PCI DSS 4.0.1 requires visibility across infrastructure and the browser where payment data is handled. Qualys VMDR covers servers, networks, and systems with vulnerability scanning and ASV workflows aligned to Requirement 11.
Feroot PaymentGuard AI covers the client side at checkout, monitoring scripts and tags in real time to meet 6.4.3 and 11.6.1. Used together, they provide end-to-end visibility from back-end systems to client-side code..
Qualys VMDR: Vulnerability management and ASV scanning
Qualys focuses on infrastructure-level security. It continuously scans servers, operating systems, and applications for vulnerabilities, missing patches, or configuration weaknesses. Qualys also functions as an Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV), providing PCI-compliant external scans and reports for auditors. This supports PCI DSS 4.0 Requirements 11.3.1, 11.3.2, and 6.3.3, which govern regular vulnerability assessments and patch validation.
Key strengths:
- Cloud-based vulnerability scanning across servers, networks, and applications
- ASV certification for official PCI DSS external scans and reporting
- Authenticated internal scanning for full coverage of CDE systems
- Automated vulnerability prioritization and patch tracking
- Centralized dashboards and compliance summaries aligned with PCI DSS 4.0
Qualys VMDR provides visibility into infrastructure risks but does not monitor scripts or browser-based activity, which are now explicitly called out under PCI DSS 4.0.
Feroot PaymentGuard AI: Real-time client-side monitoring and compliance
PaymentGuard AI protects what happens after your website content reaches the browser. It continuously monitors all scripts, tags, and iFrames that execute on your payment pages to detect tampering, injection, or unauthorized data collection. These activities directly align with PCI DSS 4.0 Requirements 6.4.3 and 11.6.1, which mandate ongoing detection and prevention of client-side risks.
Key strengths:
- Maintains a real-time inventory of scripts and third-party tags across all payment pages
- Detects unauthorized changes or malicious behaviors within browser-executed code
- Automates evidence reporting for QSAs, mapped directly to PCI DSS 4.0 controls
- Fills visibility gaps missed by infrastructure scanners and WAF tools
PaymentGuard AI gives compliance and security teams assurance that what runs in the browser stays within policy and within scope.
Feature comparison table
| Capability | Feroot PaymentGuard AI | Qualys VMDR |
| Primary Focus | Real-time client-side security monitoring | Infrastructure vulnerability management |
| PCI DSS Requirements Covered | 6.4.3, 11.6.1 (client-side controls) | 11.3.1, 11.3.2, 6.3.3 (infrastructure testing) |
| Control Domains | Browser scripts, payment page integrity, and client-side behavior | Servers, networks, operating systems, and applications |
| Evidence Automation | Generates client-side compliance reports and alerts | Provides automated ASV scan reports and auditor-ready documentation |
| Client-Side Integrity (6.4.3 & 11.6.1) | Yes, core capability | No, focused on server and network infrastructure |
| Implementation time | 24 hours | Varies by environment scope |
| Best for | Teams needing client-side PCI 6.4.3/11.6.1, real-time script monitoring, 24-hour rollout, QSA-ready evidence, works with any CDN/WAF. | Teams needing infrastructure vulnerability management, ASV-certified PCI scanning for Requirements 11.3.1/11.3.2/6.3.3, automated patch tracking across servers and networks. |
When to Choose Each Solution
Choose Feroot PaymentGuard AI first if:
- You need to achieve PCI DSS 4.0.1 Requirements 6.4.3 or 11.6.1 compliance (mandatory as of March 2025)
- You’ve failed a recent PCI audit due to client-side security gaps
- You have third-party scripts or marketing tags on payment pages
- Your QSA identified gaps in client-side monitoring during your last assessment
- You want rapid deployment (24 hours) with minimal IT resources
Choose Qualys VMDR first if:
- You need ASV-certified external vulnerability scans for PCI compliance
- You’re lacking infrastructure vulnerability management across your CDE
- You need to satisfy Requirements 11.3.1, 11.3.2, or 6.3.3
- You require automated patch tracking and vulnerability prioritization
- You’re building foundational security controls for your infrastructure
Deploy both solutions when:
- You need comprehensive PCI DSS 4.0.1 compliance across all requirements
- You’re a Level 1 or Level 2 merchant with high transaction volumes
- You’re implementing PCI DSS 4.0.1 compliance from the ground up
- You need visibility from infrastructure through to browser environments
FAQ
Does Qualys VMDR monitor client-side scripts for PCI DSS compliance?
No. Qualys VMDR focuses on infrastructure vulnerability management for servers, networks, and applications. It does not provide the script-level monitoring and behavior analysis required by PCI DSS Requirements 6.4.3 and 11.6.1. Qualys scans your infrastructure for vulnerabilities, while Feroot monitors what individual scripts do in the browser to ensure PCI compliance. They serve different security layers.
Do I need both solutions for PCI DSS 4.0.1 compliance?
PCI DSS 4.0.1 requires both infrastructure vulnerability management and client-side script monitoring. Qualys VMDR satisfies infrastructure requirements (11.3.1, 11.3.2, and 6.3.3), while Feroot provides the client-side script monitoring mandated by Requirements 6.4.3 and 11.6.1. If you’re subject to PCI DSS 4.0.1, you need both infrastructure scanning and a client-side solution like Feroot for complete compliance.
How quickly can I deploy Feroot PaymentGuard AI?
Most customers are monitoring production payment pages within 24 hours. Deployment involves adding a lightweight JavaScript tag, no infrastructure changes required. Feroot’s “set and forget” approach means the AI immediately begins learning approved script behavior, and you can enable automated blocking within 24 to 48 hours. Minimal ongoing maintenance required after initial setup.
How PaymentGuard AI and Qualys VMDR work together
PaymentGuard AI and Qualys VMDR protect different attack surfaces within the PCI DSS 4.0 framework. Qualys focuses on what can go wrong inside your infrastructure. PaymentGuard AI focuses on what can go wrong inside your user’s browser.
Different security layers:
- Qualys scans: Servers, operating systems, and network devices for vulnerabilities and configuration errors.
- PaymentGuard AI monitors: JavaScript and third-party scripts that execute inside browsers after your page loads.
Example:
Qualys might identify that a web server is missing a critical security patch or that an SSL configuration does not meet PCI standards. At the same time, PaymentGuard AI would detect if an analytics script loaded on your payment page suddenly began sending cardholder data to an unknown domain. Both findings are vital to maintaining PCI DSS 4.0 compliance, but they protect entirely different environments.
Why both are needed:
PCI DSS 4.0 requires proof that you are regularly scanning your infrastructure for vulnerabilities and continuously monitoring your client-side scripts for unauthorized changes. Qualys satisfies infrastructure requirements (11.3.1, 11.3.2, and 6.3.3), while PaymentGuard AI automates compliance for client-side requirements (6.4.3 and 11.6.1). Together, they complete the picture of continuous protection and verifiable compliance.
Summary
Feroot PaymentGuard AI and Qualys VMDR work best as part of the same PCI DSS 4.0 strategy. Qualys protects your infrastructure, ensuring servers, networks, and systems stay secure and compliant through regular vulnerability scans and patch tracking. PaymentGuard AI protects your browser environment, detecting unauthorized script behavior and automating evidence for 6.4.3 and 11.6.1. Used together, they provide full PCI DSS 4.0 coverage across the entire payment ecosystem, giving your team both visibility and assurance from the server to the screen.
See how PaymentGuard AI automates compliance, book your free demo today.
