Asta Networks Taps Former Covad Executive As New CEO; Joe Devich Brings Extensive Experience in Business Management and Network Design to Cutting-edge Internet Reliability Firm.

Business Editors, High-Tech Writers

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 22, 2001

Asta Networks today announced that Joe Devich is joining the company as chief executive officer.

Devich was most recently the executive vice president of technology and infrastructure for the high-speed Internet provider Covad Communications. Today's announcement follows on the heels of Asta Networks' announcement that its groundbreaking technology has automatically detected actual Denial of Service attacks in a live network environment moments after they happened. Asta Networks' DoS detection system represents the first in a series of products that will bring a revolutionary new level of control to network managers.

"We are very excited that Joe has agreed to join Asta Networks," said Dr. Tom Anderson, Asta Networks' co-founder and interim CEO. "He brings with him a exceptional set of skills: a proven record of successful business management combined with a detailed knowledge of network systems and related issues."

According to Devich, "Asta Networks is positioned to radically change the way networks and other information systems are managed. I am eager to work with the team that founded this company. Rarely have so many luminaries come together to build and launch a company with such incredible potential."

Devich held several key positions with the high-speed Internet carrier Covad Communications. While at Covad he led the deployment of the largest national broadband network in existence. In addition to overseeing the design and building of the Covad network he developed operations strategy, process, and training; oversaw value-added services infrastructure; managed procurement, supply chain, real estate management and acquisition, as well as fleet and travel management. He also served as President and General Manager of Covad's Western Region, which included most of the markets that significantly contributed to Covad's explosive growth.

Before Covad, Devich was responsible for all process and support functions for a 28,000-member team that delivered service to 25 million customers in 14 Western and Midwestern states at US West (now Qwest).

Investors in Asta Networks have enthusiastically endorsed the selection of Devich as CEO. According to Alex Knight from ARCH Venture Partners, "With the addition of Joe Devich we believe Asta Networks has in place one of the strongest management teams in the industry. The founders are among the premier thought leaders in complex network management. Joe's ability to manage the business of technology will expand on the company's existing technical genius and make Asta Networks a significant player for years to come."

Greg Gottesman from Madrona Venture Group said, "Hiring Joe as the CEO is an important piece in the puzzle for Asta Networks. We are very excited about the company's future and believe strongly in the management team they have assembled."

Just last week Asta Networks announced that it has successfully detected several Denial of Service (DoS) attacks using their automated technology. DoS attacks can have a crippling effect on web sites by flooding them with useless packets preventing customer access and, in some cases, even bringing down the network. Asta Networks' technology is the first to successfully demonstrate that DoS attacks can be detected within moments of their launch.

About Asta Networks

Asta Networks is a Seattle-based company creating network infrastructure technology that works with existing hardware and software to improve the reliability of the Internet. The company's initial focus is solving the intensifying problem of DoS attacks. By reducing the impact of DoS attacks and other network problems, Asta Networks will enable organizations to confidently depend on the Internet for their critical communications and business transactions. For more information, visit www.astanetworks.com.