Sarvagya Pandey
Marketing Specialist
Azure Marketplace Secure Payment Tools
Explore secure payment tools for Azure Marketplace that help SaaS companies manage payments while ensuring compliance with industry standards.
Need secure payment solutions for Azure Marketplace? Here's a quick guide to four tools that can help SaaS companies process payments safely while meeting compliance standards like PCI DSS and GDPR.
Key Tools at a Glance:
- Work 365 CSP Management: Streamlines billing and subscription management, with integrations like Stripe and Dynamics 365.
- Azure Payment HSM Solutions: Provides hardware-based cryptographic security for payment processing, compliant with PCI standards.
- MYHSM Managed Services: A fully managed, PCI PIN-compliant payment security service, eliminating hardware costs.
- PaymentKnox Cyberfraud Prevention: Protects against fraud like vendor impersonation and unauthorized transactions.
Quick Comparison Table:
| Tool | Best For | Key Features | Challenges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work 365 CSP Management | Billing & subscription management | Automated invoicing, native Dynamics 365 integration | Steep learning curve, requires Dynamics licenses |
| Azure Payment HSM | Secure payment processing | Hardware-based encryption, PCI compliance | Complex setup, hardware-dependent |
| MYHSM Managed Services | Managed HSM security | No hardware costs, quick deployment | Latency may vary based on location |
| PaymentKnox | Fraud prevention | Advanced fraud detection, SOC2 Type 2 certification | Limited to fraud-related use cases |
Choosing the right tool depends on your business goals. For subscription-heavy SaaS companies, Work 365 simplifies billing. For top-tier security, Azure Payment HSM and MYHSM are strong options. If fraud protection is your focus, PaymentKnox is an excellent choice.
1. Work 365 CSP Management
Work 365 CSP Management is a billing and subscription management platform designed for Microsoft Cloud Solution Providers. It tackles the intricate payment processing challenges that SaaS companies face within the Azure Marketplace ecosystem.
Security Features
Work 365 ensures secure payment processing by integrating with trusted gateways like Stripe, GoCardless, and Authorize.Net. This integration streamlines credit card and ACH payment setups, automates invoicing, and minimizes errors[3][4]. Built on Microsoft's secure cloud frameworks, the platform enhances security through its native integration with Microsoft systems.
Compliance Certifications
The platform adheres to key regulatory standards, including GDPR, which is crucial for handling data from European customers[2]. By aligning with Microsoft's compliance infrastructure, Work 365 ensures that billing and payment data are managed according to industry standards for financial data protection. This compliance is seamlessly incorporated into its Azure ecosystem integration.
Integration with Azure
Work 365 takes full advantage of Azure's capabilities through its native Microsoft architecture. Its integration with Microsoft Dynamics 365 creates a unified system for managing customer relationships and billing. This setup offers real-time analytics and reporting tools, empowering businesses to make informed decisions. Additionally, customers can manage their subscriptions through a self-service portal, which reduces administrative tasks and improves efficiency[2]. Chris Updegraft, CIO of Fusion Connect, highlights this integration's value:
"Work 365 provides a single source of truth, allowing us to 'engineer out' inefficiencies and gain full control over our CSP and recurring revenue management." [2]
This robust integration positions the platform to handle the scaling needs of growing SaaS companies.
Scalability and Performance
Work 365 is built to support businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises. For example, TSG uses the platform to manage hundreds of vendors and thousands of subscriptions effectively[2]. Its real-world impact is evident in its performance. Rosalyn Arntzen, CEO of Amaxra, shared her experience:
"Removing manual and error-prone processes plugged revenue leakage by 2-3%, helping us recover the cost in the 1st three months." [2]
2. Azure Payment HSM Solutions
Building on our discussion of Work 365, let's dive into a specialized Azure service designed for secure and efficient payment processing.
Azure Payment HSM Solutions provides bare-metal infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) for real-time cryptographic key operations. This service leverages Thales payShield 10K payment HSMs, which are certified to meet FIPS 140-2 Level 3 and PCI HSM v3 standards [1].
Security Features
The cornerstone of Azure Payment HSM Solutions is its robust security architecture, centered on hardware-based cryptographic protection that meets the highest industry standards. Each single-tenant, self-managed HSM is allocated exclusively to the customer, ensuring that Microsoft has zero access to the hardware. When the HSM is decommissioned, all customer data is securely erased [1].
The platform supports a wide range of cryptographic operations, including payment processing, issuing payment credentials, securing authentication data, and protecting sensitive information [5]. These strong security measures also help organizations meet compliance requirements, which we’ll explore next.
