Encryption Protocols Powering Modern Payment Security
The security of transaction information is maintained by numerous layers of encryption by the payment gateways. Currently, TLS (Transport Layer Security) 1.3 has become the de facto standard to encrypt the data in transit between processors, servers, and browsers, thus displacing some of the older versions of the SSL protocol. For data at rest, stored card information is protected with AES-256 (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption, which is considered military-grade protection. Point-to-point encryption (P2PE) products such as Bluefin or Verifone encrypt card data at the moment of entry—at the swipers, terminals, or payment fields—so that malware cannot intercept them. EMV 3-D Secure provides an additional layer of encryption for card-not-present transactions through the generation of cryptograms. The most secure ones would also incorporate HSMs to handle the encryption keys in a FIPS 140-2 Level 3 validated environment.
Implementing End-to-End Encryption
Real end-to-end encryption necessitates maintaining synchronization throughout the payment flow. Merchants need to ensure that their gateways are capable of format-preserving encryption (FPE) for the partial PAN display requirement while keeping the full card number encrypted. API calls must require TLS mutual authentication, ensuring client and server identities are authenticated before exchanging any data. Mobile apps use certificate pinning to stop man-in-the-middle attacks by binding communications to individual SSL certificates. The highest level of assurance is provided by EMVco-certified solution protocols, with annual audits providing a confirmation of real deployment of encryption. When testing gateways, be sure to ask for cryptogram details that show exactly where the data is encrypted and decrypted—the best vendors encrypt during every part of the transaction flow from start to end without any holes along the way.
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