When choosing a PCI Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV), you need to look deeper than whether they are a provider on the PCI Security Standards Council (SSC) approved list. The scan itself is the same regardless of which provider on the list completes it; the differentiator is in their remediation support, reporting and service levels.

These differences are crucial for helping your organization achieve and maintain compliance. The right PCI ASV vendor should understand your infrastructure, which helps your team address vulnerabilities efficiently and make ongoing compliance easier to manage.

So, how do you find the vendor that best fits your organization? Below are ten critical questions to ask when evaluating ASV providers, covering everything from technical capabilities and scan accuracy to support and pricing.

Are You Currently on the PCI SSC’s Approved Scanning Vendors List?

Before comparing features or pricing, check the provider’s status on the PCI SSC’s Approved Scanning Vendors list. Only approved vendors using their approved ASV scan solution can perform scans that satisfy PCI DSS Requirement 11.3.2.

ASVs must requalify annually, so don’t rely on claims made on a vendor’s website. Confirm their approval is current before each scan engagement.

For reference, Outpost24 has been an Approved Scanning Vendor for over 20 years.

Can the ASV Accurately Scan My Entire In-Scope External Environment?

Your organization is responsible for defining the scope of its ASV scans. But it’s easy to overlook some internet-facing assets in complex or fast-changing environments, which can leave potential vulnerabilities undetected.

While an ASV isn’t allowed to help a customer define their scope, some vendors, like Outpost24, do offer a discovery scan as part of the service. This looks for related assets so the customer can confirm or deny that they are part of the scope.

Attack surface management plays a crucial role in helping organizations accurately map their infrastructure. By continuously discovering internet-facing assets and tracking changes to your environment, tools like OutscanNX help keep your scan scope accurate and up to date. It complements ASV scanning by helping ensure nothing important gets missed.

Can the Scanner Handle My Infrastructure Without Disrupting Operations?

ASV scans can place additional load on production systems, but you don’t want to compromise scan accuracy.

Ask whether your ASV can schedule scans around maintenance windows and account for load balancers, firewalls and intrusion prevention systems that might interfere with testing. A good ASV should understand how to scan complex infrastructure safely and effectively, without restricting scan coverage or weakening tests simply to achieve a passing result.

How do You Handle Disputed Scan Results?

False positives delay a passing scan and create unnecessary remediation work. Ask prospective ASVs how they handle disputed findings; is it all part of the same platform so disputes can be easily tracked?

With Outpost24, the process is managed in our platform. You can easily create and track disputes, as well as refer to the information later when needed.

What Does Your Remediation Guidance Look Like?

When the scan identifies vulnerabilities, your team needs clear, actionable guidance to resolve them efficiently.

Detailed remediation guidance helps your team prioritize fixes, reduce investigation time and prepare for rescanning. Look for an ASV that provides practical information your team can act on, rather than just a pass or fail result.

How Quickly Can We Rescan After Remediating Vulnerabilities?

Delays in rescanning can put compliance deadlines under pressure, so it’s helpful to know how quickly results are returned so you can plan remediation. You should also check whether repeat scans cost extra.

Prompt, straightforward rescanning helps keep remediation on track and reduces the risk of compliance delays.

How Do You Manage Scan Scheduling, Automation, and Changes to Our Environment?

Managing quarterly ASV scans shouldn’t require constant manual oversight. Ask whether the vendor offers automated scheduling, reminders and scan status monitoring to help you stay on track.

Find out how they accommodate infrastructure changes, and whether you can initiate additional scans when needed.

Can Your Platform Integrate with Our Existing Security Stack?

ASV scanning is easier to manage when results fit into your existing security workflows. Check whether the vendor’s platform integrates with your vulnerability management systems, ticketing platforms and other security tools.

The vendor may have options for APIs, automated data exports and centralized reporting. These can help reduce manual work and improve remediation tracking.

Not every organization needs extensive integrations, but the platform should support your existing tools and processes.

Do You Offer Manual Penetration Testing Alongside ASV Scanning?

ASV scanning and penetration testing serve different purposes. While ASV scans identify known vulnerabilities, manual penetration testing is designed to uncover exploitable weaknesses and more complex attack paths.

Using one provider for both services can simplify vendor management, but they’re separate activities. Be aware that penetration testing doesn’t replace required quarterly ASV scans. Outpost24 provides the necessary internal and external penetration tests to comply with PCI DSS requirement 11.4.2 and 11.4.3.

What Support, Service Levels, and Costs Should We Expect?

The cheapest ASV provider isn’t necessarily the most cost-effective. Before committing, check what support is included, how issues are escalated and what response times the vendor guarantees.

Ask for a clear breakdown of costs, including any additional charges for scanning more assets, rescans, reporting or optional services.

Consider whether a self-service platform meets your needs or if your team would benefit from more hands-on support. The right provider should offer transparent pricing and a level of service that matches your internal resources and technical expertise.

How Outpost24 Helps Simplify PCI Compliance

Meeting your PCI ASV scanning requirements doesn’t have to involve lengthy procurement processes or unnecessary sales calls. With Outpost24’s Self-Service PCI ASV Scanning, you can purchase online, set up your scans and manage findings through the Outpost24 Portal, without compromising on quality or accuracy.

If your scan fails, our expert guidance helps you remediate issues efficiently, and you can rescan as often as needed at no extra cost. Once you pass, simply download your Attestation of Scan Compliance report.

For broader PCI DSS requirements, Outpost24 also offers flexible compliance packages covering internal vulnerability assessments and penetration testing, with online remediation and dispute management supported by certified staff.

Get started with Self-Service PCI ASV Scanning today, or contact us to find the right PCI compliance solution for your organization.