Your Cloud Infrastructure,
Compliance-Ready

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🔒 PCI-DSS Compliance

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) is required for any organization that stores, processes, or transmits credit card data. Version 4.0 introduces stricter requirements around authentication, encryption, and continuous monitoring.

Why Infrastructure Matters:

PCI-DSS compliance isn't just about policies—it requires a fundamentally secure infrastructure architecture. Your Cardholder Data Environment (CDE) must be isolated, encrypted, monitored, and protected from unauthorized access. Most organizations fail their initial assessments due to infrastructure gaps, not application issues.

Common Infrastructure Challenges:

• Network Segmentation: Improperly segmented networks exposing CDE to corporate systems
• Encryption Gaps: Data at rest unencrypted, weak TLS configurations, poor key management
• Access Control: Overly permissive firewall rules, lack of MFA, excessive privileged access
• Logging Blind Spots: Incomplete audit trails, no centralized log management, retention gaps
• Change Management: Undocumented changes, no approval workflows, configuration drift

How We Help You Pass:

• CDE Design & Implementation: Build isolated CDE with proper network segmentation using VNets/VPCs, NSGs, firewalls, and jump boxes
• Encryption Architecture: Implement end-to-end encryption with TLS 1.3, AES-256 at rest, HSM-backed key management, automated key rotation
• Zero Trust Access: Deploy MFA, PAM (Privileged Access Management), just-in-time access, session recording, and least-privilege RBAC
• Comprehensive Logging: Centralized log aggregation, tamper-proof storage, SIEM integration, automated alerting, 12-month retention
• Vulnerability Management: Automated scanning, patch management pipelines, penetration testing coordination, ASV (Approved Scanning Vendor) partnership
• Evidence Automation: Continuous collection of configuration snapshots, access logs, change records, and system hardening evidence

Cloud Platform Expertise:

• Azure: Virtual Networks, NSGs, Azure Firewall, Key Vault (HSM), Azure Monitor, Defender for Cloud, Policy enforcement
• AWS: VPC, Security Groups, WAF, KMS/CloudHSM, CloudWatch, GuardDuty, Config Rules, Systems Manager
• GCP: VPC, Firewall Rules, Cloud Armor, Cloud KMS/HSM, Cloud Logging, Security Command Center

Compliance Levels We Support:

• Level 1: 6M+ transactions/year (requires annual QSA audit + quarterly ASV scans)
• Level 2-4: Lower volumes (Self-Assessment Questionnaire + ASV scans)
• Service Providers: Special requirements for payment gateways and processors

Typical Timeline: 3-6 months from gap analysis to certification

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⚡ DORA Compliance

The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) is an EU regulation (effective January 2025) that mandates financial entities establish comprehensive ICT risk management frameworks. It applies to banks, insurance firms, investment companies, payment institutions, and their critical ICT service providers.

Why This Matters for Financial Services:

DORA represents a paradigm shift—moving from basic business continuity to holistic digital operational resilience. Regulators recognize that ICT failures can trigger systemic financial risk. Your infrastructure must withstand cyberattacks, system failures, and operational disruptions without compromising financial stability.

Infrastructure Challenges Under DORA:

• Resilience Architecture: Single points of failure, insufficient redundancy, no multi-region deployment strategy
• Recovery Capabilities: RTO/RPO not meeting regulatory expectations, untested DR procedures, poor backup strategies
• Third-Party Dependencies: Concentration risk with cloud providers, lack of exit strategies, insufficient SLA monitoring
• Threat Detection: Inadequate security monitoring, slow incident response, no threat-led penetration testing (TLPT)
• Change Management: Uncontrolled changes causing outages, insufficient testing environments, deployment risks

How We Build DORA-Compliant Infrastructure:

