PayPal vs. Square — What is Better for Cybersecurity

Compare PayPal vs Square in cybersecurity performance and discover which platform offers stronger protection for your transactions.

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Jeff Harms

Reviewed by Jeff Harms

Director, Advisory Services at OCD tech

Updated September, 18

Usability & Integration: PayPal vs Square

Discover how PayPal and Square compare on usability and integration for business productivity.

PayPal Usability and Integration for Business

PayPal stands out in the realm of cybersecurity with an interface that combines intuitive usability and robust security measures such as MFA prompts, secure logins, and role-based access, ensuring that employees can navigate the platform with ease while adhering to strict security protocols. The administration and setup process is streamlined, enabling IT teams to efficiently manage conditional access policies and encryption defaults without sacrificing security, thus balancing ease of use with advanced protection. Seamless integration with leading enterprise platforms including Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack, Teams, SSO solutions, and a versatile range of APIs supports robust data exchanges and automations while closing potential security gaps. Furthermore, practical aspects like migration, data portability, and secure access via both mobile and desktop environments ensure that PayPal remains a secure and efficient solution for businesses of all sizes.

Square Usability and Integration for Business

Square usability is designed with an intuitive interface that significantly enhances employee experience by streamlining everyday tasks while rigorously enforcing cybersecurity best practices, including MFA prompts, secure logins, and role-based access. This thoughtful design enables even non-technical users to grasp system operations quickly without compromising on essential security controls.

In practical administration and setup, Square offers a straightforward configuration process where security settings such as conditional access policies and encryption defaults are easily accessible and manageable. This ease of configuration ensures that system administrators can maintain robust security postures while effortlessly adapting settings to meet evolving compliance needs.

Square also excels in integration, effectively connecting with widely-used platforms like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack/Teams, CRM systems, SSO solutions, and various APIs and automation tools, all without introducing security gaps. The platform supports secure migration, data portability, and both mobile and desktop access, ensuring a seamless transition and consistent security across all endpoints, which is crucial for any organization’s cybersecurity strategy.

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Security and Compliance: PayPal vs Square

See how PayPal and Square compare on security and compliance, including data protection, regulations, and business trust.

PayPal

Data Security & Encryption

PayPal employs state-of-the-art encryption techniques to protect sensitive data at rest and in transit, utilizing advanced encryption algorithms to secure every transaction. This robust data protection strategy minimizes vulnerabilities and prevents unauthorized access. By continuously updating encryption protocols, PayPal reinforces user trust and safeguards financial information.

Square

Data Security & Encryption

PayPal

Authentication & Access Control

PayPal enforces strict authentication mechanisms and robust access control measures to ensure that only authorized individuals can access critical systems. Multi-factor authentication and carefully structured role-based permissions are implemented, enhancing the security through granular access control policies. This meticulous approach to user verification helps prevent data breaches and maintains a secure transactional environment.

Square

Authentication & Access Control

PayPal

Compliance & Certifications

PayPal adheres to rigorous regulatory standards and has consistently maintained industry-leading certifications such as PCI DSS and others essential for financial security. Compliance with international data protection laws like GDPR is integral to its operational framework. These certifications and compliance benchmarks underscore PayPal’s commitment to transparent and secure financial operations.

Square

Compliance & Certifications

PayPal

Incident Response & Reliability

PayPal implements a comprehensive incident response strategy designed to promptly detect, assess, and mitigate security threats. With integrated real-time monitoring and systematic risk analysis, the company ensures continuous evaluation of potential vulnerabilities using proactive risk management techniques. This prepared approach ensures that any security incident is swiftly managed with minimal impact on users.

Square

Incident Response & Reliability

Cost and Value: PayPal vs Square

Compare the cost and value of PayPal and Square to see which offers better pricing, affordability, and long-term benefits.

 

Cost & Value for PayPal

 

PayPal’s pricing models include licensing and subscription costs that range from free basic accounts to premium tiers that can cost between $100 and $500 per month for advanced features geared toward larger businesses. While these predictable fees are appealing, business owners should also consider hidden expenses such as setup fees, training costs, and the price of added security add-ons that enhance fraud prevention and data encryption.

Investing in robust cybersecurity with PayPal can yield long-term savings; for example, a single data breach may cost over $4M according to IBM, making the value of built-in encryption and fraud monitoring undeniable. Overall, the return on investment from PayPal’s security features becomes apparent through reduced risks of downtime, regulatory fines, and data breaches, which ultimately protects your business and its reputation while streamlining operational costs.

 

Cost & Value for Square

 

Square’s licensing and subscription costs are structured to meet different business needs, with base solutions often available at little to no monthly fee while advanced features and add-ons can range from $30 to $300 per month. However, beyond these clear-cut fees, business owners should be aware of hidden costs including initial setup, staff training, and additional security add-ons required to maintain compliance and safeguard sensitive data. For example, specialized training or integrating robust cybersecurity protocols may incur additional expenses that can vary depending on business size and complexity.

Investing in Square’s integrated cybersecurity features can lead to significant savings, especially when considering that a single data breach can cost over $4M according to IBM studies. The system’s built-in encryption and fraud prevention tools help mitigate risks that otherwise could lead to costly compliance fines and disruptive downtime. Overall, the return on investment from a security perspective is strong, as the proactive measures offered by Square not only protect critical business data but also enhance customer trust and operational continuity.

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Final Recommendation: PayPal vs Square for Cybersecurity

 

Final Recommendation

 

PayPal and Square each bring unique strengths to the table, making them suitable for different business models. PayPal is ideal for businesses that operate internationally and require robust cybersecurity measures coupled with extensive integration options and compliance adherence. Square, by contrast, excels for small, brick-and-mortar retailers looking for a user-friendly and cost-effective solution with seamless point-of-sale integration. When evaluating PayPal vs Square for cybersecurity, it is important to note that while both platforms maintain high security standards, PayPal offers superior fraud detection and buyer protection features. Moreover, Square provides an intuitive interface that simplifies in-person transactions, making it perfect for businesses prioritizing ease-of-use. Ultimately, the decision comes down to whether your business benefits more from global e-commerce capabilities or localized, streamlined payment processes. Both solutions offer excellent overall value when aligned with specific operational priorities and customer engagement strategies.

 

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Read How to Enable MFA on these tools

Enabling MFA is one of the most effective ways to strengthen account security. We’ll walk through how to turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA), making it clear which steps are required and how the user experience compares across the two tools.

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Audit. Security. Assurance.

IT Audit | Cybersecurity | IT Assurance | IT Security Consultants – OCD Tech is a technology consulting firm serving the IT security and consulting needs of businesses in Boston (MA), Braintree (MA) and across New England. We primarily serve Fortune 500 companies including auto dealers, financial institutions, higher education, government contractors, and not-for-profit organizations with SOC 2 reporting, CMMC readiness, IT Security Audits, Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Assessments. We also provide dark web monitoring, DFARS compliance, and IT general controls review.

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