RBI System Audit Report (SAR)
The RBI requires payment aggregators, payment gateways and entities under the payment-data localisation mandate to file a System Audit Report prepared by a CERT-In empanelled auditor. We are empanelled and can sign yours.
- Eligible to sign
- CERT-In empanelled auditor
- Deliverable
- SAR in the prescribed format
- Typical timeline
- 6 to 10 weeks
Applicability
Who has to file one
If any of these describe you, a SAR is not optional, and the auditor's empanelment is checked as part of the filing.
- Payment aggregators: holding or applying for RBI authorisation
- Payment gateways: processing on behalf of merchants
- Entities under the payment-data localisation direction: storing payment data in India
- PA authorisation applicants: the SAR forms part of the application pack
- Prepaid instrument issuers: where their licence conditions specify it
Scope of Assessment
What We Assess
The areas we examine during a RBI System Audit Report (SAR) engagement, and what each one is looking for.
Payment data storage & localisation
Where payment data physically resides, what is stored beyond permitted limits, and whether purge timelines are met and evidenced.
Network segmentation
Isolation of the payment environment from corporate and development networks, and the controls at each boundary.
Access & key management
Privileged access to payment systems, key generation and rotation, HSM usage, and the review trail behind both.
Application security
Security testing of the payment stack and APIs, secure SDLC evidence, and the remediation record for prior findings.
Merchant onboarding
Due diligence, KYC and risk categorisation of merchants, and monitoring for prohibited categories.
Incident response & reporting
Detection capability and whether reporting timelines to the RBI and CERT-In can actually be met under load.
Business continuity
RTO and RPO for payment services, and evidence that failover has been tested rather than documented.
Vendor & third-party risk
Concentration risk, contractual security obligations, and the assurance you hold over each critical provider.
Engagement Sequence
How QuassrCyberTech Delivers
A structured delivery sequence that converts assessment insights into measurable resilience outcomes.
Scoping & applicability
Confirm which circulars apply to your entity type, fix the audit boundary, and agree the evidence list.
Evidence collection & control testing
Configuration review, log and access sampling, technical testing of the payment environment, and interviews with the teams who operate it.
Findings & remediation window
Findings issued with severity and remediation guidance. You fix; we re-test.
Report issuance
SAR prepared in the prescribed format, with the auditor's empanelment details, and issued for your filing.
Where This Lands
Industry Application
FinTech & Digital Payments
SAR filings for payment aggregators and gateways ahead of RBI authorisation and renewal.
Banking & Financial Services
System audits for bank-backed payment processing and card infrastructure.
SaaS & Technology
Audit support for platforms operating payment rails under an RBI authorisation.
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Platform intelligence that accelerates delivery, strengthens execution, and improves measurable outcomes.
AI-Powered Asset Intelligence & Vulnerability Management
Our RBI System Audit Report (SAR) engagements are accelerated by QStellar, combining platform intelligence with advisory and execution delivery.
- Asset discovery and continuous visibility
- Vulnerability intelligence with risk prioritization
- Configuration drift and exposure monitoring
Related Services
Related Capabilities
Explore adjacent capability pillars commonly delivered alongside this engagement stream.
READY TO BEGIN?
Filing a SAR this year?
Send us your entity type and licence category. We'll confirm applicability and give you the evidence list before you commit to anything.