Compliance Certifications
Azure Payment HSM Solutions is built to meet the rigorous compliance requirements of financial services and payment processors. The service is certified under PCI DSS, PCI 3DS, and PCI PIN standards [8]. Furthermore, Azure datacenters hosting these HSMs maintain compliance with PCI DSS and PCI 3DS [1]. By utilizing Azure's PCI Attestation of Compliance (AOC), customers can reduce the time, effort, and cost associated with achieving compliance [8]. The solution can also function as part of a validated PCI P2PE or PCI PIN component [5].
Integration with Azure
Azure Payment HSM Solutions seamlessly integrates with the Azure ecosystem, making it easier for organizations to migrate their existing payment systems to the cloud. It supports "lift and shift" scenarios, providing direct access to payment HSMs [5]. The service connects with payment gateways, processors, and networks using APIs and partner solutions [7]. It also supports a variety of payment protocols essential for transaction processing, authorization, and settlement [7].
Additionally, the service integrates with other Azure offerings such as Azure Storage, Azure SQL, and Azure Information Protection, providing a comprehensive solution for payment system modernization [9].
A great example of this integration comes from ACI Worldwide, which collaborated with Microsoft and Thales to modernize its technology platform. Timothy White, Chief Architect for Retail Payments and Cloud at ACI Worldwide, shares his perspective:
"Payment HSM support in the public cloud is one of the most significant hurdles to overcome in moving payment systems to the public cloud. While there are many different solutions, none can meet the stringent requirements required for a payment system. Microsoft, working with Thales, stepped up to provide a payment HSM solution that could meet the modernization ambitions of ACI Worldwide's technology platform. It has been a pleasure working with both teams to bring this solution to reality." [8]
This integration not only simplifies modernization efforts but also supports scalability, which we’ll discuss next.
Scalability and Performance
Azure Payment HSM Solutions is designed to handle large-scale payment processing while maintaining consistent performance. Built on Microsoft’s global infrastructure, the service benefits from the company’s $1 billion annual investment in cybersecurity research and development, along with a dedicated team of over 3,500 security experts [1].
The platform’s consumption-based pricing model allows organizations to scale payment processing capabilities without significant upfront investments. This is particularly beneficial for businesses with fluctuating transaction volumes.
Todd Moore, Vice President of Encryption Products at Thales, highlights the service’s scalability:
"Integrating Thales' payment HSM technology offers financial institutions the same highest levels of payment application security, but with compelling new features, including scalability, consumption based pricing and remote management." [6]
Remote management features further enhance operational efficiency by enabling organizations to monitor and maintain their HSM infrastructure without needing physical access. This reduces complexity and costs while ensuring uninterrupted payment processing.
3. MYHSM Managed Services
Moving on from Azure Payment HSM Solutions, let’s dive into MYHSM - a managed payment security service that eliminates the need for hardware investments.
Just like Azure Payment HSM, MYHSM uses advanced hardware security but delivers it through a fully managed service. It provides a globally hosted payment solution with PCI PIN-compliant Payment HSM services. With MYHSM, you avoid the upfront costs tied to buying and maintaining hardware or data center infrastructure. The service relies on trusted Thales payShield 10K HSMs to ensure secure operations [17,19].
Security Features
MYHSM combines the strength of hardware protection with robust data privacy measures. The service is certified at FIPS 140-2 Level 3 at the HSM level, meeting stringent security benchmarks [11]. Once an HSM is allocated to your subscription, Microsoft has no access to your data. When the device is returned, all customer data is securely erased [1]. Additionally, the platform offers 24/7 monitoring and real-time security updates, ensuring continuous protection without requiring an in-house team to oversee it around the clock [13].
Compliance Certifications
MYHSM simplifies compliance by meeting multiple regulatory standards. It maintains PCI DSS and PCI PIN compliance, with its equipment hosted in PCI DSS-certified data centers operated by Cyxtera and Equinix [12]. As a PCI DSS Level 1 managed service provider, MYHSM provides an Attestation of Compliance (AOC) to streamline audits and reduce the scope of internal assessments. The service also supports PCI P2PE compliance and operates from facilities certified for ISO/IEC 27001, HIPAA, PCI, and GSMA SAS-SM standards [11]. This comprehensive compliance framework aligns MYHSM with Azure’s operational and security benchmarks.
Integration with Azure
MYHSM is an ideal choice for businesses modernizing their payment systems on Azure. Deployment is quick - services can go live in as little as 10 business days [25,26].
