--- title: "Network Governance for Banking | Control" url: https://fire-vault.com/control-for-banking description: "Physically govern network paths for SWIFT connections, trading floors, and sensitive financial systems to prevent unauthorised data exfiltration. Explore." lang: en-GB --- Banking # 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. - SWIFT-targeted intrusions - Payment card data theft - Trading floor manipulation - Ransomware in core banking Back to Control: https://fire-vault.com/solutions/control Image: Banking and financial services data protected offline (https://fire-vault.com/assets/oss-industry-banking-QO4MxxMw.jpg) The exposure in numbers 01 SWIFT infrastructure isolation 100% SWIFT infrastructure isolation 02 Persistent third-party access to payment systems Zero Persistent third-party access to payment systems 03 Transaction zones with independent governance 7 Transaction zones with independent governance 04 DORA and PCI DSS compliance evidence Full DORA and PCI DSS compliance evidence The Challenge ## Financial networks are high-value targets. 01 ### SWIFT and Payment Risks SWIFT infrastructure and payment processing systems are prime targets for sophisticated attackers seeking direct financial gain through fraudulent transactions. 02 ### Trading Floor Exposure Trading systems require ultra-low latency connectivity that conflicts with traditional security controls, creating gaps that attackers exploit. 03 ### Third-Party Connectivity Correspondent banking, market data providers, and fintech integrations create persistent network paths into core financial infrastructure. Banking > When payment systems and trading infrastructure are reachable through the same network paths as email and web browsing, every phishing email becomes a potential path to fraudulent transactions worth millions. The Scenario ### Scenario: SWIFT Infrastructure Compromise Attackers compromise an employee workstation through a targeted phishing campaign and move laterally over four weeks until they reach the SWIFT Alliance Lite2 server. They install custom malware that intercepts and modifies SWIFT messages, submitting fraudulent payment instructions during a bank holiday weekend. The fraud totals over forty million pounds before detection. With Control, the SWIFT infrastructure exists on a physically separated network. Employee workstations cannot reach SWIFT systems because the network path does not exist. Payment message submission requires multi-party authorisation with physical path activation. "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." Module deployment · bank network ## Where each Control module is deployed across customers, core banking, payments and vendors. Banks layer the estate around the cardholder data environment: an internet edge, a perimeter, an identity tier, applications, and the core ledger and payments environments. Control puts a real boundary at every change of trust. Grounded in PCI DSS v4 network segmentation guidance, ISO 27001 Annex A, FFIEC and PRA SS1/21. B0 Internet edge External WAF DDoS Mobile banking Image: FV-Firebreak module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/firebreak-icon-7zSCkB1t.png) Firebreak Image: FV-Validate module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/vault-icon-CD3Pv4ri.png) Validate External traffic stops at the perimeter. B1 Perimeter / DMZ DMZ · trust boundary Reverse proxy Public APIs All inbound terminates here. All inbound terminates here. Image: FV-Isolate module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/isolate-icon-B9t8fl3o.png) Isolate Image: FV-Validate module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/vault-icon-CD3Pv4ri.png) Validate Identity sits behind its own boundary. B2 Identity IT Customer IAM Staff SSO PAM Image: FV-Lock module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/lock-icon-UU3vOaKE.png) Lock Image: FV-Execute module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/execute-icon-kJl5Gtmk.png) Execute App access ties to named identities and approved actions. B3 Applications IT Channels Open banking Servicing Core ledger is reachable only through approved paths. B4 Core banking Data Ledger Customer records The general ledger and account master. The general ledger and account master. Image: FV-Isolate module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/isolate-icon-B9t8fl3o.png) Isolate Image: FV-Lock module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/lock-icon-UU3vOaKE.png) Lock Image: FV-Execute module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/execute-icon-kJl5Gtmk.png) Execute Payments is segmented to PCI scope. B5 Payments (CDE) Data Card switch Faster Payments SWIFT / RTGS Cardholder data environment, PCI in scope. Image: FV-Relay module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/relay-icon-CVhJDRO7.png) Relay Image: FV-Firebreak module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/firebreak-icon-7zSCkB1t.png) Firebreak Image: FV-Unlink module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/unlink-icon-B8GFAVW1.png) Unlink Vendor and fintech access opens on a schedule. VND Vendor zone DMZ · trust boundary Fintech APIs MSPs OSS Crown jewels Off-network Detail callout · A Offline Secure Storage Regulatory records, ledger snapshots, recovery sets and any files you have to be able to produce later. Offline by design · secure by default Modules & symbols Image: FV-Firebreak module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/firebreak-icon-7zSCkB1t.png) Firebreak Physical sever Image: FV-Validate module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/vault-icon-CD3Pv4ri.png) Validate Integrity check Image: FV-Isolate module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/isolate-icon-B9t8fl3o.png) Isolate Zone boundary Image: FV-Lock module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/lock-icon-UU3vOaKE.png) Lock Named access Image: FV-Execute module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/execute-icon-kJl5Gtmk.png) Execute Approved action Image: FV-Relay module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/relay-icon-CVhJDRO7.png) Relay