GSIT - Dependability

Dependability

The SIT has security mechanisms that provide the Participants with guarantees that their exchanges are carried out under normal confidentiality and integrity conditions:

• Technical security with redundant physical means (hardware and telecommunications lines).
• Functional security by means of hot backups of the issuing and receiving functions.
• Banking security that includes the stopgap measures in the Backup Plan.
• Financial security through monitoring of the exchanged capital amounts.
• Accreditation mechanisms that, for their part, serve to guard against possible intrusions.

In addition, accreditation mechanisms serve to warn against possible intrusions.

Moreover, the SIT’s operation has enjoyed overall availability for several years. Very close to 100% for all functions (network, accounting centre and access points) despite significant software developments (switch to the euro, integration of the truncated cheques) and a strong increase in processed volumes.

To attain this result, the GSIT constantly provides monitoring of the network and of the common centres. The operational continuity is the simultaneous result of not only a strict quality policy, but also of the existence of reliable and tested backup procedures, and the careful distribution of the operational centres on distinct geographical sites. Several contingency plans are intended to overcome the consequences of the total and lasting blockage of a Direct Participant or a blockage of the SIT systems or teletransmission network. The objective of these mechanisms is to ensure that the participants will be able to carry out their exchanges under all circumstances, and that their operations will be routed, even in case of problems, to the receiving participants.

The GSIT has implemented bank piloting tools in order to strengthen the system’s reliability and security. As such, the ORB (Bank Risk Observatory) monitors the issued and received amounts, while pointing out any unusual behaviour and anomalies.