June 16, 2025

5 minute read

Fortifying Growth: Fintech

Luke Hill Image

Luke Hill

Co-Founder of Cyber Alchemy

As the cybersecurity landscape grows more complex, Neil Richardson (Managing Director at Cyber Alchemy) offers a strategic perspective on how FinTech organisations can stay one step ahead of emerging threats.

Fortifying Growth: How a Fast-Growing FinTech Strengthened Its Cyber Defences

In this case study, you’ll discover practical methods used by a fast-growing FinTech to drastically cut security incidents and cultivate a resilient culture across all levels of the business. Whether you’re leading a small team or an entire enterprise, these insights reveal how a proactive, human-first approach to cybersecurity can enable sustainable growth and safeguard critical assets.

A rapidly growing FinTech firm with 500 employees and a remarkable 300% expansion over two years, manages billions in client assets along with highly sensitive personal data. Recognising that swift growth can elevate cybersecurity risks, they chose to partner with Cyber Alchemy proactively. In just 18 months, the organisation drastically reduced security incidents and took control of how it handles its customers’ personal data, which is required as part of KYC processes.

This case study explores how a strategic, human-first collaboration established a robust foundation for long-term cyber resilience.

Meet the Proactive FinTech: Client Overview

A Rising Star in Financial Technology

Our client is a medium-sized FinTech firm (circa 500 employees) specialising in payment card terminals, POS systems and secure digital payment processes. Their rapid progress made them a leading contender in a competitive market but also introduced new vulnerabilities.

  • Complex Data Handling: Thousands of customer records, including PII, passports and other highly sensitive information, have created a burden on the organisation.
  • Regulatory Mandates: Rigorous adherence to FCA regulations, PCI DSS, GDPR, and PECR.
  • High Stakes: Handling customers’ funds and personal data with zero tolerance for breaches.

Rather than waiting for a crisis, the firm’s leadership took decisive steps to strengthen defences and safeguard ongoing growth.

We knew our security setup wasn’t keeping pace with our growth. We were adding new customers daily, but security was always playing catch-up. We wanted to be proactive, not reactive.
FinTech Client
Chief Technology Officer

Facing Complexity: Key Challenges

Despite its strong market position, the FinTech faced several pressing security hurdles:

  1. Data Protection Gaps
    Sensitive financial and personal data were scattered. A lack of robust Data Loss Prevention (DLP) measures heightened the risk of data leakage.
  2. Hybrid Identity & Access Issues
    The mix of on-premises and cloud resources complicated single sign-on (SSO) and privileged access, creating security loopholes.
  3. Weak Staff Security Awareness

A lack of formal security training meant that staff members were not equipped to identify security risks and protect the sensitive KYC data they were handling as part of client onboarding.

  1. Disparate Security Views
    Logs and alerts resided in numerous tools, making it difficult to gain a holistic view of threats and vulnerabilities.
  2. Weak DevSecOps Foundations
    Rapid release cycles, driven by market demands, often left security checks overlooked or rushed.

Forging a Secure Path: Cyber Alchemy’s Approach

The firm enlisted Cyber Alchemy to guide them through a comprehensive transformation. Our methodology:

1. Discovery & Alignment

  • Executive-Level Workshops
    We engaged the board and senior leadership to align security improvements with financial objectives and brand protection.
  • Holistic Environment Review
    Detailed analysis of architecture diagrams, incident logs, and access reports identified key vulnerabilities.

2. Collaborative Strategy Development

  • Phased Roadmap
    Targeted initiatives on identity management, data classification, and integrated security monitoring.
  • Virtual CISO Role
    Beyond a static audit, Cyber Alchemy provided continuous strategic oversight, ensuring security became a living, evolving priority.

3. Implementation & Integration

  • Transition to eKYC and Cloud First Technologies

The client embraced electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) processes and a cloud-centric transition unified the organisation’s operations. In turn, this reduced overhead, enhanced security, and provided flexibility for future growth.