• ICT Risk Management Framework: Implement comprehensive risk identification, assessment, and treatment processes aligned with DORA Article 6
• Resilient Architecture: Multi-zone/multi-region deployments, active-active configurations, automated failover, chaos engineering practices
• Business Continuity: Design and test DR/BC plans with measurable RTOs/RPOs, backup/restore automation, regular DR drills, runbook documentation
• Third-Party Risk Management: Cloud provider risk assessments, contractual compliance verification, alternative provider strategies, continuous monitoring of critical ICT dependencies
• Incident Management: Define ICT incident classification (major/significant), implement automated detection and alerting, establish reporting workflows to regulators within required timeframes
• Digital Resilience Testing: Conduct TLPT (Threat-Led Penetration Testing), scenario-based testing, red team exercises, resilience stress testing
• Monitoring & Intelligence: Real-time security monitoring, threat intelligence integration, vulnerability management, configuration drift detection

DORA's Five Pillars We Address:

• Pillar 1: ICT Risk Management (Articles 5-16)
• Pillar 2: ICT-Related Incident Management (Articles 17-23)
• Pillar 3: Digital Operational Resilience Testing (Articles 24-27)
• Pillar 4: ICT Third-Party Risk Management (Articles 28-44)
• Pillar 5: Information Sharing Arrangements (Article 45)

Cloud-Specific Considerations:

• Concentration risk mitigation for hyperscaler dependencies
• Data residency and sovereignty requirements (EU data localization)
• Audit rights and access to cloud provider systems
• Exit planning and data portability strategies
• Sub-processor and supply chain transparency

Typical Timeline: 6-12 months for full DORA readiness

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🛡️ FedRAMP Authorization

The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) is the U.S. government's standardized approach to security assessment and authorization for cloud services. It's mandatory for cloud service providers (CSPs) serving federal agencies.

Understanding FedRAMP Impact Levels:

• Low: 125 controls (FIPS 199 Low impact) - Public information
• Moderate: 325 controls - Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)
• High: 421 controls - Law enforcement, emergency services, financial systems, health records
• LI-SaaS: Streamlined ~145 controls for low-risk SaaS applications

Why FedRAMP Is Challenging:

FedRAMP High is one of the most rigorous cloud security certifications globally. It requires implementing hundreds of NIST 800-53 controls, comprehensive documentation (3,000+ pages), continuous monitoring, and passing a formal 3PAO assessment. The average time to authorization is 12-18 months with costs ranging $250K-$1M+.

Common Infrastructure Obstacles:

• Boundary Definition: Unclear system boundaries, shared infrastructure challenges, interconnection complexities
• Security Hardening: Non-compliant baselines, missing security controls, legacy system dependencies
• Continuous Monitoring: Manual evidence collection, gaps in logging/monitoring, non-automated controls
• Personnel Security: Background investigation requirements, role-based training, separation of duties
• Incident Response: 1-hour reporting requirement to US-CERT, forensics capabilities, incident handling procedures

Our FedRAMP Authorization Approach:

• Readiness Assessment: Pre-authorization gap analysis against NIST 800-53 Rev 5, impact level determination, boundary scoping
• Authorization Strategy: Choose optimal path (Agency ATO, JAB P-ATO, CSP-Supplied Package), agency sponsor engagement
• System Security Plan (SSP): Comprehensive documentation of 421 controls (High), 325 (Moderate), system architecture, data flows, control implementation
• Infrastructure Hardening: Implement NIST 800-53 controls across 20 control families, FIPS 140-2 cryptography, SCAP-compliant configuration baselines
• Security Assessment Plan (SAP): Work with 3PAO to define testing methodology, control validation approach, assessment scope
• Security Assessment Report (SAR): Support 3PAO testing, address findings, develop POA&M (Plan of Action & Milestones) for any open items
• Authorization Package: Compile complete package including SSP, SAP, SAR, POA&M, privacy documentation, artifact evidence
• Continuous Monitoring (ConMon): Implement automated compliance monitoring, monthly continuous monitoring deliverables, annual assessments

Critical Infrastructure Controls:

• Access Control (AC): Multi-factor authentication, least privilege, session management, account management automation
• Audit & Accountability (AU): Comprehensive logging, SIEM integration, log retention (1 year+), tamper-proof storage
• Security Assessment (CA): Continuous monitoring, vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, security control assessments
• Configuration Management (CM): Baseline configurations, change control, security impact analysis, automated compliance validation
• Contingency Planning (CP): Backup systems, disaster recovery, business continuity, system resilience, alternative processing sites
• Identification & Authentication (IA): PIV/CAC support, credential management, identity proofing, authenticator management
• Incident Response (IR): 1-hour US-CERT notification, incident handling, forensics, lessons learned
• System & Communications Protection (SC): Boundary protection, encryption in transit and at rest, network segmentation, denial of service protection

Cloud Platform Considerations:

• Azure Government: FedRAMP High authorized regions, IL5 (Impact Level 5) support for DoD, GCC-High for DoD/IC
• AWS GovCloud: Isolated regions, ITAR compliance, Secret-region support, dedicated government infrastructure
• Inheritance: Leverage cloud provider's FedRAMP authorization (IaaS/PaaS controls), document customer responsibilities

Typical Timeline: 12-24 months (varies by impact level and starting point)

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✓ SOC 2 Compliance

SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2) demonstrates your commitment to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.

What We Help With:

• Trust Services Criteria (TSC) gap analysis
• Control design and implementation (Type I & II)
• Evidence collection automation
• Vendor risk management program
• Incident response documentation
• CPA auditor engagement and support

Common Focus Areas:

• Security: Access controls, encryption, monitoring
• Availability: Uptime, redundancy, disaster recovery
• Processing Integrity: Data validation and error handling
• Confidentiality: Data classification and protection
• Privacy: GDPR and data subject rights compliance

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🌐 ISO 27001 Compliance

ISO 27001 is the international standard for information security management systems (ISMS).

What We Help With:

• Information Security Management System (ISMS) implementation
• Risk assessment and treatment methodology
• Statement of Applicability (SoA) development
• 114 Annex A controls implementation
• Internal audit program establishment
• External certification audit preparation

Key Deliverables:

• ISMS policy framework and procedures
• Asset inventory and classification
• Risk register and treatment plans
• Business continuity and disaster recovery plans
• Security incident management procedures

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☁️ Cloud Infrastructure Design

We architect and implement enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure built on industry frameworks and compliance best practices across Azure, AWS, and GCP.

Our Approach:

• Landing Zone Architecture: Azure Landing Zones (CAF), AWS Control Tower, GCP Organization hierarchy with proper governance
• Network Design: Hub-and-spoke topology, cloud firewalls, private connectivity (ExpressRoute/Direct Connect/Interconnect)
• Identity & Access: Azure AD, AWS IAM Identity Center, Google Workspace integration with SSO, MFA, and RBAC
• Security Baseline: Cloud-native security tools (Defender, GuardDuty, Security Command Center), KMS, secrets management
• Infrastructure as Code: Terraform (multi-cloud), Bicep (Azure), CloudFormation (AWS), Deployment Manager (GCP)

Key Deliverables:

• Multi-cloud architecture diagrams and design documentation
• Fully deployed and tested cloud environment(s)
• IaC repository with CI/CD pipelines
• Cloud-agnostic or cloud-specific patterns as needed
• Runbooks and operational procedures
• Knowledge transfer sessions with your team

Typical Engagement: 8-12 weeks

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📋 Compliance Gap Analysis

Comprehensive assessment of your current infrastructure against target compliance frameworks with prioritized remediation roadmap.

Assessment Process:

• Discovery Phase: Document review, architecture walkthroughs, stakeholder interviews
• Technical Assessment: Infrastructure audit, configuration review, security posture analysis
• Control Mapping: Map existing controls to framework requirements (PCI-DSS, SOC 2, ISO 27001, FedRAMP, DORA)
• Gap Identification: Document control gaps, misconfigurations, and vulnerabilities
• Risk Scoring: Prioritize findings based on compliance impact and business risk

Deliverables:

• Executive summary report with compliance readiness score
• Detailed gap analysis with evidence
• Prioritized remediation roadmap with effort estimates
• Quick wins vs. long-term improvement recommendations
• Cost estimates for remediation activities
• Recommended timeline to certification readiness

Typical Engagement: 2-4 weeks

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🔧 DevOps Pipeline Hardening

Secure your software delivery lifecycle with compliance-ready CI/CD pipelines that pass audit scrutiny.

