“Exchange Server 2010 introduces new productivity features compared to earlier versions, and helps users prioritize communications in their mailboxes.” Eng. Sultan Rayes Bin Saddeek, Messaging and Infrastructure Consultant, Tatweer The King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Public Education Development Project (Tatweer) aims to improve educational outcomes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through greater use of technology. Tatweer wanted a standardized secure email system for 6 million students and their teachers. It chose Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 supported by Microsoft security products to protect students against inappropriate Internet content. Business Needs In Saudi Arabia, 29 per cent of the population is under the age of 14 years. To support its young students, the government spends more than 25 per cent of its annual budget on education. And, as part of its commitment to learning, the government under King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud has launched an educational project called Tatweer, which is run by the Tatweer Education Holding Company. Tatweer is introducing new ways of learning into the education system using the Internet, computer applications, and other technologies. The U.S.$2.4 billion nationwide program aims to change the way the country’s 6 million students are educated, encouraging students to analyze and problem solve rather than learn by rote. The project also aims to improve training for 500,000 teachers. Eng. Tarek Mohamed Abd El Naby, Operations Manager, Tatweer says: “A key driver in the project is to provide a standardized secure email messaging system for up to 6 million students and their teachers in an on-premises and hosted environment. It will provide a platform for additional functionality, including unified communications and collaboration solutions.” The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has strict laws on data security. The principle that correspondence and communication should be kept confidential is enshrined in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Law of Governance. As a result, the Tatweer on- premises and hosted email project for schools required the service provider to retain all data within the kingdom rather than use a data center in another country. Security was also a major consideration to ensure proper protection of the students from malware, and adherence to strict policies preventing young people from receiving inappropriate content through the Internet. Solution Tatweer considered Google Apps and open-source solutions, but decided to create an email solution with Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 and Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway 2010. Tatweer realized the value of Microsoft Services Premier Support Problem Resolution and Proactive Services, which maximize the availability of the IT infrastructure and improve staff technical skills. Exchange Server 2010 is the first server designed to work both on-premises and as a hosted service using cloud computing, which Tatweer is keen to use in future. The principal objection to Google Apps was that data would not reside in Saudi Arabia and instead be held offshore. Eng. Feras Ahmed Talal Badawi, IT Manager, Tatweer, says: “We needed to comply with Customer: King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Public Education Development Project (Tatweer) Website: www.tatweer.edu.sa Customer Size: 200 Country or Region: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Industry: Education—Primary and secondary schools Customer Profile The Tatweer education program in Saudi Arabia aims to modernize teaching and curriculum delivery by offering 6 million students and their teachers free access to email and the Internet. Software and Services Microsoft Server Product Portfolio − Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 − Microsoft Forefront Protection 2010 for Exchange Server − Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway 2010 − Microsoft SQL Server 2008 − Windows Server 2008 R2 − Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 − Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007 Microsoft Office 2010 Technologies − Microsoft Operations Framework 4.0 For more information about other Microsoft customer successes, please visit: www.microsoft.com/casestudies Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Customer Solution Case Study Saudi Schools Project Provides Scalable Email Solution for Students and Staff