--- title: "Security | Financial Services Compliance: SOC 2, GDPR | Pico" description: "Pico Security delivers network and host-based protection, threat and vulnerability management, identity and access controls, and 24/7 monitoring built for ultra-low latency environments. It is SOC 2 accredited, GDPR compliant, and NIST aligned, with AES-256 and TLS 1.2+ encryption throughout." source: https://www.pico.net/products/market-services/infrastructure/security/ markdown_url: https://www.pico.net/products/market-services/infrastructure/security.md --- # Security Enterprise security without compromising latency: SOC 2 Type 2 accredited, GDPR compliant, designed for financial services with 30+ years combined capital markets experience. - SOC 2 Type 2 accreditation and GDPR compliance - Defense-in-depth security with firewalls, IDS/IPS, encryption - Dedicated security staff with 30+ years financial services experience - Security monitoring platform with real-time alerting ## What security services does Pico provide for financial services? Pico provides enterprise security designed specifically for financial services including network and host-based security, threat and vulnerability management, identity and access management, 24/7 security monitoring, and audit/compliance services. All services are SOC 2 Type 2 accredited, GDPR compliant, and aligned with NIST framework, critically, implemented by a dedicated security team with 30+ years combined capital markets experience who understand how to balance security with ultra-low-latency requirements. ## Five core security capabilities Pico's security program covers every aspect of financial infrastructure protection, from network perimeter to compliance reporting. ### Network & Host Based Security Security Enhanced Linux (SELinux), TCP Wrappers, firewall (IPTables/SolarSecure), role-based authentication, and least privileged access model. ### Threat & Vulnerability Management Continuous vulnerability scanning, threat intelligence integration, proactive weakness identification, and financial services-focused threat monitoring. ### Identity & Access Management Least privilege enforcement, seamless global integration, regular access reviews, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and role-based access control (RBAC). ### Enterprise Security Monitoring Global SIEM platform, real-time event processing and alerting, IDS/IPS, 24/7 security operations center (SOC), and advanced threat intelligence. ### Audit & Compliance Services SOC 2 Type 2 compliance support, GDPR assistance, NIST framework alignment, regular audits and reporting, and regulatory transparency. ## Defense-in-depth security approach ### Perimeter defenses - Enterprise-grade firewalls and ACLs - Secure web gateway and sandboxing for threat analysis - DDoS protection and rate limiting - Perimeter security monitoring with real-time alerting ### Network security - Network segregation and segmentation isolating environments - IDS/IPS deployed throughout infrastructure - Encrypted connectivity: VPN, TLS 1.2+, AES-256 - VLANs and microsegmentation limiting lateral movement ### Host-based controls - Host-based firewalls (IPTables, firewalld) - Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) for threat hunting - SELinux mandatory access controls - Role-based authentication and least privileged access ### Data protection - Encryption at rest (AES-256) and in transit (TLS 1.2+) - Data Loss Prevention (DLP) monitoring - Hardware security modules (HSM) for key management - Secure data destruction following NIST 800-88 ## Compliance frameworks and certifications Pico's security program is built on recognized industry frameworks with independent third-party verification. ### SOC 2 Type 2 Independent third-party attestation covering security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. Annual audits and reporting. ### GDPR Compliance EU data protection regulation compliance with data subject rights management and privacy by design principles. ### NIST Framework Aligned with NIST Cybersecurity Framework: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover. ### Industry standards Following COBIT, ISO best practices. Compliance with financial services regulations and regular assessments. ## Security FAQs ### How does Pico balance security with low-latency trading requirements? Pico's security team has 30+ years combined capital markets experience. We architect security controls using hardware acceleration (ASIC-based firewalls), optimized rulesets, strategic placement at network edge rather than in the critical trading path, and latency-aware monitoring. ### What does SOC 2 Type 2 accreditation mean? SOC 2 Type 2 is an independent third-party audit of Pico's security controls covering Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. Type 2 means the auditor tested controls over a period (typically 6-12 months) to verify they operate effectively over time. ### Can Pico help with security for client-managed infrastructure? Yes. Security services can extend to environments not fully managed by Pico. This includes security consulting, architecture reviews, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and security tool deployment for client-owned infrastructure. ### How often are penetration tests and security assessments performed? Pico conducts annual third-party penetration testing as part of SOC 2 compliance. Additional vulnerability scanning occurs continuously via automated tools. Clients can request dedicated penetration tests for their specific environments. ### What happens during a security incident? Pico follows a formalized incident response process: Detection by 24/7 SOC via SIEM and IDS/IPS, Containment to isolate affected systems, Eradication to remove threats, Recovery with validation, and Post-incident analysis with lessons learned. Clients are notified according to severity and contractual obligations. ### How quickly can Pico respond to zero-day vulnerabilities? Critical zero-day vulnerabilities are assessed within hours, with emergency patching or compensating controls deployed within 24-48 hours. Defense-in-depth approach provides protection even before patches are available. ### What financial services regulations does Pico support? Pico's security framework supports NYDFS Cybersecurity Requirements, SEC requirements, MiFID II, and regional banking regulations. Specific compliance can be discussed based on your regulatory obligations. ## Secure your trading infrastructure with financial services expertise Talk to a Pico security specialist about security requirements, compliance needs, and how enterprise security can be implemented without compromising trading performance.