A guide to secure digital payments for merchants
Payment security (both online and in-person) combines technology and regulatory compliance to protect your customers' data and prevent fraud in every transaction. Tokenization, authentication, real-time fraud detection, and compliance with standards such as PCI DSS and PSD2 are some of the factors you should consider when choosing a secure payment service provider.
What is a secure payment platform?
A secure payment platform is a system that processes transactions while protecting sensitive data, preventing fraud, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations like PCI DSS and PSD2. It combines technologies such as encryption, tokenization, authentication, and fraud detection to keep both your business and customers safe, online and in person.
↑ Back to topWhy payment security matters for your business
Payment security isn't just about compliance: it directly impacts your revenue, customer trust, and ability to scale. In Europe and the UK, more than 70% of online carts are abandoned, and nearly 25% of shoppers leave due to concerns about payment security. Every transaction is a moment of risk, and how you manage it determines whether you convert, lose the sale, or expose your business to fraud.
When your payment infrastructure is secure and optimized, you benefit from:
- Fewer failed payments. Intelligent authentication reduces unnecessary declines and improves approval rates.
- Lower fraud and chargebacks. Identify and block suspicious activity before it results in financial loss.
- Stronger customer trust. Customers are more likely to complete purchases when they feel their data is protected.
- Built-in regulatory compliance. Stay aligned with evolving standards across Europe and beyond without added complexity.
Without the right infrastructure, security gaps don't just create risk, they lead to lost revenue, higher operational costs, and long-term damage to your brand.
↑ Back to topTokenization to protect sensitive payment data
Tokenization replaces sensitive card details, such as the primary account number (PAN), with secure, non-sensitive tokens. These tokens are then used to process payments without exposing real card data, significantly reducing the risk of data breaches and fraud.
Tokens are useless if intercepted and cannot be reverse-engineered, so tokenization adds a critical layer of protection across the entire payment lifecycle. It also improves payment performance by enabling safer storage of payment methods and more reliable recurring transactions.
MONEI uses advanced tokenization, including network tokenization, to enhance both security and authorization rates, especially for saved cards and repeat purchases.
- Card data is securely tokenized at every stage. Sensitive information is replaced before it reaches your systems.
- Tokens can be reused safely for future transactions. Enable seamless recurring payments and one-click checkouts.
- Sensitive information never touches your systems. Reduce your risk exposure and simplify compliance requirements.
PCI DSS compliance for enterprise-grade security
PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is the global framework for securely processing, storing, and transmitting cardholder data. It sets strict requirements for encryption, access control, monitoring, and ongoing security testing across all payment systems.
MONEI is PCI DSS Level 1 certified, the highest level of certification, meaning your transactions are handled within a fully audited environment that meets the most rigorous industry standards. Instead of managing compliance on your own, you benefit from infrastructure that is already built to meet these requirements.
- Secure data handling and storage. Cardholder data is protected using industry-standard encryption and security controls.
- Reduced compliance burden. Offload complex PCI requirements and minimize your scope of responsibility.
- Enterprise-grade protection without complex setup. Access advanced security infrastructure through a simple integration.
PSD2 and SCA compliance built in
PSD2 (Revised Payment Services Directive) is a European regulation designed to make digital payments safer and more transparent. A key part of PSD2 is Strong Customer Authentication (SCA), which requires payments to be verified using at least two factors, such as a password, device, or biometric data.
MONEI handles PSD2 and SCA compliance automatically, integrating authentication directly into the payment flow while optimizing for performance. This means your business stays compliant without needing to manage complex regulatory requirements or disrupt the checkout experience.
- Multi-factor authentication flows. Securely verify transactions using biometrics, one-time codes, or device-based authentication.
- Exemptions for low-risk transactions. Reduce unnecessary authentication steps for trusted or low-value payments.
- Optimized authentication to reduce friction. Balance security and conversion with intelligent, risk-based decisioning.
PSD3 and PSR: the next step in payment security regulation
PSD3 (Third Payment Services Directive) and its accompanying Payment Services Regulation (PSR) represent the evolution of PSD2, designed to close existing security gaps, strengthen SCA rules, and expand liability frameworks across the EU.
Together, they introduce stricter requirements around fraud prevention, more granular authentication standards, and clearer rules on refund rights for victims of authorized push payment fraud.
MONEI monitors regulatory developments closely so that as PSD3 and PSR come into force, your payment infrastructure remains compliant without requiring additional effort on your side.
3D Secure authentication to reduce fraud without friction
3D Secure (3DS) is an authentication protocol that verifies the cardholder's identity during online payments, helping prevent unauthorized transactions and reducing fraud. It plays a key role in enabling Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) under PSD2, while also improving trust between merchants, issuers, and customers.
