eHosting DataFort (EHDF), the region's leading IT outsourcing service provider and a member of TECOM Investments, announced the successful implementation of Information Security Management System (ISMS) in Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA). EIDA, an independent federal entity gained the coveted ISO/IEC 27001:2005 certification.

EIDA is responsible for the establishment of a modern population register to facilitate decision making, strategic planning and the allocation of resources in all vital sectors of the UAE. The system implemented by eHosting DataFort enables the federal unit to provide a consolidated and reliable database on the national identification of citizens, including expatriates residing in UAE.

The coveted ISO/IEC accreditation was awarded to EIDA following a certification audit conducted by BSI Global, an independent certifying body from the UK.

Mohammed Fouz, CEO of eHosting DataFort said: "eHosting DataFort is pleased to be associated with the first successful implementation of ISO 27001 in a federal government department. As the first-ever national identity authorization body in the world to be awarded the ISO certification, EIDA has notched a significant achievement and we are proud of our service quality extended to the federal unit. This also indicates our commitment in driving innovation through excellence in a world-class offering."

EIDA's implementation of the Information Security Management System to protect its Population Registry and Identity Card Programme (PRIDC) were earlier acknowledged at the Government Technology Summit in Thailand last year, through the ‘Information Security Award'.

EIDA was also recently awarded the ‘Best Security Implementation' at the prestigious 4th annual NME Innovation Awards 2008 held by ITP, which brought together the finest of the Middle East's networking community.

H.E. Darwish Al Zarouni, Director General, EIDA, said: "The choice of EHDF to implement the Information Security Management System was natural because of its dependability and services that meet global standards. In addition, EHDF's deliverables are backed by an impressive state-of-the-art technology and a B IT infrastructure led by a dedicated team of professionals. EIDA looks forward to working with EHDF in its future projects."

The implementation of ISO 27001 in EIDA provides assurance to U.A.E's residents being registered with EIDA, as it ensures the security of systems along with residents' private information. The information collected and stored by EIDA in the smartcards is provided to various government departments and other entities for identification and other services securely.

EHDF has previously implemented the information security management system for major companies such as Dubai Aluminium Company (DUBAL), one of the world's largest aluminium producers, and Kuwait's KNPC, one of the world's major oil complexes.

As a prominent outsourcing provider in the region, EHDF specializes in a broad range of management systems and standards for information security, IT service management (ISO/IEC 20000) and Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery.

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About eHosting DataFort

eHosting DataFort, a fully owned subsidiary of TECOM Investments is a leading provider of IT - Consulting & Outsourcing services. The organization has obtained a number of notable projects to deliver world-class outsourcing services to major enterprises across GCC, MENA, US and Europe. eHosting DataFort's proven track record for managing an enterprise's IT infrastructure includes some of the largest organizations e.g. Dubai Financial Market, Arcelor Mittal (World's largest Steel manufacturer), Emirates Airlines, Standard Chartered Bank, Tejari, Arab Bank, British Telecom, Khaleej Times, Aramex, Dubai e-government and du.