Miscellaneous Management Systems
Novell eDirectory Supports More Than 500,000 Users of SAP Developer Network
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Novell eDirectory helps provide a secure and content-rich site for the half-million strong and rapidly growing SAP technical community
WALTHAM, Mass - Oct. 30 2006 - Novell today announced that SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) is using Novell® eDirectory(TM), the foundation of the world's largest identity management deployments, to support the more than 500,000 users registered to SAP Developer Network (SDN). SDN is the central resource for SAP's community of software developers, consultants and systems integrators to collaborate and co-innovate solutions developed on the SAP NetWeaver® platform. SDN has seen unprecedented growth since its inception less than three years ago, reflecting the SAP ecosystem's commitment to collaboration around the platform.
Novell eDirectory provides SAP with secure, Web-based access to administrative tools and functions to manage identities, resources, devices and policies to support SAP's rapidly growing community of developers. With excellent scalability and reliability, the flexible yet strong security architecture authenticates users to the SDN site and provides personalised access based on the user's identity and role, thereby simplifying many routine processes, eliminating unnecessary administration and reducing costs.
SAP Developer Network is a resource for members of the SAP ecosystem who are interested in learning about and optimizing their use of SAP technologies. SDN offers access to SAP documentation and whitepapers, technical "how to" and implementation guides, real-world best practices, self-paced online training, video and audio demos, a regular newsletter for members, and free software downloads. SDN features active discussion forums where community members share their expertise to help each other, weblogs and a wealth of community-generated content (http://sdn.sap.com).
"The truly collaborative nature of SAP's developer community has led to very rapid growth of SDN - surpassing 500,000 members in less than three years," said Ran Cliff, senior director, SAP Developer Network. "The scalability of eDirectory has enabled SAP to easily manage user identities and give users role-based access to the SAP Developer Network. Novell eDirectory provides SDN users with access to personalised information relevant to their relationship with SAP and enhances SAP's ability to target specific content and tools based on member roles."
Built on standards-based protocols, Novell eDirectory helps enable SAP to integrate the directory with other third-party applications and sources external to the business, ensuring as much content as possible is pulled to the site. Plus, with over 2,000 discussion forum and blog messages a day received on the site, and with many answers now available on the Web site and in discussion groups, SDN has reduced help desk calls and increased the response time to user questions across multiple time zones.
"SAP wanted to develop a culture of knowledge transfer and collaboration amongst its employees, partners, customers and public users," said John Judge, vice president of worldwide alliances for Novell. "Many of its customers are working on strategic and comprehensive projects. Having secure and easy access to the SAP Developer Network portal greatly reduces their implementation time and increases their rate of success. In turn, their ability to collaborate and share solutions helps thousands of other users."
About Novell eDirectory
Novell eDirectory is the foundation for the world's largest identity management deployments-a high-end directory service that allows businesses to manage identities and security access for employees, customers and partners. With eDirectory, businesses lay the groundwork for secure identity management solutions and multiplatform network services. Novell eDirectory is the industry's best choice for large-scale, high-end directory deployments, with unmatched scalability and reliability, a flexible yet strong security architecture, compatibility with key industry standards and operating systems, and manageability that is second to none.
About Novell
Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) delivers Software for the Open Enterprise(TM). With more than 50,000 customers in 43 countries, Novell helps customers manage, simplify, secure and integrate their technology environments by leveraging best-of-breed, open standards-based software. With over 20 years of experience, 4,700 employees, 5,000 partners and support centers around the world, Novell helps customers gain control over their IT operating environment while reducing cost. More information about Novell can be found at www.novell.com.
About SAP
SAP is the world's leading provider of business software*. Today, more than 34,600 customers in more than 120 countries run SAP® applications-from distinct solutions addressing the needs of small and midsize enterprises to suite offerings for global organizations. Powered by the SAP NetWeaver® platform to drive innovation and enable business change, SAP software helps enterprises of all sizes around the world improve customer relationships, enhance partner collaboration and create efficiencies across their supply chains and business operations. SAP solution portfolios support the unique business processes of more than 25 industries, including high tech, retail, financial services, healthcare and the public sector. With subsidiaries in more than 50 countries, the company is listed on several exchanges, including the Frankfurt stock exchange and NYSE under the symbol "SAP." (Additional information at www.sap.com)
(*) SAP defines business software as comprising enterprise resource planning and related applications such as supply chain management, customer relationship management, product life-cycle management and supplier relationship management.
Press contacts:
Beth Guest (UK)
Text 100 Public Relations
+44 20 8846 0717
beth.guest@text100.co.uk
Bruce Lowry (US)
Novell
(415) 383-8408
blowry@novell.com
