What is one of the major responsibilities of payment brands?

One of the major responsibilities of payment brands is endorsing QSA (Qualified Security Assessor) and ASV (Approved Scanning Vendor) qualifications. Payment brands, which include major credit card networks, have established protocols and requirements for the security of cardholder data. By endorsing QSAs and ASVs, they ensure that there are qualified security professionals and vendors that can assist merchants in meeting the security standards set forth by the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

The endorsement process involves verifying the capabilities, qualifications, and expertise of these assessors and vendors, which helps maintain a high standard of compliance and security within the payment ecosystem. This aspect is critical because it helps protect sensitive payment information and builds trust in the payment brands themselves.

In contrast, while research and development, providing merchant loans, and collecting user feedback are important elements in the broader context of business operations, they do not directly pertain to the primary responsibilities associated with payment brands in terms of security oversight and compliance enforcement. The focus on endorsing QSAs and ASVs is specifically aligned with ensuring that industry standards for data security are upheld.