Protect merchant boarding data, gateway admin access and settlement accounts

Payment Processors & ISOs IT Services

ISOs and payment companies sit between merchants and the card networks, holding merchant owners’ SSNs, bank accounts and gateway admin rights, which means one compromised agent laptop or portal login can redirect a merchant’s settlement deposits.

Talk to Us About Payment Processors & ISOs IT 888.792.8080

SOC 2 Aligned

Responsive Support

20+ Years Experience

At a glance

We run IT and cybersecurity for independent sales organizations, payment facilitators, gateway resellers and smaller processors that need PCI DSS 4.0 discipline across the business.

That covers locked-down access to your CRM, boarding platform and gateway reseller consoles, verification on merchant bank changes, managed devices for field and remote agents, and segmentation for anything near cardholder data.

We help you document the scope and evidence your acquiring bank and QSA expect. We support payment companies in Texas and nationwide.

Security that keeps settlements honest, merchants boarding, PCI scope tight.

IT and security for ISOs and payment companies that hold merchant data, gateway access and the trust of their sponsor bank.

Inside an ISO

You control where merchants’ money settles

Agents sign merchants in the field, underwriting reviews applications, your team boards accounts and provisions terminals, and residuals flow back every month. Behind that sits merchant owner identity data, bank account details and admin rights to gateways and terminals. Criminals target ISOs because those rights move money, and the merchant blames whoever controlled them.

01 · The pressure

Boarding, support and residuals all depend on access

Your CRM tracks leads and residuals. The boarding platform carries applications with owner SSNs, driver’s licenses and voided checks. Gateway and terminal management consoles let support staff change merchant settings remotely. Your acquiring bank and processor partners expect PCI DSS 4.0 discipline and registration with the card brands. When a merchant’s deposits get redirected or card data leaks through something you manage, you face chargebacks, partner scrutiny, and a merchant who wants answers before they leave for someone else.

Boarding files hold owner SSNs and bank details
Gateway consoles can change merchant settings
Sponsor banks expect PCI DSS 4.0 discipline

02 · How it breaks

Agent laptops, merchant portals and support impersonation

Field agents carry signed applications on laptops and phones that nobody manages. A support rep gets a call from someone claiming to be a merchant and changes the deposit account. A merchant portal login gets phished, and settlement starts flowing to a mule account. A shared gateway reseller admin password circulates among support staff for years. Agents who leave for a competing ISO keep CRM access and download their merchant list on the way out. Remote support tools stay installed on merchant PCs long after setup.

Unmanaged agent devices with signed applications
Social-engineered deposit account changes
Shared gateway admin credentials

03 · What we change

Named access, verified changes, a smaller PCI scope

Every staff member and agent gets an individual, MFA-protected account in your CRM, boarding platform and gateway consoles, with roles that limit who can change settlement details. Bank account changes require verification through contact data on file plus a second approver. Agent devices go into MDM with encryption and remote wipe. We segment any systems that touch cardholder data, remove unnecessary card data storage, retire stale remote support tools and set up logging your QSA can review.

Role-based, MFA-protected console access
Two-person rule on settlement account changes
Segmentation and card data minimization

04 · The after

Partner reviews and QSA visits get shorter

Your acquiring bank’s annual review gets current evidence instead of promises. Your PCI scope is documented and smaller, so the assessment covers fewer systems. Settlement redirection attempts get stopped at the verification step. Agents can work anywhere on managed devices, and when one leaves, their access and merchant data stay with you. Merchants calling about security get a clear explanation of how you protect their account settings.

Documented, reduced PCI scope
Settlement changes stopped at verification
Agent departures don’t take your book

Systems we keep running

IRIS CRM
NMI Gateway
Authorize.net
Clover
Fiserv CardPointe
PAX terminals
TSYS

Rules we help you meet

PCI DSS 4.0
Card brand third-party agent and service provider registration rules
Nacha Operating Rules (if you originate ACH)
State data breach notification laws

What We Offer

Comprehensive solutions tailored for Houston-area businesses

PCI DSS 4.0 Scoping and Support

Many ISOs don’t store card data but can still affect its security through gateway and terminal administration, which brings PCI DSS 4.0 into play. We help you document scope, segment systems that touch cardholder data, remove unnecessary storage, implement the logging, MFA and vulnerability management requirements, and organize evidence for your QSA or self-assessment.

Gateway and Terminal Console Access

Gateway reseller portals, terminal management systems and processor back offices are high-value targets. We replace shared logins with named accounts, enforce MFA, restrict which roles can change settlement or routing settings, and review access quarterly. Where consoles support it, we turn on audit logs and alerts for sensitive changes.

Settlement Account Change Verification

We work with your operations team on a firm procedure for merchant bank account changes: verification through contact details already on the application, a second approver, notification to the merchant’s original email and phone, and logging. Support staff get training on callers impersonating merchants and on pressure tactics.

Agent and Sales Device Management

Field agents carry applications with owner SSNs and bank details. We enroll their laptops and phones in MDM with encryption, screen lock, EDR and remote wipe, and push e-signature and boarding workflows so paper and photos of IDs don’t pile up in camera rolls. Independent agents get scoped access instead of full company devices where that fits.

CRM and Boarding Data Protection

IRIS CRM, boarding platforms and residual systems hold your merchant book. We enforce SSO and MFA where supported, set role-based access so agents see only their merchants, monitor for bulk exports, and offboard departing agents the same day so a competing ISO doesn’t inherit your portfolio.

