
















I’m Paul Reynolds, and I’ve built my entire practice around one simple truth: fintech companies have unique security challenges that require specialist expertise.
Whether you’re a fintech startup processing your first payments or an established lending platform handling millions in transactions, achieving ISO 27001 certification isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore – it’s essential for survival in today’s competitive fintech sector.
The thing is, most ISO consultants will give you cookie-cutter advice that works for any industry.
But the fintech industry? That’s a different beast entirely. You’re dealing with AI-powered lending algorithms, open banking integrations, third-party payment processors, cloud services, and customers who expect bank-level security with startup-level innovation.
I get it because I live and breathe this stuff every day.
Academic: MSc, BA, DipLCM, ALCM
Management: FBCS CITP, MCMI CMgr
Security: CISSP, CSTM
Cloud: Azure x12, AWS, GCP
Here’s what keeps fintech CEOs awake at night: one security incident can destroy years of trust-building in minutes.
Your customers are literally handing over their most sensitive data and personal data, and they expect you to protect it better than traditional financial institutions do.
No pressure, right?
ISO 27001:2022 – the latest international standard – gives you that protection, but more importantly, it gives your customers the customer trust they need.
When they see you’re certified by a recognised certification body, they know you’re serious about protecting their customer information. It’s not just about ticking compliance boxes – it’s about building a fortress around your business operations that actually works.
The fintech sector moves fast, which means your security posture has to keep up.
I’ve seen brilliant fintech firms stumble because they treated security as an afterthought rather than a competitive advantage.
What makes it worse is that fintech faces regulatory compliance scrutiny from every angle. PCI DSS for payment processing, data protection regulations for customer data, FCA requirements if you’re in the United Kingdom – the list goes on.
Miss one compliance requirement and you’re looking at fines that could impact your bottom line significantly. ISO/IEC 27001 helps you manage all these regulatory requirements through one comprehensive framework.
Every fintech company I work with faces the same core security challenges, and frankly, most ISO consultants don’t understand them properly.
Let me walk you through what I see:
You're connecting to multiple banks' APIs, each with different security protocols. One weak access control point and hackers have a backdoor into your entire system. I help you secure these integrations without slowing down your innovation.
Your lending platform algorithms are processing thousands of applications daily, but are they secure from adversarial attacks? Most consultants can't even spell "adversarial machine learning," let alone protect against it. This is where my AI security background becomes crucial for your information assets.
You're probably using dozens of third-party services – payment processing companies, credit reference agencies, cloud services providers. Each one is a potential security hole in your information security controls. I help you assess and monitor these relationships with proper mitigation strategies.
Your user base is doubling every quarter, but your security team hasn't grown. How do you maintain ISO 27001 standards whilst scaling rapidly? I design security policies and response plans that grow with your business needs.
Cyber threats don't wait for business hours. Your security awareness and response capabilities need to work around the clock to protect sensitive information and maintain business continuity management.
When I work with you, we start with a comprehensive gap assessment that focuses on your specific fintech challenges. I’m not interested in generic checklists; I want to understand your business model, your tech stack, and your growth plans. Then I build an information security policy and framework that protects you today and scales with your ambitions.
Here’s what sets my ISO 27001 consulting service apart:
I integrate AI security considerations into every aspect of your implementation. Whether you’re using machine learning for fraud detection, algorithmic trading, or credit scoring, I ensure your AI systems meet compliance standards from day one.
As both a Lead Implementer and Lead Auditor, I guide you through the complexities of ISO standards whilst maintaining focus on your operational efficiency and long-term success.
The key is understanding that security isn’t separate from your business, it’s fundamental to your success.
When I work with fintech companies, we don’t just achieve compliance; we build competitive advantages through superior information security controls and operational efficiency.
I led the AWS cloud platform design, security architecture, and risk assessment behind Ryan TaxPay™—a global tax payment automation platform used by multinational clients.
Highlights:
✅ Designed a secure-by-default AWS architecture
✅ Delivered all security controls and risk assessments
✅ Led testing and validation, including vulnerability and penetration testing
✅ Enabled full compliance with financial and data protection regulations
Now used globally,
Click to see how enterprise-grade security enabled global fintech innovation
I’ve led major Public Sector Cyber Security initiatives—helping UK government departments modernise securely, from cloud transformation to AI enablement.
Key Highlights:
✅ Principal Security Architect for £500m+ cloud migration programmes
✅ Delivered secure-by-design AWS, Azure, and hybrid architectures
✅ Led risk assessments and controls for critical national systems
✅ Supporting secure adoption of AI in line with UK government strategy
Trusted by senior civil servants, central government, and suppliers alike.
Click to see how I help deliver secure transformation in the public sector
Read More
I’m a trusted contributor to Wiz CloudSec Academy, creating high-impact, practitioner-led content that educates security teams worldwide.
Highlights:
✅ Created training on cloud misconfigurations, secure architecture, and threat mitigation
✅ #1 Google-ranked articles and modules viewed by thousands globally
✅ Blended deep technical expertise with accessible, risk-aware learning
Whether it’s scripts, modules, or full course development – my cyber content drives understanding and action.
