FIBERLINK

Fiberlink Formalizes Participation in Symantec's Technology Partner Program

December 22, 2003

BLUE BELL, Pa. – Dec. 22, 2003 – Fiberlink, the leading provider of comprehensive, policy-centric remote access services for enterprises, today announced that Symantec Corp., the world leader in Internet security, certified Fiberlink's Global Remote product as interoperable with the Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition through Symantec's Technology Partner Program. This integration ensures that enterprise customers' virus protection software is running, updated and properly configured from the moment a road warrior connects to a corporate network. Fiberlink's Global Remote product enhances the management options available to IT staff by allowing them to enforce virus protection policies based on real-time usage and system data.

Virus and worm outbreaks are gaining momentum, exploiting mobile and remote users' demands for speed and simplicity over active protection. BusinessWeek (BusinessWeek, Aug. 26, 2003) estimates damages from the most recent Blaster/Welchia and SQL Slammer worms and the SoBig virus range from $500 million to more than $1 billion in lost productivity, wasted hours, and lost sales. Blended threats are turning e-mail and other peer-to-peer applications such as Instant Messaging into instruments of sabotage for business operations around the world.

As stated by Matthew Moynahan, vice president of product management at Symantec, "The human side of computer security is easily exploited and overlooked. Today's enterprises need to be conscientious and proactive in updating virus protection and firewall software. Symantec's relationship with Fiberlink enhances IT control over the virus protection software on mobile employee's endpoints, regardless of where business takes them."

Fiberlink began collaborating with Symantec in early 2002 to ensure Fiberlink's secure remote access solution was interoperable with Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition software. Fiberlink worked with Symantec to refine application program interface (API) requirements and develop implementation strategies based on market demand for more dynamic enforcement of remote and mobile client security policies. With this integration, Fiberlink gives IT professionals total visibility into software versions, signature age and real-time protection.

"Fiberlink's long-standing partnership with Symantec is a testament to our unrelenting focus on protecting and managing the integrity of the road warriors' lifeline to critical enterprise resources," said Skip Taylor, vice president of product development at Fiberlink. "This integration ensures that Fiberlink remains on the cutting edge of enterprise security by providing our customers with the layered protection they need to ward off today's blended security threats."

The current Symantec-certified integration allows Fiberlink customers to dynamically set and monitor user-configuration and enforce policy decisions based on the results. Fiberlink verifies and enforces client security compliance on a users' machine before allowing a connection to the Internet or network. For example, if a user's anti-virus software is not enabled or the latest virus definitions are not installed, connection to critical business systems will not be allowed.

Building on this relationship, Fiberlink will continue working with Symantec towards certification of its remote access solutions with Symantec's new client compliancy API. Fiberlink's Global Remote solution certified for Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition is available immediately to Fiberlink customers running Microsoft Windows 98 or higher.

Symantec Technology Partner Program

The Symantec Technology Partner Program establishes standards for how diverse security and infrastructure products from multiple vendors can work together with Symantec technologies to simplify complex enterprise networks for joint customers. Qualified partner products can be integrated with Symantec's industry-leading security solutions and Symantec Enterprise Security Architecture. The Technology Partner Program offers comprehensive integration tools, development support, joint sales and marketing resources, and product certification. Partners whose solutions meet Symantec's established criteria for interoperability earn the use of applicable Symantec certification logos. Detailed information on the program procedures, requirements, and benefits can be found at www.symantec.com/technologypartners.

About Fiberlink

Fiberlink is a leading provider of secure remote access solutions, unifying worldwide remote access, management and enforcement within existing IT policy. Fiberlink addresses the growing infrastructure complexities of enterprise access brought on by the demands of an expanding business ecosystem. From employees to partners, remote offices to extranets, dial-up to wireless to broadband, Fiberlink allows enterprises to capitalize on virtually any extended business opportunity. Multi-network redundancy, best-of-breed application services and support, the lowest TCO and the least impact on IT help make Fiberlink a critical business partner. For the first time, companies can manage every aspect of remote, mobile or wireless access with the same rigorous policy enforcement as for local users.

With over 300,000 corporate users, analyst firms such as Gartner, Burton Group and Yankee Group recognize Fiberlink as a leader and innovator in the industry. Customers such as General Electric, BMC Software, Computer Sciences Corporation, Royal Caribbean, The Gillette Company, and Sun Healthcare prove it with their business. Headquartered in Blue Bell, Pa., Fiberlink has offices throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Kristen Muckleroy
Fiberlink
kmuckleroy@fiberlink.com
215/793.6541

Kristina Osterling
A&R Partners for Fiberlink
kristinao1@arpartners.com
212/905-6155

© 2003 Fiberlink and the Fiberlink logo are trademarks of Fiberlink and may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other brand names are trademarks of their respective partners.