What We Implement:

• Pipeline Security: Branch protection, code review requirements, approval gates, deployment locks
• Secrets Management: Azure Key Vault integration, managed identities, secret rotation policies
• Automated Testing: Security scanning (SAST/DAST), dependency vulnerability checks, container scanning
• Compliance Checks: Policy validation, configuration drift detection, compliance-as-code
• Audit Trails: Complete deployment logs, approval history, change tracking
• Environment Segregation: Dev/test/prod separation with proper promotion workflows

Technologies We Use:

• Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, AWS CodePipeline
• Secrets Management: Azure Key Vault, AWS Secrets Manager, GCP Secret Manager, HashiCorp Vault
• Security Scanning: SonarQube, Snyk, Trivy, Aqua Security
• IaC: Terraform (multi-cloud), Bicep (Azure), CloudFormation (AWS)
• GitOps: ArgoCD, Flux, Jenkins X

Typical Engagement: 4-6 weeks

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🎯 Certification Support

End-to-end guidance through the certification process from readiness assessment to successful audit completion.

How We Help:

• Readiness Assessment: Pre-audit evaluation to ensure you're ready for formal assessment
• Documentation: Policy writing, procedure development, control narratives, evidence collection
• Auditor Selection: Help identify and engage qualified assessors (QSA, 3PAO, CPA firms)
• Pre-Audit Prep: Mock audits, evidence package preparation, gap remediation
• Audit Support: On-site/virtual support during audit, technical question responses
• Remediation: Address audit findings, implement corrective actions

Certification Experience:

• PCI-DSS: Level 1-4 merchant compliance, QSA coordination
• SOC 2: Type I and Type II, all Trust Services Criteria
• ISO 27001: ISMS implementation and certification audit
• FedRAMP: High/Moderate/Low authorization packages
• DORA: Financial services operational resilience

Typical Engagement: 3-6 months (varies by standard)

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👥 Team Embedding

Our engineers work directly within your team, building capability while delivering compliant infrastructure.

Engagement Model:

• Integration: Embedded engineers join your Slack, stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives
• Hands-On Delivery: Write code, build infrastructure, configure systems alongside your team
• Knowledge Transfer: Pair programming, code reviews, documentation, training sessions
• Best Practices: Introduce compliance patterns, security practices, operational excellence
• Mentorship: Coach your team on Azure, compliance, and DevOps methodologies

Team Composition Options:

• Lead Architect: Overall design, compliance strategy, stakeholder management
• Cloud Engineers: Azure implementation, IaC development, automation
• Security Engineers: Security controls, monitoring, incident response
• DevOps Engineers: CI/CD pipelines, GitOps, deployment automation
• Compliance Specialists: Framework expertise, documentation, audit support

Flexible Duration: From 3 months to ongoing partnerships

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🔄 Continuous Compliance

Maintain your compliance posture with automated monitoring, reporting, and continuous control validation.

What We Build:

• Automated Monitoring: Real-time compliance drift detection, configuration monitoring, security alerts
• Policy Enforcement: Azure Policy, Sentinel rules, automated remediation
• Evidence Collection: Automated artifact gathering for audits (logs, configs, reports)
• Compliance Dashboards: Real-time visibility into control status and compliance metrics
• Reporting Engine: Automated compliance reports for stakeholders and auditors
• Change Management: Audit trails for all infrastructure changes

Technology Stack:

• Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Sentinel
• Azure Policy, Security Center, Defender
• Power BI dashboards
• Azure DevOps/GitHub for change tracking
• Custom automation (Logic Apps, Functions)

Ongoing Support Options:

• Monthly compliance reviews
• Quarterly audit readiness assessments
• Annual recertification support
• 24/7 security monitoring and incident response

Typical Engagement: 6-8 weeks implementation + ongoing support

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Step 1: Assessment

Our comprehensive assessment phase establishes the foundation for your compliance journey. We conduct a thorough evaluation of your current state to identify gaps, risks, and opportunities.

