protection features in general, which makes it a suitable option for securing payment data.
Pros
- Offers integrations that help with better scalability
- The risk-scoring feature helps quantify compliance vulnerability
- Supports testing for multiple compliance frameworks
Cons
- Integration options are helpful but limited
- Scope for better support in vendor management
Pricing
Orca Security offers custom pricing for their product, which can be enquired about on their website.
8. Vanta
Vanta offers multiple automation features to help businesses with PCI DSS compliance. The tool has customized compliance controls that help scan the system for security vulnerabilities. Its live dashboards provide a single point of view into compliance tracking data and help identify any weak points.
Features
- Risk assessment: The tool offers automated alert triggers that can be customized for specific events and thresholds.
- Automated workflows: With pre-configured workflows, businesses can automatically collect security data and enforce compliance tasks.
- Compliance management: The tool monitors data for compliance and quality standards and notifies IT administrators of violations.
Pros
- Documentation for regulatory compliance comes in handy
- Integration is available with many popular tools
- Expert guidance helps navigate the tool
Cons
- Scope for improvement in access control and encryption
- Complex interface
Pricing
Vanta offers custom pricing for their product, which can be enquired about on their website.
Wrapping up
PCI DSS is an essential standard for a world increasingly relying on the convenience of online transactions, tap-to-pay services, and other payment features. As the standard evolves, so will the software solutions that can help enforce it for our business use cases.
However, this increased connectivity means that even a small security lapse in one part of the network can expose sensitive customer data and disrupt the entire payment process.
Therefore, decision-makers must choose a product that ensures scalability, has automated security measures and is upgraded to respond to evolving threats. Your PCI DSS compliance software must be automation-friendly and offer deep assessment, mindful remediations, and real-time alerts, safeguarding the integrity of financial transactions.
Still need help deciding on the right tool? Take a look at what Scrut’s PCI DSS compliance tool offers by signing up for a demo.
FAQs
What does PCI DSS stand for?
PCI DSS stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. It is a global security standard that ensures that any business using credit cards adequately protects the cardholder’s data. The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) established the standard, backed by major card brands such as American Express, Visa, Mastercard, and more.
Is PCI DSS mandatory for companies?
PCI DSS is not a law, but banks, payment processors, and card brands can enforce its compliance to ensure data protection for credit card users. There can be penalties, higher transaction fees, and even permanent bans for businesses that don’t comply. Moreover, any company that doesn’t abide by the standard and faces a data breach is likely to face legal and financial consequences on a global scale.
Is there a PCI DSS compliance checklist?
A comprehensive PCI DSS checklist details crucial steps, including defining the Cardholder Data Environment (CDE), performing risk assessments, and implementing robust security policies. It also suggests action items to ensure you protect your network and data through encryption and access controls. Read our PCI DSS checklist to understand this deeper and to complete a compliance audit successfully.
