Build vs. Buy: The Real Cost of Running an In-House ACS

The Widest Infrastructure Stack in Banking & Fintech: Every Product, Every AI Agent, One Platform

Frictionless Flow Depends More on the Access Control Server Than the Payment Gateway

The Ultimate Guide to Access Control Servers: Securing the Future of Digital Payments

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2025/12/rbi-mandate-blog-banner-2025-02.webp" alt="RBI April 2026 Mandate, Payment Authentication" title="" id="at2sv37qf" width="100%" height="253">India’s digital payments are scaling at record speed ₹14 lakh crore in monthly transactions reshaping how consumers and businesses interact. This rapid adoption, while fueling convenience and growth, also brings rising risks: fraud losses touched ₹36,000 crore in FY24–25, with SMS OTPs proving increasingly vulnerable. To restore trust, RBI’s new rules respond to this threat with a comprehensive approach emphasizing robust, adaptable authentication to a stronger security benchmark for the future of digital transactions.<blockquote class="block-node" id="0yzd5fdh1">The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a landmark directive: dynamic, two factor authentications for all digital payment transactions, effective April 1, 2026. The goal is to move beyond the ‘OTP-only’ mindset and build a smarter, more resilient security layer that protects users without derailing convenience.</blockquote>Let’s dive into the new directives of RBI.<h2 class="heading-node" id="jmlsnp9fx">The New Framework: Balancing Security, Innovation, and Convenience</h2>The RBI's new directions are a deliberate attempt to harmonize three crucial aspects of digital finance: robust security, agile innovation, and seamless customer convenience. India has long relied on two-factor authentication (2FA), primarily through the ubiquitous SMS-based One-Time Password (OTP).The new framework strategically acknowledges this dependency while simultaneously expanding the definition of acceptable authentication methods, moving the payment industry toward more sophisticated and flexible solutions.<h3 class="heading-node" id="inxjalowt">1. Authentication Diversity: Beyond the OTP</h3>The guidelines officially sanction a diverse array of authentication factors, allowing financial institutions to move beyond legacy SMS-OTP and determine which factors best meet their operational and consumer needs. This expanded scope includes:<ul class="list-node" id="cws4xnuxe"><li>Knowledge: Passwords, passphrases, and PINs.</li><li>Possession: Card hardware or software tokens.</li><li>Inherence: Fingerprints or any biometric method (whether device-native or using Aadhaar).</li></ul><h3 class="heading-node" id="ovsv7tvqp">2. The Dynamic 2FA Mandate</h3>While the fundamental requirement for authenticating every digital payment transaction with two or more distinct factors remains, the RBI has introduced a critical stipulation for non-card-present (CNP) transactions: At least one authentication factor must be dynamic, meaning it is unique to the transaction in question.This creation of a Proof-of-Possession mechanism significantly enhances security potential, making it virtually impossible for fraudsters to reuse possession data from previous transactions.<h3 class="heading-node" id="vf8odmbpj">3. Risk-Based Intelligence Takes Center Stage</h3>One of the most transformative features of the new framework is the explicit encouragement of Risk-Based Authentication (RBA). Financial institutions now have the strategic ability to move beyond the minimum 2FA requirement when a higher-risk transaction is observed.Issuers are encouraged to evaluate transactions against a sophisticated set of behavioral and contextual parameters, including:<ul class="list-node" id="av5eevcio"><li>User behavior patterns and historical transaction profiles.</li><li>Transaction location.</li><li>Device-specific attributes and fingerprinting.</li></ul>This risk-based approach ensures minimal friction for low-risk transactions (e.g., through familiar devices or locations), while automatically escalating high-risk attempts to trigger additional verification steps. The RBI has even suggested platforms like Digi Locker as a probable channel for the notification and verification of high-risk transactions.<h3 class="heading-node" id="p8knchuts">4. Strengthening Cross-Border Transaction Security</h3>Recognizing the specific vulnerabilities in the global digital payment ecosystem, the RBI has focused on securing international digital commerce. Card issuers must validate the Additional Factor of Authentication in non-recurring, cross-border Card-Not-Present (CNP) transactions whenever overseas merchants or acquirers request it.Financial institutions have until October 1, 2026, to establish the necessary processes to address all cross-border CNP transactions. This includes registering Bank Identification Numbers (BINs) with card networks, a necessary step that balances the technical challenges of implementation with the imperative of maintaining seamless payment experiences for global customers.