Designing An IOS Payments SDK For Security

Would your customers benefit from being able to make payments on the go?

There's no doubt that it's a mobile world and with ever more people using their phones to conduct their online business, getting mobile is vital for any business that wants to stay ahead.

When it comes to accepting mobile payments from iPhone users, you will most likely choose to create an app, or even go right back to basics and design the software development kit (SDK) needed to build the app. It all depends on your needs, your budget and your skills.

Once you're ready to go, what's the first thing you should plan for?

Security First

 When you decide the time has come to implement an iPhone Operating System (IOS) payments app and you want to get it live and ready for your customers to use, there's one thing you cannot afford to overlook: Security.

When you're dealing with accepting payments and having access to your customers’ bank accounts or financial details, security is an absolute must.

A lapse in security could put your payment app at risk of nastiness including malware and hacking, your customers at risk of losing money, and your reputation at risk of serious damage.

That means that when you decide to develop an app, security needs to be at the top of your to-do list. 

Build Security from the Ground Up

When it comes to designing an IOS Payments SDK for security, you need to ensure security is a priority from the start. Don't assume someone else will take responsibility for your app security.

From the pre-design stage onwards, ask yourself what is being done to ensure your app is secure.

If this is new territory for you, do some research on SDK and app security so you can be sure you're armed with all the relevant information to give your customers a secure payment experience that they can trust.

Be Careful With Customer Data

When you're building a payments SDK for iPhones and other smartphones, it's vital that you think carefully about the kind of data you will be collecting, how it will be used, how it will be stored, and what steps you will take to keep that data safe and secure.

Leaving sensitive financial data stored on your customer's smart phone could leave them vulnerable to stolen information if the app or their phone's security is compromised, for example.

Look into using encryption to mask personal data, and plan how data will be used and disposed of at the end of each session for maximum security.

Test and Review Regularly

Before releasing your IOS payments SDK or app into the wild, put it through a rigorous testing process.

Check and re-check every aspect of its functionality for security and possible issues, and consider asking a trusted contact to peer review your work so far.

Don't stop there though - once you are confident and you have released your app for your customers to use, carry out regular reviews of its performance and ask for customer feedback.

The ability to process mobile payments is a real boon for your busy customers and will set your business apart as forward thinking and concerned with making your customers lives easier.

If you stay informed and build in high security as standard from the beginning you will be well on your way to building an app that your customers will love to use and trust with their payments.