WatchGuard Firebox Leads as the No. 1 Mid-Range VPN Hardware Solution

Infonetics Report Declares WatchGuard the Mid-range VPN Hardware Leader

SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–March 20, 2001–WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:WGRD), a leader in Internet security solutions, today announced that Infonetics Research (San Jose, Calif.) has named WatchGuard the revenue market share leader in mid-range VPN hardware.

According to the February 2001 Infonetics report, “VPN Hardware and Software,” WatchGuard owned 20% of the market in 2000, earning the top spot as the No. 1 revenue-generating mid-range VPN hardware. WatchGuard prevailed as the leader, consistently generating more revenue quarter-over-quarter than Intel, Lucent, Netscreen, Nortel, Red Creek, SafeNet and SonicWall.

“WatchGuard has aggressively pursued a strategy to simplify the management of VPN and firewall security over the last year and this strategy has paid off well for them,” said Jeff Wilson, Executive Director of Infonetics. “Their mid-range solution is perfectly targeted at small and medium-sized organizations who are adopting VPNs faster than other segments of the market.”

“The Infonetics report validates that our strategy of delivering scalable, easy to manage VPN solutions sets WatchGuard apart and positions the Firebox System as the preferred choice among customers,” said Christopher Slatt, President and CEO of WatchGuard. “The WatchGuard brand has always been synonymous with ease of ownership and we will continue to raise the standard as we expand our firewall and VPN offerings for the mid-range market, and develop new hardware and software solutions that solve the most complex Internet security requirements.”

WatchGuard protects customers in over 60 countries by delivering its Firebox System through a worldwide network of resellers and service providers. Additionally, organizations around the world can outsource the management of a WatchGuard Firebox by subscribing to a managed firewall and VPN service, available through over 70 service providers worldwide including Deutsche Telekom, Genuity (formerly, GTE Internetworking), Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ), PSINet, UUNet and Verio.

The Firebox System is a scalable firewall and VPN solution for small, mid-sized and large distributed enterprises. The comprehensive hardware and software solution delivers four key benefits: centralized management, comprehensive security protection (including firewall and Virtual Private Network), the LiveSecurity Service and a choice of plug-and-play Firebox security appliances. For distributed enterprises with multiple branch offices and telecommuters, WatchGuard’s VPN Manager enables administrators to simply and quickly create VPNs, reducing the complexity and costs associated with operating a network of VPN connections. For additional protection, WatchGuard ServerLock “locks down” operational servers, protecting against service outages caused by Web site defacements and server configuration threats (internal and external).

About Infonetics Research

Infonetics Research (http://www.infonetics.com) is a market research and consulting firm that provides worldwide market share services and US and European demand-side research to network equipment and software manufacturers, service providers, the investment community, and chip and component manufacturers worldwide.

About WatchGuard Technologies, Inc.

WatchGuard (Nasdaq:WGRD) is a leading provider of dynamic, comprehensive Internet security solutions designed to protect enterprises that use the Internet for e-business and secure communications. The Company is a pioneer in the creation of the plug-and-play Internet security appliance and offers solutions for any size organization — from large enterprises with geographically dispersed offices and telecommuting employees to home offices with a single broadband connection. The Company’s innovative LiveSecurity Service enables organizations and users to keep their security systems up-to-date and its ServerLock software “locks down” operational servers, protecting information and content against service outages caused by server configuration threats. For more information, please call 206/521-8340 or visit www.watchguard.com.

Certain statements in this press release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the time the statements are made and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect WatchGuard’s actual results include, but are not limited to, the “Factors Affecting our Operating Results, Our Business and Our Stock Price” described in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2000 and in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings from time to time. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon these forward-looking statements that speak only as to the date of this release.

WatchGuard(R) and LiveSecurity(TM) are either a trademark or registered trademark of WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Firebox and ServerLock are trademarks of WatchGuard Technologies, Inc.

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