Time-bound path Image: FV-Unlink module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/unlink-icon-B8GFAVW1.png) Unlink Remove trust DMZ boundary Trust transition OSS callout Off-network detail ### 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. Image: FV-Firebreak module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/firebreak-icon-7zSCkB1t.png) 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. Image: FV-Validate module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/vault-icon-CD3Pv4ri.png) 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. Image: FV-Isolate module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/isolate-icon-B9t8fl3o.png) 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. Image: FV-Lock module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/lock-icon-UU3vOaKE.png) 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. Image: FV-Execute module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/execute-icon-kJl5Gtmk.png) 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. Image: FV-Relay module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/relay-icon-CVhJDRO7.png) Relay On the vendor link Vendor and fintech access opens for the window of work and not a minute more. 7. Image: FV-Unlink module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/unlink-icon-B8GFAVW1.png) Unlink On the vendor link When a vendor relationship ends, Unlink removes the persistent connection and the inherited trust. Featured In Read about Firevault on TechRadar Pro: https://www.techradar.com/pro/uk-startup-put-physical-disconnect-switch-in-its-cloud-storage-offering-to-mitigate-ransomware-attacks-but-will-that-be-enough Read about Firevault on Yahoo Finance: https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/firevault-launches-help-businesses-directors-074500961.html Read about Firevault on Channel Insider: https://www.channelinsider.com/security/tools-and-platforms/firevault-security-offline-platform-offering/ Read about Firevault on Security Buyer: https://securitybuyer.com/uk-cybersecurity-startup-launches-firevault/ Read about Firevault on SecurityBrief: https://securitybrief.com.au/story/firevault-unveils-offline-digital-vault-to-combat-rising-cyber-risks Capabilities ## What you get with every deployment 01 ### Sovereign Financial Data All payment system configurations and transaction data remain within the agreed jurisdiction in NATO-approved Firevault Bunkers. 02 ### Dual-Control Access All access to payment and trading infrastructure requires authorisation from both operations and information security teams. 03 ### DORA Compliance Automated compliance logging maps directly to DORA operational resilience requirements and PCI DSS network segmentation controls. 04 ### Independent Communications Out-of-band management ensures control plane access to financial systems independent of the corporate network. 05 ### Regulatory Audit Trail Every access, transaction, and authorisation decision is recorded in tamper-proof logs meeting FCA and PRA evidence requirements. 06 ### Verified Configuration Baselines Verified baselines of financial system configuration enable restoration of control-plane state during total compromise scenarios. Demo to Live ## Adoption Guide Step 1 #### Financial Network Assessment Map all network paths between corporate IT, payment systems, trading infrastructure, SWIFT, and third-party connections. Step 2 #### Transaction Zone Design Design physically separated zones for each financial system category with Control modules governing every inter-zone boundary. Step 3 #### Non-Production Pilot Deploy in a test environment mirroring your transaction infrastructure with full zone separation, dual-control authorisation, and compliance logging. Step 4 #### Production Deployment Phased deployment across financial infrastructure with verified configuration baselines, continuous compliance evidence, and independent management communications. Step 1 #### Financial Network Assessment Step 2 #### Transaction Zone Design Step 3 #### Non-Production Pilot Step 4 #### Production Deployment Organise a Demo: https://fire-vault.com/contact See Also: Offline Secure Storage Offline storage for banking See how OSS provides air-gapped storage for banking data. https://fire-vault.com/oss-for-banking Relevant Control Blueprints ## Deployment patterns that apply here CP-01 FIRE ### Stop Kill-Chain Ransomware Stop ransomware moving, spreading or reaching the crown jewels. View blueprint https://fire-vault.com/control-blueprints/cp-01 CP-03 FIRE+VAULT ### Control Third-Party Access Give third parties access without giving them a permanent doorway. View blueprint https://fire-vault.com/control-blueprints/cp-03 CP-06 VAULT ### Prove Compliance Through Control Compliance becomes stronger when control can be demonstrated, not just documented. View blueprint https://fire-vault.com/control-blueprints/cp-06 CP-02 FIRE ### Contain Active Breaches When prevention fails, containment must be physical, immediate and provable. View blueprint https://fire-vault.com/control-blueprints/cp-02 ## Explore More ### DORA Framework Digital operational resilience for financial services. Learn more about DORA Framework https://fire-vault.com/solutions/control/frameworks/dora ### Insider Threat Remove persistent access outside operational windows. Learn more about Insider Threat https://fire-vault.com/control-for-insider-threat Questions ## Frequently Asked Banking blueprint - PoC ### Speak to the team to organise a PoC Walk through your blueprint with the Firevault team and scope a proof of concept on your estate. 30 minutes, no sales pitch. ## Structured data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#organization", "name": "Firevault", "legalName": "Firevault Limited", "url": "https://fire-vault.com", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://fire-vault.com/logo.png", "width": 200, "height": 60 }, "foundingDate": "2025-03", "description": "Protect what matters with Offline Secure Storage and control what moves with Control by Firevault. 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