• Directory based solution streamlines information flow and increases security
• Employees benefit from easier access to the information they need
• Novell Technical Services and ANS systems integrators work in close partnership with central government department

Bracknell, UK - 22nd April 2004 - Novell today announced that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has invested in its technology as a means of cutting costs and streamlining information flow within both the ODPM and the Department for Transport. The ODPM, led by the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott MP, was set up 2002 and has responsibility for creating sustainable communities, housing, planning, devolution, regional and local government and the fire service.

The organization found there was a need to link and integrate the running of databases on different platforms, such as HR information, internal telephone directories and collaboration tools. As part of an ongoing evaluation of service delivery levels, the ODPM felt it could modernise its IT infrastructure to provide a more effective means of managing information.

Strict guidelines apply to all public sector tenders and according to these regulations, an open procurement process was begun by the then Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) for its Corporate Information Infrastructure (CII) project. The DTLR was subsequently split by the government into two departments, the ODPM and the Department for Transport and chose Novell's tender as the best solution for the CII project.

Meeting the Requirements
The ODPM required an open platform that would allow for future expansion, whatever operating system or technology it chooses to use. Flexibility was also important, not only for interoperability, but also because political changes frequently alter the structure of UK government. For example, part way through the CII project, the DTLR and part of the Cabinet Office were replaced by the ODPM and the Department for Transport. The ODPM was keen to ensure it could adapt to similar changes, without overhauling its IT systems. Novell was in a strong position to meet this need, as it utilises open, web-based protocols such as XML and LDAP, which enable different devices and applications to communicate with each other. Novell also supports the full range of operating platforms, from NetWare® to Windows, Linux to Solaris.

Another important consideration was information security. The foundation for the CII is Novell's directory service, which manages digital identities and access, and ensures that the right people can access the right information whenever they need it through a simple single sign-on mechanism.

ANS, an experienced systems integrator and Novell Business Partner was also involved in the delivery of the project and provided the front-end interface for employees to access information. ANS created a bespoke "white" and "yellow" pages style directory, where users could search the system for the information they needed, whether it was phone numbers or details of other staff in different departments. Paul Sweeney, Director at ANS comments that: "the user interface was styled in a similar way to an Internet browser, so that employees would find the system intuitive and easy to understand. This has had a positive response from the end users."

Novell and ANS created a customised solution. Jan Langley, CII Manager at the ODPM explains; "We felt Novell and ANS offered us a genuine, ongoing partnership, where we could work with them on testing and implementation. Even when there were technical challenges, they provided positive advice and support to our team."

Joined up Government
Government IT projects are reviewed on an ongoing basis through the Gateway review process, in order to assess benefits and monitor delivery. The biggest benefits of the Novell solution have come in terms of the time saved from staff replicating tasks on databases in different locations. Organisational efficiency has been boosted, as the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department for Transport have access to the most up-to-date, accurate information, meanwhile the act of consolidating directories has made the organisations more rigorous in managing data.

The security and quality of data has also been improved by the Novell system. For example, when a change is made on the HR system, such as a promotion or an employee leaves, each database and information source is updated automatically. Now that internal processes have benefited from the CII initiative, the Office is considering how this could be further utilised.

"The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister plays a key role in coordinating the work of all local and regional bodies, generating huge volumes of information. The potential for government institutions to streamline and modernise these processes offer considerable opportunity for cost savings," says Ben Bulpett, Enterprise Sales Director for Novell. "We are very pleased to be working in partnership with the ODPM on this project and we look forward to developing this relationship as the organisation continues to grow."

Jan Langley concludes that; "We had a very positive experience working with Novell. Numerous external factors such as the creation of the Department for Transport and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister occurred during the project, but Novell was able to resolve these issues and deliver a system that met our requirements and formed a solid and secure foundation for the future."

About Novell
Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) is a leading provider of information solutions that deliver secure identity management (Novell Nsure*), Web application development (Novell exteNd*) and cross-platform networking services (Novell Nterprise*), all supported by strategic consulting and professional services (Novell NgageSM). Active in the open source community with its Ximian® and SUSE® LINUX brands, Novell provides a full range of Linux products and services for the enterprise, from the desktop to the server. Novell's vision of one Net - a world without information boundaries - helps customers realize the value of their information securely and economically.

Novell and Ximian are registered trademarks; BrainShare is a registered service mark; Nsure, exteNd, and Nterprise are trademarks; and Ngage is a service mark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. SUSE is a registered trademark of SUSE AG, a Novell company. *All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

For further information, contact:
Andrew Mildren
Porter Novelli
Phone: +44 (0)20 7853 2319
E-mail: Andrew.mildren@cpn.co.uk