How to Secure a Card Terminal

A card terminal is a device that connects to your merchant account and allows you to accept credit and debit cards, as well as mobile payments (like Apple Pay). These payment devices scan or swipe the card and authenticate the information before transmitting it for processing. They also offer extra security measures to protect you from fraud — for example, they can tell if a card is expired or stolen.

You can add a printer to most terminals, which prints a receipt for the customer that they sign. This can help reduce misplaced or lost receipts and cut down on paper usage. You can also add a PIN pad, which lets customers use a debit card with a pin to make purchases. Many terminals can also handle card-not-present transactions, like mail or phone orders. In this case, you'll need to enable features that can verify the authenticity of these "card-not-present" transactions, such as address verification service and two-factor authentication.

Most modern terminals use a hardwire internet connection to transmit transaction data, though some can work with wireless technology including WiFi and cellular networks. Some terminals can even cache the transaction data and automatically transmit it when a network is available.

Standalone terminals can be secured in a counter or wall mount stand to keep them out of sight when not in use and prevent accidental bumps or stresses that could inhibit terminal operation. Some also have a key lock to prevent theft and tampering. These accessories can help protect the standalone machine and its connections and reduce your need to call for technical support.   card terminal