> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developer.hellgate.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Overview

> The tokenization service of the Hellgate Cloud Platform

Guardian is part of the [Composable Payment Architecture (CPA)](/platform/cpa) — a composable service that's also available standalone.

Guardian is a fully PCI-compliant tokenization service, delivered as managed, dedicated infrastructure. Rather
than subscribing to a shared service, you own your data on a private instance run solely for you.

## Role in the Hellgate Cloud Platform

Guardian is a fast, simple way to establish compliance. It provides a protective yet actionable layer between
your other services and the sensitive data it stores.

By taking sensitive data out of scope, Guardian unlocks composability: you can combine services freely without
worrying about PCI scope, compliance, or data protection.

## Features

Guardian provides comprehensive tokenization capabilities with multiple token types, each designed for specific use cases and compliance requirements.

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card icon="credit-card" title="PCI Tokens" href="/products/guardian/tokens/pci-tokens">
    <Badge size="xs" color="blue">Standard Feature</Badge>

    PCI tokens protect sensitive payment card credentials and keep raw card data out of your systems.
  </Card>

  <Card icon="infinity" title="Generic Tokens" href="/products/guardian/tokens/generic-tokens">
    <Badge size="xs" color="blue">Standard Feature</Badge>

    Generic tokens store arbitrary payloads (for example SEPA credentials, API keys, or other sensitive data).
  </Card>
</Columns>

### Add-ons

Extend Guardian's capabilities with optional add-on features that provide advanced functionality for specific use cases.

<Info>
  Add-on features are subject to extra charges. Contact your account
  representative to enable these features for your account.
</Info>

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card icon="money-bill-transfer" title="Network Tokens" href="/products/guardian/tokens/network-tokens">
    <Badge size="xs" color="orange">Add-on Feature</Badge>

    Network tokens enable secure tokenized transactions with card schemes. Provision tokens from sessions, PAN data, or existing PCI tokens, depending on your compliance level.
  </Card>

  <Card icon="magnifying-glass" title="Metadata Inquiries" href="/products/guardian/tokens/metadata-inquiries">
    <Badge size="xs" color="orange">Add-on Feature</Badge>

    Retrieve comprehensive card and issuing bank metadata from PAN, PCI tokens, or network tokens. Useful for card display, validation, routing decisions, and analytics.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card icon="key" title="Plans & Access" href="/products/guardian/plans-and-access">
    Dedicated infrastructure, tiers, and how to obtain a Guardian instance.
  </Card>

  <Card icon="lock" title="Authentication" href="/products/guardian/authentication">
    Authenticate with an API key, and the scopes that gate each endpoint.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>