The software used by Takasbank personnel and all brokerage houses for related transactions is developed inhouse by Takasbank Data Processing Center. System’s infrastructure has been built on a common database. This provides easy adoption to new developments and ease of maintenance for the programs as well as an important advantage with regard to accumulation of know-how unique for the bank’s own fields of activity.

The system has been built generally on a two-layer architecture where a three-layer structure started being used with the CRA integration.

Banks and brokerage houses which are ISE members connect to Takasbank computer system from their own office terminals and perform the transactions with Takasbank and the CRA. CRA connections of the members are also provided via Takasbank. Furthermore, upon request brokerage houses have access to Central Bank’s EFT system through Takasbank Electronic Transfer System-TETS and make cash and securities transfer transactions.

Hardware:

System infrastructure of Takasbank consists of many systems and disc groups which can be used as alternative for each other. One or several problems to occur in the Real Environment where daily transactions are carried out can be eliminated within 2-3 minutes with minimum cutoff by putting alternative systems into service which have pre-determined scenarios. Therefore the system has a Fault Tolerant structure.

Providing Business Continuity in Unexpected Situations and Disasters:

In case of any extraordinary event which could interrupt Takasbank’s daily routine operations, in order to return to previous day’s data, back-up of all transactions and data is recorded daily in cartridges within the “Contingency Plan” being applied and kept in vaults at ISE building in İstinye against any possible dangers.

Furthermore, a “Disaster Recovery Plan” has been developed by a committee within Takasbank for executing in disaster situations. The committee has been assigned with determining the alternative procedures, necessary software, hardware and back-up requirements to be applied in disaster situations or unexpected events to provide the continuity of Takasbank services. In this context, all risks to interrupt service continuity have been considered and such risks are listed as follows;

• Unexpected software and hardware failure and problems
• Problems to occur in the database
• Energy problems such as power cutoff
• Interruption of members’ on-line connection with Takasbank due to any reason
• Failure and defects of modem or “leased line”
• Possible interruptions or problems originating from Turk Telekom
• Problems originating from the switch board
• Problems at internal connections, network problems
• Interruptions or problems originating from CBT EFT payment system
• Defects and problems originating from SWIFT
• Interruption in connections with Data Broadcast Institutions
• Possible problems with regards to end-of-the-day transactions performed by Data Processing Center

After this general operation is concluded, all problems to exist on department  basis will be determined by the related department  personnel in detail and procedures regarding alternative disaster recovery plan for each problem will be formed.

As the next level, considering a possible damage at Takasbank building due to unexpected situation, it is on the agenda to apply this disaster plan at another settlement area other than Takasbank building. For the said “Disaster Recovery Center” several settlement areas have been compared and evaluated with respect to ease of access, cost and ability to return to operations in a short period of time. Currently the data accumulating with Takasbank are simultaneously being transferred to business recovery center. Apart from this, the working environment of the personnel at the business recovery center is available for operation. Furthermore, applications developed at Takasbank are being updated instantly and online at the recovery center. In this way the connections of brokerage houses are directly transferred to the recovery center in case of any disaster at Takasbank and the continuity of the operations is secured.