| "The success of the project was due primarily to the maturity of the local HP team, which was responsive and extremely professional. The results speak for themselves: all Bulgarian citizens will have new documents by the end of 2001, rather than 2002 as planned." Stoyan Zahariev, head, Identity Documents and Aliens Department, Ministry of the Interior, Republic of Bulgaria
The Republic of Bulgaria is one of several Eastern European countries aspiring to join the European Union (EU). As a prerequisite for integration, a range of political, economic and other criteria will have to be satisfied. One is the need to issue citizens with secure identity documents that support automated data processing.
In 1998, Bulgaria decided to issue all nationals with new ID cards, passports and driving licences. To meet the 2002 deadline, the Ministry of the Interior needed to install a new information infrastructure that linked 140 different sites, with centrally managed security, usage and backup solutions. The contract to supply this infrastructure was awarded to HP, in the face of competition from IBM and ICL.
Quick implementation
“We wanted a partner that offered financial stability and superior technology, coupled with project management capabilities and the ability to keep the system up-and-running around the clock. HP’s proposed solution met our needs and had the shortest implementation time,” commented Stoyan Zahariev, head of the ministry’s Identity Documents and Aliens Department.
HP was given responsibility for project management, infrastructure design and implementation, and training of IT staff. Installation and maintenance services were provided through two HP partners, CNSys and Lirex. HP also coordinated software development delivered by software department at Ministry of Interior and HP partners.
The central infrastructure is built around two HP 9000 Model V2250 Enterprise Servers, with the regional infrastructure being based on over 100 HP Netserver systems. HP Vectra PCs are used throughout, and the network is managed centrally using HP OpenView. A custom-designed support package provides a four-hour response time and 24-hour repair time for all components. HP Finance has provided a special three-year financing arrangement.
The system captures and processes data relating to applications for identity documents, and stores citizens’ personal records. The system supports real time monitoring and control of all materials and consumables used in the production thus ensuring excellent security of the process. It also provides full email capabilities, and has about 2,500 users at 140 sites. All 28 regional offices now have online connections with the Sofia head office.
Visa-free travel
“Less than eight months after the project started, we were able to issue new ID documents,” said Zahariev. “The new communications network improved data exchange, streamlined administration, and made business processes more reliable. At the same time, the training programme produced a dramatic improvement in the efficiency of IT staff.”
Bulgarian nationals now have top level identity documents that, as from April 2001, enable them to travel to most European countries without visas. The systems installed form the backbone of a new infrastructure that will ultimately be used to run all the ministry’s applications. A three-year frame agreement to replace basic systems has already been signed with HP.
“The success of the project was due primarily to the maturity of the local HP team, which was responsive and extremely professional. The results speak for themselves: all Bulgarian citizens will have new documents by the end of 2001, rather than 2002 as planned,” commented Zahariev.
Challenge
- Prepare for integration with European Union
- Issue all citizens with secure identity documents
- Implement new nationwide infrastructure for capturing and processing relevant data
Solution
- Engage hp to design and implement new infrastructure
- Work with local hp partners, CNSys and Lirex
- Base architecture on hp 9000 Enterprise Servers and hp Netserver systems
- Manage new network centrally with hp OpenView
- Obtain training, support and financing services from hp
- HP Consulting and SW development services
Results
- New identity documents issued to all Bulgarian nationals ahead of deadline
- Visa-free travel in other European countries now possible
- Internal business processes and exchange of information greatly enhanced
- IT staff are more effective
Why HP?
- Superior technology
- Financial stability
- Project management capabilities
- Effective support for “always-on” infrastructure
- Rapid implementation capabilities
Technology highlights:
- Two hp 9000 Model V2250 Enteprise Servers
- HP MC/ServiceGuard
- Disk storage subsystem (4 Tb capacity)
- Four hp MO Library 10/238 systems
- 2 hp DLT Library 588 systems
- 2000 hp Vectra VE PCs
- HP printers and scanners
- HP OpenView Network Node Manager
- HP MeasureWare
- HP OpenView OmniBack II
- Informix Extended Parallel Server (XPS)
- Informix-OnLine Dynamic Server
- MS Exchange
- Cisco routers (WAN)
- Consultancy services and training from hp Consulting
- Custom-designed support package from hp Support Services
- 3 year finance arrangement with hp Technology Finance
- LAN Infrastructure: hp ProCurve Switches and Hubs
- Over 150 Netservers LXr8000 and LH3 Systems
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