Global payment data security has gained a new African perspective as Smartcomply, a leading African cybersecurity and compliance technology company, announced its membership as an Associate Participating Organisation in the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC). This move makes Smartcomply one of the first Nigerian companies in the cybersecurity and compliance technology sector to formally contribute to the development of the world's most influential payment data security standards.
Smartcomply's Role in Global Payment Security
The PCI SSC leads a global, cross-industry initiative to enhance payment security by providing flexible, industry-driven, and effective data security standards. The Council comprises over 700 Participating Organisations from more than 60 countries, including major payment networks, financial institutions, and technology providers. Smartcomply's membership extends the African voice within this global community.
Smartcomply's flagship platforms—Adhere for AML, KYC, and fraud detection, and Seequre for GRC and cybersecurity automation—serve over 100 financial institutions across Africa. The company was recently named a verified member of the Mastercard Engage Partner Program and expanded its operations into the United Kingdom.
Gbemisola Osunrinde, Chief Executive Officer of Smartcomply, stated: "Joining the PCI Security Standards Council is an important milestone for Smartcomply as we continue building secure and scalable compliance infrastructure for financial institutions across emerging and global markets. As digital payments continue to grow, collaboration around payment security standards becomes more critical. We are excited to contribute to the future of secure payment ecosystems while helping businesses across Africa strengthen trust, compliance, and fraud prevention."
Benefits of PCI SSC Membership
As an Associate Participating Organisation, Smartcomply will contribute to the PCI Security Standards development process, collaborate with a growing community to improve payment security worldwide, and recommend new initiatives to the Council. The company will share cross-sector experiences and African market insights at the Council's annual community meetings.
Africa's payments market has grown sharply over the past decade, with mobile money, instant payment infrastructure, and cross-border corridors expanding faster than the compliance frameworks designed to govern them. Smartcomply's participation positions the company to bring African operational realities into the global standards conversation and translate global standards into actionable compliance for African financial institutions.
Gina Gobeyn, Executive Director of the PCI Security Standards Council, commented: "In an era of increasingly sophisticated attacks on systems, PCI Security Standards and resources help organizations secure payment data and prevent, detect, and mitigate attacks that can lead to costly data breaches. By joining as an Associate Participating Organization, Smartcomply has the opportunity to play an active part in improving payment security globally by helping drive awareness and adoption of PCI Security Standards."
Recent Milestones for Smartcomply
Smartcomply's PCI SSC participation adds to a year of milestones. Earlier in 2026, the company was named a verified member of the Mastercard Engage Partner Program. In May 2026, Smartcomply registered to operate in the United Kingdom, with its Adhere platform serving as the flagship for a pilot programme supporting UK financial institutions operating across African payment corridors.
