Build payment systems that pass PCI DSS 4.0.1.
Architecture review, P2PE solution selection, tokenisation design and PCI DSS scope-reduction work. Delivered by our QSAC team — the same people who would audit you.
What we mean by secure payment solutions
Secure payment solutions is the architecture work of building payment systems that meet PCI DSS without depending on heroic operational controls. Less in-scope, less to defend, less to audit. The earlier the design conversation happens, the cheaper the compliance position is over the long run.
Engagements are built around PCI DSS 4.0.1, PCI SSC P2PE v3.2 (the current version — v3.1 sunsets after 31 March 2026), and EMVCo specifications for in-person interoperability. Delivered by the same PCI SSC-listed QSAC team that runs our compliance audits.
Key facts
- PCI DSS
- 4.0.1
- PCI P2PE
- v3.2
- Capability areas
- 6
- In-person standard
- EMV
What we do
Four headline service areas. Most engagements deliver several together; a small number focus on one.
CDE scoping & reduction
Map the Cardholder Data Environment, then reduce it. Network segmentation, P2PE, tokenisation, and out-sourced flows that take systems out of scope entirely.
P2PE solution selection
Help select a PCI SSC-listed v3.2 P2PE solution that fits your acceptance environment. Eligibility for SAQ P2PE — the shortest validation route available.
Encryption & key management
Encryption of cardholder data in transit and at rest (PCI DSS Req 3 & 4) plus key-management practice that survives an audit.
MFA on payment systems
Multi-factor authentication on access to payment systems per PCI DSS Req 8.4. Practical implementations, not theoretical compliance.
How an engagement runs
Five stages from scoping to pre-audit validation.
- 1
Scoping call
30 minutes, freeCurrent payment architecture, in-scope systems, transaction volumes, target SAQ or ROC. We start with what you accept and how, not with what we want to sell.
- 2
CDE & data-flow review
Scope-dependentCardholder Data Environment mapping, data flows end to end, tokenisation/P2PE eligibility. Output is a current-state diagram with annotated scope boundaries.
- 3
Architecture recommendations
Scope-dependentConcrete options for scope reduction, P2PE deployment, tokenisation, MFA placement. Cost-vs-impact trade-offs explicit. Recommendations match what an assessor will actually accept.
- 4
Implementation support
VariableHands-on engineering review of changes, sandbox transaction testing, vendor liaison. We work alongside your engineering team rather than handing over a binder.
- 5
Pre-audit validation
Scope-dependentMock assessment against PCI DSS 4.0.1 to confirm readiness before formal audit. Surfaces evidence gaps while there is still time to fix them.
Capability areas
Six capability areas covered by the service. The right combination depends on your acceptance channels and target SAQ or ROC.
Cardholder Data Environment scoping
Map flows, classify systems, identify connected and out-of-scope components. Output is a defensible scope diagram an assessor can verify.
Tokenisation strategy
Replace primary account numbers with non-sensitive tokens to remove systems from scope entirely. Vendor selection, integration design, and validation evidence.
P2PE solution selection (PCI-listed)
PCI SSC v3.2-listed Point-to-Point Encryption solutions that dramatically reduce CDE scope for in-person acceptance. v3.1 is sunsetting; we plan for v3.2 from the outset.
MFA on payment systems
PCI DSS Requirement 8.4 multi-factor authentication on access to systems in or connected to the CDE. Identity-provider integration, role design, exception handling.
Encryption & key management
Cardholder data in transit and at rest (PCI DSS Req 3 & 4). Key-lifecycle controls, HSM integration where warranted, key-rotation procedures.
Continuous transaction monitoring
Detect anomalous transaction patterns. Integrates with existing SIEM and fraud-detection systems where present rather than replacing them.
Why 1 Sequence Cyber
Same QSAC that runs the audits
Architecture choices we recommend are choices we will accept as assessors — because the assessor and the architect sit in the same firm. No translation step between design and audit. The defensibility argument is consistent end to end.
Standards-aligned, not opinion-led
Recommendations grounded in PCI DSS 4.0.1, PCI SSC P2PE v3.2 (June 2025, current — v3.1 sunsets 31 March 2026), and EMVCo specifications for in-person interoperability. We do not pad architectures with controls that exceed scheme requirements.
Ready to scope payment architecture work?
Tell us your acceptance channels, your acquirer, and where you are in the PCI DSS lifecycle. We’ll come back with a fixed-fee proposal within 48 hours.
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