Security-First Culture & Staff Awareness

We delivered cybersecurity training sessions and hands-on workshops for all employees, from frontline staff to senior executives, integrating phishing simulations, data handling best practices, and what changes to the organisation’s technology (such as SSO) would mean for them. This holistic approach drove a measurable shift in employee vigilance and ingrained security as a shared organisational value.

  • Consolidated Security Framework
    New SIEM, XDR, and DLP tools were deployed, and their alerts were unified, delivering real-time visibility across the organisation’s sprawling IT landscape.
  • Identity Management Overhaul
    An enterprise-grade SSO solution streamlined and secured access based on conditional access policies while giving visibility into user’s actions.
  • DevSecOps & Training
    Security checkpoints were embedded in the software development lifecycle, while workshops improved coding practices and team awareness.

4. Continuous Support & Evolution

  • Virtual CISO Oversight

Through our dedicated Virtual CISO service, the client received ongoing strategic leadership and expert guidance. This ensured the timely detection of new threats, helped bridge the gap between technical challenges and business objectives, and drove continuous improvements to their security framework.

  • Ongoing Security Audits
    Ongoing security reviews ensured that best practices and proactive threat hunting became core to daily operations.

Beyond the Basics: Post-Assessment Transformation

The client went beyond the initial scope, embracing a full-scale culture shift. Short-term disruptions were accepted as necessary investments for long-term resilience:

  • Unified Security Culture
    Security awareness transcended departmental boundaries, from developers to C-level executives.
  • Targeted Budgeting
    A central risk register ensured that resources were strategically allocated to the most pressing vulnerabilities first.
  • Building Internal Expertise
    Consistent knowledge transfer reduced the client’s dependence on external resources, enabling them to manage and refine security measures with increasing autonomy.
Cyber Alchemy did more than just point out problems. They showed us how to solve them, guided us through the tough decisions, and built a culture of cybersecurity across every department.
FinTech Client
Chief Information Security Officer

Victory in Numbers: Results & Outcomes

Within 18 months of partnering with Cyber Alchemy, the FinTech achieved:

  1. Fewer Security Incidents
    Phishing and data loss events dropped significantly thanks to a shift in security culture, robust monitoring and robust access protocols.
  2. Faster Incident Response
    A unified dashboard and streamlined escalation processes cut detection and recovery times.
  3. Improved Workforce Resilience
    Enhanced training and live drills drove a 90% reduction in phishing click rates and sharpened developers’ ability to spot code-level flaws.
  4. Competitive Edge
    A shift to cloud-first technologies and eKYC boosted market reputation and client retention.

Empower Your Teams: Key Takeaways & Actionable Tips

Any organisation aiming for secure growth can learn from this FinTech’s journey:

  • Prioritise Security at the Board Level
    Align security initiatives with strategic objectives for sustained support and funding.
  • Consolidate Your Security Ecosystem
    A single source of truth for logs, alerts, and threat intelligence prevents blind spots.
  • Bring Security Into DevOps Early
    Address vulnerabilities at the coding stage to thwart breaches before they surface.
  • Stay Ahead with Continuous Training
    Equip employees to detect and counter evolving cyber threats.
  • Adopt a Future-Focused Mindset
    Conduct regular risk assessments and invest in pilot projects to remain agile against new attack vectors.

Securing Your Future

By treating cybersecurity as a business enabler, this forward-thinking FinTech gained the stability and stakeholder confidence needed to continue its upward momentum. With a virtual CISO partnership in place, they remain poised to adapt and evolve in the face of emerging threats.

Ready to safeguard your organisation’s growth?

Contact Cyber Alchemy to explore how our Virtual CISO services can shield your assets, uphold compliance, and empower your teams every step of the way.

Author

Luke Hill Image

Luke Hill

Co-Founder of Cyber Alchemy

With years of experience in technical cyber security, Luke helps businesses build sustainable, human-first security practices that empower teams and protect what matters most. Passionate about demystifying complex threats, Luke specialises in guiding organisations to embed practical, forward-looking defences.