Is Sage Pay Safe

If you are considering using what was formerly known as Sage Pay (now operating under the name Opayo) for your payment processing, it’s entirely reasonable to ask whether the platform is safe. The short answer is yes: Opayo is regarded as a safe and reliable payment gateway and processor for UK merchants. That said, “safe” means meeting strong security standards and following best-practice usage on your side as a business or consumer. This article explains how Opayo (formerly Sage Pay) approaches security, what risks remain, and what you should check if you use it.

Who Was Sage Pay and Why That Matters for Safety

Sage Pay was a UK-based payment service provider that enabled businesses to accept card and other payments online, over the phone and in-store. Over time it was acquired and re-branded, and its successor Opayo continues the service under that name. The fact that the business has evolved and is backed by major payment infrastructure means that the security of the platform reflects mature processes.

Because the company operates at a large scale and serves many UK merchants, it is subject to strict regulatory, compliance and security requirements. Being part of a larger payments infrastructure gives it access to sophisticated security tools, monitoring systems and dedicated compliance teams.

What Security Measures Are Built Into Opayo (Sage Pay)

Here are some of the key mechanisms that Opayo uses to protect payments and data, based on the available information.

Encryption and secure data transmission

When a card payment is entered (whether online or in-store) via Opayo’s systems, the data is encrypted so that sensitive information such as card number, expiry, security code is protected while being transmitted and while processed. According to product literature, Opayo is certified to the highest level of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS Level 1). uk-marketplace.sage.com+3uk-marketplace.sage.com+3ad-prod-de-file.s3.amazonaws.com+3

Encryption and secure transfer greatly reduce the risk of interception or unauthorised access during the transmission of payment data.

Tokenisation and reduced data scope

Opayo supports tokenisation, meaning that once a card is authorised, the raw card data can be replaced with a token that can be used for future purchases or stored payment details without exposing the original card number. This reduces the merchant’s risk exposure. Product literature states that Opayo uses token features and alternative payment methods alongside strong security. ad-prod-de-file.s3.amazonaws.com+1

Fraud detection and risk monitoring

Opayo provides fraud screening tools, including Address Verification Service (AVS), CV2 (card security code) checking, and the 3-D Secure authentication scheme for online payments. For example, Opayo’s website shows that 3-D Secure is available to all merchants using its system. Elavon UK

Having real-time fraud detection and additional checks adds significant protection for both merchants and customers.

Compliance with industry standards

Opayo is PCI DSS Level 1 certified, which is the highest level for card-data security compliance in the payments industry, according to multiple sources. nextpax.com+3developer.elavon.com+3help.sbc.sage.com+3

This certification covers how card data is stored, processed and transmitted and means that the provider’s environment meets strong audited standard.

Merchant support and infrastructure

Opayo (under its parent companies) provides training and documentation for merchants on secure setups, integrating payment gateways, completing PCI self-assessment questionnaires and managing fraud. For example, they provide guidance on what you as a merchant need to do for PCI compliance. Elavon UK

What This Means for You as a Merchant or Consumer

Because Opayo uses robust security infrastructure, you can have confidence that the key technical safeguards are in place. But “safe” in practice also depends on how the system is used, how the business handles its side of the process, and how well you maintain your procedures.

For a merchant: you should ensure that you follow best practice with your systems, keep your software up to date, use secure hardware (if in-store), follow the compliance rules (such as those of PCI) and monitor your account for unusual transactions. Even the best processor cannot eliminate all risk if the merchant systems or passwords are weak or if internal access is poorly managed.

For a customer: using a business that uses Opayo means your payments are handled by a provider with strong protections, but you still should ensure you pay via secure websites (look for HTTPS), avoid entering payment information on public or insecure Wi-Fi, use trusted methods (card, wallet) and monitor your statements for any unusual charges. Having a business using a major processor like Opayo is a positive sign, but not a guarantee that there will never be issues.

Potential Risks and Things to Watch

No payment system is entirely risk-free. Here are some caveats and things you should keep in mind when assessing Opayo’s safety.

Implementation risk

Although Opayo provides the secure gateway and infrastructure, how it is integrated with your website, app or point-of-sale system matters. If integration is done incorrectly, or if third-party plugins are outdated or insecure, vulnerabilities may exist. For example one developer forum question noted that if you integrate payment forms incorrectly you still need to maintain website security. Stack Overflow

Merchant side responsibility

Even with a secure processor, merchants have obligations. These include ensuring their website is secure (SSL/TLS), that their terminals are maintained, that any stored data is protected and that staff are trained to manage fraud or phishing. The provider cannot fully protect you if your internal systems or practices are weak. For example, compliance documentation shows that Opayo supports merchants but also asks them to manage their part of the process. Elavon UK

Fraud and chargeback risk

Even with strong detection tools, fraud can still occur. Payment fraud and chargebacks remain risks for merchants. While Opayo offers tools like 3-D Secure and fraud screening, these do not eliminate all risk. Additionally, there might be liability shifts depending on whether authentication was used or how integration was configured. For example, the 3-D Secure scheme is described as providing additional protection but not guaranteeing no chargebacks. Elavon UK

Technology and threat evolution

Payment fraud methods evolve constantly. No matter how secure a system is today, merchants must remain vigilant. Providers can update their systems, but payments are part of a larger ecosystem that includes software, networks and human behaviour so there are always evolving threats.

How Opayo Compares with Other Payment Gateways

When compared with other major payment gateways, Opayo stands up well in terms of security. Its claims of PCI DSS Level 1 certification, fraud tools, encryption and tokenisation place it at the top end of providers in the UK market. Many newer or smaller gateways may provide similar features, but might not have the same track record, scale or guarantee of audited compliance.

In other words, if security is a major priority for your business, a well-established provider like Opayo is a strong choice. That said, cost, fees, contract terms and integration suitability also matter. Security alone is not the only factor.

Practical Checklist: Ensuring You Get the Safety You Expect

Here are some practical elements you as a merchant should check to make sure you are getting the safety that Opayo offers:

Check that your account is set up under Opayo (formerly Sage Pay) and that the service is the current version (not a legacy system)
Confirm that your integration supports the security features: 3-D Secure (for online), tokenisation, encryption, fraud rules.
Ensure your checkout is using HTTPS, your website is patched and your server security is maintained.
If you use in-store machines, ensure those terminals are up to date, certified and operated under secure conditions.
Make sure you are completing any required PCI DSS Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) or other compliance tasks, and keep records of your compliance status.
Use the reporting and fraud-monitoring tools offered in your Opayo merchant portal and review your transactions regularly for unusual patterns.
Train your staff (if any) to recognise phishing, social engineering, suspicious emails and to follow secure procedures (e.g., not sharing passwords, ensuring devices are locked, etc).

Conclusion

In summary, yes, Sage Pay (now operating as Opayo) is safe. It applies many of the modern security standards and practices that you would expect from a major payment gateway: encryption, tokenisation, PCI DSS Level 1 certification, fraud detection and risk monitoring. For many UK merchants, using Opayo provides a reliable and secure way to accept payments both online and in-store.

That said, safety is not a guarantee. The security of any payment system also depends on how merchants implement the service, how up to date their hardware and software is, and how vigilant both merchants and customers remain. If you ensure your systems are secure, monitor transactions and use strong processes, using Opayo gives you a very solid foundation of safety.

If you like, I can look up the latest independent security audit results or credentials for Opayo (Sage Pay) as of 2025-2026 so you can review any recent test results or certifications.