Introduction

Each Organization ID (formerly known as a Cybersource Merchant ID) includes two account levels that you can use to manage your business activities within Cybersource Business Center. This article explains the purpose of each account level, how they relate to one another, and how Single Sign-On (SSO) can be used to manage multiple Organization IDs through a single login.

Overview

Organization IDs are structured with both a merchant-level account and an account-level account. Each account level serves a distinct purpose depending on how you manage transactions and administration.

Merchant-Level Account

You primarily use the merchant-level account for day-to-day business activities associated with your Organization ID, including:

• Processing transactions
• Viewing transaction history
• Running reports

Account-Level Account

The account-level account (normally appended with the _acct designation) is the parent account for the merchant-level account. This account is typically used for administrative or cross-account activities.

Some merchants use the account-level account to perform actions across multiple merchant-level accounts by using Single Sign-On (SSO). If you work with only one Organization ID, you may rarely need to access the account-level account.

Single Sign-On (SSO) in Business Center

Single Sign-On (SSO) in Cybersource Business Center allows merchants to link multiple Merchant IDs (MIDs) so they can access, monitor, and manage all their accounts through a single login. The merchant identifies a Parent MID and specifies which Child or Transacting MIDs should be linked under it.

SSO is initiated from the Parent MID and extends access down to the linked child or transacting MIDs. This allows a merchant managing multiple Organization IDs to consolidate access under a single login rather than logging in to each account separately.

Example

Organization ID: cybs001

• Merchant-level account: cybs001
• Account-level account: cybs001_acct

Common Questions

• What is the difference between the merchant-level account and the account-level account?
  • The merchant-level account is used for day-to-day activities such as processing transactions, viewing transaction history, and running reports. The account-level account (appended with _acct) is the parent account and is typically used for administrative or cross-account activities. If you manage only one Organization ID, you may rarely need to access the account-level account.
• What is Single Sign-On (SSO) and how does it work in Business Center?
  • Single Sign-On (SSO) allows merchants to link multiple Merchant IDs (MIDs) so they can access, monitor, and manage all their accounts through a single login. SSO is configured from a designated Parent MID, which is then linked to one or more Child or Transacting MIDs. This removes the need to log in to each account separately.
• How do I set up Single Sign-On (SSO) for my Business Center accounts?
  • To set up SSO, contact Client Services directly. Support can assist you in configuring your Parent MID and linking your child or transacting MIDs. Reach Client Services here: Support - Contacting Client Services.
• Do I need to use the account-level account if I only have one Organization ID?
  • Not typically. If you manage only one Organization ID, you will primarily use the merchant-level account for your day-to-day activities. The account-level account is most relevant for merchants managing multiple Organization IDs or using SSO.

Additional Resources

• Organization ID — Overview
• Account Registration Guide
• Support - Contacting Client Services