AXENT Eliminates Improper Firewall Configurations With Powerful Raptor Firewall / NetRecon E-Security Bundle.

ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 2, 1999--

Free Trial of Innovative Security Scanner NetRecon Instantly Assesses

Raptor Firewall Configuration to Ensure Safe E-Business Initiatives

AXENT Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:AXNT), one of the world's leading information security solution providers, today delivered its award-winning Raptor(R) Firewall and NetRecon(TM) bundle as a new e-security solution for its worldwide customers and channel of more than 800 value added resellers (VARs). The combined solution alleviates the age-old problem of improper configurations when installing a new firewall. The new bundle lets organizations instantly scan the configuration of the Raptor Firewall, ensuring that e-business systems are safe from unauthorized access and enabling them to move critical business processes to the Internet more quickly for an even greater business and competitive advantage.

AXENT(TM) and its award-winning Raptor Firewall solution, recently positioned by GartnerGroup as the leader for combined ability to execute and completeness of vision, delivers a powerful e-security solution when combined with NetRecon. All new shipments of the Raptor Firewall for both Windows NT(R) and UNIX(R) will now include a free, fully functional, 30-day license of NetRecon, AXENT's vulnerability and risk assessment solution. NetRecon's unique intelligent scanning technology acts like a "tiger team in a box," leveraging multiple vulnerabilities to identify the greatest risks to critical e-business systems. When used in conjunction with the unmatched security of the Raptor Firewall, NetRecon provides proactive, periodic assessment of perimeter security, automatically identifying vulnerabilities that may be introduced in ongoing firewall, software and system maintenance.

"One of the most common vulnerabilities for companies rushing to the Internet is an improperly configured firewall that fails to adequately safeguard growing e-business initiatives," said Erich Baumgartner, vice president, worldwide channels for AXENT. "With the Raptor Firewall/NetRecon bundle, firewall customers now have a free, immediate security assessment. They can confirm that the firewall is correctly protecting the perimeter of the organization and get an immediate snapshot of other potential security threats that need to be addressed as part of a comprehensive, Lifecycle Security program."

Lifecycle Security Establishes Solid, Ongoing Security Practices

AXENT's Lifecycle Security(TM) program helps companies quickly assess their risks and deploy the appropriate level of security necessary to protect and enable new business initiatives. The Raptor Firewall/NetRecon bundle delivers a solution that immediately protects e-business perimeters, identifies other security vulnerabilities that need to be addressed as a comprehensive security program evolves, and enables organizations to continually assess the security of the firewall as configuration and systems management changes occur. In addition, the Raptor Firewall/NetRecon bundle allows VARs to enhance their offerings, providing them a uniquely superior solution to help their customers protect critical e-business initiatives.

"Installing a firewall is often the first step for many of our customers rushing to the Internet," said Michael Marsilio, director of enterprise security for Bay Data Consultants, an AXENT VAR based in Atlanta, Georgia. "NetRecon's reporting lets Bay Data Consultants add even more value to customers by immediately producing powerful reports that identify other vulnerabilities that our consulting practice can help protect with additional services or solutions."

The Raptor Firewall and NetRecon solutions are integrated with other AXENT and third-party solutions under AXENT's Smart Security Architecture, which builds smart and appropriate integration between products and services to deliver real value for customers. NetRecon is integrated with AXENT's market-leading Enterprise Security Manager(TM) 5.0 for a complete security vulnerability and risk management solution for the largest enterprises. Raptor Firewall integration includes standard IPSec VPN technology, International Computer Security Association(TM) (ICSA(TM)) certification, a Microsoft(R) Management Console (MMC) interface, Entrust-ready(R) public key infrastructure (PKI) encryption support and integration with other AXENT authentication and e-security solutions.

About the Raptor Firewall and NetRecon Solutions

NetRecon is a vulnerability and risk analysis tool that discovers, exploits, and reports holes in network security. Unlike other scanners, NetRecon goes beyond mere vulnerability detection and reporting by illustrating how and where break-ins will occur. It challenges your network and systems like a sophisticated tiger team, sharing information between systems and continuing to probe for vulnerabilities until all possibilities are exhausted. NetRecon can exploit the vulnerability to provide a higher confidence level that the threat of the vulnerabilities detected is real, making risk analysis more accurate and ensuring that appropriate priority can be placed on the highest-risk vulnerabilities for correction. In addition, the unique ability of NetRecon to provide path analysis will lead you to the root causes of vulnerabilities. Any recurring vulnerabilities, patterns or anomalies easily surface as key problem areas or systems in your network and can be eliminated quickly.

AXENT's Raptor Firewall is the premier enterprise firewall providing complete perimeter security for customers' networks. Unlike other technologies, the Raptor Firewall's use of strong proxy architecture enables organizations to scan application specific data, enhancing the security and control of their network's data. For these and other technical innovations, the Raptor Firewall recently won the Blue Ribbon award from Network World and numerous industry accolades from top publications including a Network Computing, Data Communications, InfoWorld, LAN Times and Datamation.

More details on both solutions are available at www.axent.com.

Pricing and Availability

A 30-day evaluation of NetRecon, which runs on Windows NT, will be immediately included with all Raptor Firewalls. U.S. customers of the bundle can purchase NetRecon up to 30 days after the evaluation at a 40 percent discount. Discount pricing starts at $5,997. This promotion is available for a limited time and will be available worldwide in Q3. Restrictions to this offer may apply in certain international regions.

About AXENT(TM)

AXENT Technologies, Inc., a global leader in information security, provides e-security solutions that maximize our customers' business advantage. AXENT delivers integrated products and expert services to assess, protect, enable and manage business processes and information assets. Through its unique Lifecycle Security(TM) methodology combined with Smart Security Architecture, AXENT delivers the right level of security for customers. Award-winning solutions offer assessment and policy compliance, firewall, intrusion detection, authentication, VPN, Web-access, single sign-on and user administration for the entire enterprise.

Headquartered in Rockville, MD, AXENT's customer-proven information security solutions are used by 45 of the Fortune 50 and governments worldwide. Contact AXENT via e-mail at [e-mail], or visit AXENT's World Wide Web site at www.axent.com.

AXENT, AXENT Technologies, the AXENT logo, Raptor, NetRecon, Enterprise Security Manager, and Lifecycle Security are trademarks or registered trademarks, in the United States and certain other countries, of AXENT Technologies, Inc. or its subsidiaries. Microsoft and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; Entrust-ready is a registered trademark of Entrust Technologies, Inc.; International Computer Security Association and ICSA are trademarks of ICSA, Inc. Other product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.