Connectivity Channels

To protect data in transit to and from the VocaLink processing centre, VocaLink has designed IP-based connectivity channels that use secure socket layer (SSL) and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). The channels work with VocaLink’s PKI to ensure that customers can only send data to processing services they are authorised to use. Likewise, they ensure that customers collect only the data they have specific permission to access.

The connectivity channels also balance speed and security so that data is sent as efficiently as possible and arrives securely and intact. We keep a fully auditable archive of everything sent or received to maintain data integrity.

Moving data transmission forward

In 1983 we launched Bacstel to give business customers a means of sending payment to us for Bacs processing. In 2003, we rolled out Bacstel-IP, to replace Bacstel and now more than 105,000 organisations use it.

In 1996 we introduced a high volume data channel for banks and businesses. The High Speed Transmission Channel (HST) used what was then state-of-the-art encryption and public key infrastructure(PKI). HST is currently being replaced with connectivity channels that use more sophisticated PKI technology and have the capacity to carry larger volumes of data at still higher speeds.

In 2007, we introduced two new high-volume connectivity channels for banks and large organisations. We developed the Enhanced Transmission Service (ETS) as a strategic channel for Bacs processing. The SWIFTNet Transmission Service (STS) was added to our portfolio in 2007 as an alternative strategic connectivity channel for international banks. Both ETS and STS are format-agnostic and can transport data in any format. This equips them to accommodate changes and developments in the processing services that they support.

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