Click to explore my approach to powerful, practical security education
Read MoreI don't just tell you what's missing – I prioritise fixes based on your actual risk profile and business impact. A payment processing vulnerability gets fixed before a minor documentation gap. My gap assessment covers your entire ISMS scope.
Your machine learning models need protection from adversarial attacks, data poisoning, and model inversion attacks. I build these protections into your ISO 27001 framework from the ground up, ensuring your information security controls are future-proof.
Fintech moves fast, and your certification process should too. I streamline the process without cutting corners, providing audit support and evidence collection that gets you certified months faster than traditional approaches.
When incidents happen, you need response plans that actually work. I design business continuity strategies specifically for fintech scenarios, protecting your operations and bottom line.
Need ISO 14001 or ISO 45001 alongside your ISO 27001? I help you integrate multiple compliance frameworks efficiently, maximising your investment in quality assurance.
I conduct thorough internal audits to prepare you for the external audit by the certification body. No surprises, no last-minute scrambling – just confidence that you'll pass first time.
I don't just implement security measures; I test them. Regular penetration testing and vulnerability assessments ensure your defences actually work against real-world attacks.
Certification is just the beginning. I provide ongoing support to help you maintain compliance as you grow, launch new business ventures, and integrate new technologies. This includes continual improvement of your quality management systems.
Your team is your first line of defence. I design awareness training programmes that actually stick, turning your employees into security champions rather than weak links.
We had an element of complacency in our cyber security policies. We decided to embark on the CE+ journey in preparation for potentially becoming accredited for ISO27001 in the near future. We underestimated the vulnerabilities that existed on our set up. Paul helped us through each one to deploy policies that would solve the issue not only for the certification but ongoing for the future. Paul is extremely knowledgeable and takes a very proactive approach. We look forward to working with him again in the future.
Paul is technically brilliant, the best CTO I’ve worked with. Incredibly knowledgeable and strategically knows exactly what is required for an organisation. Paul is so adept at understanding the nuances and needs of a business quickly. Great to work with and a confident decision maker. I’ve worked with Paul on some very demanding programmes with complex customer organisations and it is always genuinely a pleasure; we just were always able to get things done!
Paul has built an outstanding reputation for security, not only through an in-depth understanding of the latest technologies and trends but also in the ability to deliver solutions that ensure robust protection for organisations, often in highly complex and regulated environments. What truly sets Paul apart is the genuine care and commitment to creating long-term value for clients.
I have had the pleasure of by working with Paul over the last 10 years. I have found him to be one of the best technical Security Solution architects with brilliant understanding on how security is applicable to a business. He was my go to guy for whenever I needed help and guidance on my designs that I was producing. His experience especially around the governance and security best practices were invaluable to me personally.
I have had the pleasure of working with Paul on a number of projects over the past few years. Paul's knowledge seems to be boundless, his ability to take on new technology and quickly come up to speed and become an authority is a skill not held by many. He builds great relationships at all levels in an organisation and is comfortable working with people at the sharp end of delivery rolling up his sleeves or presenting the 30,000 foot view to senior members.
Paul has a wealth of experience across a number of technical domains and a keen eye for detail. He really demonstrated these traits when he supported me in the technical governance area of the programme. I inherited a very complex and unmanageable governance function and with Paul's assistance, I was able to turn it into an efficient and scalable function capable of supporting the demanding needs of the programme.
Paul was highly supportive and that combined with his wide technical and practical knowledge of IT and his familiarity and understanding of IT processes made him a key and valuable member of the project team. He is personable and able to easily work with others at all levels and despite working on other projects concurrently has always been responsive and there when needed.
Hugely competent technically, Paul has an extremely broad range of knowledge and goes out of his way to diligently research, and quickly become expert in, any gaps he identifies or new technologies that interest him. I am constantly impressed by his desire and motivation to keep learning. Paul is a trusted advisor to peers and senior management alike.
Paul is a very professional, knowledgeable, approachable and skilled individual, with a clear wealth of experience in the role and sector. He communicates clearly, builds good working relations, is proactive, motivated and ever positive and calm, even in challenging situations. Having someone such as Paul to work with, with his strong leadership qualities, calm manner and deep technical knowledge base (in cloud, especially) was/is tremendously valuable, and he was ultimately instrumental in many of our successes.
I've worked with Paul over several years and on several projects. Always found Paul to be insightful, technically astute whilst also working to provide the customer with the desired outcome. A good sounding board to bounce off ideas and someone that will give you straight answers. I'd welcome the opportunity to work with Paul again, he'd be a massive asset to any team.
I have found Paul to be extremely knowledgeable in technical areas but also combines that with a pragmatic attitude to build what works for the client. He has a can-do attitude and approaches all projects with enthusiasm to get the job done. It is to his credit that client engagements frequently ask for him.
Paul's technical knowledge is without question one of the highest, and most thorough, I have to this day encountered. As a Project Manager having an Architect like Paul assigned to one of my projects was a massive boost. His ability to communicate with both technical and non technical people alike meant that he was just as much at home in design meetings as he was in customer meetings, which is a massive asset.
