Stop doing fintech compliance the old way

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Historically, fintech compliance has been tedious and reactive. Teams juggled spreadsheets, manual evidence collection, and uncertainty about regulatory interpretations. It worked when fintechs were fewer and frameworks simpler—but that’s no longer the reality.

Today, financial technology companies operate in a continuously evolving regulatory environment shaped by new laws, customer expectations, and oversight from partners, banks, and regulators. The old ways can't keep up.

The traditional approach was built for a different time

Fintech compliance started as a manual, event-driven exercise. Companies would scramble to collect evidence before an annual audit or certification deadline, often repeating the same processes across different frameworks.

Evidence lived in silos. Security logs in one tool, policy documents in another, screenshots saved locally or emailed back and forth. There was limited alignment between controls for PCI DSS, SOC 2, ISO 27001, or NYDFS—so teams had to assemble distinct sets of documentation for each.

Audit readiness was a mad dash. Fintechs often pulled all-nighters to prepare SOC 2 evidence only to find gaps days before submission. ISO 27001 documents sat collecting dust between certification cycles. And PCI DSS validation—already opaque and laborious—became even harder with evolving versions and compliance shift dates.

Expertise varied widely. Many firms used third-party consultants who weren’t qualified to sign off on reports. Others relied on generic software that didn’t understand the nuances between frameworks. This led to delays, failed audits, or even rejected certifications from banks or enterprise customers.

Compliance was viewed more as a cost of doing business than a strategic program.

The common challenges fintechs still face today

Many fintechs, especially those scaling quickly, see compliance as a confusing maze of obligations. Without a consistent, scalable approach, gaps and inefficiencies emerge.

Audit processes remain complex. SOC 2 can only be performed by a licensed CPA firm. ISO 27001 requires a certification body accredited against global standards. PCI DSS validations carried out by unqualified assessors won’t be recognized. And NYDFS adds another layer with mandatory certifications and incident reporting deadlines.

Missteps are common. Treating SOC 2 as a “certification” instead of an attestation can lead to misleading claims. Some teams misinterpret upcoming PCI DSS v4.0 deadlines or rely on non-accredited ISO 27001 certifiers, resulting in wasted time and rework. These issues not only delay audits—they damage trust.

Manual work slows everything down. Compliance teams copy control descriptions between frameworks, manually tag evidence for each one, and try to maintain multiple readiness states. This duplication burns resources and creates risk. Missed updates, confusing audit timelines, and fragmented toolsets add to the challenge.

Visibility is limited. Business leaders struggle to get a real-time view of compliance posture. Without unified dashboards or integrated alerting, issues might go unnoticed until it's too late. That creates a reactive, rather than proactive, stance on audit and risk.

The future of fintech compliance in 2026

Fintech compliance is shifting toward automation, integration, and ongoing readiness. Since 2023, regulations have expanded, frameworks have evolved, and scrutiny from customers and partners has increased.

By 2026, the most successful fintechs will maintain continuous compliance—treating audit readiness as a process, not a checkpoint.

Integrated systems reduce manual effort. Instead of toggling between tools, companies will rely on compliance platforms that connect to over 100 systems across cloud infrastructure, access control, vulnerability management, and more. Evidence will be collected and tagged automatically.

Controls will be mapped once, reused everywhere. A password policy approved for SOC 2 will map to ISO 27001 Annex A controls, PCI DSS access requirements, and NYDFS cybersecurity rules. This alignment saves time, ensures completeness, and keeps documentation audit-ready.

Qualified experts will play a bigger role. CPAs conducting SOC 2 attestations. PCI QSAs performing assessments. ISO 27001 certifiers with recognized accreditation. By 2026, fintechs will expect full audit lifecycle support from entities that are certified, peer-reviewed, and integrated with their technology.

Monitoring won’t stop after the audit. Continuous checks will flag when a risk assessment hasn’t been updated or a vendor review is overdue. Compliance alerts will integrate with ticketing systems and security operations, enabling fast response.

Board and customer transparency will be non-negotiable. Stakeholders want to know: Are we secure? Are we compliant? Instead of vague status reports, fintechs will provide clear dashboards, real-time metrics, and validated reports they can trust.

This isn’t just a nice to have. It’s the only way compliance can keep pace with fintech innovation.

Thoropass solves today’s challenges—and prepares you for tomorrow

Compliance shouldn’t slow you down. Thoropass streamlines every step of your compliance journey—from daily monitoring to certified audit.

One platform for all your frameworks. Map and manage controls across SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, GLBA, NYDFS 500, and more. Our technology unifies your documentation, automates evidence collection, and flags gaps in real time. That means less time preparing and fewer surprises during audits.

Audit services built in, not bolted on. We’re a licensed CPA firm for SOC 2, a Qualified Security Assessor Company (QSAC) for PCI DSS, and an accredited ISO 27001 certification body partner. You work with one team across preparation, assessment, and reporting. That reduces handoffs, delays, and costs.

Expert guidance at every step. Unsure how NYDFS affects your vendor risk reviews? Struggling to understand PCI DSS 4.0’s new requirements? Our compliance specialists and auditors guide you through each framework’s nuances—so you’re not guessing what counts as enough.

Automated, continuous assurance. We connect to your systems—AWS, Azure, GitHub, Okta, CrowdStrike, and more—to collect evidence daily and alert you to issues early. That enables proactive remediation and reduces audit prep time by up to 50%.

Controls designed for fintech reality. Whether you're building card issuing APIs, subscription billing workflows, or custody platforms, Thoropass tailors controls to your operating model. We help align product features with control requirements—so security and compliance grow with your business.

Trusted by auditors and customers alike. Our reports meet AICPA, ISO, PCI, and NYDFS standards. That gives confidence to your banking partners, enterprise sales teams, and institutional investors. When reputation matters, Thoropass ensures your compliance posture speaks for itself.

Start building a compliance program that scales with you

The old way of doing fintech compliance—checking boxes, chasing evidence, and playing catch-up—no longer works. Regulations are more demanding. Customers expect more. And the consequences of getting it wrong are greater than ever.

With Thoropass, you don’t just prepare for audits. You maintain audit readiness year-round. You simplify operations, reduce manual effort, and scale with confidence.

Schedule a discovery session today. Compliance doesn’t have to be a barrier. With the right tools and team, it becomes your advantage.