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Square One completes Microsoft project for medical research council

The applied technology solutions division of the JSE-listed Square One Solutions Group has completed a contract won on tender for the South African Medical Research Council, based in Cape Town.

Square One business development manager Oscar Frutuoso said the contract involved the implementation of Microsoft file and print services and a consolidated Microsoft Exchange environment.

"The MRC nationally made a decision some time ago to move from a legacy file and print and mail system, and the last remaining site for conversion was the headquarters in Cape Town," said Frutuoso. "The project included the migration of the Netware environments and mail systems to the equivalent Microsoft service."

Patrick Charls, National IT Manager for the SA Medical Research Council, said a series of workshops was organised with Square One at the MRC to outline the technical and business requirements. Migration of the file and print systems at the MRC Cape Town head office required the shifting of services from the existing Netware infrastructure to a Microsoft infrastructure.

"The Active Directory was also reviewed and changes were made to accommodate additional services, while the migration of the mail systems at the Cape Town office required moving the services from the existing Domino and IMAP servers to a Microsoft Exchange 2003 infrastructure."

Charls added that once the project had been completed, users were able to use a Microsoft Outlook client to access mail. "A remote mail system was also configured to support Web mail access and RPC/https. The process took two months, with highly skilled Policy Services engineers delivering on time and within budget.

"We are excited about the opportunities that Square One Solutions Group can offer us on our path to make our work efficient and our systems easy to use. Square One met all of our requirements and together we are making this collaboration work."

Square One became a Microsoft Gold Partner in 2006, with primary competencies being Advanced Infrastructure and Information Worker. Square One's Policy Services unit has completed many large deployments of Microsoft Technologies countrywide. Solutions include Microsoft Active Directory, Microsoft Office Share Point Portal Services, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft ISA server, Microsoft SQL server Microsoft Office Live Communication Server and Microsoft SMS.

"Our technical resources have good development skills, allowing us to successfully integrate complex solutions with Microsoft technologies by leveraging the Microsoft.NET framework," said Frutuoso.

"These development skills are put to good use in both systems automation and solutions customisation. We can seamlessly migrate diverse technologies to Microsoft Platforms, including Lotus Notes infrastructures and UNIX environments."

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Square One Solutions Group

Square One Solutions Group is listed on the Software & Computer Services sector of the JSE Limited. It focuses on providing vertically centric, applied technology solutions, has a national footprint and more than 21 years of experience in the South African market. Square One Solutions offers value-based solutions centred on infrastructure and facility solutions, policy solutions, industrial coding and marking solutions, tailored finance and leasing services to its key target market of enterprise, SME, corporate and government clients. The company also distributes document solutions, colour input and output devices and provides 24x7 national support and service. For more information, visit www.sq1.co.za.

The South African Medical Research Council (MRC) is a science, engineering and technology institution (SETI) and was established in 1969 by an Act of Parliament. Since then it has earned a place as one of Africa's top science councils. While the MRC is largely funded by the South African government, it currently earns about half of its income from contracts and outside grants. The council also reports directly to the National Department of Health.

The MRC's task is to improve the health and quality of life of all South Africans. It does this by discovering solutions to health problems through excellent scientific research. The MRC's researchers include people with unique skills and very specific training - all focused on the health priorities of South Africa. The MRC provides crucial information at many levels, giving decision-makers in government policy recommendations on issues such as alcohol or tobacco misuse, intestinal parasites in children and specific information regarding the rates of crime, violence and injury in South Africa.

Editorial contacts

Dave McDermott
COPYWISE
(011) 478 2055
dave@copywise.co.za
Dawn Alexander
Square One Solutions
(021) 464 4000