<h2 class="heading-node" id="o2zadw1ni">The Need for Intelligent Solutions</h2>With RBI setting the stage for smarter authentication, businesses need solutions that go beyond compliance, solutions that think, adapt, and protect in real time.That’s where M2P’s Risk-Based Authentication Platform comes in.<h3 class="heading-node" id="8xqz7hmeo">Introducing M2P’s Risk-Based Authentication Platform</h3>At M2P, our full-stack solution is designed for banks and financial institutions to go beyond compliance by enabling seamless, secure, and intelligent authentication experiences, starting with full adherence to RBI’s mandate across card-present, card-not-present (ACS/3DS), and non-card transactions. Our stack helps our partners to &nbsp;<ul class="list-node" id="vdq0jszij"><li>Comply with RBI’s mandate across card-present, card-not-present (ACS/3DS), and non-card transactions.</li><li>Orchestrate authentication flows based on transaction risk, user behavior, and device fingerprinting.</li><li>Support all authentication modes—PIN, OTP, biometrics, and behavioral biometrics.</li><li>Deliver consistent experiences across mobile, web, and backend channels</li><li>Integrate easily via SDKs and APIs.</li><li>Scale confidently with a transparent commercial model.</li></ul><h3 class="heading-node" id="2mjkqvvy4">Why does M2P Stands Out?</h3><ul class="list-node" id="rrmcpl2nv"><li>Proven expertise in adaptive authentication and risk-based decisioning.</li><li>Support for multiple authentication modes across knowledge, possession, and inherence.</li><li>Flexibility to define your authentication strategy.</li><li>Consistent customer experience across channels.</li><li>Transparent commercial model.</li></ul><h2 class="heading-node" id="5eghx9d60">Looking Ahead</h2>Leading banks and fintech businesses are partnering with us to not just meet regulatory deadlines but to go beyond compliance by delivering authentication solutions that are secure, seamless, and intelligent.Want to future-proof your authentication strategy using RBA?<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/contact-us/?activeKey=1&amp;utm_source=RBI%20New%20Directive%20for%20Payment%20Authentication&amp;utm_medium=Risk-Based%20Authentication%20Platform&amp;utm_campaign=RBI%20New%20Directive%20for%20Authentication%20Blog">Schedule a demo</a> with us.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link fui-Link ___1idfs5o f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1hu3pq6 f11qmguv f19f4twv f1tyq0we f1g0x7ka fhxju0i f1qch9an f1cnd47f fqv5qza f1vmzxwi f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh ftqa4ok f2hkw1w fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1h8hb77 f1x7u7e9 f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link fui-Link ___1idfs5o f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1hu3pq6 f11qmguv f19f4twv f1tyq0we f1g0x7ka fhxju0i f1qch9an f1cnd47f fqv5qza f1vmzxwi f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh ftqa4ok f2hkw1w fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1h8hb77 f1x7u7e9 f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech bytes curated for curious minds like you.Source<ol class="list-node" id="rtd28l8fa"><li>https://www.angelone.in/news/economy/upi-dominates-digital-payments-hits-84-share-in-fy25</li><li>https://vajiramandravi.com/current-affairs/surge-in-bank-fraud-value-despite-decline-in-cases-rbi-data-for-fy25/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20RBI's%20Annual,or%20better%20internal%20control%20measures</li><li>Reserve Bank of India : Latest News Headlines, Videos and Photo Galleries on Reserve Bank of India | Business Standard</li><li>RBI Sets New Digital Payments Authentication Rules, Ends OTP-only Era From April 2026 - BW Businessworld</li><li>RBI mandates stronger two-factor authentication in new guidelines | Finance News - Business Standard</li></ol><hr>

Adapting to RBI’s New Mandate: How M2P’s RBA Platform Enables Intelligent Payment Authentication

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2025/07/frm-blog-banner-04.webp" alt="M2P’s Advanced fraud risk management system for secure and trusted digital financial services." title="" id="lt7ml42w2" width="100%" height="253">Digital transformation has propelled financial services into a new era, offering speed, convenience, and global reach. But this progress brings a parallel surge in financial fraud, threatening the very foundation of trust and stability that underpins the industry.Understanding the Magnitude:&nbsp;<ul class="list-node" id="te5m7z0bz"><li>Illicit fund flows through the global financial system could reach an astonishing USD 4.5 to <a class="link" href="https://secretariat-intl.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Secretariat-Global-Financial-and-Economic-Crime-Outlook-2025.pdf" target="">USD 6 trillion</a> by 2030</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="kf4imf2r9"><li>AI-driven and deepfake fraud are set to drive a <a class="link" href="https://secretariat-intl.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Secretariat-Global-Financial-and-Economic-Crime-Outlook-2025.pdf" target="">55–60%</a> increase in financial crime incidents by the end of 2025</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="k9zhbrxoj"><li>Cyber-related fraud alone is expected to surpass <a class="link" href="https://secretariat-intl.