One example of MYHSM in action is RedBlu’s migration within the Walmart group. Carlos Torres, RedBlu's Technical Leader, shared his experience:
"I have nothing but praise for the MYHSM service. Once we put all the pieces together in our solution, with the help of the MYHSM team, the migration was a breeze, and the key exchange procedure was a perfect example of a well-defined, secure, fast and reliable process. We can now invest our time and resources on developing new products and functionalities using the broad variety of commands provided by MYHSM." [10]
John Cragg, CEO of MYHSM, emphasized the broader benefits:
"We're delighted to support RedBlu in an incredibly exciting time of its growth journey within the Walmart group, by enabling it to achieve its goals across Mexico with a fully modernized payment infrastructure. By migrating to MYHSM's fully managed service, RedBlu has eliminated all data center costs and significantly reduced operational costs including staffing, vendor support contracts and the costs associated with replacing end of life HSMs." [10]
This seamless deployment process sets the stage for scalability and consistent performance.
Scalability and Performance
MYHSM is built to handle high-volume payment processing. It boasts 100% uptime since launch and supports thousands of authorizations per second [24,26]. For example, OpenWay’s platform processes approximately 4,500 authorizations per second and manages 7,000 API calls per second using HSMs [14]. The service employs active-active capabilities across multiple regions, with data centers on the East and West Coasts of the US, as well as in the UK and Amsterdam. This ensures low latency and high availability for global users.
Darren Busby, Global Head of Sales at MYHSM, explained how the platform scales:
"Each of the HSMs connected to our service on the shared service is fully licensed, so customers have maximum capacity on the actual service. There are no restrictions on their volumes as such. We invoice them only according to their usage each month. So we don't have to do anything to the HSM as their volumes grow." [14]
With an active-active architecture, MYHSM achieves up to 99.999% availability. RedBlu, for instance, benefits from this level of service reliability by utilizing HSMs in multiple world-class data centers [17,18,20]. To further optimize performance, organizations can consolidate HSM calls per transaction into a single call, which reduces latency. While latency can be as low as single-digit milliseconds for nearby connections, it may reach 80–90 milliseconds depending on distance and network conditions [14].
4. PaymentKnox Cyberfraud Prevention
PaymentKnox provides a robust shield for B2B payment transactions, protecting against cyberattacks like vendor impersonation, business email compromise, and social engineering. It's particularly useful for SaaS companies managing recurring subscriptions or handling large enterprise deals [15].
Security Features
By leveraging advanced technology, PaymentKnox reduces the risk of human error and blocks unauthorized transactions [15]. It combines fraud detection tools, approval controls, and vendor management into a unified system [18]. This setup helps businesses detect and halt fraudulent activities, including schemes where attackers pose as trusted vendors or executives.
Compliance Certifications
PaymentKnox also supports businesses in meeting regulatory requirements. Its compliance framework simplifies audits while simultaneously protecting against fraud [16][17].
Integration with Azure
Working alongside Azure's secure ecosystem, PaymentKnox further strengthens transaction security. Designed to fit seamlessly within Azure Marketplace's enterprise environment, it integrates with Azure services to boost both security and operational efficiency. Features like financial audit tools provide detailed transaction tracking, while risk management capabilities help businesses identify and address payment-related vulnerabilities [18]. For SaaS companies managing recurring payments or large-scale enterprise transactions, this integration adds an essential layer of protection against advanced cyber threats.
Scalability and Performance
PaymentKnox is built to handle increasing transaction volumes, automating fraud detection and approval workflows to minimize manual intervention [18]. This scalability ensures uninterrupted service, making it an ideal solution for SaaS companies experiencing rapid growth or seasonal transaction surges. It guarantees reliable protection and smooth operations, even during periods of high demand.
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Advantages and Disadvantages
The table below highlights the main strengths and weaknesses of each payment tool, summarizing the features and integrations discussed earlier.
| Payment Tool | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Work 365 CSP Management | • Streamlined billing automation – Combines customer data into one record, cutting down invoice generation time [19] • Improved revenue management – Bills customers in advance to reduce revenue loss by 2-3% [2] • Professional invoicing capabilities – Leverages Microsoft Word templates for polished, clear invoices [19] • Dynamic pricing updates – Keeps the Microsoft product catalog up to date automatically [19] • Broad integrations – Works with QuickBooks, Xero, Dynamics Business Central, NetSuite, Autotask, and ConnectWise [19][2] |
• Challenging setup – Requires more time and has a steeper learning curve for those new to Dynamics CRM [19] • Extra licensing costs – Needs Dynamics CRM licenses, even though Microsoft Partners have internal use rights [19] • Limited reporting tools – Built-in dashboards are basic, requiring custom Power BI reports for deeper insights [19] |
| Azure Payment HSM Solutions | • Compliance for specific industries – Tailored for PCI 3DS standards and secure payment processing [7] • High-level security – Provides physical devices in Azure data centers with FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certification [6][7] • Payment network integration – Supports transaction processing, authorization, and settlement [7] • Detailed audit logs – Tracks and monitors activity to prevent unauthorized access [7] • Flexible pricing model – Offers usage-based pricing with remote management options [6] |
• Complex to implement – Requires expertise in payment protocols and compliance standards [7] • Narrow use case – Designed specifically for payment processing, not suitable for other cryptographic needs [7] • Hardware dependence – Relies on dedicated physical infrastructure, which may limit flexibility [7] |
| PaymentKnox Cyberfraud Prevention | • Sophisticated fraud detection – Utilizes Cooperative Cyber Security (CCS™) to secure account information and protect against B2B payment fraud [20] • SOC2 Type 2 certified – Complies with rigorous regulatory standards for enterprise clients [20] • Industry trust – Trusted by major publicly traded companies across diverse sectors [20] |
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Choosing the right tool depends on your specific needs and technical capabilities. For businesses focused on top-tier security, Azure Payment HSM Solutions provide a dedicated infrastructure with robust compliance certifications, though they require specialized expertise. As Devendra Tiwari, senior director of Azure Security at Microsoft, notes:
"Microsoft Azure Payment HSM will make it significantly easier for businesses to pursue cloud adoption and accelerate the secure transformation of their payment systems" [6].
