• Hill Dickinson uses IT to gain competitive advantage in legal market
• First UK implementation of Novell Portal solution delivers anywhere, anytime access to all office applications and resources

Oct. 24, 2001 Bracknell, UK

Novell today announced the first live implementation of an 'Internet Office' solution in the UK at commercial law firm, Hill Dickinson Solicitors*. The secure Web portal for employees was jointly developed by Novell® Consulting and Associated Network Solutions plc (ANS), a Novell Business Expert and a leading specialist in Novell portal solutions, to provide simplified remote access to office resources for Hill Dickinson's partners and staff. The launch of the employee portal marks the first phase in Hill Dickinson's implementation of Novell's one Net environment, enabling Hill Dickinson to extend access to its internal information and IT resources outside the firewall without compromising security and availability.

Hill Dickinson's new employee portal gives staff the same level of access to files and applications, remotely via an Internet browser, as they receive at their office PC. The applications made available through the portal include Microsoft Office* packages, Novell's GroupWise® collaboration and e-mail software, as well as specialist Unix-based software for time-recording and accounts, a bespoke claims management system and the firm's intranet. Staff can also work remotely on files and documents on their home directory without complex dial-up connections to their internal network. The portal went live today after passing extensive integrity tests conducted by the NCC Group*.

"One of the keys to competing effectively in our market is to provide readily accessible legal support to our clients," explained Tony Wilson, Senior Partner at Hill Dickinson. "We are spending more time with our clients now and we highlight quality IT as an important component to delivering a professional, streamlined and cost effective service. With the portal, our staff can work effectively no matter where they are and our clients are assured of having the most current information on the status of their cases. The next phase of portal development will give our clients direct access to information on their account, including, for the first time for any legal firm, up-to-date, online information on claims managed through our single-source claims service, one://liabilityservices. I believe we have to take the lead in our profession to exploit technology to help us develop closer client relations through improved services."

Hill Dickinson's portal utilises Novell Net Services software, Novell eDirectory™, Novell Portal Services, Novell iChain™ and Novell OnDemand Services™, integrated with Citrix Metaframe* technology to deliver applications on demand to users via an Internet browser client. Novell eDirectory provides users with a single unique identity, whether they are logging on the office network or working remotely. Secure access for users is managed by Novell iChain, providing multi-level authentication through a user name, password and RSA Security's SecureID* token.

Eugene Forrester, Director of Product Marketing for Novell EMEA, pointed out the important role of directories in portal solutions, saying, "There are many competing portal technologies in the market, but having a directory-enabled authentication and access layer with Novell eDirectory and iChain not only ensures strong security, it also provides a sophisticated level of personalisation. For example, users can be given access only to the services they need, and customers can have a completely personalised experience where the portal delivers a view tailored according to the customer's identity and profile."

"Novell's one Net vision has given us the solution to bring together different systems within our business and present them to our users through a single, easy to use interface," said Keith Feeny, Technical & Support Services Manager at Hill Dickinson. "Using Novell Consulting and ANS has proven to be a good partnership, with ANS's front-end development and Citrix expertise and Novell's in-depth technical knowledge of back-end systems integration solutions.

"Novell has consistently delivered higher performance network services at lower management costs compared to Microsoft. Choosing Novell has meant that we can deploy our resources to develop value-added services to our business because we don't have to spend all our time supporting users and rebooting servers," Feeny concluded.

Hill Dickinson now has in excess of 475 staff, including 79 partners, working from offices in Liverpool, Manchester, Chester and London. The firm specialises in legal advice in the following key areas: insurance, health, property & construction, commercial, corporate, marine & cargo and private client.

About the products

Novell® eDirectory™ is a full-service, platform-independent directory that serves as the foundation for myriad directory-enabled services. The number of directory-based applications is rapidly increasing, many of which provide crucial e-business functionality such as automated business-relationship management, supply-chain management, and electronic store fronts. Other services that directory-enabled products can provide include automated provisioning, enhanced security, customer profiling, electronic wallets, automated notification systems, customised Web interfaces and virtual private networks (VPNs).

Novell® iChain™ is an identity-based security solution that controls access to application, Web and network resources across technical and organisational boundaries. iChain separates security from individual applications and Web servers, enabling single-point, policy-based management of authentication and access privileges throughout the Net.

Novell® Portal Services provides employees, suppliers, and customers with a browser-based, single point of access to all their network and Web resources. Built on a flexible directory-enabled framework, Novell Portal Services supports open, industry-standards and gives users single-login access at anytime, from any browser-equipped location, including an Internet-enabled wireless telephone or a personal digital assistant (PDA). Novell Portal Services also provides administrators with the tools needed to tailor each portal's content to fit any user's specific organisational role-creating a personalised business home page, or "webtop," for everyone associated with your company.

Novell OnDemand Services is a dynamic application and content-provisioning solution that leverages thin-client computing and Novell eDirectory. With OnDemand Services, enterprises and service providers can host, manage, track, and deliver applications and other digital content to their employees, customers, or partners.

About ANS

ANS is a leading provider of portal solutions to the legal and government market places. They specialise in the Novell and Microsoft Platforms, and place particular emphasis on delivering business benefits from technology. They offer complete solutions covering web based Portal Solutions whilst also leveraging their core skills of Network Management, Groupware, Workflow, Knowledge Management, Document Management and Network Infrastructure.

ANS holds accreditations with leading vendors including Novell, Microsoft, Metastorm*, Cisco*, Citrix and Compaq*. The web integration team provides specialised skills in industry standard technologies such as HTML, JAVA, XML, XSL, LDAP and ASP.

For more information on ANS's services please contact our customer help line on 0870 6000 900 or visit the website at www.ansplc.com

ANS have recently floated on the OFEX market in the UK, raising development capital, financial details can be found at www.ofex.co.uk

About Novell

Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVL), is a leader in eBusiness solutions and Net services software designed to secure and power the networked world. Novell and its subsidiary, Cambridge Technology Partners, help organizations solve complex business challenges, simplify their systems and processes, and capture new opportunities with one Net solutions. Novell provides worldwide channel, consulting, education and developer programs to support its offerings.

For information on Novell's complete range of products and services, contact Novell's Telephone Response Centre at 01344 724100, or visit Novell's Web site at http://www.novell.com/uk/. Information on eBusiness and e-integration solutions from Cambridge Technology Partners can be accessed at http://www.ctp.com.

Press may access Novell announcements and company information on the World Wide Web at http://www.novell.com/pressroom.

Detailed comparisons between Novell products and competitive offerings from other vendors are available on the Web at http://www.novell.com/competitive.

Novell and GroupWise are registered trademarks and eDirectory, iChain, Novell OnDemand Services are trademarks of Novell, Inc. in the USA and other countries. *All third party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

JoAnne Hughes
Novell UK
01344 724312
jahughes@novell.com

For ANS Contact Paul Sweeney or Scott Fletcher on +44 (0)870 6000 900 www.ansplc.com