Best PCI DSS Consultancy in the UK (2026)
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The short answer
A good PCI DSS consultancy is a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) company listed by the PCI Security Standards Council, with its own QSAs leading the assessment. It should have scope-reduction experience, cover SAQ, ROC, ASV scanning and penetration testing, and have a UK presence. Check the Council’s public listing before you sign.
“Best” depends on your scope, level and timeline. This page sets out criteria and sourced facts; it is not a ranking of other companies.
How to choose a PCI DSS consultancy
Six checks apply to any PCI DSS consultancy, including us. Each can be verified before you sign.
QSA company status
Only a QSA company listed by the PCI Security Standards Council can issue a Report on Compliance. Search the Council’s public listing, and note whether the company is flagged as in remediation.
QSA-led work
Ask who will do the assessment. The QSA you speak to at scoping should be the QSA who assesses your controls, not only the person who signs the report.
Scope-reduction experience
Segmentation, tokenisation and PCI-listed P2PE solutions can take systems out of scope. Ask how the consultancy would approach scope reduction in your environment.
Services across SAQ, ROC, ASV and penetration testing
PCI DSS also needs quarterly ASV scans and annual penetration testing. Ask which of these the firm delivers itself and which it arranges through a partner. ASV scans must be performed by an Approved Scanning Vendor.
UK presence
A UK-based team helps with time zones, UK acquirers and UK regulation. Check the regions shown on the Council’s listing, and ask where the assessment team is based.
Clear scope and fee basis
Ask for a written scope and fee basis that states what is included, so that proposals can be compared like for like.
UK PCI QSA companies: a factual comparison
Every company below is listed as a Qualified Security Assessor company by the PCI Security Standards Council. The selection is illustrative, not exhaustive, and is in alphabetical order. Facts are taken from the Council’s listing and from each company’s own public pages, read on 2026-11-06. Numbers in brackets link to the sources below.
| Company | Listed as QSA company by PCI SSC (regions) | UK presence published by the company | Services found on the pages cited | Year published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sequence CyberListed as: 1 SEQUENCE CYBER LIMITED | Yes. Regions listed: Europe, USA.1 | Registered office in Milton Keynes; Milton Keynes contact address published.2,3 | Incorporated 16 October 2024 (Companies House).2 | |
| BridewellListed as: Bridewell Consulting Limited | Yes. Regions listed: Europe, USA, Malaysia.1 | Offices listed: Reading, London, Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh.9 | Pages reviewed9 | No founding year stated on the page reviewed.9 |
| DionachListed as: Dionach | Yes. Regions listed: Europe, USA.1 | UK telephone number published; no office city stated on the pages reviewed.10,11 | No founding year stated on the page reviewed.11 | |
| ForegenixListed as: Foregenix Ltd. | Yes. Regions listed: Europe, USA, CEMEA, Asia Pacific, LAC.1 | Address published in Swindon.13 | 2009 (“since its inception in 2009”).13 | |
| Pen Test PartnersListed as: Pen Test Partners LLP | Yes. Regions listed: Europe, USA.1 | Office address published in Buckingham.15 | Pages reviewed16 | 2010 (“providing cybersecurity expertise … since 2010”).15 |
| URM ConsultingListed as: URM CONSULTING SERVICES LTD | Yes. Regions listed: Europe, USA.1 | No office city stated on the pages reviewed.17,18 | Established as a separate legal entity in July 2005 (information security division from 2002).18 |
A service that is not shown for a company was not found on the pages reviewed. That says nothing about whether the company offers it. “Year published” is the year each company states, or, for 1 Sequence Cyber, the Companies House incorporation date, so the figures are not like-for-like. If you spot an error, email contact@1sequencecyber.com and we will check and correct it.
Sources
- [1] PCI Security Standards Council — Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) company listing (queried via the page search, program QSA). https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/assessors_and_solutions/qualified_security_assessors/ Accessed 2026-11-06.
- [2] Companies House — 1 Sequence Cyber Limited (16021460). https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/16021460 Accessed 2026-11-06.
- [3] 1 Sequence Cyber — Contact page. /contact Accessed 2026-11-06.
- [4] 1 Sequence Cyber — PCI DSS service page. /services/pci-dss Accessed 2026-11-06.
- [5] 1 Sequence Cyber — Penetration Testing service page. /services/penetration-testing Accessed 2026-11-06.
- [6] 1 Sequence Cyber — ISO 27001 service page. /services/iso-27001 Accessed 2026-11-06.
- [7] 1 Sequence Cyber — SOC 2 service page. /services/soc-2 Accessed 2026-11-06.
- [8] 1 Sequence Cyber — ASV scanning service page. /services/asv-scanning Accessed 2026-11-06.
- [9] Bridewell — home page. https://www.bridewell.com/ Accessed 2026-11-06.
- [10] Dionach — home page. https://dionach.com/ Accessed 2026-11-06.
- [11] Dionach — About us. https://dionach.com/about-us/ Accessed 2026-11-06.
- [12] Dionach — PCI DSS page. https://dionach.com/services/compliance/pci-dss/ Accessed 2026-11-06.
- [13] Foregenix — home page. https://www.foregenix.com/ Accessed 2026-11-06.
