Which entity determines compliance with the PCI DSS?

The PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) is responsible for the development and management of the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard). However, while the PCI SSC establishes the standards, compliance with the PCI DSS is determined through a validation process involving various stakeholders.

In practice, though the PCI SSC sets the standards, the actual assessment of compliance is typically conducted by Qualified Security Assessors (QSAs) who are certified by the PCI SSC. These QSAs evaluate whether a merchant or service provider meets the necessary criteria outlined in the PCI DSS. Thus, while the PCI SSC is the body that issues the standards and guidelines for compliance, the assessment results and compliance determination are carried out by accredited entities working under its framework.

The other choices do not directly address the oversight role of the PCI SSC. Individual merchants, cardholders, and acquiring banks play important roles in the ecosystem but do not determine compliance on behalf of the broader framework established by the PCI SSC. The individual merchant is responsible for implementing the standards, while cardholders do not evaluate compliance and acquiring banks may enforce compliance but do not set the standards themselves.