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Secretariat-Global-Financial-and-Economic-Crime-Outlook-2025.pdf" target="">USD 100 billion</a> by 2030</li></ul>To safeguard the future of finance, Fraud Risk Management (FRM) emerges as a strategic imperative, not just to combat fraud, but to redefine how we build trust in a digital world.Let’s explore the evolving fraud landscape and how FRM can lead us forward.<h2 class="heading-node" id="5dog23nkj" style="text-align: left">The Fraud Landscape: Key Threats Facing the Global Financial Ecosystem&nbsp;</h2>Financial fraud is evolving rapidly, with attackers leveraging sophisticated tactics and technologies. Among the most pressing threats are:&nbsp;<h3 class="heading-node" id="cxubxvksj" style="text-align: left">1. Identity Theft&nbsp;</h3>Fraudsters steal personal information, such as government IDs, bank credentials, or biometric data, to open accounts, make unauthorized transactions, or impersonate customers. The proliferation of large-scale data breaches and dark web marketplaces has made sensitive data more accessible to criminals than ever before.<h3 class="heading-node" id="1d6oulgjq" style="text-align: left">2. Payment Fraud&nbsp;</h3>Unauthorized transactions often stem from stolen credit/debit card details, hijacked payment accounts, or compromised digital wallets. Payment fraud can occur through card-not-present (CNP) transactions, card skimming, or account hacking.<h3 class="heading-node" id="lc8zuhxck" style="text-align: left">3. Account Takeover&nbsp;</h3>Cybercriminals gain unauthorized access to user accounts, often via phishing, credential stuffing, or social engineering. Once accounts are accessed, they can transfer funds, change account details, or commit further fraud.<h3 class="heading-node" id="plj4wyaqa" style="text-align: left">4. Investment Fraud&nbsp;</h3>Scammers present fake investment opportunities, often promising high, guaranteed returns to trick individuals or businesses into sending money. Ponzi schemes, pump-and-dump scams, and fraudulent ICOs are common examples.<h3 class="heading-node" id="bqw4rmmd0" style="text-align: left">5. Loan and Credit Fraud&nbsp;</h3>Fraudsters use fake or stolen information to obtain loans or credit, harming victims' credit and causing financial losses. This includes synthetic identity fraud and mortgage fraud, where applicants misrepresent income or property details to secure loans.<h3 class="heading-node" id="6cdw50btg" style="text-align: left">6. ACH Fraud&nbsp;</h3>Transactions on the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network are compromised by attackers using business email compromise (BEC) or forged payment instructions to divert funds from direct debits and credits.<h3 class="heading-node" id="ulv75dd2y" style="text-align: left">7. Phishing Scams&nbsp;</h3>Deceptive emails, texts, or calls trick individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as login credentials or payment details. Phishing remains one of the most common entry points for fraud.<h3 class="heading-node" id="cygf1e0dt" style="text-align: left">8. Synthetic Identity Fraud&nbsp;</h3>Fraudsters create entirely new identities using a mix of real and fake information, opening accounts and building credit before defaulting on loans or maxing out credit cards.<h3 class="heading-node" id="kak8m7yz1" style="text-align: left">9. Friendly Fraud&nbsp;</h3>Legitimate customers falsely dispute valid transactions, resulting in chargebacks and losses for merchants and financial institutions.<h3 class="heading-node" id="m70nsw8le" style="text-align: left">10. Internal Fraud&nbsp;</h3>Fraud committed by employees, including misappropriating funds, unauthorized transactions, manipulating records, or abusing access to confidential information, results in financial and reputational damage to organizations.This diverse and evolving threat landscape demands a unified, technology-driven response.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="pecoaqt3a" style="text-align: left">A Vision for Global Financial Security: How M2P’s FRM Leads the Way&nbsp;</h2>M2P’s Fraud Risk Management (FRM) system is a comprehensive, cloud-native framework purpose-built to secure the global financial ecosystem. By seamlessly integrating advanced AI, regulatory intelligence, and user-centric design, M2P’s FRM empowers banks, fintechs, and NBFCs to stay ahead of threats, adapt faster, and protect customers with confidence.Here’s how M2P’s FRM is redefining fraud management in the digital era.<h3 class="heading-node" id="220oaozjd" style="text-align: left">1. Risk Management Expertise&nbsp;</h3>M2P embeds risk management expertise into every layer of its FRM solution. Designed to empower cross-functional teams, it equips stakeholders with intuitive, data-driven tools to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risk long before escalation. From onboarding to servicing, every interaction is guided by embedded fraud resilience.