Payment System Security Testing for PCI DSS

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 pentest web applications, servers

Key Takeaways

Enabled PCI DSS compliance with full-scope pentest

Increased payment system resilience by 85% post-remediation

Discovered 15 vulnerabilities, including 5 critical issues

Enhanced PCI DSS compliance

vulnerabilities identified

85%

increase in resistance to cyberattacks

hours time to remediate critical vulnerabilities

Payment System Security Testing for PCI DSS

May 30, 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

Penetration testing

Black-box penetration testing of the payment system

Vulnerability identification

Identification and prioritization of potential threats across project assets

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

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.

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:

implement two-factor authentication;
update outdated software;
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.

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

DDoS Protection and 24/7 Cyber Monitoring

Implemented the DataGuard solution based on Cloudflare to protect the website
Established reliable protection against DDoS attacks and bot traffic

Services:

Implementation of DataGuard and Cloudflare, 24/7 monitoring

Aug 8, 2025

Website Protection from DDoS Attacks

Implemented the DataGuard solution for website protection
DDoS protection deployed within 3 days

Services:

Website protection with DataGuard (Cloudflare), continuous monitoring, Cloudflare infrastructure management

Aug 8, 2025

Protection of E-commerce Websites From DDoS via DataGuard

Implemented DataGuard to protect from DDoS attacks
Enabled rapid incident response

Services:

24/7 cybersecurity monitoring, integration with Cloudflare

Aug 7, 2025

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