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BAFA wanted to simplify software licensing and standardize its IT environment by migrating its e-mail systems from Microsoft Exchange to Novell GroupWise. Working with iTEC Services GmbH, a Novell Platinum Partner, BAFA rolled out the new solution to 600 users, providing larger mailboxes and better service without increasing IT costs.

Overview

BAFA, the German federal office for economics and export control, is a government organisation responsible for managing the country's complex export control system, implementing EU regulations on imports, supporting small and medium-sized businesses, and promoting energy efficiency. Based in Eschborn, BAFA employs 600 people.

Challenge

Like most modern organisations, BAFA uses e-mail as a primary means of communication. Having a reliable e-mail solution is one of the top priorities of the IT department - but as a public body, BAFA also has a responsibility to make the best possible use of tax-payers' money by keeping costs as low as possible.

For several years, BAFA had been using Microsoft Exchange as its e-mail platform, while the majority of its network software - file, print and directory services - came from Novell. With its Exchange licence due to expire, BAFA decided to review its position.

"We already use Novell eDirectory, and renewing our Microsoft Exchange licence would have required buying both Active Directory and an identity management solution," said Markus Crecelius, Project Manager at BAFA. "Moreover, our Exchange licence only allowed each user 30MB of mailbox space, which was inconvenient and did not represent good value for money. We therefore decided to rationalise the IT environment."

Novell solution

BAFA began investigating the possibility of replacing Exchange with Novell GroupWise, and looked for a partner that could help it decide whether this would be a viable solution.

"We attended a roadshow in which a team from iTEC Services GmbH, a Novell Platinum Partner, was demonstrating the benefits of Novell GroupWise," said Crecelius. "We decided to include iTEC Services GmbH in our tendering process along with four other companies. We were so impressed by their professionalism and expertise that we selected them as our partner."

iTEC Services GmbH helped BAFA set up a test environment for Novell GroupWise, enabling the IT department to explore its capabilities. Following a satisfactory outcome to this testing phase, decision-makers within BAFA opted to go ahead with the project.

The migration took four months in total, with three weeks devoted to migrating the 600 users to the new Novell GroupWise client. Other challenges involved integrating existing fax and photocopier systems - but as Novell GroupWise connectors were already available for these, there were no major technical issues.

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