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Delta Screening vs. Real-Time Monitoring

  • Updated

Castellum.AI offers two distinct approaches for staying current with watchlist updates: Delta Screening and Real-Time Monitoring (frequently referred to as persistent KYC (pKYC) or continuous monitoring). While both help organizations detect new risks and compliance changes, they serve different use cases and operate through different technical mechanisms.

 

Delta Screening

What it is: Check for watchlist changes since a specific date using existing screening workflows.

Best for:

  • Periodic compliance reviews (monthly/quarterly)
  • Ad-hoc investigations
  • Batch processing existing customer portfolios
  • Integration with current screening processes

Choose Delta Screening for:

  • Fixed compliance schedules
  • Batch processing workflows
  • Simple integration needs
  • Audit-controlled timing

Real-Time Monitoring

What it is: Automatically track specified entities and receive immediate notifications for new matches.

Best for:

  • High-risk entity surveillance (VIPs, PEPs)
  • Real-time compliance requirements
  • Ongoing customer/vendor monitoring
  • Reducing manual oversight

Choose Real-Time Monitoring for:

  • Immediate risk notification
  • High-risk entity portfolios
  • Real-time compliance requirements
  • Ongoing relationship monitoring

 

Technical Implementation

Delta Screening

Endpoint: POST /screen_entity with as_of parameter

 
json
{
  "min_score": "0.8",
  "name": "John Doe",
  "list_source_categories": ["Sanctions"],
  "as_of": "2024-01-01T12:00:00.00Z"
}

Characteristics:

  • Stateless (each request independent)
  • Pull-based (you initiate requests)
  • Returns hits where list_entry.last_updated >= as_of
  • Same response format as regular screening

Real-Time Monitoring

Endpoints: /monitoring/monitor/* and /monitoring/{slug}/screen_entities

 
json
// Create monitor
{
  "name": "High Risk Customers",
  "parameters": {
    "min_score": 0.8,
    "list_source_categories": ["Sanctions"]
  },
  "notifier_slug": "webhook-alerts"
}

// Add entities
{
  "screen_entities": [
    {
      "name": "Jane Smith",
      "provider_id": "CUST001"
    }
  ]
}

Characteristics:

  • Stateful (maintains entity lists)
  • Push-based (automatic webhook notifications)
  • Continuous 24/7 operation
  • Real-time alerts

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