Payment Transaction Software from the Cloud
“We have tapped into a very promising new area of business.”
Developing and operating finance software takes courage. Because hackers have a pretty big appetite. mammut soft computing plc has managed the leap to the safe side.
Text: Anton Neuenschwander, Images: Michael Meier,
mammut soft computing plc is a leading manufacturer of international multi-bank-capable software solutions for e-banking and cash management. Founder and CEO Iwan Vogel has experienced a lot in his 25 years on the job. So he was initially sceptical when a Swisscom consultant suggested that he operate his software products in the cloud. “In the past, many of those responsible for IT saw it as their sacred duty to keep the data in the company’s own environment,” he says, explaining his initial reservations.
Security loopholes, ISO 20022 migration: What needs to be done?
Since 2017, the business banking software industry has been facing big challenges. In order to harmonise Swiss payment transactions, every customer requires an update that adapts the ISO 20022 standard. And this must be done by summer 2018. And that’s not all: The Swiss Federation’s Reporting and Analysis Centre for Information Assurance (MELANI) is sending urgent warnings about attacks from the big bad world of hackers. And the environments of payment transaction systems are particularly exposed. If they have even the smallest security loophole, this throws open the door to intruders with criminal intentions.
“Locally installed and poorly maintained is much more dangerous than a reputable cloud-based solution.”
Iwan Vogel, CEO of mammut soft computing plc
Iwan Vogel is pensive. The parking spaces in front of his company are empty: All of his support staff are visiting customers to perform updates on their systems. “I gradually started to question a mantra that had been in place for years, namely: ‘locally installed = secure – cloud = dangerous’. I found out more about Swisscom’s cloud approach, thoroughly analysed various products, talked to the Swisscom specialists again ... in the end my motto had changed to: ‘Locally installed and poorly maintained is much more dangerous than a reputable cloud-based solution!’” Poorly maintained? Unfortunately this is too often the case, according to Vogel. Many companies didn’t have the time, the know-how, the resources, or a combination of all three, to keep their own IT environment up to date and secure. This led to considerable risks that not even very high-quality software is always capable of handling.
Satisfied with his cloud-based solution: Iwan Vogel.
SaaS solution implemented in three months
The next step: Iwan Vogel decides to develop a cloud-based model for his payment transaction software. A specialist team from Swisscom connects with mammut’s developer team and they exchange know-how in weekly meetings. “The project ran smoothly, we all pulled together and got along very well,” Vogel says, looking back on the collaboration. After three months the time has come: The new “rent.a.mammut” Software as a Service (SaaS) solution is completed and set up in the cloud, and it starts operating. The responsibilities are divided up: Swisscom ensures the reliable operation of the underlying cloud infrastructure, while mammut is responsible for the application set up on this infrastructure and the data. “It gives our customers a good feeling that the cloud infrastructure is being run by certified Swisscom experts,” Vogel emphasises.
“It gives our customers a good feeling that the cloud infrastructure is being run by certified Swisscom experts.”
Iwan Vogel
Added value for customers – and even cheaper.
With “rent.a.mammut”, mammut soft computing plc has tapped into a new area of business. Iwan Vogel is delighted that there is a lot of interest in the payment transaction software from the cloud: “Our customers appreciate the many advantages of the rental model. Firstly, they no longer have to worry about updates. These are carried out automatically in the background and the system is always up to date and offers no areas of attack. In SMEs in particular, where the CFO is often also responsible for IT, the relief is palpable: The CFO can finally be a CFO again! Additionally, customers can structure their processes more easily. “rent.a.mammut” can be used anywhere, with any suitable device. The state-of-the-art cloud technology offers excellent performance. Conclusion: Our customers receive a very powerful complete package that costs even less than the locally operated predecessor model.”
The leader in business banking software: mammut soft computing plc.
Perseverance has paid off
Soon the parking spaces in front of Iwan Vogel’s company are all filled again: Instead of performing updates at customers' premises his employees have more time to continue developing their own solutions. “I’m happy now that the Swisscom consultants didn’t stop insisting on the cloud solution when we were against it,” Vogel says with a wink.
“Our customers receive a very powerful complete package.”
Iwan Vogel
Amazon Web Services (AWS) by Swisscom
With AWS by Swisscom, companies can take full advantage of the potential of the world’s leading global public cloud. They reach the market faster and more agilely with innovative solutions. Certified Swisscom experts support them on site with the design, implementation and migration, and also with maintaining the cloud solution – even in hybrid environments.
Find out more
Newsletter
Would you like to regularly receive interesting articles and whitepapers on current ICT topics?
More on the topic
