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Case Study Grindset Software: Payment System Pentest for PCI DSS Compliance

Client:
Grindset Software — an international software development company specializing in payment processing and transaction management
 
Industry:
Software Development
Focus:
Protecting clients’ financial data and ensuring PCI DSS compliance
Main challenge:
Identifying and eliminating vulnerabilities in the payment infrastructure
Market:
International
Services provided:
Black-box penetration testing of the payment system, including assessment of web applications, servers, databases, and communication channels
Key Takeaways
  • Conducted a black-box penetration test of critical payment system components
  • Discovered 15 vulnerabilities; 5 critical issues were resolved within 48 hours
  • Improved attack resilience by 85% and enhanced PCI DSS compliance
    • 15
    vulnerabilities identified
    85%
    increase in resistance to cyberattacks
    48
    hours time to remediate critical vulnerabilities
    Case Study Grindset Software: Payment System Pentest for PCI DSS Compliance
    May 11, 2025
    14 min
    Can a single vulnerability in a payment system cost $500,000? Grindset Software decided not to take the risk and turned to Datami to assess the security of its payment system. We conducted a black-box penetration test and identified 15 vulnerabilities. As a result, the company strengthened its resilience to attacks and prepared for PCI DSS certification.

    Grindset Software is a mid-sized international IT company that develops software solutions for financial services. Its core focus is on payment systems and transaction processing for businesses. Every day, thousands of users interact with the company’s web platform to make payments.

    Operating in the high-risk FinTech sector, Grindset must comply with international PCI DSS standards, making cybersecurity absolutely critical.

    Objectives and challenges
    Grindset Software processes sensitive payment data, prompting a full security audit due to rising cyber threats, fraud attempts, and the need for PCI DSS compliance.

    The goal of the project was to identify potential weaknesses in the cybersecurity of the payment system, assess infrastructure security, and prepare for certification.
     
    • Perform a black-box penetration test and evaluate the security of the payment system (web applications, servers, databases, and communication channels)
    • Identify vulnerabilities in authentication and encryption mechanisms
    • Prepare a detailed report with technical recommendations and a threat remediation plan
    icon
    Penetration testing
    Black-box penetration testing of the payment system
    icon
    Vulnerability identification
    Identification and prioritization of potential threats across project assets
    icon
    Report and recommendations
    Technical report and action plan to strengthen security and ensure PCI DSS compliance
    Datami’s Methodology: Security Testing for Grindset Software
    Our approach

    Datami conducted a comprehensive security testing for Grindset Software, focusing on critical components of the payment infrastructure — from web services to databases. Special attention was given to data transmission channels, authentication mechanisms, and encryption methods.

    A black-box approach was chosen for the penetration test — testing without access to internal technical documentation, closely simulating the behavior of a potential attacker. During the testing process, we used Metasploit, Burp Suite, and Wireshark, combining both automated and manual testing techniques.

     

    Black-box
    Black-box
    A security testing strategy that simulates an attack without access to internal system data, mimicking the perspective of an external attacker.
    Key project stages and solutions

    As part of the project, the Datami team focused on a full audit of Grindset Software’s payment system, including the payment processor, web services, databases, and communication channels.

    During the testing process, it was decided to strengthen access control measures and update software components.

    Main project stages:

     

    • Preparation
      Review of documentation, analysis of system architecture, identification of critical components, and development of testing scenarios.
    • Testing
      Execution of a black-box penetration test using both automated and manual techniques, supported by tools like Metasploit, Burp Suite, and Wireshark.
    • Analysis and Reporting
      Compilation of a technical report detailing 15 identified vulnerabilities, along with recommendations for remediation and security improvements to meet PCI DSS standards.
    Cybersecurity starts with action
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    Results and recommendations
    Results and recommendations

    At the start of the project, Grindset Software’s payment infrastructure faced significant risks: unsecured data transmission channels and weak authentication mechanisms posed a serious threat of financial data leakage.

    During the penetration test, Datami identified 15 vulnerabilities: 5 critical (including potential access to the payment processor) and 10 medium-risk issues.

    Due to the complexity of the system, specialized security measures and new access control and data protection methods were required.

    Grindset Software received clear recommendations:

    1. implement two-factor authentication;
    2. update outdated software;
    3. conduct regular security testing of the payment system.

    After implementing the recommendations, the overall risk level was reduced to medium, and the likelihood of financial data leakage decreased by 85%, helping to prevent over $500,000 in potential losses.

    The project was completed in 3 weeks, and all critical vulnerabilities were remediated within 48 hours.

    Our certificates
    Key project outcomes

    In just 3 weeks, Grindset Software, in collaboration with Datami, significantly strengthened the cybersecurity of its payment infrastructure: all key vulnerabilities were identified, PCI DSS compliance was improved, and customer financial data was secured.

    All project goals were achieved on time. This case study demonstrates that even FinTech companies require regular penetration testing to prevent data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage.

     

    Area
    Before the project
    After implementation
    Security status
    High risk due to unsecured communication channels
    15 vulnerabilities identified and mitigated, 85% increase in security
    Critical vulnerabilities
    Potential attack on the payment system
    5 critical issues resolved within 48 hours
    Account compromise risk
    High due to weak authentication
    Risk reduced through implementation of two-factor authentication
    Compliance
    Partial PCI DSS compliance
    Full compliance achieved after improvements
    Timeline
    Typically 4–5 weeks
    Project completed in 3 weeks
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