Scion Exchange
Secure, Reliable Data Exchange for European Organisations
NL‑ix introduces the SCION Exchange, a new way for organisations to exchange data securely and reliably. Available from all NL‑ix locations across Europe, the SCION Exchange allows networks to communicate over trusted and controlled connections — offering a safer alternative to the traditional Internet.
What is SCION?
SCION is a next-generation Internet architecture developed to make online communication more secure and predictable. Instead of data taking unknown routes across the Internet, SCION ensures that information only travels over verified and controlled paths. This gives organisations much greater control over where their data goes and how it is handled.
A proven example is the Secure Swiss Finance Network (SSFN), where financial institutions in Switzerland use SCION to safely exchange data. This shows how SCION enables high-trust, mission-critical communication.
Private vs Public SCION
SCION can be deployed in different ways, depending on how organisations want to use it. The two most common models are private SCION networks and public SCION exchanges.
Private SCION
A private SCION network is a closed environment, typically used by a specific group of organisations.
Only approved participants can connect and exchange data.
This model is often used when:
- data is highly sensitive
- strict control over participants is required
- communication happens within a fixed ecosystem
A well-known example is the Swiss financial sector, where banks use SCION in a dedicated network to securely exchange critical data.
Public SCION
(NL-ix SCION Exchange)
The public model is especially powerful because it allows organisations to:
- Connect to multiple parties via a single connection
- Experiment and onboard gradually, without building a full private network
- Scale easily as more participants join
- Combine security with flexibility
This makes it ideal for organisations that want to explore SCION, collaborate with partners, or enable secure multi-party connectivity.
Who is already connected?
The Public NL-ix SCION Exchange is currently used by a growing group of organisations that are:
- testing SCION in real-world scenarios
- exploring use cases and applications
- collaborating to gain hands-on experience
Members:
Anapaya
BICS
Cyberlink
SIDN
Surfnet
University of Amsterdam
Varity
These early participants form an open ecosystem focused on learning, experimentation, and innovation.
👉 This means new participants can:
- immediately connect to others
- start testing real connectivity scenarios
- learn from existing implementations
Start exploring SCION
Whether you are looking to experiment, validate a use case, or prepare for production use — the public SCION Exchange is the easiest way to get started.
Get in touch to:
- connect to the SCION Exchange
- explore relevant use cases
- collaborate with other participants