Remote Support Tool Hygiene

Remote access tools used during merchant setup often stay installed indefinitely. We standardize on one MFA-protected remote support platform with session logging, remove legacy tools from your own systems, and help you write a practice for removing or disabling access on merchant devices after support sessions end.

Why Choose LayerLogix?

Serving businesses throughout the Greater Houston area including Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Atlanta, Nationwide.

Stop Settlement Redirection Fraud

Two-person verification and notifications to the merchant’s original contacts make redirecting deposits far harder. Your support team follows a clear script instead of making judgment calls under pressure from a convincing caller, and every change leaves an audit trail.

A Smaller PCI Assessment

Documented scope, segmentation and card data minimization mean fewer systems fall into your PCI assessment. Your QSA or internal team spends less time testing, and you have fewer controls to maintain and re-evidence between one assessment and the next.

Stronger Sponsor Bank Relationships

Acquiring banks and processors review their ISOs’ controls on a regular cycle. Current evidence of access management, device security and incident response makes those reviews routine, and it shows your partners you take card brand registration obligations seriously.

Your Merchant Book Stays Yours

Role-based CRM access, export monitoring and same-day offboarding protect your residual portfolio when agents move on. You keep the merchant relationships you paid to acquire, with a clear record of who accessed which merchant files and when.

Our Process

Map how merchants are signed, boarded, supported and paid, including every CRM, gateway, terminal and processor portal involved.

Document PCI DSS 4.0 scope and identify every system and role that touches, or could affect, cardholder data security.

Replace shared console logins with named, MFA-protected accounts, then restrict who can change merchant settlement details by role.

Put two-person verification on every merchant bank account change and train support staff to handle callers impersonating merchants.

Enroll agent devices in MDM, retire stale remote support tools and segment cardholder data systems.

Maintain PCI and partner evidence, review access quarterly, and support you through QSA and bank reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

We don’t store card numbers. Does PCI DSS still apply to our ISO?▼

Often, yes. PCI DSS applies to entities that store, process or transmit cardholder data, and also to service providers whose people or systems could affect its security. If your staff can change gateway settings, configure terminals or access processor back offices, you may be in scope as a service provider. Card brands also require ISOs to be registered through their acquirer. Your acquiring bank and QSA determine your exact validation requirements; we help you document scope, shrink it and implement the controls.

How do criminals redirect merchant settlements?▼

Usually through social engineering or account takeover. Someone calls or emails support pretending to be the merchant and asks to update the deposit account, or they phish the merchant’s portal login and change it themselves. Sometimes a compromised agent or support account does it internally. The fix combines verification through contact details already on file, a second approver, notifications to the merchant’s original email and phone, MFA on every portal, and alerts on bank-detail changes where your platforms support them.

How do we manage independent agents who aren’t employees?▼

Give them access to what they need and nothing else. Independent agents get individual accounts with MFA in your CRM and boarding platform, restricted to their own merchants. If they use personal devices, we limit data to managed apps or browser sessions rather than downloads. Contracts should cover how they handle applications and IDs. When an agent leaves, we disable their accounts immediately and review recent export activity, so your merchant data doesn’t walk out with them.

What should we do about remote support tools on merchant PCs?▼

Standardize and clean up. Pick one remote support platform with MFA, session logging and attended-access options, and stop using ad hoc tools. Inventory where legacy tools remain on your own systems and remove them. For merchant devices, adopt a practice of using one-time session links or disabling unattended access after setup, and tell merchants what you installed. Leftover remote access on point-of-sale systems has been a long-standing path to card data theft.

Can you help with our acquiring bank’s annual review?▼

Yes. Bank and processor reviews typically ask about information security policies, access control, MFA, device management, incident response, vendor oversight and PCI validation status. We maintain an evidence folder with current reports, policy documents and test results, and we can join review calls to answer technical questions directly. If the review uncovers a gap, we help you build a remediation plan with realistic dates instead of promising things that aren’t deployed yet.

How do you handle a suspected compromise of merchant data?▼

Containment comes first: isolate affected systems and accounts, preserve logs and stop further access. Managed detection and response keeps watching while our engineers work the incident, during business hours and after hours when it’s active. If card data may be involved, the card brands and your acquirer have specific incident procedures, including the possible use of a PCI Forensic Investigator. Your leadership, counsel and acquiring bank direct those notifications; we provide the technical facts and timeline.

Do you provide Payment Processors & ISOs IT Services in Houston and nearby areas?▼

Yes. LayerLogix is based in the Greater Houston area and delivers payment processors & isos IT services to businesses across Houston and the surrounding communities, including The Woodlands, Spring, Katy, Sugar Land, Conroe, Cypress, and Pearland. For most Houston-area clients we can be on-site the same day when something needs hands-on attention, and our help desk is available during business hours, with after-hours emergency support. Call 713-571-2390 to check coverage for your specific address.

What does Payment Processors & ISOs IT Services cost for a Houston business?▼

Pricing depends on your size and what you need, so we do not publish a one-size-fits-all number — but Houston businesses generally pay a flat, predictable monthly fee rather than surprise hourly bills. We start with a free, no-obligation assessment of your current setup, then give you a clear quote in plain English with no hidden costs. That way you know exactly what you are getting and what it costs before you commit.

Ready to Get Started?

Contact LayerLogix today for a free consultation. We serve businesses throughout Houston, Dallas, Austin, and the surrounding Greater Houston area.

Schedule Free Consultation Call 888.792.8080