Centrelink has signed a deal with Novell to redevelop its security access management system (SAMS), with deployment expected to begin at the end of the year.

The project involves a complete replacement of the existing access management system and will be based on Novell's various eDirectory, identity management and audit products.

The project will be based on the Novell extend suite for the user interface and run on a combination of Linux and Solaris. The Nsure Identity Manager is being used for rule-based partitioning and to automate and integrate the identity information.

Centrelink security and privacy manager Pat Fegan said the planned solution is to integrate product sets with the existing SAMS solution effectively with Novell.

Novell government manager, Costa Kapantais said Centrelink is integrating security systems in a vast and complex existing framework.

"We will be building on Centrelink's existing investments and maturity in identity management to enable the use of a next generation identity management solution throughout the agency in 2005," Kapantais said.

The current project involves using Novell eDirectory to manage identity with Nsure Audit for auditing framework.

A Novell spokesperson could not confirm how much the deal was worth, nor the length of the contract.

Centrelink employs 25,000 staff over 450 locations across Australia. The Centrelink Information and Technology group support the fourth largest IT environment in Australia.