SDK.finance Achieves PCI DSS Level 1 Compliance

Big news – we’re pleased to share that SDK.finance has successfully completed its annual PCI DSS reassessment and is PCI DSS Level 1 certified under PCI DSS version 4.0.1, the latest version of the standard.

This confirmation follows an independent audit and validates that our security controls, software development practices, and governance processes continue to meet the highest requirements of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. As PCI DSS certification is valid for one year only, this result confirms that compliance at SDK.finance is not a one-time milestone, but an ongoing operational commitment.

SDK.finance PCI DSS Certificate

What PCI DSS Level 1 compliance means for our customers

PCI DSS Level 1 is the highest level of certification within the standard and applies to service providers whose systems or processes can impact the security of payment environments.

SDK.finance does not store, process, or transmit cardholder data. That responsibility remains with the banks, PSPs, and FinTech companies operating payment flows. However, our Platform and software development practices form part of our customers’ PCI DSS scope.

According to the official Attestation of Compliance:

SDK.finance provides software development services assessed under PCI DSS v4.0.1.
The assessment focused on requirements related to secure software development and information security governance.
Independent auditors confirmed that all applicable requirements are either in place or not applicable.

In practice, this means our customers build on a Platform designed and maintained according to PCI DSS-aligned security principles, reducing compliance risks during audits and regulatory reviews.

Why PCI DSS Certification Is Renewed Every Year

PCI DSS is designed as a living security standard that evolves alongside the payment industry. New attack vectors, architectural patterns, and operational risks emerge continuously, which is why PCI DSS certification is valid for one year only.

Annual reassessment ensures that:

Security controls remain effective as systems and codebases evolve.
New features, integrations, and infrastructure changes are reviewed under current requirements.
Development and governance processes reflect real operational practices, not historical assumptions.
Compliance is validated against the latest version of the standard, not legacy interpretations.

For financial institutions and FinTech companies, this provides assurance that a technology partner maintains security discipline over time, not just at the point of initial certification.

Scope of the PCI DSS v4.0.1 Assessment

The PCI DSS assessment was conducted between 1 October and 2 December 2025 and resulted in a full compliant status.

The scope of the assessment included:

Secure software development lifecycle.
Vulnerability and patch management.
Change management processes.
Information security governance.
Security training and background screening.
Internal audits and incident response procedures.

The assessment was performed by 7Security GmbH, an independent Qualified Security Assessor, providing external validation of SDK.finance security practices.

Why This Matters for Regulated Payment and Banking Products

For companies building payment systems, digital wallets, or banking applications, PCI DSS compliance is not limited to infrastructure and operations. Software design decisions have a direct impact on audit scope, risk exposure, and long-term compliance costs.

By using a PCI DSS Level 1 certified Platform, customers benefit from:

A clearer separation of PCI DSS responsibilities.
Reduced risk of inherited compliance gaps.
Faster onboarding with acquiring banks and payment partners.
Greater confidence during due diligence and enterprise procurement.

Annual certification ensures these benefits remain valid as products scale and evolve.

A word from our CTO

“PCI DSS is not about passing an audit once. It’s about proving, year after year, that security is embedded into how software is built and governed. Renewing our PCI DSS Level 1 certification confirms that this approach remains part of SDK.finance’s engineering culture as the Platform grows.”

Pavlo Sidelov, Co-Founder & CTO at SDK.finance

Secure software, built for the future of FinTech

Security is not a feature added at the end of development. It is a foundation that must be validated continuously. With PCI DSS Level 1 certification under version 4.0.1, SDK.finance continues to provide a secure and reliable foundation for payment and banking products operating in regulated environments.

If you are looking for PCI DSS Level 1 certified software for your payment or banking product, contact us and we will explain how SDK.finance can support your requirements, architecture, and compliance goals.

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FAQ

What is the PCI DSS?

PCI DSS, or the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, is an internationally recognised security framework created to protect payment card data and reduce the risk of fraud across the payments ecosystem. It sets clear requirements for how systems are designed, developed, and operated, covering areas such as secure software development, access management, encryption, monitoring, and incident response. The standard applies not only to companies that handle card data directly, but also to service providers whose technology can influence the security of payment environments, and it must be validated on a recurring basis to reflect changes in systems, processes, and emerging security threats.

What are the 6 major principles of PCI DSS?

PCI DSS is structured around six core security principles that define how payment environments should be protected:
1) Build and maintain secure systems and networks by using firewalls and secure configurations as a baseline for all components.
2) Protect cardholder data through strong encryption, secure storage practices, and strict data retention rules.
3) Maintain a vulnerability management programme that includes regular updates, patching, and protection against malware.
4) Implement strong access control measures so that access to systems and data is limited strictly to authorised individuals based on business need.
5) Regularly monitor and test networks to detect suspicious activity, maintain audit logs, and identify weaknesses before they are exploited.
6) Maintain an information security policy that defines roles, responsibilities, training, and governance across the organisation.

Together, these principles form the foundation of PCI DSS and ensure that security is addressed at both technical and organisational levels, not treated as a one-off technical exercise.

What is a PCI DSS level 1 service provider?

A PCI DSS Level 1 service provider is an organisation that has been independently assessed and certified against the highest level of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. This status applies to service providers whose systems, software, or processes can impact the security of payment card environments, regardless of whether they store or process cardholder data directly. Level 1 certification requires a full annual assessment conducted by a Qualified Security Assessor and results in an official Attestation of Compliance, confirming that the organisation’s security controls, development practices, and governance processes meet PCI DSS requirements.

What PCI DSS Level 1 compliance means for SDK.finance customers?

For SDK.finance customers, PCI DSS Level 1 compliance means building payment and banking products on a Platform whose security practices, software development processes, and governance controls have been independently validated against the highest PCI DSS requirements. While SDK.finance does not store, process, or transmit cardholder data, its certified development and security framework helps reduce compliance risk, simplifies audits, and provides a trusted foundation for customers to achieve and maintain their own PCI DSS obligations as their products scale.