<h3 class="heading-node" id="ifsxjisfn" style="text-align: left">2. Advanced Fraud Detection and Prevention&nbsp;</h3>M2P’s <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/all-you-need-to-know-about-building-a-robust-fraud-and-risk-management-frm-system/" target="">FRM</a> combines robust rule engines with machine learning models to deliver real-time fraud detection and adaptive prevention strategies.<ul class="list-node" id="tdzusqjck"><li>Data Analysis and Anomaly Detection: Our platform continuously monitors transaction streams, using statistical models and machine learning to flag deviations from expected patterns, such as sudden large transfers or unusual spending spikes.</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="w9oq99knz"><li>Behavioral Analytics: By tracking user behaviors like device usage, login locations, and transaction timing, the FRM system quickly identifies account takeovers and credential theft—critical in a world where <a class="link" href="https://coinlaw.io/online-banking-usage-statistics/" target="">3.6 billion</a> people use mobile banking.</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="uk5nd1bkj"><li>Continuous Monitoring: Provides 24/7 surveillance of transactions and accounts, shrinking the window for fraudsters to act.</li></ul><h3 class="heading-node" id="w8n2jodle" style="text-align: left">3. Regulatory and Legal Compliance&nbsp;</h3>M2P simplifies regulatory complexity with baked-in compliance architecture that supports global and local frameworks like GDPR, PCI DSS, and AML/<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/kyc-suite/" target="">KYC</a>.<ul class="list-node" id="fwtxrmd4w"><li>eKYC &amp; AML Screening: Real-time identity verification and sanctions list screening to ensure compliance without friction.</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="dwcqma5ki"><li>Automated Reporting &amp; Audit Trails: Every user action and transaction is logged, making it easier to meet audit requirements and manage incident traceability.</li></ul><h3 class="heading-node" id="irxjwq90n" style="text-align: left">4. Cybersecurity Measures&nbsp;</h3>M2P’s FRM training and tools address cyber threats that lead to fraud, such as phishing, malware, and ransomware. The integrated features ensure compliance and fortify institutions against cyber threats that often serve as gateways to financial fraud.<ul class="list-node" id="4jny8o2rw"><li>Multi-factor Authentication (MFA): Enforces layered security, making unauthorized access significantly harder.</li></ul><ul class="list-node" id="w2lxdvs95"><li>Threat Intelligence Integration: Delivers real-time updates on emerging cyber risks, enabling dynamic response to new attack vectors.</li></ul><h3 class="heading-node" id="os57yguml" style="text-align: left">5. Enhancing Operational Resilience&nbsp;</h3>Powerful fraud prevention isn’t just about detection—it starts with building resilient operations. By enforcing segregation of duties, intelligent access controls, and structured incident response protocols, the FRM system helps financial institutions reduce insider fraud and respond swiftly when threats arise. This resilience is essential for maintaining trust, minimizing disruption, and ensuring operational continuity amid evolving risks.<h3 class="heading-node" id="0gaqn2566" style="text-align: left">6. Custom Fraud Detection System&nbsp;</h3>A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work against dynamic fraud. Advanced FRM solutions offer the flexibility to design custom risk models that evolve with changing fraud tactics. By integrating data from multiple sources and leveraging machine learning, these systems continuously refine detection capabilities. This unified approach provides a comprehensive view of risk, enabling institutions to respond quickly to new fraud tactics and maintain a strong, adaptive defense against even the most sophisticated schemes.<h3 class="heading-node" id="720dugepn" style="text-align: left">7. Ethical Considerations&nbsp;</h3>Beyond compliance, our FRM system embeds ethical standards and responsible risk management into organizational culture. By promoting transparency, accountability, and whistleblower mechanisms, it deters insider threats and conflicts of interest. This ethical foundation not only reduces internal fraud risk but also builds stakeholder trust and aligns business practices with global standards of integrity, supporting sustainable growth and reputation.<h2 class="heading-node" id="b7cg2ouvx" style="text-align: left">A Future-Ready Approach to Fraud Risk Management&nbsp;</h2>The financial landscape is shifting, and so are the tactics of fraudsters. It’s not just about reacting to fraud—it’s about anticipating it, preventing it, and building trust in a digital-first world.By blending expertise, technology, and collaboration, FRM systems position institutions to lead the global fight against fraud, ensuring that innovation and inclusion go hand in hand with security.Don’t let fraud outpace your innovation.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/contact-us/?activeKey=1" target="">Schedule a personalized demo</a> and discover how you can stay steps ahead of financial crime!