Secure Computing Awarded DARPA Contract To Develop Cutting-Edge Vpn Technologies
Secure Computing Receives $738K for Phase II SBIR to Advance Virtual Private Networking Technology
SAN JOSE, Calif., July 23, 2001 – Secure Computing Corporation (NASDAQ: SCUR), a leading provider of enterprise access control software and services, today announced that it has received a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop advanced VPN solutions that provide mobile and remote users authenticated, high-bandwidth access to enterprise networks. Technologies developed under this effort will be leveraged in future capabilities for SidewinderTM, Secure’s firewall and VPN gateway, as well as the 3Com Embedded Firewall. This contract award demonstrates Secure Computing’s continued commitment to acquire research contracts that contribute to the advancement of both Department of Defense and commercial solutions.
The Phase II contract was awarded under DARPA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program as a follow on to Secure’s Phase I contract awarded in March 2000. The SBIR program funds projects that have strong potential for future commercialization, reinforcing DARPA’s mission to advance state-of-the-art defense technology. A Phase II contract is granted to a company after successful completion of a Phase I project, and following a demonstrated intent to transition the technologies into a commercial application, the ultimate objective of all SBIR initiatives. The Phase II High Performance VPN project will advance VPN technology to address some of the barriers encountered in the modern Internet environment, such as establishing VPN links across NAT devices like cable and DSL modems, and tuning performance to balance the load requirements of concurrent users vs. gross throughput.
“DARPA is an extremely valuable partner for Secure Computing, as they continue to invest in high risk technology research and development that is ultimately transferred into real solutions for both DoD and commercial users,” said Chris Filo, vice president and general manager of the Advanced Technology Division at Secure Computing. “Our partnership with DARPA has been instrumental in the development of cutting-edge technologies and products, like the 3Com Embedded Firewall, and we anticipate that the technology developed under this effort will provide similar, revolutionary capabilities to the market.”
About DARPA
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is the central research and development agency of the Department of Defense. DARPA formulates and executes research and development projects that expand the frontiers of technology beyond the immediate and specific requirements of the U.S. Military Services and their laboratories. DARPA’s official charter is to assure that the U.S. maintains a lead in applying state-of-the-art technology for military capabilities and to prevent technological surprise from adversaries.
About Secure Computing
Headquartered in San Jose, CA, Secure Computing Corporation (NASDAQ: SCUR) is a leading provider of enterprise access control solutions. Secure Computing software products and services control access to applications and networks based on user authentication and authorization to market-leading VPNs, firewalls, Web servers and embedded devices. Secure Computing’s worldwide partners and customer base are counted among the Fortune 50 in financial services, healthcare, telecom, communications, manufacturing, technology and Internet service providers, as well as some of the largest agencies of the United States government. For more information, visit the Secure Computing Web site at www.securecomputing.com.
All trademarks, trade names or service marks used or mentioned herein belong to their respective owners.
This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to the award from DARPA to develop advanced VPN solutions and the expected benefits of such technology including adding future capabilities for Secure Computing’s Sidewinder firewall, and such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are delays in product development, competitive pressures, technical difficulties, changes in customer requirements, general economic conditions and the risk factors detailed from time to time in Secure Computing’s periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.