For SaaS companies experiencing rapid growth, scalability is a crucial consideration. PaymentKnox offers advanced fraud protection that scales alongside increasing transaction volumes, while Work 365 excels in managing the complexities of subscription models and expanding customer bases.
Ultimately, selecting the right tool means aligning it with your operational and security goals within the Azure ecosystem.
Conclusion
Choosing the best payment tool for the Azure Marketplace depends heavily on your business goals and technical needs. For SaaS companies managing intricate subscription models, Work 365 stands out with its automation capabilities and smooth integration with Microsoft systems.
For businesses prioritizing security, Azure Payment HSM Solutions offer a high level of protection, meeting PCI PIN compliance standards. As the first hyperscale cloud provider to achieve this certification, Azure sets itself apart in compliance - a critical factor when data breaches have impacted over 353 million people in 2023 alone, with average costs in the U.S. reaching nearly $9.5 million per breach [22][23]. Considering that 81% of customers value billing security [22], selecting tools that adhere to stringent security requirements is no longer optional - it's a necessity.
The Azure Marketplace continues to grow as part of the expanding global SaaS market, which is projected to increase by $562.6 billion between 2025 and 2029 [24]. Investing in secure and efficient payment systems is a key step toward long-term success in this thriving ecosystem.
Additionally, partnering with experts that simplify marketplace publishing can make a significant difference. WeTransact, for instance, has helped over 300 ISVs reduce publishing time by 75% [21]. As Johan Aussenac, CEO of WeTransact, highlights:
"Microsoft Azure provides the robustness needed to scale our operations, while Azure OpenAI Service opens doors to building new kinds of partnerships directly from the marketplace. Together, these technologies enable us to empower ISVs to innovate and thrive within the Microsoft ecosystem." [21]
FAQs
How can I select the best secure payment tool for my SaaS business on Azure Marketplace?
Choosing the Right Secure Payment Tool for Your SaaS Business
Picking the best secure payment tool for your SaaS business on Azure Marketplace takes some thoughtful consideration. First and foremost, make sure the tool meets industry standards like PCI DSS. This ensures your payment processing is secure and compliant with necessary regulations.
Look for features that can boost both customer satisfaction and your operational workflow. These include multi-currency support for international transactions, fraud detection to safeguard against threats, and smooth integration with your current systems.
Another key factor is the pricing model. Decide whether a subscription-based or pay-as-you-go structure fits better with your financial goals. Tools that offer analytics and reporting can also be game-changers, giving you the data you need to track performance and fine-tune your payment processes.
Ultimately, focus on solutions that are easy to manage, support your business growth, and provide dependable security and reliability.
What compliance advantages do Azure Payment HSM Solutions offer for secure payment processing?
Azure Payment HSM Solutions offer strong compliance advantages by adhering to stringent industry standards like PCI DSS, PCI PIN, and PCI 3DS. By operating within Azure's certified data centers - designed to meet demanding security protocols - these solutions make security audits and compliance management much more straightforward.
On top of that, Azure Payment HSM holds FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certification, which guarantees a high standard of security. This allows businesses to process payments securely in the cloud while confidently meeting regulatory demands and maintaining a solid security framework.
How does PaymentKnox safeguard against cyberfraud, and what threats does it mitigate?
PaymentKnox steps up to protect businesses from cyberfraud by verifying recipient accounts before payments are processed, spotting fraud attempts in real-time, and employing advanced, multi-layered anti-fraud technologies.
Its focus is on tackling major threats like business email compromise (BEC), payment diversion scams, and phishing attacks - all of which exploit weak spots in payment workflows. These safeguards work to ensure secure transactions and shield businesses from potential financial losses.