Qualys, a provider of on-demand IT security risk and compliance management solutions, has announced availability of QualysGuard PCI 4.0. The QualysGuard PCI on demand platform is designed to provide businesses, online merchants, and acquirers with the easiest, most cost-effective and highly automated way to validate PCI DSS compliance.

As a new addition to the widely adopted QualysGuard PCI DSS Platform, PCI Connect streamlines business operations related to PCI compliance and validation for merchants and acquirers, all from a combined collaborative application with automated report sharing and distribution. Merchants who use PCI Connect can easily identify areas within the Self Assessment Questionnaire where they may not be meeting compliance requirements and are then presented with technology solutions that will help them complete their compliance validation.

Acquirers who use QualysGuard PCI now have an easy way to validate key risk areas contained within their merchants’ PCI DSS SAQ. This component of the application will allow acquirers to make more informed risk decisions and be able to manage the compliance risk in their merchants’ portfolio more effectively.

QualysGuard PCI Connect is an open platform with XML APIs that will allow partners and solution providers to provide automated data feeds into PCI Connect to demonstrate compliance, enhancing the oversight capabilities of both the merchant management team and the acquirer compliance team.