Path Governance for Transaction Networks and Trading Floors

Financial institutions operate networks where milliseconds matter and a single breach can move billions. Payment systems, trading infrastructure, and SWIFT connections demand physical path governance that software alone cannot provide.

100%

SWIFT infrastructure isolation

Zero

Persistent third-party access to payment systems

7

Transaction zones with independent governance

Full

DORA and PCI DSS compliance evidence

"The attackers were in our network for 28 days. They moved from a marketing workstation to the SWIFT server in seven lateral hops. Each hop crossed a firewall boundary that should have stopped them. None did."

Where each module is deployed, and what it does there.

One row per module. Placement on the network, then plain-English purpose at that point.

1. Firebreak

   On the B0 to B1 link and the vendor link

   Real hardware off switches on the public and vendor boundaries, with vendor connectivity opened only for named work.

2. Validate

   On the B0 to B1 link, the B1 to B2 link and the B3 to B4 link

   Requests crossing into trusted estates are checked for origin, integrity and authority before they reach an account or a ledger.

3. Isolate

   On the B1 to B2, B3 to B4 and B4 to B5 links

   Identity, core and payments sit on their own physical fabrics, in line with PCI segmentation expectations.

4. Lock

   On the B2 to B3 link and the B4 to B5 link

   Privileged access ties to named identities with the right entitlement. Standing access is the exception.

5. Execute

   On the B2 to B3 link and the B4 to B5 link

   Cross-system actions require approval in line. Execute holds the action until that approval is in place.

6. Relay

   On the vendor link

   Vendor and fintech access opens for the window of work and not a minute more.

7. Unlink

   On the vendor link

   When a vendor relationship ends, Unlink removes the persistent connection and the inherited trust.

Sovereign Financial Data

All payment system configurations and transaction data remain within the agreed jurisdiction in NATO-approved Firevault Bunkers.

Dual-Control Access

All access to payment and trading infrastructure requires authorisation from both operations and information security teams.

DORA Compliance

Automated compliance logging maps directly to DORA operational resilience requirements and PCI DSS network segmentation controls.

Independent Communications

Out-of-band management ensures control plane access to financial systems independent of the corporate network.

Regulatory Audit Trail

Every access, transaction, and authorisation decision is recorded in tamper-proof logs meeting FCA and PRA evidence requirements.

Verified Configuration Baselines

Verified baselines of financial system configuration enable restoration of control-plane state during total compromise scenarios.

Financial Network Assessment

Map all network paths between corporate IT, payment systems, trading infrastructure, SWIFT, and third-party connections.

Transaction Zone Design

Design physically separated zones for each financial system category with Control modules governing every inter-zone boundary.

Non-Production Pilot

Deploy in a test environment mirroring your transaction infrastructure with full zone separation, dual-control authorisation, and compliance logging.

Production Deployment

Phased deployment across financial infrastructure with verified configuration baselines, continuous compliance evidence, and independent management communications.