Visa Debuts Program to Help Clients Assess Cyberthreats

In a proactive move to address the escalating threat landscape, Visa has announced the launch of its new Cybersecurity Advisory Practice. This initiative, part of the company’s broader strategy to enhance its value-added services, aims to equip clients with the tools and insights necessary to identify, evaluate, and neutralize emerging cyber threats.

The new practice will operate under the umbrella of Visa Consulting & Analytics (VCA), leveraging its global network of consultants, data scientists, and product experts. According to a company statement, the program is designed to provide scalable resources for businesses of all sizes, from small “mom-and-pop shops” to large enterprises. The focus is on moving from a reactive to a proactive defense strategy, which Visa believes is key to preventing fraud and securing the payments ecosystem.

Key services offered by the new advisory practice include:

• Cybersecurity Maturity Assessments: A complete evaluation of a client’s current security processes and infrastructure.
• Payment Cybersecurity Institute: A dedicated training program to help employees understand best practices and stay ahead of threats.
• Enumeration Defense: Specialized support to detect and block automated attacks that use scripts and botnets to test card numbers, a common source of fraud.

To lead this new effort, Visa has appointed seasoned cybersecurity expert Jeremiah Dewey as its new global head of cyber products. With over two decades of experience in both the private and government sectors, Dewey will be responsible for developing Visa’s suite of cybersecurity offerings and building strategic partnerships.

James Mirfin, Visa’s global head of risk and identity solutions, emphasized the importance of this new initiative, stating, “Our clients… need complete resources that can be scaled to meet the unique needs of their business.” He added that Visa has invested $12 billion in technology and infrastructure over the past five years, with a significant portion dedicated to cybersecurity and fraud prevention. This new program is a direct result of that investment, making the company’s deep expertise and advanced solutions accessible to its partners worldwide.

The launch of the Cybersecurity Advisory Practice highlights a growing industry trend where payments companies are expanding their role beyond transaction processing to become strategic partners in security and risk management. With cyber threats becoming increasingly sophisticated, this proactive approach is a timely and necessary step to safeguard the digital economy.