EMVCo Launches 3DS Test Platform

Secure payments enabler EMVCo has announced the launch of the full EMV 3-D Secure (EMV 3DS) Test Platform.

The platform allows 3DS product providers to confirm that their solutions will perform in accordance with the EMV 3-D Secure Protocol and Core Functions Specification v2.1.0, or its EMV 3-D Secure – SDK Specification. Clients will also receive letters of approval from EMVCo.

EMVCo is collectively owned by American Express, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, UnionPay and Visa, and focuses on the technical advancement of the EMV Specifications.

3DS is a messaging protocol that allows consumers to authenticate themselves with their card issuer when making card-not-present eCommerce purchases. Its features promote more secure and consistent online transactions across channels and connected devices, while optimizing the cardholder’s experience. Last year, EMVCo revealed that 58.9 percent of card present transactions, measured globally, were EMV chip-enabled.

“EMV 3DS promotes consumer familiarity, convenience and security across the rapidly advancing eCommerce environment,” Stephanie Ericksen, EMVCo executive committee chair, said in a press release. “The availability of a functional testing framework for EMV 3DS is an important step towards the development of a globally interoperable, secure remote payments ecosystem.”

The company has also partnered with the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) to align EMVCo’s 3DS testing activity with PCI SSC’s 3DS security standards and assessment programs.

Last October, EMVCo enhanced EMV 3-D Secure through significant updates that included the addition of new functionality to enable merchant-initiated account verification, further clarifications on submitting a recurring or installment payment request to the issuer, and improvements to out-of-band authentication transaction flows for an enhanced customer experience.

“With eCommerce use cases expanding worldwide and new technologies emerging, EMV 3DS provides a consistent, global solution to authenticate users and deliver industry-leading security and performance, without compromising user experience,” commented Jack Pan, EMVCo executive committee chair at the time.