- [14] Foregenix — PCI DSS page. https://www.foregenix.com/services/compliance-and-risk/pci-dss Accessed 2026-11-06.
- [15] Pen Test Partners — About us. https://www.pentestpartners.com/about-us/ Accessed 2026-11-06.
- [16] Pen Test Partners — PCI ROC Level 1 Assessment page. https://www.pentestpartners.com/service/pci-roc-level-1-assessment/ Accessed 2026-11-06.
- [17] URM Consulting — home page. https://www.urmconsulting.com/ Accessed 2026-11-06.
- [18] URM Consulting — About. https://www.urmconsulting.com/about Accessed 2026-11-06.
- [19] URM Consulting — PCI DSS page. https://www.urmconsulting.com/information-security/pci-dss Accessed 2026-11-06.
Why 1 Sequence Cyber
Measured against the six checks above, this is what we publish about ourselves.
PCI SSC-listed QSA company
1 Sequence Cyber Limited appears on the PCI Security Standards Council’s listing of Qualified Security Assessor companies. About 1 Sequence Cyber.
QSA-led ROC and SAQ support
Reports on Compliance are QSA-led, and Self-Assessment Questionnaire support covers scoping, control-gap fixes, evidence handling and submission. The QSA on the scoping call is the QSA on the engagement. PCI DSS audits and compliance.
Scope reduction
Cardholder data environment scoping and reduction, including network segmentation, P2PE solution selection and tokenisation. Secure payment solutions.
Manual testing, reported against PCI DSS Requirement 11.4
Penetration testing, relevant to PCI DSS Requirement 11.4. Penetration testing.
ASV scanning, through a partner
Quarterly scans are run by a PCI SSC Approved Scanning Vendor partner. We manage the scope, triage and evidence. We are not an ASV ourselves. ASV scanning.
Wider assurance in one place
ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certified, Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus, and SOC 2 readiness delivered with an AICPA-licensed CPA partner. ISO 27001.
UK-incorporated, Milton Keynes
A UK-incorporated consultancy with its registered office at Acorn House, Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes. Contact us.
PCI DSS consultancy: frequently asked questions
What is a QSA, and what is a QSA company?
A Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) is an individual qualified by the PCI Security Standards Council to assess compliance with PCI DSS. A QSA company is the firm that employs QSAs and is itself listed by the Council. Only a listed QSA company can issue a Report on Compliance (ROC).
How do I check that a consultancy is a PCI QSA company?
Search the PCI Security Standards Council’s public Qualified Security Assessor listing, which shows each company’s name, regions and website, and whether it is in remediation. Do not rely on a logo or a website claim alone. A firm that is not on the listing cannot sign your ROC, although it may still offer advisory support.
Does a small merchant need a QSA?
Usually not. Most smaller merchants validate compliance with a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) rather than a ROC, and your acquirer decides which applies. A QSA is typically required for Level 1 merchants and many service providers, but smaller merchants often use a QSA company for scoping and SAQ guidance. Ask your acquirer which level and validation type apply to you.
What is the difference between a ROC and an SAQ?
A Report on Compliance (ROC) is a formal report written by a QSA after an on-site assessment, typically required for Level 1 merchants and most service providers. A Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) is completed by the merchant to validate its own compliance, often with QSA support. Both end with an Attestation of Compliance (AOC).
How long does a PCI DSS assessment take?
As a guide, a Level 1 ROC engagement runs about 8 to 16 weeks end to end, including gap assessment, remediation and the on-site assessment. SAQ engagements are usually shorter, at about 4 to 8 weeks. Scope, control maturity and how quickly your team can provide evidence are the main drivers.
What drives the cost of PCI DSS compliance?
The main drivers are your merchant or service-provider level, the number of in-scope systems and the number of locations. Reducing scope through segmentation, tokenisation or a PCI-listed P2PE solution can reduce the work. Ask each consultancy for a written fee basis that states what is included.
What changed in PCI DSS v4.0.1?
PCI DSS v4.0.1, published in June 2024, is a limited revision of v4.0 that clarifies wording and corrects errors; it did not add new requirements. PCI DSS v4.0 was retired on 31 December 2024. The requirements that v4.0 marked as future-dated became mandatory on 31 March 2025.
Do I need ASV scans and penetration testing as well as an assessment?
Usually yes. PCI DSS Requirement 11.3.2 requires external vulnerability scans at least every three months, performed by an Approved Scanning Vendor. Requirement 11.4 requires penetration testing at least annually and after significant change. A consultancy can arrange these for you, but the scans must be performed by an ASV.
Does my QSA need to be based in the UK?
No. PCI DSS does not require a UK-based assessor, and the Council’s listing shows the regions each QSA company serves. A UK presence can still help with time zones, UK acquirers and UK regulation such as UK GDPR. Check the regions on the listing and ask where the assessment team is based.
What is scope reduction, and does it matter when choosing a consultancy?
Scope reduction removes systems from your cardholder data environment so that they are not assessed. Common techniques are network segmentation, tokenisation and using a PCI-listed P2PE solution. A smaller scope usually means a shorter, simpler assessment, so ask a prospective consultancy how it would approach it for your environment.
Talk to a QSA about your scope
Tell us your acquirer level and your last assessment date, and we will come back with a proposal. You can also start a chat with the team using the chat button on this page.