PCI ISA (LATEST) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100% CORRECT!! 2026/2027 2026/2027 | Page 1 | Passing Score: 80%
PCI SECURITY STANDARDS COUNCIL
PCI ISA (LATEST) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
VERIFIED 100% CORRECT!! 2026/2027
PCI INTERNAL SECURITY ASSESSOR - Official Exam 2026/2027
100 80% CERTIFIED
QUESTIONS PASSING SCORE RECERTIFICATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 PCI DSS Requirements & Compliance Q1-25
Section 2 Cardholder Data Environment & Network Security Q26-47
Section 3 Vulnerability Management & Access Control Q48-69
Section 4 Monitoring, Testing & Incident Response Q70-87
Section 5 Reporting, Remediation & Assessment Procedures Q88-100
Instructions: Select the single best answer for each question. This exam is designed for PCI Internal Security Assessor
(ISA) certification preparation. Passing score: 80% (80 questions correct).
PCI ISA (LATEST) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100% CORRECT!! 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 1 of 52
,SECTION 1 | PCI DSS Requirements & Compliance | Q1-Q25 | PCI ISA (LATEST) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100%
CORRECT!! 2026/2027 2026/2027
Q1 Question 1 of 100
A QSA is assessing a Level 1 service provider that processes over 300,000 transactions
annually. The organization has not completed its annual Report on Compliance (ROC) for the
current year. According to PCI DSS Requirement 12, what is the compliance status and
consequence for this service provider?
A. The service provider is non-compliant and may face fines from payment card brands,
increased transaction fees, or loss of card processing privileges
B. The service provider remains compliant if it has completed an SAQ within 90 days of the ROC
due date
C. The service provider can substitute a vulnerability scan report for the ROC if submitted within
60 days
D. The service provider is automatically downgraded to Level 4 and must complete only an SAQ
A
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Level 1 service providers must complete an annual ROC by a QSA. Failure to do so results in non-compliance
status, which can lead to fines from card brands, higher processing fees, or termination of processing
capabilities. SAQs cannot substitute for a ROC at Level 1, and vulnerability scans do not replace the full
assessment.
Q2 Question 2 of 100
A merchant asks their ISA about the difference between PCI DSS validation and compliance.
The merchant believes that passing an annual assessment means they are fully compliant
year-round. What should the ISA explain about this misconception?
A. Validation confirms compliance at a point in time, but compliance requires maintaining
all controls continuously throughout the year
B. Validation and compliance are identical concepts, so passing the assessment proves
year-round compliance
C. Compliance is only required during the assessment period and can lapse between annual
reviews without consequence
D. Validation is optional for Level 1 merchants, so compliance is determined solely by
self-assessment
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
PCI DSS validation confirms that controls were in place and effective at the time of assessment, but
compliance requires continuous adherence to all requirements throughout the year. Organizations that make
changes to their environment or fail to maintain controls between assessments may fall out of compliance
even with a valid ROC.
PCI ISA (LATEST) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100% CORRECT!! 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 2 of 52
,Q3 Question 3 of 100
An organization is determining its PCI DSS merchant level. The business processes 2.5
million Visa transactions annually and also accepts Mastercard and American Express.
According to the card brand tier definitions, what merchant level applies to this organization?
A. Level 1, because it processes over 1 million transactions per year across any card
brand
B. Level 2, because it processes between 1 million and 6 million Visa transactions only
C. Level 3, because the transaction count is below 6 million across all brands combined
D. Level 4, because it processes fewer than 20,000 e-commerce transactions
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
A merchant that processes over 1 million transactions per year (across any single card brand) qualifies as
Level 1. The 2.5 million Visa transactions alone exceed the 1 million threshold. Level 1 designation requires
an annual ROC by a QSA rather than an SAQ, regardless of the other brand transaction counts.
Q4 Question 4 of 100
A company has experienced a data breach that compromised 50,000 cardholder accounts.
The acquiring bank has notified the merchant that it must undergo a PCI Forensic
Investigation (PFI). The merchant asks the ISA what this means for their PCI DSS
obligations. What is the correct explanation?
A. The PFI is a mandatory investigation conducted by a PFI-approved assessor to
determine the scope and cause of the breach, and the merchant must cooperate fully
while remediating all identified gaps
B. The PFI is a voluntary process that replaces the annual ROC requirement for the current year
C. The PFI only applies to service providers and the merchant can opt for a standard SAQ instead
D. The PFI is conducted internally by the merchant's own IT team without external assessor
involvement
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
A PCI Forensic Investigation is mandatory when a breach affects cardholder data and is conducted by a
PFI-approved assessor. The merchant must cooperate with the investigation, which determines the breach
scope and root cause. The PFI does not replace the ROC obligation, cannot be substituted with an SAQ, and
requires an external qualified assessor rather than internal staff.
