Strong customer authentication
SCA combines independent evidence to authenticate the payer. Successful authentication must be distinguished from payment status.
What is strong customer authentication?
Strong customer authentication, or SCA, is a concept from European payment rules. It bases authentication on at least two independent factors from different categories: knowledge, possession and personal characteristics such as biometrics. Compromising one factor must not undermine the reliability of the other. Whether SCA is required for a transaction or an exemption applies needs separate assessment.
A fictional specialist bookshop plans a payment flow with confirmation in a registered banking app and a secret PIN. The plan distinguishes evidence of the registered device from knowledge of the PIN; protecting and checking both forms part of the payment service’s procedure. The shop display must then reflect the associated payment status. Successful authentication alone does not confirm that the payment has been executed.
Sources
Related terms
- 3-D Secure3-D Secure supports authentication for online card payments. The flow may proceed without an extra prompt or require confirmation.
- Payment service providerA PSP supports businesses with electronic payments. Payment methods, processing and additional services depend on the offering.
- Delivery capabilityDelivery capability describes whether a specific request can be fulfilled. A stock value alone does not fully answer questions of quantity, destination and time.
- Order historyOrder history shows previous orders within an agreed account scope. Old prices, current availability and current processing remain separate information.
- Dealer portalA dealer portal gives affiliated dealers digital access to agreed information and workflows. Its scope and company assignment need to be clear.
- Billing addressThe billing address is a separate address in an order or invoicing process. It must not be accidentally swapped with the delivery address.
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E-Commerce with ASES
Online shops, marketplaces and B2B portals