Security Whitepaper
A comprehensive technical overview of the security infrastructure, encryption standards, and compliance frameworks protecting the RaiseIt crowdfunding ecosystem.
1. Executive Summary
RaiseIt operates a global crowdfunding platform processing over $2.4B in annual transactions. Security is embedded into our culture, architecture, and operations. This whitepaper details our multi-layered security approach, ensuring fund integrity, data privacy, and platform availability.
Core Principle: We treat every user's contribution as a trust deposit. Our security model assumes a compromised periphery and focuses on zero-trust internal architectures with cryptographic verification at every layer.
Zero Trust Architecture
No implicit trust granted based on network location. Every request is authenticated, authorized, and encrypted.
Fund Segregation
Campaign funds are held in segregated escrow accounts, ensuring operational funds never mix with user assets.
Continuous Auditing
Automated compliance scanning and quarterly third-party penetration tests keep vulnerabilities at bay.
Global Compliance
Fully compliant with GDPR, CCPA, PCI-DSS Level 1, and SOC 2 Type II standards.
2. Infrastructure Architecture
RaiseIt runs on a cloud-native, microservices-based architecture deployed across multiple AWS availability zones with automatic failover and disaster recovery capabilities.
2.1 Multi-Region Redundancy
Our primary regions are us-east-1 and eu-west-1, with read-replicas in ap-southeast-1. Database replication uses synchronous streaming for RPO=0 within regions.
| Component | Technology | Redundancy | Availability Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| API Gateway | Custom Envoy Mesh | Active-Active (3 AZs) | 99.99% |
| Application Servers | Kubernetes (EKS) | Auto-scaling Pods | 99.99% |
| Primary Database | PostgreSQL (RDS) | Multimaster Sync | 99.999% |
| Object Storage | S3 + CloudFront | Geo-Replicated | 99.999999999% |
| Message Queue | AWS SQS + MSK | Multi-AZ Clusters | 99.99% |
3. Encryption & Cryptography
Data is encrypted at rest and in transit using industry-standard algorithms. We employ a hybrid encryption model for sensitive financial data.
3.1 Transit Encryption
All external communication is enforced over TLS 1.3 with perfect forward secrecy. Internal service-to-service communication uses mTLS within the service mesh.
Strict-Transport-Security: max-age=63072000; includeSubDomains
X-Content-Type-Options: nosniff
X-Frame-Options: DENY
Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'; script-src 'self' https://trusted.cdn.com;
X-XSS-Protection: 0
Referrer-Policy: strict-origin-when-cross-origin
3.2 Data at Rest
Databases and storage volumes are encrypted using AES-256-GCM. Key management is handled via AWS KMS with automated key rotation every 90 days. Customer PII is additionally encrypted using application-level encryption with customer-specific keys.
- Block Storage: AWS EBS Volumes with AES-256.
- Object Storage: S3 SSE-KMS with bucket policies.
- Backups: Encrypted snapshots stored in isolated vaults.
- Secrets: HashiCorp Vault with Shamir's Secret Sharing.
4. Compliance & Certifications
RaiseIt maintains rigorous compliance standards to operate globally. We undergo regular audits by accredited third-party firms.
| Standard | Status | Scope | Last Audit |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCI-DSS Level 1 | ● Certified | Payment Processing | Q3 2024 |
| SOC 2 Type II | ● Certified | Security, Availability, Confidentiality | Q2 2024 |
| GDPR | ● Compliant | EU Data Protection | Ongoing |
| CCPA | ● Compliant | California Privacy | Ongoing |
| ISO 27001 | ● In Progress | Information Security Management | Target Q4 2024 |
5. Incident Response & Monitoring
We maintain a 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC) and automated detection systems to identify and respond to threats in real-time.
5.1 Detection Layers
- WAF & DDoS Protection: AWS Shield Advanced + Custom Rules.
- Behavioral Analysis: AI-driven anomaly detection for transaction fraud.
- SIEM: Splunk enterprise deployment for log aggregation and correlation.
- Endpoint Detection: EDR agents on all administrative workstations.
5.2 Response Protocol
In the event of a security incident, we follow a structured response plan aligned with NIST SP 800-61:
- Preparation: Continuous training and tooling maintenance.
- Detection & Analysis: Automated alerts + SOC analyst triage.
- Containment: Isolate affected systems using automated playbooks.
- Eradication: Remove root cause and patch vulnerabilities.
- Recovery: Restore services from clean backups and monitor.
- Post-Incident: Forensic analysis and public disclosure if required.
Transparency Commitment: RaiseIt commits to notifying affected users within 72 hours of confirmed data breaches involving personal information, in accordance with GDPR and other regional regulations.
6. API Security
All RaiseIt APIs implement OAuth 2.0 / OIDC for authentication. We enforce strict rate limiting, scope-based authorization, and request signing for sensitive operations.
Authorization: Bearer eyJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9...
X-Request-Signature: sha256=abc123...
X-Request-Timestamp: 1700000000
Content-Type: application/json
7. Frequently Asked Questions
How are campaign funds secured?+
Campaign funds are held in segregated escrow accounts managed by regulated financial partners. Funds are only disbursed upon successful fulfillment or based on milestone triggers defined by the campaign creator.
Do you store credit card information?+
No. RaiseIt never stores full credit card numbers on our servers. We use tokenization via PCI-DSS compliant payment processors (Stripe/Adyen). Only tokens are stored in our database for recurring payments.
How can I report a vulnerability?+
Please use our responsible disclosure policy. Submit reports via our Bug Bounty portal or email security@raiseit.com. We offer rewards up to $25,000 for critical vulnerabilities.