PCI ISA (LATEST) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100% CORRECT!! 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 3 of 52
, Q5 Question 5 of 100
During a PCI DSS assessment, a QSA discovers that an organization has implemented
Requirement 3 (Protect stored account data) but has not documented the data retention
policy required under Requirement 3.2. The QSA must determine the correct finding. How
should this be classified?
A. The organization has a non-compliant finding because PCI DSS requires both the
implementation of controls and the supporting documentation and policies
B. The organization is compliant because the technical controls for data protection are in place,
regardless of documentation
C. The organization receives a compensating control waiver if the technical controls function
correctly
D. The finding should be marked as not applicable since data retention policies fall outside PCI
DSS scope
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
PCI DSS compliance requires both technical implementation and documented policies and procedures.
Requirement 3.2 specifically mandates a data retention policy that specifies minimum data retention needs.
The absence of this documentation is a non-compliant finding even if the technical controls for data protection
are functioning. Compensating controls cannot replace a required policy document.
Q6 Question 6 of 100
A Level 2 merchant wants to use SAQ B-IP instead of SAQ D. The merchant processes
transactions through IP-connected point-of-sale terminals and does not store cardholder data
electronically. However, the merchant does store paper receipts with full PANs in an
unlocked filing cabinet. Which SAQ is appropriate?
A. SAQ B-IP is appropriate because the merchant uses IP-connected POS terminals and does
not store electronic cardholder data
B. SAQ C is appropriate because the merchant uses payment terminals connected to the network
C. SAQ D is required because the insecure storage of paper receipts with full PANs
disqualifies the merchant from the narrower SAQ categories
D. SAQ A is appropriate because the merchant outsources all payment processing to a third party
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
SAQ B-IP requires that the merchant not store any cardholder data (including paper records with full PANs)
and must secure any paper records. Storing full PAN paper receipts in an unlocked cabinet violates this
requirement, making the merchant ineligible for SAQ B-IP. SAQ D is the fallback category that applies when
merchants do not meet the criteria for narrower SAQs.
PCI ISA (LATEST) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100% CORRECT!! 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 4 of 52
PCI SECURITY STANDARDS COUNCIL
PCI ISA (LATEST) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
VERIFIED 100% CORRECT!! 2026/2027
PCI INTERNAL SECURITY ASSESSOR - Official Exam 2026/2027
100 80% CERTIFIED
QUESTIONS PASSING SCORE RECERTIFICATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 PCI DSS Requirements & Compliance Q1-25
Section 2 Cardholder Data Environment & Network Security Q26-47
Section 3 Vulnerability Management & Access Control Q48-69
Section 4 Monitoring, Testing & Incident Response Q70-87
Section 5 Reporting, Remediation & Assessment Procedures Q88-100
Instructions: Select the single best answer for each question. This exam is designed for PCI Internal Security Assessor
(ISA) certification preparation. Passing score: 80% (80 questions correct).
PCI ISA (LATEST) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100% CORRECT!! 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 1 of 52
,SECTION 1 | PCI DSS Requirements & Compliance | Q1-Q25 | PCI ISA (LATEST) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100%
CORRECT!! 2026/2027 2026/2027
Q1 Question 1 of 100
A QSA is assessing a Level 1 service provider that processes over 300,000 transactions
annually. The organization has not completed its annual Report on Compliance (ROC) for the
current year. According to PCI DSS Requirement 12, what is the compliance status and
consequence for this service provider?
A. The service provider is non-compliant and may face fines from payment card brands,
increased transaction fees, or loss of card processing privileges
B. The service provider remains compliant if it has completed an SAQ within 90 days of the ROC
due date
C. The service provider can substitute a vulnerability scan report for the ROC if submitted within
60 days
D. The service provider is automatically downgraded to Level 4 and must complete only an SAQ
A
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Level 1 service providers must complete an annual ROC by a QSA. Failure to do so results in non-compliance
status, which can lead to fines from card brands, higher processing fees, or termination of processing
capabilities. SAQs cannot substitute for a ROC at Level 1, and vulnerability scans do not replace the full
assessment.
Q2 Question 2 of 100
A merchant asks their ISA about the difference between PCI DSS validation and compliance.
The merchant believes that passing an annual assessment means they are fully compliant
year-round. What should the ISA explain about this misconception?