Paul is unbelievably clever, pragmatic, honest and witty. His intellect and intelligence have great depth and substance and I'd have him on my IT Delivery team any day of the week as his contributions shape smart decisions and clear project direction. He's a great bloke too.
I had the pleasure of working with Paul on enterprise-wide transformational projects. Paul's aptitude and unquestionable talent throughout the planning, design, and delivery stages was exemplary. Paul can extol the virtues of cloud computing and communicate at all levels. I have no hesitation in recommending Paul.
I've worked with Paul for over 10 years now. He's technically astute, fantastic at solving problems and a great communicator who easily makes complex solutions understandable for non techie stakeholders and colleagues.
The technical assurance that Paul provided was invaluable in helping to manage other technical resources, and I’m sure without his input and assistance then several projects would not have delivered as smoothly as they did. I always had the utmost confidence in Paul, who is also a very personable chap to work with, and would welcome the opportunity to work with him again on other projects & programmes of work.
Paul consistently demonstrates an excellent technical design and engineering capability combined with a proactive, innovative, solution finding attitude – playing a major part in delivering the UK's first .net / blade server based infrastructure solution. Committed and hardworking with a personable and cheerful demeanour.
Very highly skilled technically, always the first to want to learn new technologies or take on more complex tasks. Very able to nurture more junior members of the team and he was a popular guy within his team and across the whole of the function. Very articulate when dealing with the business and senior stakeholders.
Paul is one of a small number of people I have worked with who combine an exceptional technical capability with a no-nonsense approach. His explanations come in plain English and he always delivers what he says he will, when he said he would. I look forward to working with him again, and would recommend him to anyone who wants to get the job done right first time.
If you’re ready to get serious about ISO 27001 certification, let’s have a conversation.
You need an ISO 27001 consultant who understands both the technical complexities and the business realities of fintech.
YourDigitalCTO
Covent Garden, London, UK
Solihull, UK
IFZA, Dubai
+44-798-000-4379
For most fintech firms, I can get you through the certification process in 4-6 months, which is significantly faster than the industry average of 12-18 months. The timeline depends on your current security posture and how complex your tech stack is.
Fintech startups with simpler operations might achieve first-time certification in as little as 3 months, whilst established financial institutions with multiple systems and third-party integrations typically need 6-9 months. The key is having an experienced ISO 27001 fintech consultant who understands your specific compliance requirements and can streamline the gap assessment, internal audits, and certification audit preparation.
I conduct a thorough gap analysis upfront to give you an accurate timeline based on your current information security controls and business operations.
Technically, you could attempt ISO 27001:2022 implementation yourself, but here’s the reality: most companies that try to “just push on yourself” end up setting “the scope too wide and cause yourself a ‘goat rodeo’ of a project as you try to control stakeholders and implement controls across teams.”
Fintech companies face unique security challenges – open banking integrations, AI-powered lending algorithms, PCI DSS compliance for payment processing, and constantly evolving regulatory requirements. An experienced ISO 27001 fintech consultant brings specialist knowledge of these complexities plus proven methodologies that prevent costly mistakes.
I’ve seen fintech firms waste 12+ months trying to navigate the certification process alone, only to fail their external audit because they missed critical fintech-specific requirements. My consultant approach saves you time, money, and the frustration of dealing with the complexities of ISO standards without proper guidance.
Generic ISO consultants give you cookie-cutter advice that works for manufacturing or retail – but fintech? That’s completely different. Fintech operations require “robust risk management processes” and “data protection that aligns with international best practices” specifically designed for financial services.
As a specialist ISO 27001 fintech consultant, I understand:
– AI and machine learning security**: Protecting your algorithms from adversarial attacks
– Open banking compliance**: Securing API integrations with multiple financial institutions
– Real-time fraud detection**: Implementing security measures that don’t slow down transactions
– Multi-regulatory compliance**: Managing PCI DSS, data protection regulations, and FCA requirements simultaneously
– Cloud security for financial data**: Ensuring your AWS, Azure, or GCP setup meets fintech standards
I also have CISSP and CSTM certifications plus extensive experience with lending platforms, payment processing systems, and fintech startups – expertise that generic consultants simply don’t possess.
Absolutely not – that’s where many fintech companies make a critical mistake. ISO 27001 requires “Continuous Monitoring & Improvement” and “one-time certification is NOT sufficient.”
After certification, you need:
Annual surveillance audits: The certification body conducts yearly reviews to ensure ongoing compliance
Continual improvement: Regular updates to your information security policy and security measures as your business grows
Internal audits: Quarterly reviews to identify gaps before the external auditor finds them
Employee training updates: Security awareness programmes that evolve with new cyber threats
Technology assessments: Evaluating new fintech tools and integrations for security risks
I provide ongoing support services that include audit preparation, policy updates, vulnerability assessments, and employee training. This ensures your certification remains valid and your security posture strengthens over time. Many of my clients have maintained their certification for 5+ years with zero non-conformities because of this continuous improvement approach.
Think of ISO 27001 as building a security foundation – but like any foundation, it needs regular maintenance to stay strong as your fintech company scales.
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