What is the focus of SAQ A-EP for e-commerce merchants?

SAQ A-EP is specifically designed for e-commerce merchants whose websites do not directly handle cardholder data but still have some influence over the security of the payment transaction process. This situation typically applies to merchants who may use third-party services (like payment gateways) for processing payments, yet their website's security and how they interact with those services can impact transaction security.

By ensuring compliance with the requirements outlined in SAQ A-EP, these merchants acknowledge their responsibility to maintain an environment that does not transmit sensitive cardholder data while still implementing necessary security measures to protect the overall transaction process.

Focusing on this target group is crucial since it helps ensure that while they don’t store or process cardholder information directly, they remain committed to maintaining a level of security that protects customer information and minimizes risk in the payment ecosystem.