Discovery Activities:

• Infrastructure Review: Complete inventory of cloud resources, network architecture, data flows, and security controls across all environments
• Document Analysis: Review existing policies, procedures, runbooks, architecture diagrams, and previous audit reports
• Stakeholder Interviews: Meet with engineering, security, compliance, legal, and executive teams to understand objectives and constraints
• Technical Assessment: Hands-on evaluation of configurations, access controls, logging, monitoring, encryption, and backup systems
• Process Review: Analyze change management, incident response, vulnerability management, and operational procedures

Control Mapping:

• Map your existing controls to target framework requirements (PCI-DSS, SOC 2, ISO 27001, FedRAMP, DORA)
• Identify control gaps, partial implementations, and areas requiring evidence
• Evaluate control effectiveness and operational maturity
• Document inherited controls from cloud providers

Risk Assessment:

• Identify and prioritize compliance risks based on impact and likelihood
• Assess data classification, privacy requirements, and regulatory obligations
• Evaluate third-party dependencies and vendor risk
• Determine scope boundaries and compliance applicability

Deliverables:

• Executive summary with compliance readiness score (0-100%)
• Detailed gap analysis report with evidence and findings
• Risk register with prioritized remediation recommendations
• Current-state architecture diagrams and data flow maps
• Control matrix mapping existing vs. required controls

Duration: 2-3 weeks

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Step 2: Roadmap

Based on the assessment findings, we develop a strategic compliance roadmap that balances business needs, technical constraints, and certification timelines.

Roadmap Development:

• Prioritization Framework: Rank remediation activities by compliance impact, implementation complexity, cost, and business value
• Phased Approach: Break the journey into manageable phases with clear milestones and success criteria
• Quick Wins: Identify low-effort, high-impact improvements that can be implemented immediately
• Long-Term Initiatives: Plan architectural changes, process transformations, and organizational improvements
• Dependency Mapping: Identify prerequisites, blockers, and sequencing requirements

Resource Planning:

• Define team composition and roles (internal + embedded consultants)
• Estimate effort and timeline for each initiative
• Budget allocation for tools, services, audits, and certifications
• Training requirements for your team
• Vendor and third-party engagement planning

Timeline & Milestones:

• Phase 1 - Foundation (Months 1-2): Critical security controls, access management, logging infrastructure
• Phase 2 - Remediation (Months 3-4): Gap closure, policy development, process implementation
• Phase 3 - Validation (Month 5): Internal audits, evidence collection, readiness assessment
• Phase 4 - Certification (Month 6+): External audit, finding remediation, certification achievement

Risk Mitigation:

• Identify potential blockers and develop contingency plans
• Plan for resource constraints and competing priorities
• Address technical debt and legacy system challenges
• Manage stakeholder expectations and change resistance

Deliverables:

• Detailed compliance roadmap with Gantt chart
• Prioritized backlog of remediation work items
• Resource and budget estimates
• Risk mitigation strategies
• Executive presentation deck for leadership alignment

Duration: 1-2 weeks

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Step 3: Implementation

This is where we roll up our sleeves and embed with your team to build compliant infrastructure, implement security controls, and establish operational processes.

