Tessell achieves PCI DSS v4.1 certification: Raising the bar for cloud-native database security, and accelerating risk reviews for regulated teams

We’re excited to announce that Tessell is validated to PCI DSS v4.1 as a Service Provider Level 1, the highest assurance tier for protecting financial customer date. This milestone reflects our security-first architecture and strengthens the trust our customers place in Tessell for mission-critical data.

Why it matters

PCI DSS is the global baseline for safeguarding cardholder data. Level 1 validation means an independent QSA has assessed Tessell’s controls through a complete ROC/AOC process, covering identity and access management, encryption, vulnerability management, penetration testing, monitoring, and more. For our customers, it translates into lower vendor risk, faster procurement, and confidence that sensitive workloads are protected by design.

What’s new in PCI DSS v4.1 and how Tessell maps

The latest standard emphasizes stronger authentication, continuous risk assessment, and adaptive controls, a philosophy we’ve had since day one. In practice, that looks like:

• Stronger authentication & least privilege across platforms and customer tenants
  
• Targeted risk analyses that drive review/testing cadence versus one-size-fits-all schedules
  
• Modern application protections (change/tamper detection, supply-chain hygiene)
  
• Evidence-friendly automation that simplifies audits and speeds security reviews

These capabilities are native to Tessell’s multi-cloud DBaaS: end-to-end encryption, fine-grained IAM, MFA, immutable audit logs, continuous posture monitoring, and automated patching, all operated and evidenced by our team.

Benefits beyond payments: a win for the public sector

Even when agencies don’t handle payment data, PCI DSS v4.1’s rigor aligns closely with NIST, FedRAMP, and Zero Trust practices. With Tessell, public sector teams get:

• Accelerated vendor risk reviews with current ROC/AOC
  
• Cloud-first, security-first architecture aligned to modernization mandates
  
• Defense-in-depth for interagency data with segmentation, KMS-backed encryption, and comprehensive auditability
  

Built on a broader compliance foundation

PCI DSS v4.1 adds to Tessell’s existing certifications and attestations, including SOC 2, ISO/IEC 27001 (ISMS), and ISO/IEC 27701 (PIMS), underscoring our commitment to data security, privacy, and continuous compliance.

For fintech, embedded finance, and regulated enterprises

• Faster go-to-market for payment-adjacent features with less integration overhead
  
• Shared-responsibility clarity for audits and controls inheritance
  
• Confidence to modernize Oracle, PostgreSQL, and other critical databases on the cloud, security built-in, not bolted-on
  

Our philosophy: compliance as an architectural principle

At Tessell, compliance isn’t a box to check; it’s how we design and operate the platform. Achieving PCI DSS v4.1 is another step towards helping government and enterprises modernize securely and confidently.

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Read the press release: Tessell Achieves PCI DSS 4.1, Raising the Bar for Cloud Database Security (Aug 6, 2025). GlobeNewswire