Following the completion of its SOC 2, ISO 27001, and ongoing PCI DSS assessments, Coinflow has seen several significant outcomes:
A More Efficient PCI DSS Timeline
Malcolm noted that PCI DSS certification exercises typically take around three months in his experience. Coinflow’s current recertification is on track to be completed on schedule, supporting continuity for a payments platform where certification lapse creates risk. “That’s quite good. Usually, PCI exercises that I’ve been involved in in the past tend to take three months on average, so the fact that we can get it done in two is fantastic.”
A Stronger Security Posture Across the Entire Organization
Malcolm described the most significant internal benefit as a shift in mindset rather than just process: “It makes the company think about the requirements for security in a different way, from a holistic view as opposed to the individual parts of the business. It improved our security posture and, from a compliance perspective, naturally it did improve – but I’m more interested on the security side, so I was happier about that.”
The assessment process pushed Coinflow to examine security controls across the organization as a system rather than in silos – a perspective that strengthens security decisions well beyond the assessment period itself.
SOC 2 and ISO 27001 Certification as a Customer-Facing Signal
For Coinflow’s enterprise customers and counterparties, independently verified compliance credentials serve a direct commercial purpose. Malcolm framed it simply: the certifications exist to show customers “that your data is safe, your systems are safe.” In a sector where security reviews are a standard part of the procurement process, holding SOC 2, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS certifications means those conversations move faster and with greater confidence on both sides.
A Long-Term Compliance Relationship Across Multiple Frameworks
Malcolm rated the overall experience a 9 out of 10 – and has already acted on it. When asked whether he would recommend Insight Assurance to other companies, his answer was immediate: “I just did yesterday.” A Coinflow client seeking PCI DSS certification was referred directly to Insight Assurance. “We want to make sure that they’re getting it from somebody who we can vouch for. We know that the exercise will be done properly.”
What makes the relationship work, Malcolm said, comes down to the people: “Everybody I’ve worked with till now has been great communicators, patient, and understanding. And they appear to be good at what they do. They’re real people – they have character. They feel human.”
Conclusion
For fintech and payments companies, compliance programs rarely stay simple. New frameworks, expanding customer expectations, and evolving regulations create pressure to manage more requirements without losing operational clarity or momentum.
Coinflow’s experience reflects what that work can look like when it is supported by a consistent, independent audit relationship. Across SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, DPO services, and DORA-related work, the company gained external validation, stronger internal security thinking, and a working relationship it trusted enough to recommend to its own clients.
What Compliance Frameworks Do Fintech and Payments Companies Need?
For payments platforms and financial technology companies, multi-framework compliance is increasingly the standard – not the exception. Here is what each framework covers and why it matters:
SOC 2 is an independent audit of a company’s security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy controls. For fintechs, SOC 2 certification is often required by enterprise customers and financial institution partners before onboarding.
ISO 27001 is the international standard for information security management systems (ISMS). ISO 27001 certification demonstrates that an organization has a structured, auditable approach to managing information security risks across the business.
PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) governs how organizations store, process, and transmit payment card data. Any company that handles card payments – directly or as a service provider – must maintain PCI DSS compliance.
GDPR and DPO Services apply to any organization handling personal data of individuals in the European Union. A Data Protection Officer (DPO) is required under GDPR for certain categories of organizations and helps ensure ongoing compliance across jurisdictions.
DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act) is a European regulation that sets requirements for the operational resilience of financial entities and their critical technology service providers. It covers ICT risk management, incident reporting, and third-party risk.
Managing these frameworks through a single independent audit firm – with coordinated timelines and harmonized controls – reduces rework, improves evidence management, and gives leadership a unified view of the organization’s compliance posture.
Simplify Complex Compliance With InsightONE
Managing SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA, CMMC, NIST, and more – simultaneously – is one of the most common challenges facing security and compliance teams today. InsightONE is Insight Assurance’s structured approach to multi-framework compliance: one audit firm, coordinated timelines, and harmonized controls across all applicable standards.
InsightONE is designed for organizations that are:
- Preparing for multiple assessments in the same year
- Managing compliance across multiple business units or geographies
- Scaling fast and entering regulated markets
- Dealing with duplicated efforts and disconnected audit workflows
What it includes:
- Unified audit planning across frameworks
- Framework harmonization to eliminate duplicated controls and rework
- Coordinated timelines that reduce bottlenecks for leadership and IT teams
- Backed by experienced auditors, including former Big 4 professionals