A. Validation confirms compliance at a point in time, but compliance requires maintaining
all controls continuously throughout the year
B. Validation and compliance are identical concepts, so passing the assessment proves
year-round compliance
C. Compliance is only required during the assessment period and can lapse between annual
reviews without consequence
D. Validation is optional for Level 1 merchants, so compliance is determined solely by
self-assessment
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
PCI DSS validation confirms that controls were in place and effective at the time of assessment, but
compliance requires continuous adherence to all requirements throughout the year. Organizations that make
changes to their environment or fail to maintain controls between assessments may fall out of compliance
even with a valid ROC.
PCI ISA (LATEST) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100% CORRECT!! 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 2 of 52
,Q3 Question 3 of 100
An organization is determining its PCI DSS merchant level. The business processes 2.5
million Visa transactions annually and also accepts Mastercard and American Express.
According to the card brand tier definitions, what merchant level applies to this organization?
A. Level 1, because it processes over 1 million transactions per year across any card
brand
B. Level 2, because it processes between 1 million and 6 million Visa transactions only
C. Level 3, because the transaction count is below 6 million across all brands combined
D. Level 4, because it processes fewer than 20,000 e-commerce transactions
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
A merchant that processes over 1 million transactions per year (across any single card brand) qualifies as
Level 1. The 2.5 million Visa transactions alone exceed the 1 million threshold. Level 1 designation requires
an annual ROC by a QSA rather than an SAQ, regardless of the other brand transaction counts.
Q4 Question 4 of 100
A company has experienced a data breach that compromised 50,000 cardholder accounts.
The acquiring bank has notified the merchant that it must undergo a PCI Forensic
Investigation (PFI). The merchant asks the ISA what this means for their PCI DSS
obligations. What is the correct explanation?
A. The PFI is a mandatory investigation conducted by a PFI-approved assessor to
determine the scope and cause of the breach, and the merchant must cooperate fully
while remediating all identified gaps
B. The PFI is a voluntary process that replaces the annual ROC requirement for the current year
C. The PFI only applies to service providers and the merchant can opt for a standard SAQ instead
D. The PFI is conducted internally by the merchant's own IT team without external assessor
involvement
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
A PCI Forensic Investigation is mandatory when a breach affects cardholder data and is conducted by a
PFI-approved assessor. The merchant must cooperate with the investigation, which determines the breach
scope and root cause. The PFI does not replace the ROC obligation, cannot be substituted with an SAQ, and
requires an external qualified assessor rather than internal staff.
PCI ISA (LATEST) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100% CORRECT!! 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 3 of 52
, Q5 Question 5 of 100
During a PCI DSS assessment, a QSA discovers that an organization has implemented
Requirement 3 (Protect stored account data) but has not documented the data retention
policy required under Requirement 3.2. The QSA must determine the correct finding. How
should this be classified?
A. The organization has a non-compliant finding because PCI DSS requires both the
implementation of controls and the supporting documentation and policies
B. The organization is compliant because the technical controls for data protection are in place,
regardless of documentation
C. The organization receives a compensating control waiver if the technical controls function
correctly
D. The finding should be marked as not applicable since data retention policies fall outside PCI
DSS scope
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
PCI DSS compliance requires both technical implementation and documented policies and procedures.
Requirement 3.2 specifically mandates a data retention policy that specifies minimum data retention needs.
The absence of this documentation is a non-compliant finding even if the technical controls for data protection
are functioning. Compensating controls cannot replace a required policy document.
Q6 Question 6 of 100
A Level 2 merchant wants to use SAQ B-IP instead of SAQ D. The merchant processes
transactions through IP-connected point-of-sale terminals and does not store cardholder data
electronically. However, the merchant does store paper receipts with full PANs in an
unlocked filing cabinet. Which SAQ is appropriate?
A. SAQ B-IP is appropriate because the merchant uses IP-connected POS terminals and does
not store electronic cardholder data
B. SAQ C is appropriate because the merchant uses payment terminals connected to the network
C. SAQ D is required because the insecure storage of paper receipts with full PANs
disqualifies the merchant from the narrower SAQ categories
D. SAQ A is appropriate because the merchant outsources all payment processing to a third party
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
SAQ B-IP requires that the merchant not store any cardholder data (including paper records with full PANs)
and must secure any paper records. Storing full PAN paper receipts in an unlocked cabinet violates this
requirement, making the merchant ineligible for SAQ B-IP. SAQ D is the fallback category that applies when
merchants do not meet the criteria for narrower SAQs.
PCI ISA (LATEST) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100% CORRECT!! 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 4 of 52