Infrastructure Hardening:

• Network Security: Implement network segmentation, firewalls, private endpoints, DDoS protection, and secure connectivity
• Identity & Access Management: Deploy SSO, MFA, privileged access management, RBAC, and identity governance
• Encryption & Key Management: Implement encryption at rest and in transit, HSM integration, key rotation policies
• Logging & Monitoring: Centralized log aggregation, SIEM deployment, security monitoring, alerting, and incident detection
• Backup & Recovery: Automated backups, disaster recovery infrastructure, BC/DR testing, and runbook documentation
• Vulnerability Management: Automated scanning, patch management, security baseline enforcement, configuration hardening

Infrastructure as Code:

• Develop Terraform/Bicep/CloudFormation templates for all infrastructure
• Implement GitOps workflows with version control and peer review
• Build CI/CD pipelines for infrastructure deployment
• Policy-as-code implementation for automated compliance validation
• Drift detection and automated remediation

Security Controls:

• Implement required controls from your target framework (PCI-DSS, SOC 2, ISO 27001, FedRAMP, DORA)
• Security baselines and hardening standards
• Automated security testing in CI/CD pipelines
• Container and application security controls
• Data protection and privacy controls

Policy & Process Development:

• Information security policies and procedures
• Change management and approval workflows
• Incident response plans and playbooks
• Access control policies and provisioning processes
• Vendor risk management program
• Business continuity and disaster recovery plans

Documentation & Evidence:

• Architecture diagrams and system documentation
• Network diagrams and data flow maps
• Control narratives and implementation evidence
• Configuration baselines and standards
• Operational runbooks and procedures

Knowledge Transfer:

• Training sessions for your engineering and security teams
• Pair programming and code reviews
• Documentation and knowledge base creation
• Operational handoff and support procedures

Duration: 2-4 months (varies by scope and starting point)

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Step 4: Certification

The final phase guides you through the audit process to achieve formal certification. We prepare your organization, coordinate with auditors, and support you through to successful attestation.

Pre-Audit Readiness:

• Internal Audit: Conduct comprehensive pre-assessment to validate control effectiveness before engaging external auditors
• Evidence Package: Compile complete evidence including logs, configurations, policies, procedures, training records, and change tickets
• Control Validation: Test each control to ensure it's operating effectively and producing audit-ready evidence
• Gap Remediation: Address any remaining findings from internal audit before formal assessment
• Mock Audit: Simulate the audit process with practice interviews and documentation reviews

Auditor Engagement:

• Auditor Selection: Help identify and engage qualified assessors (QSA for PCI, 3PAO for FedRAMP, CPA firms for SOC 2, ISO certification bodies)
• Scoping: Define audit scope, system boundaries, and sampling methodology with auditor
• Kickoff Meeting: Coordinate audit kickoff, establish timelines, and align on testing approach
• Evidence Submission: Provide organized evidence packages with clear mapping to controls

Audit Support:

• Technical SME Support: Provide subject matter experts to answer auditor questions and demonstrate controls
• Interview Preparation: Prep your team for auditor interviews with practice sessions and talking points
• Real-Time Support: On-site or virtual support throughout the audit period
• Evidence Supplementation: Quickly provide additional evidence or clarification as requested
• Issue Resolution: Address auditor questions and concerns promptly to keep audit on track

Finding Remediation:

• Review audit findings and draft reports with auditor
• Develop corrective action plans for any deficiencies
• Implement fixes and provide evidence of remediation
• Negotiate reasonable timelines for any deferred remediation (POA&M)

Certification Achievement:

• Final Report Review: Review and validate audit report for accuracy
• Attestation: Receive formal certification (SOC 2 report, ISO certificate, FedRAMP ATO, PCI AOC)
• Publication: Prepare certification for customer/partner distribution as needed
• Continuous Compliance: Transition to ongoing monitoring and maintenance mode

Post-Certification:

• Establish continuous monitoring and evidence collection systems
• Quarterly or annual surveillance audits (varies by framework)
• Ongoing compliance program management
• Preparation for recertification or scope expansion

Typical Frameworks & Timelines:

• SOC 2 Type I: Point-in-time assessment, 2-4 weeks
• SOC 2 Type II: 6-12 months of operations + 4-6 week audit
• ISO 27001: Stage 1 + Stage 2 audit, 6-8 weeks total
• PCI-DSS: QSA audit 2-4 weeks, quarterly ASV scans ongoing
• FedRAMP: 3PAO assessment 8-12 weeks, authorization process 6-12 months

Duration: 2-6 months (varies by framework and audit findings)