In one of our previous articles, we’ve examined some essential benefits of the 3D Secure protection for online merchants. Today, we’re going to dive deeper and explore the three-domain structure in more detail.
What Is Three-Domain Secure?
The three-domain secure method consists of three elements involved in an online transaction: an acquirer, issuer and interoperability domain provided by a payment system. Using the 3D Secure protocol, a shop’s website displays the page of the card-issuing bank, which prompts clients to enter an additional security code. The bank’s clients can receive it in several ways: an SMS or push notification with a one-time code to their mobile phone or another device, or a permanent 3D Secure pin, preset by the client. Keep in mind that the protocol is not obligatory for all merchants, so there are websites that don’t use 3D Secure.
How Does Three-Domain Secure Work?
The protocol adds an additional user authorization step when purchasing from an online shop. The 3D Secure payment process includes the following stages:
- Customers choose an item they want to buy and enter their 3D Secure debit or credit card details in the payment form on the merchant’s website.
- The card’s information is forwarded to a directory server by a payment gateway that receives the message about the card’s status in the system.
- The customer goes to the 3D Secure page and enters a security code or pin to authenticate themselves with an issuer.
- The 3D Secure authentication result is returned to the payment gateway, which in turn submits the transaction details to the acquiring bank.
- The acquirer authorizes the transaction.
- Customers receive a response about the success or failure of their transaction.
Three-Domain Secure as a Layer of Protection for Online Transactions
The 3D Secure protocol can provide an additional layer of protection for your card as all the buyer’s confirmation information that is transmitted is stored on the issuing bank’s payment server, and online shops don’t have access to it (merchants can only store a part of the information about payment card details in compliance with the standards prescribed in PCI DSS).
Is My Card 3D Secure?
This is a commonly asked question by people who want to take advantage of the 3D Secure benefits. This feature is free, and it’s standard for the major international payment systems (such as Visa or MasterCard) to support 3D Secure verification and 3D Secure authentication processes. You can check whether your credit or debit card is 3D Secure on your issuer’s website or at its office. If you have a non-3D Secure credit or debit card, here are some ways to remedy the situation:
- Accessing your personal account via online banking.
- By making a phone call to your bank.
- Requesting changes at an ATM of your issuing financial institution.
- By requesting to speak to the manager at your bank’s office.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the three-domain secure protocol is an essential part of the transaction process. At PayFasto, we offer our customers 3D Secure systems to ensure their payments are safe during online transactions. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
