1-page Solution Brief - Posted 6/17/2008
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Egypt Post Creates Business Value with Innovative and Secure E-mail Service
Egypt Post, a postal service provider for businesses as well as 78 million citizens in Egypt, wanted to provide a free e-mail service for its customers. The organisation considered solutions hosted by third parties. But for higher data security, it chose to implement a locally hosted messaging system based on Microsoft® technology. As a result, its customers will be able to access their emails anytime, anywhere. The organisation expects to market its other postal services more effectively using the service.
Business needs
Egypt Post, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Egypt, provides financial and postal services to the country’s citizens and businesses. In 2008, it wanted to launch an innovative postal solution—a free e-mail service for all citizens. The service had to have:
- An easy-to-use interface
- Capacity to support the large number of users
- Security against threats from hackers and viruses
- Access for all users from any location within the country
Solution
It first considered the option of cloud computing—where a third-party provider outside Egypt hosts the e-mail service. But this was not judged as suitable because any issues with the international data transfer cables could have affected the service. Security regulations of the hosting country may also not be as effective as those required by the postal authority. The organisation, therefore, chose to implement a locally hosted solution with full control of its management. Microsoft and Egypt Post worked together to set up an e-mail service called Misr Mail. It is based on Microsoft® Exchange Server 2007 messaging and collaboration software. Citizens will use the new service free of charge and share a common domain name. Its main features include:
- Integration with the Egypt Post Web site and intranet portal that uses Microsoft Office SharePoint® Portal Server 2000, Active Directory® services, Internet Information Services 6.0, and Microsoft SQL Server® 2000
- Microsoft Office Outlook® Web Access for users to access mailboxes through a Web interface
- Arabic language support for all messaging requirements
Benefits
- Citizens get a secure and certified personal e-mail inbox free of charge, and can access e-mail messages anywhere, at anytime, through the Internet.
- Egypt Post ensures high security by storing all electronic data at its data centre which is protected by Egyptian security laws and privacy measures.
- The organisation provides a reliable service as it is locally hosted and does not depend on international data lines.
- Users appreciate the simple tools, rich features, and language support.
- Customers can use other e-services, such as e-payment, to make credit card payments online.
- Egypt Post can connect to customers and better market its new services.
- The scalable solution will easily accommodate the growth in the user base.
This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.
