Akonix Delivers Industry-First ``Enforcer'' With IM Security Gateway; Akonix L7 1.1 Now Terminates ``Rogue'' Instant Messaging Sessions and Adds an Inappropriate Content Filter.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 2002

Akonix Systems Inc., the first company dedicated to protecting corporate networks against the dangers of public instant messaging (IM), peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing and other Rogue Protocols, today announced an industry first -- a real-time "enforcer" that blocks public IM sessions attempting to bypass the Akonix L7 Gateway.

With the new patent pending enforcer capability, all public IM communications are detected and managed based on company policy wherever the Akonix L7 product is installed. The enforcer is included in the Akonix L7 1.1 release, which is available immediately. The 1.1 version also provides a Check Point VPN-1(R)/FireWall-1(R) integration option and important new management capabilities like an inappropriate language filter, sophisticated content pattern detection, internal user broadcasts and external user disclaimer messages.

"With this new version, we're delivering on the product enhancement promises we made earlier this year," said CEO Peter Shaw. "Akonix L7 now provides complete and absolute control over AOL, MSN and Yahoo! IM, and makes these public applications suitable for use within the enterprise."

The Rogue Protocols used by IM services like AOL, MSN and Yahoo! are designed to evade network security and pierce corporate firewalls. This aggressive behavior exposes corporate networks to a variety of risks, including virus infections, hacker attacks and disclosure of confidential information.

The growing popularity of these services has created a network security problem for IT managers, who are unable to easily detect, manage or report on public IM use within their networks.

Akonix L7 solves this problem by intercepting IM protocols and controlling them based on company policies, making it easy for companies to securely embrace public IM. All activity can be archived and reported, supporting management needs for day-to-day oversight, forensic analysis and regulatory compliance.

Key Benefits of the Akonix L7 Platform

-- Improved Information Security: Instant Message Rogue protocols routinely expose internal user messages to a variety of external risks. With Akonix L7, these internal connections are reflected so that they remain safely within the corporate network perimeter.

-- Improved Network Security: Rogue protocols subject corporate networks to attacks by both viruses and hackers. Akonix L7detects, virus-scans and blocks infected files at the network perimeter, and reduces the risk of attack by enforcing the use of up-to-date client software (by version number).

-- Reduced Legal Liability: Employers are at legal risk when employees send or share improper content. Akonix L7 detects and blocks this activity.

-- Verifiable Compliance: Internal policies and government regulations may require proof that sensitive information is safe from unauthorized electronic disclosure. Akonix L7 provides comprehensive message logging and forensic reporting capabilities that meet this need.

-- Recaptured Productivity & Network Bandwidth: Akonix L7 extends employee internet management to Rogue Protocols, recapturing lost employee productivity and recovering network bandwidth lost to file sharing and file attachments.

A free 30-day trial of Akonix L7 is available for download at www.akonix.com/freetrial.

About Akonix

Akonix Systems Inc. is the first security software company dedicated to protecting corporate networks against instant messaging, peer-to-peer file sharing and other Rogue Protocols so that they can be securely embraced. Akonix's first product is Akonix L7, a network perimeter security gateway that provides corporate IT managers with the ability to manage and secure the most popular public IM applications.

Akonix is venture capital funded and is led by a senior management team with a solid track record of startup success and extensive experience in enterprise software development. Akonix investors include Mission Ventures, Windward Ventures and Palomar Ventures, three of Southern California's premier early-stage venture firms. Founded in May 2000, Akonix is headquartered in San Diego. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.akonix.com/