OPENSWITCH AFRICA
Security Is Not
a Layer, it's
in our DNA
At OpenSwitch Africa, we understand that financial infrastructure must be resilient, secure, and compliant by design. We’ve embedded industry-leading risk management, fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance mechanisms at every level of the platform – ensuring trust for every participant in the ecosystem.
Security is what makes inclusion possible. Trust is what makes it scale.
Platform-Wide Security Architecture
| Security Measure | Description |
|---|---|
| End-to-End Encryption | Encrypts all transaction data in transit and at rest using modern protocols (TLS 1.3, AES-256) |
| Multi-Layered Authentication | Implements two-factor authentication (2FA) and role-based access control (RBAC) for sensitive operations. |
| Comprehensive Audit Logs | Every action is recorded and timestamped — ensuring traceability and compliance. |
| Real-Time Threat Detection | Monitors for anomalies, unusual behaviour, and fraud patterns in real time. |
| Secure Key Management | Enforces robust key rotation, encryption key lifecycle controls, and tokenisation for sensitive data. |
Fraud Detection & Prevention
Fraud undermines confidence in digital financial systems. OpenSwitch Africa promotes shared responsibility for fraud detection and embeds collaborative tools to reduce cost and complexity.
AML / CTF & Regulatory Compliance
OpenSwitch Africa integrates with identity and transaction verification services to help DFSPs, banks, and operators comply with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) obligations.
| Compliance Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Tiered KYC Framework | Enables inclusion while adhering to risk-based identity verification requirements. |
| Transaction Screening | Checks against global and regional sanctions, PEPs, and watchlists. |
| Suspicious Activity Reporting | Automatically flags and logs high-risk events for further investigation. |
| Regulatory Reporting | Supports central bank and FIU reporting requirements across jurisdictions. |
Aligned with the African Union Convention on Cyber Security & Personal Data Protection (Malabo Convention).
Transaction Risk Scoring
Each transaction is evaluated using a dynamic risk scoring system, which allows proactive mitigation before fraud or error occurs.
Operational Risk Management
We’ve engineered OpenSwitch Africa to maintain uptime, data integrity, and business continuity – even in adverse conditions.
| Operational Safeguard | Description |
|---|---|
| High Availability Design | Uses failover systems and redundant architecture to deliver 99.9% uptime. |
| Disaster Recovery | Automatic backups and recovery protocols ensure rapid restoration. |
| Load Testing & Stress Simulations | Routinely tested for high-volume conditions and edge cases. |
| Monitoring Dashboards | Real-time alerts for system health, transaction queues, and usage anomalies. |
| Change Control & Patch Management | Secure and auditable update cycles for the core platform. |
Aligned with the African Union Convention on Cyber Security & Personal Data Protection (Malabo Convention).
Data Protection & Privacy
Respect for user data is non-negotiable.
User & Merchant Protections
We protect everyone in the transaction loop – from individual users to institutions.
- Dispute Resolution Framework
- Chargeback & Refund Tools
- User Identity Verification APIs
- Merchant Risk Profiling & Monitoring
- Secure Onboarding & Offboarding Workflows
Risk Controls Across Use Cases
| Use Case | Embedded Risk Measures |
|---|---|
| P2P Transfers | Transaction limits, 2FA, and user behaviour scoring |
| P2B Merchant Payments | Conditional fund releases and fraud detection on merchant profiles |
| B2B Transfers | Bulk transaction screening, secure authorisation tokens |
| Cross-Border | Currency compliance, FX verification, AML alignment. |
| B2G / G2P | Transparent logs, institutional risk scoring, secure KYC frameworks |
Let’s build it together.
Want to Know More?
OpenSwitch Africa is committed to continuous security improvement, transparent governance, and proactive risk management. We work closely with national regulators, central banks, and ecosystem stakeholders to ensure safety, trust, and compliance.