&nbsp;<a class="link fui-Link ___1idfs5o f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1hu3pq6 f11qmguv f19f4twv f1tyq0we f1g0x7ka fhxju0i f1qch9an f1cnd47f fqv5qza f1vmzxwi f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh ftqa4ok f2hkw1w fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1h8hb77 f1x7u7e9 f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link fui-Link ___1idfs5o f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1hu3pq6 f11qmguv f19f4twv f1tyq0we f1g0x7ka fhxju0i f1qch9an f1cnd47f fqv5qza f1vmzxwi f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh ftqa4ok f2hkw1w fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1h8hb77 f1x7u7e9 f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link fui-Link ___1idfs5o f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1hu3pq6 f11qmguv f19f4twv f1tyq0we f1g0x7ka fhxju0i f1qch9an f1cnd47f fqv5qza f1vmzxwi f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh ftqa4ok f2hkw1w fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1h8hb77 f1x7u7e9 f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech bytes curated for curious minds like you.

The Rising Threat of Financial Fraud: Why Robust Risk Management is Essential?

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/Artboard-1-copy-8-3-1.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="358">Did you know it takes just 6 seconds to hack any credit or debit card?As the number of Card-Not-Present (CNP) transaction increases, so do the associated risk factors. The 6-second hacking window is quite scary, especially when you are a bank or a card issuer.Even though the end-consumer faces losses, card issuers and banks are the ones who will have to bear the major brunt, including refunding the customer, dealing with chargeback fees/fines, and investigation charges which often lead to reputation loss.<h2 class="heading-node" id="cae2" style="text-align: justify">Modus operandi of fraudsters</h2>Card payment fraud happens in both card-present and card-not-present scenarios. Usually, the customer gets unsolicited calls, text messages, emails, or unauthorized software update requests under the pretense of KYC updates, or gift offers.Scamsters pretend to be genuine in these communications and ask consumers to share personal information, card credentials, PIN, or OTP details. Phishing, skimming, and mail intercepting are among the key modus operandi that criminals use to defraud consumers of their money, data, and identity.Other usual scenarios include:Stolen or lost card fraud-&nbsp;In this situation, the card either slips out of the cardholder’s hands or is stolen. The fraudsters then use the card to go on a shopping spree and then discard the card.Account takeover-&nbsp;One of the rising crime scenarios today is complete account takeover. Here the fraudsters shoulder surf or steal card details and get in touch with the card-issuing company. Pretending to be the cardholder, they would falsely report a stolen card and ask for a replacement with modified address details. The genuine cardholder will know about this scam only when the card is used.Page Jacking-&nbsp;Here, the scamster redirects an e-commerce store page and takes the user to their malicious portal. This page would contain links with the potential to crack network security.Now, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Each day, fraudsters develop more sophisticated methods to commit card payment fraud.<h2 class="heading-node" id="75ac" style="text-align: justify">Signs banks need to look out for to identify fraudulent activity</h2>Card issuing banks need to be vigilant and check for signs to nip card scams in the bud. They need to design systems to proactively identify suspected fraudulent activity in real-time and decline these attempts before the cardholder is affected.Suppose a bank notices anomalous spending patterns, erratic location changes, or unexplainable large ticket transfers, they need to notify the cardholder and investigate the matter immediately.<h2 class="heading-node" id="4a4f" style="text-align: justify">What can banks do?</h2>Delivering secure, smooth, and customer-friendly online payments is critical for banks and card issuing companies. Otherwise, customers will leave in hoards, shifting their loyalty to competitors. Choosing a suitable authentication method is crucial to eliminate security risks in card payments.Gone are the days when binary authentication such as static passwords and usernames were unbreakable. Today cyber criminals use advanced technology that can decode these credentials in seconds. Hence, banks need to adapt to a more robust, scalable form of authentication that can be adjusted according to different risk levels.