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Host-to-host under control: how we enhance the security of processing companies

In recent years, we have seen a steady increase in interest in launching our own payment solutions from banks, fintech companies, and IT businesses in Central Asia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. This is logical: the online payment market is developing rapidly, and the launch of a white-label processing system helps companies quickly enter the market with their own brand and control the acquiring process from start to finish.

But along with the opportunities, the risks also grow, especially in the field of security.

Today I want to talk about one very important and, at first glance, technical function that actually directly affects the security of the payment business of electronic payment processors. This is the control over host-to-host integrations. And it was he who became the basis of our new update.

Host-to-host integration is a type of connection in which a merchant gets direct access to the payment API. This scheme is used when a merchant wants to independently collect card data on their website and transfer it directly to the payment system.

It is a powerful tool that provides flexibility, speed and full customization of the payment process. But it can also become a source of serious problems if you don't control who uses it and how.

This is what electronic payment processors face in real practice.:

  • Reception payments from unauthorized sites. The merchant connects one site, and then accepts payments from another account that is not registered with PSP.
  • Violations rules of card schemes. For example, unauthorized change of MCC or processing of high-risk traffic from low-risk stores.
  • Compromise card data. If the host page is incorrectly implemented and there is no PCI DSS card data may be stolen.
  • Risks for electronic payment processors. All of the above threatens payment systems providers are fined, sanctioned, blocked by MID, and even revoked registration by payment systems.

We have implemented a new mechanism that helps the processing company independently manage access to host-to-host integration at the store level. That is, now only the processing company decides which merchant and which store is allowed to use this type of connection.

By default, access to host-to-host integration is closed. It can be manually enabled for a specific store if the processing company has confidence in the reliability of the merchant.

In many Central Asian countries, as well as in Azerbaijan and In Georgia, the level of regulatory pressure on the payment sector is growing. The compliance departments of banks and payment organizations are paying more and more attention to traffic sources, merchant business transparency, and customer data protection.

If a payment service does not control where transactions come from and how data is transmitted, it puts its entire business at risk.

Our task as a technology partner is not only to provide access to the API, but also to provide tools to protect the processing company from human errors, abuse and non—compliance with payment system requirements.

  • Full Control: no merchant will get access to the API without approval.
  • Protection from miscoding: the merchant will not be able to change the MCC and circumvent the rules.
  • Accordance requirements of card schemes and PCI DSS: fewer risks and conflicts.
  • Easier Compliance: The PSP has a transparent picture — who, how and through what It is being connected.

Features like this don't make headlines or trigger press releases. But they are the ones who form a reliable, sustainable payment business. Especially in an environment where an electronic payment processor must not just accept transactions, but ensure compliance, protect customers, and manage risks.

At eComCharge, we are constantly developing our platform. beGateway. And each new opportunity is a response to the real PSP requests and challenges faced by payment businesses in different countries.

If you are launching your own payment solution or want to strengthen your existing platform, let's talk. We are ready to share our experience and technologies that protect your business.

The case is based on an article on the website ecomcharge.kz

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