Service description

The Suomi.fi Data Exchange Layer provides a secure method for transferring information between the information systems of different organisations. Through the Data Exchange Layer, organisations can utilise each other’s services and information pools, and offer their own services for the use of others.

What is the Data Exchange Layer?

The Data Exchange Layer is a technical solution for data transfer between organisations. It allows an organisation to import the necessary information from other organisations' systems into its own systems in a secure manner. This ensures that the information is always timely and available in real time. For example, an early childhood education and care provider may search current guardianship information, or an insurance company may look for information on supervision of interests directly through the Data Exchange Layer.

In the Data Exchange Layer, information flows between organisations through separate security servers. Each organisation that has joined the Data Exchange Layer needs its own security server. The security server enables the organisation to use subsystems connected to the Data Exchange Layer. An example of a subsystem is the Finnish Digital Agency's Population Information System, which provides access to the basic information of a person.

The Data Exchange Layer is based on X-Road technology, which is an open-source software. Data security has been built into the X-Road software. This means, for example, that the data circulating between the security servers is encrypted with certificates issued by the Finnish Digital Agency, and it can be safely transmitted over the public Internet.

Read more about X-Road (Nordic Institute for Interoperability Solutions)Opens in a new window..

Who is the Data Exchange Layer intended for?

The service is intended for all users sharing information with public administration actors. An organisation with a Finnish Business ID or an organisation that does not have a registration obligation under Finnish legislation or is otherwise not given a Finnish Business ID can register for the service.

Organisation’s role in the Data Exchange Layer can be:

• Service provider, in which case the organisation offers its services for use through the Data Exchange Layer and may also use the services of other organisations.
• Consumer, in which case the organisation only uses services provided by other organisations through the Data Exchange Layer.

Deployment of the Data Exchange Layer

The deployment of the Data Exchange Layer consists of administrative and technical deployment. Joining the Data Exchange Layer should begin by planning which services the organisation wants to introduce. The services available through the Data Exchange Layer can be found in the API Catalogue.

Joining and using the Data Exchange Layer is free of charge. Organisations are responsible for the costs of connecting the security server and the information systems. An organisation may implement the deployment itself or outsource it entirely or partly to another organisation.

The deployment of each service must always be agreed upon separately with the organisation providing the service. The deployment processes of the services and the required agreements depend on the organisation that provides the service.

API Catalogue

The API CatalogueOpens in a new window. presents all organisations connected to the Suomi.fi Data Exchange Layer and the subsystems connected to the service by the organisations. The API Catalogue also has a separate list of subsystems that provide information to other organisationsOpens in a new window..

The API Catalogue contains the following information on the subsystems that provide services:

• administrative descriptions, such as a description of the operation of the service, instructions for deployment and contact details
• technical descriptions, such as interface descriptions and sample messages.

You will register in the API Catalogue in connection with the deployment of the Data Exchange Layer.

The API Catalogue also has a test environment, the Test API CatalogueOpens in a new window., which presents the organisations that have joined the Data Exchange Layer test environment and their information systems.

Service levels

The Finnish Digital Agency strives to ensure that the service is available without interruption. Momentary outages can be caused by planned maintenance outages, unpredictable technical malfunctions, or other malfunctions independent of Suomi.fi services. Known outages of the Data Exchange Layer will be announced in advance on the Suomi.fi website. With respect to the API Catalogue, information about outages is provided on the API Catalogue page.

The service producer (the Finnish Digital Agency) is responsible for user support and maintenance of the service. The user support is available on weekdays 8-16. You can find more information on the service's support pages.

The Data Exchange Layer and the API Catalogue are offered in Finnish, Swedish and English.

Regarding the services offered in the Data Exchange Layer, the service levels are the responsibility of the organisation providing the service in question. You can ask the individual service provider for more information.

Example of use

From the Finnish Digital Agency's Population Information System subsystemOpens in a new window., name data can be retrieved via the Data Exchange Layer. If another organisation wants to make use of the data in the Population Information System, the organisation must first agree with the Finnish Digital Agency on the introduction of the Population Information System and take care of the necessary user permits and agreements. The organisation will then join the Data Exchange Layer so that the organisation's information systems and the information systems of the Finnish Digital Agency can exchange information securely.