<h2 class="heading-node" id="9cf8" style="text-align: justify">The solution: Risk-Based Authentication (RBA)</h2>When it comes to the standard credential-based authentication process, the user will have to undergo two-factor authentication (2FA) or Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), which is a One-Time Password (OTP) or password every time a transaction happens.But with risk-based authentication, it is not necessary that the transaction must go through 2FA. Instead, every single transaction is monitored and assessed for risk. And a risk score is assigned to evaluate if the transaction can occur securely.In conjunction with a few other parameters, including business rules/logic, this risk score effectively decides if a transaction requires a challenge or if it can be allowed to go through frictionless (without an explicit 2FA).Case studies from different markets suggest that ~90% of transactions tend to be low risk and can thus be allowed to go through frictionless. Around 8% may require some form of 2FA, and ~2% tend to be high risk and can be declined.Risk-based authentication helps banks cut fraud losses, reduces transaction drop-offs, and ensures regulatory compliance. It plays a critical role in boosting e-commerce by balancing customer experience and controlling fraud. Dynamic RBA systems power card issuers to identify optimal risk levels and deliver quick, secure, and seamless payments.More info…Risk-based authentication is a real-time process that assesses underlying risks and applies appropriate levels of controls. Also known as adaptive authentication, the identification happens based on the user’s risk profile when they try to authenticate who they claim to be.An increase in the user’s risk profile leads to stricter and more restrictive methods of authentication. Risk-based authentication uses behavioral profiling to assess risk and protect customer data.Risk-based authentication ensures a protective guard against complex security breaches and hacking attempts. The authentication uses various parameters such as the user’s transaction history, merchant profile, IP &amp; location, device usage history, and other critical parameters to assess risk.Based on the evaluation, the Access Control Server (ACS) decides if the user can complete the transaction without any additional factor of authentication or if there is a need for an additional factor of authentication such as the following.<ul class="list-node" id="kzbf8joyr"><li>One time passcode</li><li>Permanent or temporary PIN</li><li>Security question (knowledge-based authentication)</li><li>Biometric data, such as a fingerprint</li><li>Mobile phone-based authentication such as Swipe to Pay</li></ul><h2 class="heading-node" id="39bb" style="text-align: justify">Setting up an RBA system</h2>Designing and deploying a quality risk-based authentication system involves implementing&nbsp;<a class="link au mv" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/3d-secure-your-barrier-against-cyber-attacks/" rel="noopener">3D Secure (3DS)</a>. Now, 3D Secure is a payments security protocol that adds a strong layer of security to CNP transactions by tying payment authorization to the online authentication process.To authenticate the cardholder, the transaction needs to be redirected to the Access Control Server (ACS). Issuers can define their risk profile and set up the ACS to control the customer authentication experience based on the risk analysis. After the customer completes the authentication, the response is sent back to the merchant and processing bank.<h2 class="heading-node" id="46cd" style="text-align: justify">What is the ACS?</h2>Access Control Server (ACS) is the server that enables bank customers to authenticate themselves and complete card-based online transactions securely. The ACS is built on the 3-D Secure rails defined and certified by global card networks, including Visa and Mastercard.While the initial version of the 3DS protocol (3DS 1.0) was designed to boost customer confidence, it did not provide the most optimal transaction experience and resulted in a high percentage of online drop-offs and cart abandonments in quite a few markets.The updated protocol version, EMV 3DS or 3DS 2.0, is designed by EMV, the consortium of global card networks. This protocol is optimized to support in-app payments, facilitate risk-based authentication via the exchange of richer data parameters, and encourage the use of dynamic out-of-band authentication techniques such as biometrics.<h2 class="heading-node" id="89f6" style="text-align: justify">Features of our ACS system</h2>Our ACS system guarantees top-class customer security while ensuring a seamless transaction journey. It is easily configurable and provides issuers the flexibility to design a custom authentication experience for their customers.Some of the key features of our ACS<ul class="list-node" id="tpiux2p6i"><li>3DS 2.0 certified with support for Visa, Mastercard</li><li>Cloud-ready system with the platform set up in India and the UAE</li><li>Highly scalable and configurable platform</li><li>Best-in-class success rates and performance</li><li>24*7 application monitoring and production/operations support</li><li>Support variety of issuer integration options — real-time API fetch, batch file upload via SFTP, and push API</li><li>Comprehensive risk-based authentication system with scope for advanced rule design using an external data feed</li><li>Multiple modes of step-up, including OTP (SMS/email), swipe to pay (push notification), biometrics, soft tokens, etc.</li><li>Role-defined access to comprehensive reports and dashboards</li></ul>Now, this is Risk-Based Authentication in a nutshell for you.Got questions on how to implement a dynamic ACS system? 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