AEG Service Bureau (AEG-SB), approved by the Board of SWIFT in 2003 is an advanced concept to share the SWIFTNet services in a very secure, auditable, controlled and cost effective manner.

Along with the SWIFTNet Fin, AEG-SB offers the infrastructure to use SWIFTNet added services such as File Transfer, Browsing, Web based applications or other developed applications. The reliability and performance have encouraged more than 395 banks from over 50 countries to be members of AEG-SB.

 AEG-SB Prime and DR Sites

 AEG-SB has prime and DR sites running in parallel to guarantee the service’s high availability and connectivity to SWIFT. These sites are located in different countries (Lebanon, Bahrain and Egypt) to avoid any unpredictable failure of the communication of a whole country and to assure reliable, cost-effective and easily expandable set-up.

Each site is configured with state-of-the-art high performing full redundant equipment to assure 24/7 operability without interruption and easy failover if the site is inaccessible. The customer can choose to connect to any of AEG-SB’s sites as the prime site and to have the others as Disaster Recovery.

 AEG-SB offering:

   A - Shared connectivity to SWIFTNet for customers having their own SWIFT interface and wish to connect to SWIFT via the AEG-SB

   B - Fully SWIFT Managed Service for customers willing to outsource the SWIFT equipments and administration to the AEG-SB and concentrate on their core business.

 

 Value Added Products:

      The AEG-SB offers number of added value products and services as part of its offering:

  •  OFAC Name Filtering

  •  Middleware integration between the back-office and the AEG-SB systems

  •  IBAN checking utility

  • Managed and Secured File transfer for FileAct between the bank and the SB Gateway

  •  EUROCLEAR CCI support. The AEG-SB is equipped with the WSHA Host Adapter and configured to support FileAct and CCI connectivity to Euroclear.

 

 AEG-SB key features:

·      Interface Systems supported by the AEG-SB

  •  SWIFT Alliance Entry/Access

  • Turbo and Nova

 Connectivity methods between the AEG-SB and its members

  • Leased Line, frame relay, MPLS

  •  Microwave link

  • Internet connectivity via local Internet Service provider (ISP) , DSL, ADSL

  • VSAT internet connection

  • Dial-Up line and ISDN mainly as backup

 AEG-SB security

     The following levels of security are implemented on the messages and data exchanged between the AEG-SB member and SWIFT:

  • Advanced Encryption for the communication between the bank and the SB, implemented by hardware encryption devices installed at both ends.
  • Each system at the bank will be equipped with communication software to connect with the SB Gateway. The communication software utilizes  encryption between the SWIFT interface of the bank and the Gateway software.   
  • Message authentication ensuring authentication check by SWIFT. If the authentication fails, the messages will be rejected by SWIFT.

 

·Advantages of the AEG Service Bureau

  • Lower cost compared to the other connectivity methods.

  • Connectivity 24/7.

  • Very high availability rate guaranteed by the prime and DR sites (99,99).

  • Relieving the bank’s support from the new upgrades, patches and fixes.

  •  SWIFTNet added services available through the SB gateway

  • Infrastructure for development: he SB member can develop its own web enabled applications.

  • Training courses are offered to the SB members.

 

· Support and experience

  • Certified and highly qualified engineers of the company are ensuring full support to the AEG SB and to its member banks to guarantee operability 24/7.