Iliad worked with the vast majority of the UK banks and Infrastructure Provider in the performance testing of the recent faster payments implementation (a forerunner to SEPA). In conjunction with number of member banks Iliad were able to set up and replicate the payments infrastructure within the client banks, including both FPS scheme transactions and the back end host payments system within the banks to ensure that new payments gateways that were being deployed were capable of supporting the new scheme requirements. 12 Member banks simulated a variety of transaction volumes ranging from 50 up to 1500 TPS. This performance testing ensured that our clients were successfully able to demonstrate that their new systems were able to support the requirements and transaction volumes dictated by the new scheme.

Iliad were engaged by a major European card scheme to set up a test harness that would allow them to undertake a series of benchmark test against a new authorisation platform that was being implemented. The project involved Iliad setting up a complex test system that simulated the schemes network of card acquirers and issuers and the transactions to be received and processed by the new platform. Transaction volumes were in excess of 1200TPS.

The client wanted to determine the impact of their 5 year forecast for increased transactions rates and terminal estate on their existing hardware and software platforms. Iliad were engaged to set up and undertake a performance test to replicate their existing and planned transaction volumes. The Iliad team set up a performance test harness to replicate:-

• 12,000 Hypercom Point of sale devices
• 3,000 Diebold ATMs
• Visa and MasterCard “on-us” Transactions.

In addition Iliad were able to replicate the back end systems for both the card issuing platform and connections to Visa and MasterCard to replicate authorisations of “not-on-us” transactions. Allowing a full end to end test including settlement and clearing Transactions rates were targeted to be in excess of 300TPS. Iliad were able to set up and execute the required transaction volumes and were able to demonstrate that the client’s hardware and software configurations were able to exceed the targeted transaction rates.

The client wanted to perform due diligence on a new retail POS terminal management and switching platform to ensure that it would support their planned transaction volumes. Iliad along with a 3rd party consultancy were engaged to set up and undertake a performance test to replicate the existing terminal estate and projected transaction volumes. The Iliad team setting up a performance test harness to replicate:-

• 15,000 APACS Point of sale devices, generating POS, Mobile Top
• Up and Gift card transactions
• Visa and MasterCard “on-Us” Transactions..

Transactions rates were targeted to be in excess of 150TPS. Iliad were able to successfully demonstrate that the new application was able to support the client’s performance and connectivity requirements.

The client wanted to perform stress testing on a Euronet interface which was being deployed within their host authorisation platform. Iliad were engaged to set up and undertake a performance test to replicate the transaction volumes that would be received for switched-in transactions that would be received from the Euronet scheme.

The client was planning to migrate to the latest release of their authorisation platform and wanted to perform due diligence to ensure that the new upgrade would not impact their transaction processing. Iliad along with a 3rd party provider were engaged to set up and undertake a performance test to replicate the existing terminal estate and planned transaction volumes. Iliad constructed a performance test harness to replicate:-

• 15,000 Hypercom Point of sale devices
• 5,000 Diebold ATM’s
• Visa and MasterCard “on-Us” Transactions..

In addition Iliad were able to replicate the back end systems for both the card issuing platform and connections to Visa and MasterCard to replicate authorisations for switched-out transactions. Iliad were able to demonstrate that the new upgrade to the authorisation platform provided no impact on current processing volumes and indeed provided a level of increased performance that would exceed the clients processing requirements.

A UK bank was undertaking an assessment of new authorisation systems to replace their existing aging technology. . Iliad were engaged to set up and undertake a series of performance benchmarks against the shortlisted application vendors to assist the client with their evaluation process and to ensure that the shortlisted platforms were capable of supporting the existing and planned transactions volumes. Iliad were tasked with setting up a test harness to replicate the clients existing ATM estate of 5,000 NDC ATM’s as well as simulating back end authorisation systems to authorize card transactions. The exercise was able to assist the client greatly in their evaluation process and eliminate those vendors who were not able to meet the client’s requirements.

The client intended migrating their existing card management platform to a new replacement platform. Iliad were engaged to set up and undertake a performance test to replicate the transaction volumes that would be received for “on-us” transactions that would be received from the a variety of transactions sources, including:-

• Hypercom POS terminals
• NCR ATM’s
• Visa
• MasterCard

Iliad were able to demonstrate that the new card management platform was capable of managing the existing and planned card processing volumes.