NetContinuum Partners with Forum Systems for New Best-Of-Breed Approach to Integrating Web Services and Web Application Security

October 4, 2004 —Santa Clara, CA – NetContinuum, the worldwide leader in application firewalls, furthering its aggressive partner strategy, announced today a joint technology development agreement and partnership with Forum Systems, leader in web services security. NetContinuum is integrating the innovative Forum XWall web services firewall into its ASIC-based NetContinuum NC-1000 Application Security Gateway Web Services Edition (WSE), allowing customers to benefit from centralized management and a lower total cost of ownership – without compromising protection or performance (See “NetContinuum Advances Trend Toward Integrated Security,” October 4, 2004).

This partnership addresses the customer demand for an enterprise-class, best-of-breed approach to integrated HTML and XML security. In a recent security report titled entitled “Application Gateways Secure Business Communications,” market research firm Yankee Group identifies both Forum and NetContinuum as “winners” in their respective categories.

“NetContinuum has always viewed XML web services security as a key component of overall web application protection. We believe the market timing is now right to enter this market in force, giving customers an integrated solution that protects everything in the web application environment, regardless of port, protocol or data type,” said Gene Banman, CEO of NetContinuum. “Customers don’t want to deploy a new firewall for each new threat, but neither do they want half-baked solutions that don’t adequately address the XML risk. By partnering with Forum Systems, NetContinuum is able to give customers the best of both worlds. The Forum XWall technology is clearly best-in-class. In addition, they have an embedded version perfect for OEM integrations and a proven track record of successful partnerships.”

“We support a multi-layer approach to security. NetContinuum is highly regarded in the field, and its customers and prospects are exploring or already using XML data and web services. Combined with our software OEM model, this partnership is a great fit to speed and broaden adoption of the Forum XWall. We will also be able to rapidly mature our embedded software features while engaging in close technology collaboration to help extend our competitive lead,” added Wes Swenson, CEO of Forum Systems.

About Forum Systems Inc.

Trustworthy, ubiquitous and robust Web services can only be achieved by combining security controls that are proactive, always on and systematic throughout the life cycle of Web services. Forum Seamless Security Solutions Architecture (Forum S3Aâ„?) for Web services brings together innovative products and technology that extends and enhances existing enterprise infrastructures with flexible data-level capabilities specifically designed for XML data and Web services transactions.

Forum Systems, Inc. is the leader in Web services security with a comprehensive suite of Trust Management and Threat Protection solutions for the Automated Web. Forum Systems’ flexible hardware, software and embedded products actively protect Web services from the network edge to the application server. Forum Systems products are winners of Network Computing Magazine’s Well-Connected 2004 Award and Product of the Year 2004 Award, Network Computing Magazine’s Editor’s Choice 2003 Award, Network Magazine’s Product of the Year 2003 Award and DEMO 2004 Invitation. Forum Systems, founded in 2001, is headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT.

About NetContinuum, Inc.

NetContinuum is the leading provider of ASIC-based application firewalls that deliver the highest level of application protection available. The NetContinuum Application Security Gateway product line reduces the risk of data theft, financial fraud and loss of customer confidence due to web application attacks. It is the only product on the market to pass rigorous independent certification from ICSA Labs against both network and application-layer security threats, including data theft, cross-site scripting, SQL injection, command execution, information disclosure and authentication bypass. NetContinuum boasts an impressive customer base comprised of Fortune 1000 enterprises, government agencies and service providers. For more information, please visit www.netcontinuum.com or call 408-961-5600.

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