Extreme Networks and CipherOptics bring Data Protection into the Network

SANTA CLARA Calif. and RALEIGH, N.C.; May 1, 2006 – Extending the network through relationships with best-in-class security partners, Extreme Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXTR) and CipherOptics™, the leader in Protecting Data in Motion™, today announced that they are partnering to deliver a solution combining Extreme Networks® secure network switching fabric with policy-based security and strong encryption from CipherOptics to protect data across the network.

Working with CipherOptics, Extreme Networks is extending its family of Sentriant™ Virtual Security Resource (VSR) appliances with the Sentriant CE150. The Sentriant CE150 is targeted for complex business environments with fast, precise encryption capabilities that are available as an on-demand, network-wide service. Unlike other data encryption products, the Sentriant CE150’s unique policy capabilities can target only sensitive data for protection and avoid wasting scarce cryptographic resources on trivial traffic. As a result, customers experience much higher effective encryption capacity and far more control than ever before.

“With the increasing number of compliance and privacy regulations enterprise IT teams are faced with, data protection solutions are becoming a must have,” explained Jon Oltsik, Sr. Analyst from the Enterprise Strategy Group. “The combination of Extreme Networks’ intelligent Ethernet switching solutions with CipherOptics’ Security Gateways brings Extreme Networks customers a superior data protection solution.”

Customers can immediately benefit from the following data protection solutions:

• Protecting Data for Multi-Campus Enterprises – Protect data for large enterprise networks for point to point connections or mesh networks to help keep sensitive internal enterprise networks safe from data theft or misappropriation.
  
  
• Cryptographic Segregation –With the Sentriant CE150, organizations supporting diverse user roles, such as guests, internal users, and contractors, can utilize the same physical network for everyone without privacy compromises. For organizations facing network security demands driven by regulatory compliance requirements, such as HIPAA or Sarbanes-Oxley, the Sentriant CE150 contributes to a robust overall privacy framework.
  
  
• Securing Critical Applications and IT Resources – Many applications, such as eCommerce, CRM, and healthcare management, contain information that must be kept private. The Sentriant CE150 helps protects key applications and network resources throughout the enterprise.

This security solution has passed FIPS-140-2 Level 2 validation and offers customers the first certified data protection solution from Extreme Networks.

“CipherOptics offers a breakthrough data protection solution that can scale to greater capacity and can provide increased effectiveness when integrated with our secure switching fabric,” said Herb Schneider, senior vice president of research and development for Extreme Networks. “Our ExtremeXOS™ operating system provides an open foundation with communication extensions that can work fluidly with best-in-class security solutions. This can make the resulting network more responsive and secure.”

"We are excited about this new alliance and look forward to working with Extreme Networks as they provide managed security solutions within the network infrastructure” said Ron Willis, CEO of CipherOptics. "Together Extreme Networks and CipherOptics will be delivering policy based data encryption solutions to secure data as it moves throughout the network, providing “set it once” control for persistent policy enforcement. We believe that results of this relationship will provide enterprises the right level of security for Data in Motion based on business policy and rules."

Extreme Networks, Inc.
Extreme Networks is the leader in open converged networks. Its innovative network architecture provides Enterprises and Metro Service Providers with the resiliency, adaptability and simplicity required for a true converged network that supports voice, video and data over wired and wireless infrastructures while delivering high-performance and advanced security features. For more information, please visit www.extremenetworks.com

About CipherOptics
CipherOptics, the leading innovator of solutions for Protecting Data in Motion, has been providing best-in-breed data security solutions to a growing list of top customers including large enterprises, top financial institutions, Fortune 100 companies, healthcare organizations, and government agencies. CipherOptics security solutions protect data in motion with virtually no impact to network operations or management to: protect data storage in motion, protect data as it traverses third party networks, secure sensitive virtual networks, and secure end-to-end wireless links. CipherOptics solutions leverage robust industry-standard 256 bit AES encryption capabilities and provide the best total cost of ownership, performance, network transparency and ease of implementation in its class of products. The CipherOptics family of security gateways is field-proven in some of the most security-conscious networks in the world, and has received FIPS-140-2 Level 2 validation and Common Criteria certification. For more information please see www.cipheroptics.com.