Akonix Announces Public IM and P2P File Sharing Educational Programs to Help Corporations Understand the Associated Benefits and Risks within the Workplace.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 22, 2003

Programs Are Focused on Leveraging Real-Time Communication

Technologies While Employing the Right Security Solutions to Keep

Enterprise Networks Safe and Secure

Akonix Systems, Inc., the first company to make public instant messaging safe, secure and manageable for use in corporate networks, today announced its participation in programs specifically designed to help educate organizations on how to maximize the benefits of public real-time applications while gaining control over their unsanctioned use in the enterprise. Rapid proliferation of real-time communication technologies such as Instant Messaging (IM) and peer-to-peer (P2P) communications expose corporations to legal liability, network security and bandwidth issues. Akonix efforts highlight the need for management and security tools that enable organizations to leverage the productivity benefits of IM and P2P, while addressing the risks associated with their unmanaged use.

Akonix is working with leading Instant Messaging providers, as well as storage vendors and security infrastructure suppliers to support educational initiatives that are designed to provide security and messaging managers with the information and expert guidance necessary to implement strategies for managing popular public real-time applications.

On July 23rd Akonix will join AOL and others in sponsoring a user panel by Ferris Research on the business uses of Instant Messaging. The teleconference is open to messaging managers and is intended to let attendees share experiences and discuss challenges they face with instant messaging. More details are at http://www.ferris.com/url/tc-20030723.html

Akonix founder and Chief Strategy Officer Dmitry Shapiro is currently featured on HR.com as author of "Meet the Dangers of Peer-to-Peer File Sharing and Instant Messaging," an article that discusses the issues of the confidentiality, harassment and copyright liability associated with employee use of public Instant Messaging and P2P file sharing. The article recommends that Human Resources departments work closely and in tandem with IT to address the issues associated with unmanaged use of these technologies.

Akonix recently teamed up Iron Mountain and Reuters to educate broker-dealer firms impacted by the new NASD advisory on Instant Messaging. Akonix co-sponsored a free on-line seminar by Securities Industry News entitled "Everything you need to know about Instant Messaging on Wall Street." An archived version of the seminar is available at http://www.securitiesindustry.com.

"Real-time technologies are emerging as powerful business enablers," said Michael Haney, Senior Analyst at Celent Communications. "Corporations need to understand the issues associated with unmanaged use of public applications like Instant Messaging and P2P file sharing. It is imperative that they implement the necessary security and management infrastructure to enable their organizations to manage and enforce security and acceptable use policies on public real-time applications."

Akonix, winner of Network Magazine's Email and Messaging Product of the Year award, provides solutions that enable organizations to effectively control and manage the use of IM and P2P file sharing. Akonix's extensible architecture addresses security threats and adds advanced management capabilities to enhance the usability of public real-time applications in corporate networks. In addition, advanced compliance features allow Akonix customers to satisfy regulatory and corporate compliance requirements in the Financial Services, Energy, Healthcare, Government, and Telecommunications industries.

Said Peter Shaw, CEO of Akonix, "As part of our commitment to providing organizations with the most intelligent and effective network security solutions for real-time applications, we believe it is our responsibility to assume a thought leadership position within our industry. Our efforts are designed to ensure that our customers are being provided with the information they need to make informed IT decisions that will not only keep their networks safe, but ultimately help them grow their business.

About Akonix

Akonix Systems, Inc. headquartered in San Diego, California is an award-winning provider of enterprise software that transforms public Instant Messaging (IM) into a safe, secure and manageable business-critical application. The company's offerings help corporations; public and private institutions and universities monitor, block and manage both public IM and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file sharing. Backed by three premier venture capital firms, the company protects enterprise networks from the dangers of unmanaged public IM and P2P file sharing.

Akonix Rogue Aware is available for free download and monitors and reports on P2P and public IM use within an enterprise network. Akonix Enforcer protects organizations by preventing unauthorized use of P2P file sharing and public IM. Akonix L7 Enterprise enables corporations to secure, manage and report on IM usage, while satisfying Federal, industry and corporate compliance requirements. Free trials of all of the products are available for download at www.akonix.com/freetrial. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.akonix.com

Akonix is a registered trademark of Akonix Systems, Inc. All other trademarks, tradenames, service marks, service names and images mentioned and/or used herein belong to their respective owners.