Modern 3D Secure flows (such as 3DS2) are designed to be frictionless whenever possible. Instead of interrupting the checkout experience, authentication is often completed in the background using risk-based analysis, or through quick actions like biometric approval or one-time codes when needed.
MONEI supports advanced 3D Secure protocols that:
- Protect against unauthorized transactions. Add an extra layer of verification to reduce fraud and chargebacks.
- Shift liability away from merchants. Transfer responsibility for certain fraudulent transactions to the card issuer.
- Maintain a smooth customer experience. Use frictionless authentication flows to avoid unnecessary checkout interruptions.
Real-time fraud detection and risk scoring
Fraud detection systems should analyze every transaction in real time, using behavioral data, device signals, and transaction patterns to identify suspicious activity before it impacts your business.
Instead of reacting to internet fraud after it occurs, risk scoring systems evaluate each payment as it happens, assigning a risk level based on factors such as customer behavior, location, device fingerprinting, and transaction history. This allows you to make instant, informed decisions about whether to approve, flag, or block a payment, resulting in fewer fraudulent transactions, fewer chargebacks, and less manual review.
- Score every transaction in real time. Evaluate risk instantly using machine learning and multiple behavioral and transactional signals.
- Automatically block suspicious payments. Prevent fraud before it impacts your revenue with configurable risk thresholds.
- Balance protection and conversion. Adjust your settings to catch more fraud or reduce false declines based on your business model.
- Configure custom anti-fraud rules for full control. Block transactions based on email, IP, phone number, card fingerprint or session fingerprint.
DORA-ready infrastructure for operational resilience
The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) is a European regulation designed to strengthen how financial platforms manage operational risk, cybersecurity, and system reliability. It sets new standards for ensuring that payment systems remain secure, available, and resilient, even during disruptions or cyber incidents.
MONEI is built on resilience, combining secure infrastructure, continuous monitoring, and incident response processes to help you maintain stable payment operations at all times. As regulatory expectations evolve, your payment setup remains aligned without requiring additional effort on your side.
- Maintain secure and reliable payment operations. Ensure consistent performance, even during high traffic or unexpected events.
- Respond to incidents effectively. Benefit from systems designed for rapid detection, response, and recovery.
- Meet evolving regulatory expectations. Stay aligned with DORA requirements as they are implemented across Europe.
ISO 27001 certified information security
ISO/IEC 27001 is an internationally recognized standard for information security management systems (ISMS). It defines how organizations identify, manage, and reduce security risks across their entire infrastructure, not just payment data.
MONEI's ISO 27001 certification means security is built into every layer of our payments platform, with strict processes for risk assessment, access control, monitoring, and continuous improvement. It's not a one-time audit; it's an ongoing commitment to protecting your data as threats evolve.
- Risks are continuously assessed and managed. Potential vulnerabilities are identified early and addressed proactively.
- Security processes are documented and enforced. Clear policies ensure consistent protection across systems and teams.
- Your data is protected across all systems. From internal operations to customer transactions, security is applied end-to-end.
Why choose MONEI as your secure payment platform
MONEI brings together security, compliance, and performance into a single platform, so you don't have to choose between protecting your business and growing it. Every layer of security is designed not just to reduce risk, but to improve how your payments perform.
Instead of managing multiple tools or navigating complex regulations, you get a unified system that protects your transactions, simplifies compliance, and helps you convert more customers.
With MONEI, you enjoy:
- All-in-one security. Authentication, tokenization, fraud detection, and compliance work together in a single integration, reducing complexity and eliminating gaps between systems.
- Optimized performance. Increase approval rates and reduce false declines with intelligent authentication and risk-based decisioning.
- Future-ready compliance. Stay aligned with evolving regulations like PSD2, SCA, and DORA, without ongoing manual updates or oversight.
- Uninterrupted growth. Scale securely across online, mobile, and in-person payments with infrastructure designed to support expansion.
One payment platform for every way you sell
Online
Accept cards, Bizum, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more through a single payment gateway built for your website, app, or online store.
In person
Take contactless in-store card and Bizum payments with Tap to Pay or QR codes using your smartphone or any NFC-enabled device.
Omnichannel
Manage every channel, online, in-store, and marketplace, from one omnichannel payments platform dashboard.
Marktplätze
Embed payments for your users and manage it all through one integration with MONEI Connect.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. MONEI is an authorized payment institution registered with the Bank of Spain's Registry of Payment Institutions under No. 6911 and is subject to its supervision.
MONEI is PCI DSS Level 1 certified, and card data is tokenized before it reaches your systems, which minimizes your scope of liability.
Modern workflows like 3DS2 typically complete authentication in the background using risk analysis, and MONEI applies exemptions for low-risk payments to avoid unnecessary steps.
MONEI stores merchant funds in escrow accounts managed by fully regulated financial institutions.
Fraud Detector costs €0.05 per transaction evaluated (excluding VAT). To view current rates, check our Pricing page.
