Security & Compliance
Security is a structural property, not a feature
Security failures in commerce have direct commercial consequences.
Data breaches, compliance violations, platform downtime and reputational damage are not abstract risks — they are documented, recurring outcomes of poorly secured environments.
We design and build commerce platforms where security is a structural property of the architecture, applied consistently across infrastructure, application and operational practice.
PCI-aware architecture
Any platform that processes, stores or transmits cardholder data operates within the scope of Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requirements.
Formal PCI DSS certification is the responsibility of the merchant and their qualified security assessor (QSA). However, the architecture of the platform has a direct bearing on the scope and complexity of that certification process.
We design environments with PCI scope in mind — isolating cardholder data environments, reducing the surface area subject to assessment and implementing controls that support rather than complicate the certification process. Where engagements require closer involvement with PCI compliance programmes, we work alongside clients and their QSAs to ensure the technical environment reflects what is needed.
Approved Scanning Vendor
(ASV) scans
PCI DSS requires that organisations handling card data conduct regular vulnerability scans of their external-facing infrastructure using an Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV).
We support clients in scoping and coordinating ASV scanning activity, ensuring that the infrastructure we manage is prepared for assessment and that identified findings are addressed within appropriate timescales.
This reduces the operational burden on internal teams and ensures scanning activity is handled within a structured process rather than reactively.
Data encryption
at rest and in transit
Sensitive data must be protected whether it is stored or moving between systems.
Encryption at rest ensures that stored data — customer records, order history, pricing data, credentials — is protected in the event of unauthorised access to the underlying storage. Encryption in transit ensures that data moving between services, APIs and end users cannot be intercepted.
Both are implemented as standard across our managed environments, using current encryption standards aligned to best practice.
Private networking
and access controls
Not everything should be publicly accessible.
Internal services, databases, administrative interfaces and integration endpoints are placed within private network boundaries where external exposure is not required. Access to sensitive systems is controlled through defined policies, with least-privilege principles applied to service accounts and human access.
This reduces the attack surface and limits the blast radius if any single component is compromised.
WAF, firewall
and DDoS protection
Commerce platforms face a broad range of application-layer and network-level threats.
SQL injection, cross-site scripting, credential stuffing, bot traffic and volumetric DDoS attacks are among them. Web Application Firewall (WAF) protection filters malicious requests at the edge, before they reach application logic. Rulesets are maintained and updated as threat patterns evolve. DDoS mitigation protects platform availability during volumetric attack events.
We work primarily with Cloudflare and AWS Shield Advanced, both of which provide enterprise-grade WAF and DDoS protection with managed rulesets. Where clients have existing tooling or provider preferences, we align to those requirements. The objective is appropriate, correctly configured protection — not a fixed product recommendation.
WAF rulesets are not set and forgotten. They are reviewed and maintained as part of ongoing security operations, with rules updated as new threat patterns emerge or platform changes affect the attack surface.
Vulnerability management
and hardening
Security is not a fixed state. New vulnerabilities are discovered continuously and platforms must be maintained accordingly.
Our vulnerability management approach covers:
Regular scanning of infrastructure and application components
Prioritisation and remediation of identified vulnerabilities
Operating system and dependency patching on a defined schedule
Hardening of server configurations to remove unnecessary services and default credentials
Proactive monitoring for newly disclosed threats relevant to the platform stack
Environments are not left static between deployments. Security posture is maintained as an ongoing operational responsibility.
Penetration testing
Vulnerability scanning identifies known issues. Penetration testing goes further.
Structured penetration testing simulates how an attacker would approach the platform, identifying weaknesses that automated scanning may not surface. This includes application-layer testing, authentication and authorisation review, and infrastructure-level assessment.
We support clients in scoping and coordinating penetration testing activity, whether as part of a platform launch, a compliance requirement or a periodic security review.
GDPR
and data residency
Organisations handling personal data of individuals in the United Kingdom (UK) or European Union (EU) operate under General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) obligations.
Infrastructure and application architecture affect how personal data is stored, processed and transferred. Data residency — where data physically resides — matters for compliance, particularly where cross-border data transfers are involved.
We design environments with data residency requirements in mind, ensuring that infrastructure choices support rather than complicate compliance obligations. Where engagements involve data protection impact assessments or formal compliance programmes, we engage with the relevant internal and external stakeholders accordingly.
Commercial impact
Security investment is frequently framed as cost. It is more accurately framed as risk reduction with a quantifiable return.
A single significant security incident — data breach, prolonged downtime, compliance penalty — carries costs that dwarf the investment required to prevent it. Regulatory fines under GDPR can reach 4% of global annual turnover. PCI DSS non-compliance carries escalating penalties and the risk of losing the ability to process card payments.
Getting them right from the start is materially cheaper than remediation later.
We design commerce environments where security is a structural property, not an afterthought.
Find out how Security & Compliance can support your platform.
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