InterCloud, the software-defined cloud interconnect (SDCI) provider, has received Secure Swiss Finance Network (SSFN) certification, becoming the first company based outside of Switzerland to integrate its services into the network. This will allow banks to make use of InterCloud’s infrastructure to easily connect to SSFN.
Created as a joint effort between the Swiss National Bank and SIX Group, SSFN is a controlled network that allows connected users to communicate with SIX, other financial market infrastructures, and with each other. It is based on the SCION network protocol, which offers greater security, control and privacy than older routing protocols. SSFN is set to replace the older Finance IPNet network in September 2024.
InterCloud’s background in SDCI means customers connecting to SSFN now have access to specialist expertise that no other SSFN-compliant company can currently deliver. Beyond the initial certification itself, InterCloud plans to bring its wide-ranging experience in cloud connectivity to the table and - subject to validation by the governing bodies of SSFN - provide these connectivity services where required.
InterCloud’s offering comes as a fully managed end-to-end service, granting banks easy access to the company’s infrastructure and helping ease their transition to SSFN.
The company’s international positioning is also advantageous, as it brings global connectivity expertise and ability to securely connect financial institutions to international counterparts and leverage their resources where needed, all of which adds further resilience.
Mourad El Malki, CISO at InterCloud, said: “Our SSFN certification represents another important step in the growth of InterCloud. SSFN and the SCION protocol have huge potential to make financial services much more secure both in Switzerland and beyond, so we’re pleased to be playing a key role in assisting its success.
“In such a heavily regulated sector, something as essential yet as complex as cloud connectivity and the movement of data across the network needs to be closely managed. It requires in-depth knowledge and experience of optimal connectivity approaches, particularly how to transfer highly sensitive data in a way that complies with international data sovereignty and security regulations. We’re proud to be the first company able to do this for SSFN.”
Gaining SSFN certification consisted of a rigorous process starting with an initial application to SIX, before an auditing team assessed InterCloud’s credentials in detail. This was followed by an internal vote which SIX and other governing bodies decided to admit InterCloud to the SSFN ecosystem. The company’s certification will be reassessed on an annual basis.
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