Card-brand exemption programs are nothing new.
Over the years, we’ve seen various versions appear, Visa Technology Innovation Program (TIP), Mastercard Validation Exemption (VEP), and now Mastercard’s Compliance Validation and Exemption Program (CVEP).
Each time a new acronym enters the conversation, merchants and acquirers are left asking the same questions:
What is CVEP? Does it replace PCI? Does it matter to me?
This blog gives you a straightforward breakdown of CVEP Readiness, why it’s circulating, and, most importantly, what merchants actually need to stay protected, with or without an exemption program.
Aperia Compliance does not promote exemption pathways.
But we do believe in educating partners so they can make informed, practical decisions rooted in risk management, not hype.
What is CVEP readiness?
CVEP is Mastercard’s Compliance and Validation Exemption Program, designed to evaluate whether certain cybersecurity controls are maintained continuously and effectively.
In simple terms:
PCI DSS defines what merchants must do.
CVEP focuses on how well security controls are being maintained over time.
It’s important to be clear:
CVEP does not replace PCI DSS.
CVEP does not eliminate merchant obligations.
Other card brands have not aligned behind CVEP.
CVEP is used instead of a validation program… not a universal standard.
And while it’s gaining attention, it’s still one of several evolving approaches to assessing merchant risk, not the future of compliance on its own.
Why CVEP is showing up in industry conversations
The interest around CVEP has less to do with the program itself and more to do with the challenges merchants and acquirers face today:
Attackers increasingly exploit known, unpatched vulnerabilities.
Annual compliance doesn’t match the speed of modern cyber threats.
Acquirers are expected to maintain better visibility into merchant risk.
“Checking the box” once a year is no longer enough to prevent breaches.
CVEP reflects a broader industry trend:
The shift toward continuous security validation, not one-time compliance.
Regardless of where exemption programs go next, the message is clear:
merchants need protections that work all year, not just during audit season.
What CVEP “readiness” really means
Here’s the real story:
A merchant doesn’t need to “chase” CVEP to be protected.
The controls CVEP references are the same baseline protections merchants need for day-to-day security, whether CVEP exists or not.
These include:
Credit monitoring
Dark web monitoring
Security awareness & education
Risk assessment & scoring
Business identity monitoring
Website malware monitoring
Endpoint & patch management
Incident response planning
These capabilities are not exclusive to CVEP. They are fundamental, practical security measures that reduce real risk.
CVEP readiness isn’t about qualifying for an exemption. It’s about having protections that consistently work.
How Aperia Compliance protects merchants, with or without exemption programs
Aperia Compliance does not design its security solutions around exemption programs.
We design them around what merchants actually need:
layered, continuous, real-world protection.
When CVEP references certain controls, it’s not because CVEP invented them, it’s because they are industry best practices.
Aperia Compliance delivers these protections because they work, not because of any exemption framework.
Here’s how our solutions align with modern security needs:
• PCI Compliance & breach protection
Foundational compliance supported through PCI Apply, our streamlined platform for managing merchant security requirements and breach response.
• Script monitor
Real-time detection of unauthorized or malicious scripts, a leading cause of eCommerce breaches. delivered through Script Monitor.
• Endpoint & patch management
Automated vulnerability remediation and device protection that keeps systems secure between compliance cycles.
• Credit monitoring & dark web monitoring
Early warning for stolen credentials, compromised data, and identity-related threats.
• Security awareness education
Human-focused training that reduces phishing and social engineering risk.
• Website malware & activity monitoring
Alerts and guidance for addressing website-level compromises.
• Business identity monitoring
Visibility into risks tied to the business entity itself (not just card data).
• Incident response planning
Playbooks and support to help merchants respond effectively when issues arise.
A Unified, merchant-first approach
All of these capabilities are available within the Merchant Protection suite, giving SMBs a simplified, unified way to strengthen security without adding friction or complexity.
These protections support PCI.
They align naturally with what programs like CVEP reference.
And they help merchants stay secure, regardless of which acronym is trending.
The bottom line: build resilience, not reliance on acronyms
CVEP is one example of how card brands are experimenting with new validation methods.
It may evolve. It may fade. It may be replaced.
But the merchants who win long-term aren’t the ones chasing exemption pathways; they’re the ones investing in real, continuous protection.
Merchants with layered, monitored security will be ready no matter what:
PCI v4.0 requirements, exemption programs, or the next shift in card-brand strategy.
Strengthen your merchants. Reduce risk. Build resilience.
Aperia Compliance can help you do all three.
Learn more about how Aperia Compliance protects merchants year-round.