Dubai-UAE: 17 April, 2011 - A secure hosting environment for the main website and portal connecting 70 UAE embassies worldwide has been successfully delivered by eHosting DataFort (eHDF), the region's leading managed IT and advisory services provider and a member of TECOM Investments.

The portal project offers a unified structure and management of websites for the various UAE embassies located across the globe. It integrates the information available across these websites to ensure data consistency and security.

As a part of the ministry's initiative for linking the UAE embassies' websites, a central base of information was developed by SPICA Computers, a company that specialises in B2B/B2C portals.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs selected eHosting DataFort for its expertise in providing a highly secure environment, seamless connectivity and 24/7 access of its content. eHDF is providing an IT infrastructure solution supporting the ministry's portals project by deploying a host of services including databases, security and OS management, backup and storage along with 24/7 monitoring and service desk support.

Dr Saeed K Al Dhaheri, Advisor of Information Systems, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: "Disparate content from across various embassies has now been structured and unified to offer a single point solution. This was especially important as the objective was to reflect similar content and information about the UAE as a single window to the world. Presently, the website offers complete information to users and in the next stage will extend electronic services as well.

"We are extremely glad to have SPICA and eHosting DataFort as our strategic partners for the portal project. SPICA has helped us design the website and manage high quality content and updates for the portal. With the confidentiality of government data being particularly critical and the need for storing the data within the UAE, we found a trusted hosting partner in eHDF. With different embassies operating in different time zones, 24/7 availability was imperative. eHDF's reliable and redundant data centre infrastructure and service level agreements have helped achieve this objective."

With a user-friendly interface and navigation tools such as the Twajudi electronic service, the ministry's website offers crucial services to UAE nationals travelling overseas. It allows them to fill in their personal information, travel details and updates including multiple destinations and period of stay in each country. With this information, the ministry is able to reach UAE nationals in different countries to provide guidance and advice during emergencies or crises.

Bahaa Aldin Qasim, General Manager of SPICA, said: "Both the public and private sector have realised the relevance of presenting high quality and consistent online open content. With the ministry data representing the UAE's culture and providing information on tourism, investments and the economy, it is important for it to be managed in a flexible and appropriate manner. With the portal project, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has achieved a centralised platform that is cost effective and facilitates easier content management while reducing complexities and ensuring that the data is always available and secure.

"We have also provided specialised services such as 'e-newspaper' in which the system pulls the soft copies of newspapers from source and forwards them to the ministry and all UAE embassies in the world through a 'state-of-the-art' technique. This facility not only allows the user to read but to interact with the newspaper content. They can also build their own archive profiles from different media resources, and generate a media analysis report with just one click!"

Yasser Zeineldin, Chief Executive Officer of eHosting DataFort, said: "We are delighted to have partnered with SPICA Solutions and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs for this important project. A secure data centre environment is key to the success of such a project. eHDF is providing an environment that enables linking the various entities across the globe onto a single platform.

"Towards this purpose, eHDF ensures uninterrupted connectivity, security, management, and 24/7 support. It also contributes to the ministry's objective of providing services to its citizens anywhere and anytime, reflecting the true image of the UAE government's initiatives that transcend the geographical boundaries of the country."

With world-class data centres, resilient and scalable infrastructure and round-the-clock managed operations, eHosting DataFort has established itself as a market leader in the field of hosting and managed IT services. eHosting DataFort has been recognized for its innovative use of new technology in 2010, Best Colocation Facility in 2010 and was also awarded the region's 'Best Managed Service Provider of the Year' in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

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