Fintech & Mobile Money Security Audit
Purpose-built for BoT-licensed institutions and mobile money operators.
Request a quoteThe problem
Tanzania's fintech and mobile money sector faces a threat landscape that generic security assessments are not designed for: API vulnerabilities that enable transaction manipulation, authentication weaknesses in mobile money integrations, transaction integrity failures, and increasing regulatory scrutiny from the Bank of Tanzania. A standard vulnerability scan will not find these risks. You need an assessment built for your environment.
Our methodology
- API security testing using Burp Suite and manual review — authentication, authorisation, injection, and transaction manipulation
- Authentication flow analysis — session management, token handling, and multi-factor controls on admin and API access
- Transaction integrity control review — reconciliation processes, approval thresholds, and dual-control mechanisms
- Reconciliation process review — detection of discrepancies and response procedures
- Bank of Tanzania cybersecurity guideline alignment check
- Mobile money integration security assessment — M-Pesa, Tigo Pesa, Airtel Money API configurations
- Insider threat control review for mobile money operations
What you will receive
- Detailed findings report with evidence and severity ratings
- BoT guideline alignment matrix showing compliant and non-compliant controls
- Remediation roadmap prioritised by business risk
- API security hardening recommendations
- Reconciliation and transaction integrity control recommendations
Estimated timeline
Scoped per engagement — varies by environment complexity. Typically 3–6 weeks.
Overview
Tanzania’s financial services and mobile money sector is one of the most dynamic in East Africa — and one of the most targeted. The combination of high transaction volumes, API-heavy architectures, and evolving regulation creates a specific risk profile that requires a specific response.
This engagement is built for that environment.
The Mobile Money Threat Landscape
Mobile money platforms are high-value targets for multiple attack vectors:
API vulnerabilities — mobile money integrations rely on APIs that, if improperly secured, can be exploited to manipulate transactions, bypass authorisation controls, or extract sensitive data.
Authentication weaknesses — compromised credentials, weak session management, and insufficient multi-factor controls on admin accounts are frequently exploited.
Insider threats — mobile money operations involve staff with privileged access to transaction systems. Without dual-control mechanisms and reconciliation controls, insider fraud is a persistent risk.
SIM swap attacks — where mobile number ownership is the authentication factor, SIM swap fraud remains a significant and technically simple attack vector.
Bank of Tanzania Alignment
BoT-licensed institutions have specific cybersecurity obligations. Our alignment matrix maps every material control requirement to your current implementation, showing where you meet the requirement, where gaps exist, and what remediation is needed. This documentation is designed to be auditor-ready.
Scope and Approach
Every fintech engagement is scoped individually because no two architectures are the same. The scoping call — which is part of the discovery process — establishes your technology stack, integration landscape, regulatory obligations, and risk priorities before we define the engagement scope and timeline.
Frequently asked questions
What BoT guidelines are relevant to us?
The Bank of Tanzania has issued cybersecurity guidelines for payment service providers, mobile money operators, and licensed financial institutions. These cover risk management, technical controls, incident reporting, and business continuity requirements. The specific guidelines that apply to your organisation depend on your licence type and the services you provide. We assess against the applicable guidelines as part of the engagement.
Do you test our mobile money integrations — M-Pesa, Tigo Pesa, Airtel Money?
Yes. We review the API configurations, authentication controls, and transaction processing logic of your integrations. This does not mean we interact with live production transaction flows in a way that creates financial risk — we work with your team to identify the right testing scope and environment. Where sandbox testing environments are available, we use them. Where they are not, we conduct configuration and code review without live transaction testing.
What credentials and access do you need?
Scope varies by engagement, but typically we need: read access to API documentation and configuration, access to a staging or test environment for active testing, code review access for internal API implementations, and stakeholder interviews with your technical and operations team. We define the exact access requirements during the scoping call before engagement begins.
We are already regulated by BoT. Does that mean we are already secure?
Regulatory compliance and security are related but not the same. Regulatory requirements set a baseline — and achieving them is important — but they do not guarantee the absence of exploitable vulnerabilities. API vulnerabilities, for instance, are often not covered in detail by regulatory checklists. We find the gaps between your regulatory baseline and your actual technical risk posture.
Can you help us prepare for a BoT examination?
Yes. In addition to the technical assessment, we can help you prepare the documentation, evidence packs, and responses that a BoT examination typically requires. This is often best handled as part of the vCISO retainer for ongoing preparation.
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Ready to get started?
All engagements begin with a free 30-minute discovery call. No commitment, no jargon — just an honest conversation about your situation.