Interface qualification programme

The purpose of the interface qualification programme is to validate the adherence of vendor interface products to the SWIFTNet interface vendor specifications. The specifications detail the messaging protocol between the central services and the interfaces. Other interface characteristics such as resilience, throughput and value-added features are not in the scope of the qualification.

The interface qualification programme guide lists the software components that are required for the different messaging interfaces.
Vendors package application components either as separate products or bundled with other components. To be qualified, a vendor interface component (FIN, RMA, FileAct, InterAct and Communication) must implement all mandatory and any of the optional functional requirements from the SWIFTNet interface vendor specifications. Details on the features supplied by the products can be found in the Conformance Statement of each component (even if components are bundled).

Testing by SWIFT is done in two steps. An initial conformance testing between the vendor site and the SWIFT Test Authority leads to the interim qualification. The second step is the successful implementation of the product at a customer’s site resulting in the full qualification of the product. Qualification testing is typically performed on early versions of the product release. For general availability planning, please consult the vendor.

In the Partner Programme Terms & Conditions, vendors agree to give SWIFT the following level of comfort about their qualified products:

• Vendors warrant that a qualified product meets the full scope of the current SWIFTNet specifications, from which the applicable Conformance Requirements are derived.
• Vendors warrant that a qualified product continues to comply with the full scope of the current SWIFTNet specifications throughout the validity period of its qualification.

The interface products are owned and controlled by the respective vendors, and as it is not possible to test the full scope of the SWIFTNet specifications, SWIFT, as the qualification authority, excludes all liability arising from qualification or the absence thereof.

Contact us at swiftnet.cbt.qualification@swift.com for any questions related to the qualification programme.

More information

• SWIFTNet Interfaces Qualification Programme Guide
• SWIFTNet Interfaces Qualification Policy

Minimum interface qualification programme

For release 7.0 store-and-forward FileAct, real-time FileAct and store-and-forward InterAct messaging interfaces, SWIFT has introduced a minimum interface qualification programme for existing/legacy applications developed by customers or by vendors with an established customer base and no further growth plans. The objective is to accommodate these existing/legacy applications that do not need the new 7.0 features, or that are not used in a SWIFTNet service requiring a release 7.0 qualified interface. This typically applies to applications developed behind an Alliance Gateway, and which implement minimum features to support a single service.

With this programme, these existing/legacy applications must implement a minimum set of mandatory functionality, such as providing Product Info, and must undergo a minimum qualification to ensure interoperability. Completion of the minimum qualifications is known to SWIFT but is not published on swift.com.

Register for the minimum interface qualification programme for SWIFTNet Release 7.0

The following documents list the functionality for implementation by the interfaces that are subject to the minimum qualification:

• Conformance statement questionnaire for a Minimum Store-and-forward InterAct Messaging Interface
• Conformance statement questionnaire for a Minimum Store-and-forward FileAct Messaging Interface
• Conformance statement questionnaire for a Minimum Real-time FileAct Messaging Interface