Close Every Gap. Build Evidence That Passes.
A gap analysis tells you what's missing. Remediation planning tells you exactly how to fix it — with priorities, owners, timelines, and pre-built evidence templates.
You might be experiencing...
PCI DSS remediation is where compliance is actually built. A gap analysis tells you what’s missing; remediation planning tells your team exactly how to fix each gap, what evidence to collect, and in what order to work.
Why Remediation Fails Without a Plan
The most common reason UAE businesses miss PCI DSS certification deadlines is not that the technical fixes are too hard — it’s that the remediation work is uncoordinated. Engineers don’t know what ‘done’ looks like. Evidence isn’t collected at the point of fix. Dependencies aren’t mapped — a firewall rule change needs to happen before a network segmentation test, which needs to happen before a scope diagram can be finalised.
Our remediation planning service provides the structure that most internal teams lack.
Technical Controls We Remediate Against
Network segmentation: Firewall rule review and tightening, VLAN configuration for CDE isolation, DMZ architecture for internet-facing payment systems. We validate that CDE systems cannot be reached from non-CDE systems without passing through a controlled choke point.
Encryption: TLS 1.2+ enforcement on all payment data in transit, TLS 1.3 configuration for new systems, elimination of weak cipher suites, certificate management. For stored data: confirming that PANs are either not stored or are truncated, hashed, or encrypted with proper key management.
Access control: Least-privilege review of all CDE system accounts, unique user IDs for all CDE access, multi-factor authentication implementation (required for all CDE access under PCI DSS v4.0), privileged access management for administrative accounts.
Logging and monitoring: Audit log configuration across all CDE systems, log integrity protection, log retention (12 months minimum), SIEM integration for real-time alerting on critical events, daily log review procedure.
Vulnerability management: Patch management process documentation, quarterly ASV scan implementation, annual penetration test scope definition and vendor selection, web application firewall deployment for internet-facing payment applications.
Engagement Phases
Prioritisation
Classify all gaps by severity (card brand risk, audit failure probability) and effort. Identify quick wins (low effort, high impact). Build the remediation backlog with dependency mapping.
Technical Remediation Guides
For each gap: specific technical remediation steps, configuration examples, evidence collection guidance, and acceptance criteria. Tailored to your technology stack.
Evidence Templates
Pre-built evidence templates for each PCI DSS requirement: policy templates, procedure checklists, configuration standards, log review forms, and vulnerability scan schedules.
Tracking & Review
Weekly status reviews against the remediation backlog. Blockers escalated. Evidence reviewed before marking items complete.
Deliverables
Before & After
| Metric | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Gap Closure Rate | Unstructured remediation — gaps closed randomly, evidence not collected | Tracked closure with evidence collected at point of fix |
| QSA Audit Outcome | High risk of audit findings requiring post-audit remediation cycles | Evidence package reviewed before audit — pass first time |
| Team Clarity | Engineers don't know what 'done' looks like for each PCI DSS control | Acceptance criteria defined per gap — no ambiguity |
Tools We Use
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'evidence' mean in PCI DSS remediation?
Every PCI DSS control requires documented evidence that the control exists and works. Evidence varies by requirement: for firewall rules, it's an exported rule set with justification for each rule. For patch management, it's a scan report showing all systems patched within the required timeframe. For access control, it's a user access list with least-privilege justification. Our remediation guides tell you exactly what evidence to collect for each requirement — not vague 'maintain documentation' instructions.
How long does remediation typically take for a UAE merchant?
Timeline depends entirely on your gap analysis results and your team's capacity. Simple SAQ A gaps (policy documentation, vendor management) can be closed in 2-4 weeks. Medium complexity environments (SAQ C, partial controls in place) typically take 4-8 weeks. Complex environments with SAQ D gaps across network segmentation, access control, and logging can take 3-6 months. We build a realistic timeline based on your specific gap profile.
Do you implement the technical fixes or just guide us?
Our standard engagement is advisory: we provide detailed technical guides, configuration examples, and evidence templates, and your team implements. For clients without internal technical resources, we offer hands-on implementation support as an extended engagement. We confirm scope before kick-off.
What if we can't fix a gap in time for our audit?
PCI DSS allows compensating controls — alternative controls that provide equivalent protection to a requirement you cannot meet in the standard way. We identify where compensating controls are viable, document them correctly for QSA review, and assess their sustainability. Compensating controls are not a permanent substitute but can bridge the gap when a full remediation isn't achievable before an audit deadline.
Start Your PCI DSS Journey
Book a free 30-minute compliance discovery call with our PCI DSS specialists in Dubai. We assess your current posture and identify the fastest path to compliance — actionable findings in days.
Talk to an Expert