SWIFT The global provider of secure financial
messaging services

Improving the registration process for security officers

On 9 February 2010, SWIFT introduced enhancements to the Secure Channel application. The changes aim to simplify the registration process for SWIFTNet security officers. This page describes the changes implemented both on Secure Channel and on online ordering.

SWIFTNet security officer rules

As stated in the Certificate Administration Guide, an institution must have at least two security officers with both online and offline capabilities. In case of changes to your security officer arrangements, SWIFT must be immediately informed. Complying with these rules is critical so that, in case of major issues, your operational business environment is not disrupted.

In our efforts to make it easy for you to follow these rules, we have made some changes to the Secure Channel and online ordering applications. The changes will help you register and manage security officers (with offline capability) easily.

How do I know if my institution is compliant?

To be compliant, an institution must have at least two security officers registered in Secure Channel with an active Secure Code Card. This card is used for the authentication of security requests.

SWIFT highly recommends institutions (administering BICs) to review the status of their security officers on Secure Channel on a regular basis and take the necessary actions to become compliant.

To do so, go to swift.com > Support > Secure Channel > Manage security officers.  From there you can view all the security officers of your institution, their registration status as well as the status of their Secure Code Card.

If the status shows that registration is correct and card is active, then no further action is required. Otherwise, use any of the following links to help you become compliant:

Summary of the changes as of 9 February 

Secure Channel

Existing features 
Changes as of 9 February
SWIFTNet PKI Offline security requests

New security request: Obtain SNL activation secrets for additional SWIFTNet Link orders.
Can not be used in case of base licence ordering

Alliance functionality No changes
Secure Code Card management New option to view the status of your Secure Code Card
New features 
Description
Register New Security Officer Moved from online ordering
De-register New Security Officer Moved from online ordering
Distribution of SWIFTNet Link activation secrets for additional SWIFTNet Link orders Moving from paper mail/courier process to Secure Channel
Update of address details
New feature that allows you to easily update the security officer address details
Overview of Security Officer Profiles

New feature that allows you to list all registered SWIFTNet security officers and view the status of their registration and Secure Code Card

Audit Report
New feature that allows you to generate a report with all past and current SWIFTNet security officer registration activities.
History starts from 9 February.

Online Ordering >Security Officers

Existing forms
Changes as of 9 February
Register Security Officer
Register new Main SWIFTNet Security Officers

New name: Register your initial Security Officers (online role).
To be used after ordering an additional destination BIC only.

Register new Main SWIFTNet Security Officers (Service Bureaux)
Register new Additional SWIFTNet Security Officers
New name: Register Security Officers for Secure Channel (offline role)
To be used for emergency situations (see note below)
Share SWIFTNet Security Officers from another institution
New name: Administer your PKI delegation / Delegate PKI security to an administering institution (become administered)
Change Security Officer
Change Main SWIFTNet Security Officer Registration Moved to Secure Channel: Register New Security Officer
Change Main SWIFTNet Security Officer Registration of Service Bureau
Change Shared SWIFTNet Security Officer Registration - Change from shared to own SWIFTNet Security Officer New name: Administer your PKI delegation / Terminate delegation of PKI security (become administering)
Change Shared SWIFTNet Security Officer Registration - Change of Administering institution New name: Administer your PKI delegation / Change my administering institution
Change Additional SWIFTNet Security Officers

Moved to Secure Channel: Register New Security Officer

Terminate Security Officer
Terminate Additional SWIFTNet Security Officers
Moved to Secure Channel: De-register Security Officer

Online Ordering > Join SWIFT

Undertaking, Join SWIFT
No changes to the Undertaking form. The customer either registers the two initial security officers (online + offline role), or delegates PKI security to another institution.


Security officer registration form (emergency situations)

In situations where there is no security Officer with access to Secure Channel, the Register Security Officer for Secure Channel (offline role) form of online ordering can be used as solution.

On 1 February 2010, new fees have been implemented:

  • High Priority Customer Request: €500 per request (free of charge for Premium customers)
  • Emergency Customer Request: €1,000 per request

The usage of the Register Security Officer for Secure Channel (offline role) form will however be free of charge until 30 June. Requests will be charged at the above mentioned rates as of 1 July 2010.