Akonix Further Extends Instant Messaging Security and Compliance For Global Enterprises; Launches Latest Version of L7 Enterprise for Increased Business Productivity.

SAN DIEGO -- Akonix Systems, Inc., the premier provider of enterprise-class solutions for ensuring security and compliance for employee use of instant messaging (IM), has launched Akonix L7 Enterprise v4.3, designed to increase security and visibility into IM use across the enterprise.

This latest version of the industry's most deployed IM security gateway includes a personalized IM archive to store, manage and retain conversations over public and enterprise IM networks. Used as a beneficial business tool, employees are now able to manage how messages are stored and review IM dialogues from weeks or months before.

L7 Enterprise v4.3 also enables integration with Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) 2005, a system that synchronizes with mission-critical applications to provide users with information to identify issues, streamline processes and facilitate quick resolution to restore services and prevent potential IT problems. L7 Enterprise provides system health and IM performance counters to MOM consoles for advanced analysis, notification and troubleshooting. Companies using MOM can manage Akonix servers and the use of IM in the same way they manage all other enterprise applications.

"Like email, the rapid growth of enterprise-wide instant messaging use and real-time communications now requires more effective controls for management, security and compliance," said Paul Ritter, vice president of collaboration research at Interactive Media Strategies. "With business IM use set to become almost ubiquitous over the next few years, it's critical for IT managers to ensure their networks are protected against outside security threats, legal liabilities and inappropriate uses of instant messaging. Enterprises are increasingly turning to solutions like Akonix L7 Enterprise that offer a scalable and secure means for controlling and managing IM use."

"Akonix L7 Enterprise provides PixelStreams with comprehensive IM security, compliance and management features to increase overall productivity across our organization," said Terry Wolvert, founder of PixelStreams. "Providing features like management and security for Google Talk -- shortly after the public IM network was launched -- we know that Akonix stays on the cutting-edge of IM innovation. As more companies realize the business benefits of IM and allow its use across the enterprise, Akonix continues to offer new features and advanced support to meet its customers' needs."

The following additional functionality is included in Akonix L7 Enterprise v4.3:

--  Advanced LDAP Synchronization - users can specify certain
    directory groups to synch at different intervals without requiring
    a full synch each time, enabling users to synch only the groups
    they need to at higher frequencies and remain up to date
--  Advanced Microsoft LCS Clustering and Fail-Over Support - allows a
    single L7 Enterprise server to support an entire Microsoft LCS
    Pool. It also includes a hot fail-over system for uninterrupted
    use, security, management and logging of IM traffic to recover
    from system failures in high-availability environments. This
    feature also makes the most scalable IM security solution
    available even more scalable, allowing up to 100,000 LCS users on
    a single Akonix server
--  Support for Google Talk - manages Google's new beta IM service
    with equal security and management capabilities as other public IM
    systems
--  Automatic Database Purging - users can define the duration they
    want to keep IM conversations logged and the Akonix database will
    automatically purge the unwanted records to ensure company
    policies and compliance regulations for data retention are
    satisfied

"As the first IM management gateway to enter the market, Akonix L7 Enterprise continues to lead the industry in cutting-edge product features and advanced security, helping IT managers sleep easier at night," said Don Montgomery, vice president of marketing at Akonix. "The product's new features -- like a personal IM inbox -- have been created to better manage IM use, similar to how emails are stored and archived. This allows employees to increase their productivity when communicating with partners, customers and co-workers in real time. Feedback from Akonix's large customer base enables the company to continuously drive innovation in IM security and compliance."

Akonix L7 Enterprise was the first real-time security solution for public and enterprise IM systems, allowing corporations to realize the benefits of controlled access to IM without compromising network or endpoint security. Over one million users in Global 1000 companies worldwide have deployed Akonix's IM security solutions, making Akonix the most deployed enterprise IM security solution today.

About Akonix

Akonix is the most deployed IM security product in the world, enabling Global 1000 companies to deploy productive, enterprise-wide IM that is secure, compliant and managed.

Nearly one million global users across hundreds of organizations in the Financial Services, Telecommunications, Energy, Technology, Healthcare and Entertainment industries use Akonix solutions. With more than a dozen patents pending, Akonix's award-winning products provide the industry's only automatically updated protection to block real-time viruses for both enterprise and public IM systems. Akonix has certified partnerships with all leading IM and presence providers including America Online(R), Microsoft, Yahoo!, Reuters, IBM, Parlano and Bloomberg.

An IM industry first, the Akonix Security Center (www.imsecuritycenter.com) provides real-time information about worms, viruses and other vulnerabilities that target IM and P2P networks. The company issues monthly and quarterly IM threat watch reports to track key trends and vulnerabilities.

For further information on the company, please visit www.akonix.com.