Caya Forex PCI DSS Level 3 Compliance One-Pager

Forex trading platform

PCI DSS Compliance Consultant

Context

Delivered a PCI DSS Level 3 compliance engagement for Caya, a forex trading and payment processing platform. Work covered scoping, cardholder data environment (CDE) analysis, gap assessment against the PCI DSS 1.x/2.0 requirements, remediation planning, and compliance program buildout to prepare the platform for formal Level 3 validation.

Problem

Forex trading platforms that accept, transmit, or store payment card data are subject to PCI DSS requirements. For a growing platform operating in the highly regulated currency-trading space, establishing formal PCI DSS Level 3 compliance was a prerequisite for processing volume growth, financial partner relationships, and customer trust. Without a structured compliance posture, the platform risked exposure to fines, partner disqualification, and security vulnerabilities in the cardholder data environment.

What I did

• - Scoped the cardholder data environment (CDE) across the Caya forex platform, including payment pipelines, third-party integrations, and network zones.
• - Conducted cardholder data flow analysis to identify where card data was accepted, transmitted, processed, and stored.
• - Assessed network segmentation controls to validate CDE isolation from out-of-scope systems.
• - Performed a structured PCI DSS gap assessment against Level 3 requirements, including all twelve PCI DSS requirement domains.
• - Mapped existing security controls to PCI DSS requirements and identified gaps, deficiencies, and compensating control opportunities.
• - Developed a prioritized remediation roadmap scoped to Level 3 validation timelines and platform risk profile.
• - Advised on encryption, tokenization, and key management practices for cardholder data at rest and in transit.
• - Reviewed logging, monitoring, alerting, and audit trail capabilities against PCI DSS log management requirements.
• - Assessed vulnerability management programs, patch cadence, and internal/external scanning practices.
• - Supported policy and procedure documentation for incident response, access control, and security operations.
• - Coordinated with third-party payment gateway relationships to validate scope boundaries and shared responsibility.
• - Prepared the organization for formal Level 3 validation by a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA).

Outcome

• - Completed PCI DSS Level 3 scoping and gap analysis for the Caya forex platform.
• - Delivered a structured remediation roadmap aligned to Level 3 validation requirements.
• - Established cardholder data environment boundaries and validated network segmentation controls.
• - Strengthened encryption, logging, access control, and vulnerability management posture.
• - Prepared the platform for formal PCI DSS Level 3 validation by a QSA.
• - Improved the organization's internal understanding of PCI DSS requirements and ongoing compliance obligations.
• - Built a repeatable compliance program foundation that could support future transaction volume growth and partner onboarding.

Evidence

• - PCI DSS Level 3 compliance scope delivered for a live forex trading and payment processing platform.
• - Gap analysis completed across all twelve PCI DSS requirement domains.
• - Prioritized remediation roadmap delivered for Level 3 validation readiness.
• - Public-safe metric language; exact transaction volumes, partner names, QSA identity, and internal remediation timelines omitted per confidentiality norms.