Also called: PCI scan, PCI vulnerability scan, Vulnerability scan
What a network security scan is
A network security scan checks your internet-facing systems for known vulnerabilities and misconfigurations that could expose your payment environment. It is one part of PCI DSS compliance, not a complete security assessment. A clean scan reports what the scan could detect at that time, but it does not prove every system is secure or that your business meets every PCI DSS requirement.
PCI DSS requirement 11.3.2 covers external vulnerability scans performed by an Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV). The scan is the security check; the ASV is the qualified vendor that performs and validates it. PCI DSS v4.0.1 is the current standard as of 2026.
A passing scan covers what it tested, not every security control your payment environment needs.
When you need a scan
PCI scan requirements depend on your compliance obligations and the way your business handles card data. Businesses that are required to complete ASV scans must scan their externally facing systems quarterly, or once every three months. Your acquiring bank or payment provider sets the documentation deadline and tells you where to submit the result.
The scan checks the systems and external addresses in scope. If you add an internet-facing system or change a firewall, update your asset list and confirm the scan covers the affected environment. A scan report only reflects the systems included and the conditions found when it ran.
How a failed or missed scan affects you
A failed or skipped scan can block PCI compliance validation, even if you have submitted your Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ). Your provider may keep a monthly PCI non-compliance fee on your account until it receives proof that you have met the scan requirement. This fee is a compliance charge, not the scan itself, and it is not a card-network assessment.
A scan report lists findings that need attention. Fix the identified vulnerabilities, then arrange a new scan and submit the passing result to the required compliance portal. Treating a clean report as proof of overall security leaves other PCI DSS controls, such as access restrictions and multi-factor authentication, unchecked.
What you can actually change
You cannot use a scan to replace other PCI DSS controls, but you can keep the required scan on schedule and close findings before they delay validation or add recurring charges.
- Confirm whether your PCI compliance level requires quarterly external scans and identify every system in scope.
- Schedule the scan with an ASV, then correct reported vulnerabilities and arrange a rescan.
- Submit the passing scan result and required compliance documents through your provider's portal, and set an annual reminder to revalidate.
- Confirm your scope. Identify the internet-facing systems in your payment environment and verify whether your PCI obligations require quarterly ASV scans.
- Close scan findings. Use the report to fix vulnerabilities, then complete a rescan to document the corrections.
- Submit your proof. Send the passing result and other required PCI documents through your acquirer or provider's compliance portal.
Frequently asked questions
What does a network security scan check?
It checks internet-facing systems in your payment environment for vulnerabilities and misconfigurations. The result describes what the scan found on the systems included at that time. It does not establish that your business meets every PCI DSS requirement or that all systems are secure.
How often do you need a PCI network security scan?
Businesses required to complete external ASV scans must scan quarterly, or once every three months. Your acquiring bank or payment provider sets the submission deadline and tells you how to provide the result.
Is a network security scan the same as an ASV?
No. The scan is the vulnerability check required under PCI DSS requirement 11.3.2. An Approved Scanning Vendor, or ASV, is the qualified vendor that performs and validates the external scan.