Compliance for a Global Payment Provider: Ensuring Security and Resilience with HiQ

Client: A global leader in payment solutions
Industry: Financial Services & Payments
Solution Area: Compliance and Cybersecurity Enhancements

The Challenge: Meeting Stringent Security Requirements

Operating in the global payments industry, the customer develops software for secure payment transactions. Safeguarding sensitive data, particularly credit card information, is critical—not just for regulatory compliance but also for maintaining customer trust and business viability.

Recently, the customer became part of a larger organization, which introduced new information security requirementsto ensure compliance with frameworks like PCI DSS and ISO 27001. The key challenge was to:

• Implement these security measures swiftly without disrupting operations.
• Maintain the customer’s agile development culture while aligning with the rigorous demands of security certifications.

Balancing these objectives required a partner capable of bridging the gap between technical implementation and organizational change.

The Solution: Streamlined Compliance Through Collaborative Expertise

HiQ provided a dedicated team of cybersecurity consultants to guide the customer through the complex process of meeting their new security obligations. The approach focused on maintaining the agility of development teams while ensuring full compliance with security standards.

Key Contributions:

1. Process Redesign: HiQ helped define new workflows and development practices tailored to meet PCI DSS and ISO 27001 requirements.
2. Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC): Adapted development environments to embed security into every stage of the software development lifecycle.
3. Stakeholder Alignment: Managed differing interpretations of requirements across teams, facilitating collaboration and consensus.
4. Project Management: Provided structured oversight to ensure progress while maintaining the customer’s agile pace.

HiQ’s pragmatic approach combined deep technical expertise with a nuanced understanding of organizational dynamics, enabling seamless integration of compliance measures into daily operations.ining efficiency and reliability

Results: Secure, Agile, and Aligned

HiQ’s contributions have delivered significant results:

• Compliance Achieved: The customer successfully met PCI DSS and ISO 27001 standards, ensuring the security of sensitive payment data.
• Cultural Retention: Agile development practices were preserved, maintaining team productivity and innovation.
• Organizational Ownership: Effective communication and change management fostered acceptance and ownership of the new processes across departments.

The project has not only strengthened the customer’s security posture but also prepared them for future challenges in a rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape.

HiQ’s Role: Bridging Development and Security

HiQ’s role extended beyond technical implementation, acting as a trusted partner in aligning security requirements with operational realities. Contributions included:

Strategic Guidance: Providing a roadmap for long-term resilience in cybersecurity.

Technical Expertise: Delivering tailored solutions to meet industry-specific compliance standards.

Organizational Change Management: Ensuring smooth adoption of new practices across teams and departments.

HiQ’s Edge: Pragmatic Security Solutions

HiQ’s strength lies in its ability to balance stringent security demands with the realities of modern development workflows. By combining a developer-first perspective with organizational insight, HiQ ensures its solutions are both effective and practical, minimizing disruption while maximizing security.