3-D Secure

3-D Secure is a globally accepted authentication solution designed to make eCommerce transactions more secure in real-time.

More data. Smarter authentication.

3-D Secure provides an additional layer of security for eCommerce transactions prior to authorisation. It enables the exchange of data between the merchant, card issuer and, when necessary, the consumer, to validate that the transaction is being initiated by the rightful owner of the account.

3-D Secure 1.0, developed and owned by Visa, has been in the market for 15 years. 3DS 2.0 is the new generation of the 3DS protocol, developed and owned by EMVCo.

The enhanced 3-D Secure 2.0 provides several improvements over 1.0, including:

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Support for transactions across a variety of devices for improved customer experience

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10X more data to support enhanced risk-based decision-making for issuers

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Less friction for consumers, leading to reduced shopping basket abandonment

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Get a one page overview of how 3-D Secure 2.0 works

Download the infographic

Why this matters

The proliferation of connected devices has made it easier for consumers to purchase goods and services, but has also introduced new challenges for combating fraud and providing friction-less checkout experiences.
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Global eCommerce spending now surpasses $3.5 Trillion.1

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1.2 billion card not present purchases are declined globally each year.2

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62% of cardholders will abandon a card or move it to back of wallet after a decline.1

1. Ethoca Research, "Solving the CNP False Decline Puzzle," 2016.

2. Ethoca Research, Solving the CNP False Decline Puzzle, 2017, and eMarketer Worldwide Retail and eCommerce Sales Estimates, July 2017

Better authentication benefits everyone

Merchants and Acquirers

  • Enhanced transaction security
  • Better customer experience with more completed sales

Issuers

  • Better fraud management capabilities
  • Improved decision-making keeps cards top of wallet

Consumers

  • Peace of mind
  • More successful checkouts

Making the transition to 3-D Secure 2.0

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Visa recommends that issuers and merchants support both the 1.0 and 2.0 specifications:

  • Supporting both versions will ensure that stakeholders can initiate and respond to either authentication message version and maximise authenticated transactions.
  • To implement 3-D Secure 2.0, merchants' 3-D Secure Server and issuers' Access Control Server software must support the updated 3-D Secure 2.0 specifications.
  • Merchant 3-D Secure Server providers will manage initiation of authentication requests according to the 3-D Secure version(s) supported by the issuer.

The implementation guide for merchants and acquirers

This guide includes 3-D Secure 2.0 processing flows, how to get started, programme rules, and more.

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Vendor list and documentation

For an approved list of 3-D Secure vendors and documentation to become compliant, please refer to the technology partners site.

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To learn more about 3-D Secure, contact your account executive or send us an email

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