Bindview Bolsters Patch Management Capabilities with New Highly Scalable and Fully Integrated Solution.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2004

Agent-Free Patch Management Provides Assessment and

Deployment Across Microsoft Platforms

Bolstering its patch management capabilities to help reduce IT and business risks, BindView Corp. (NASDAQ:BVEW), a leading provider of proactive business policy, IT security and directory management software worldwide, today announced the availability of a highly scalable, closed-loop patch management solution to address one of the highest security risks faced by organizations on their corporate networks today.

Unpatched systems, in multiple studies including a joint report from the FBI and Carnegie Mellon University, point to 90 percent of Internet-based attacks compromising "known security holes" in operating system and application software. Microsoft's widely used Windows operating system and enterprise applications such as Exchange, SQL Server, Office and BackOffice are the most widely targeted by Internet-based attackers.

"IT organizations face an ever-decreasing window between the time vulnerabilities are announced and worms are released, all of which wreaks havoc on resources," said Paul Proctor, vice president, Security & Risk Strategies at the META Group. "Patch management is one of the highest -- and most complex -- priorities for securing the infrastructure against these threats. With the onslaught of malicious attacks continuing to mount, effective patch management is an absolute requirement."

BindView patch management provides a comprehensive solution to assess, then package and deploy required software updates to close down security holes on servers and workstations. Fully integrated with BindView's award-winning Vulnerability Management suite and featuring a uniquely scalable agent-free architecture for the Windows environment, BindView patch management allows the world's largest organizations to address increasingly difficult patch management issues.

"Patch deployment is one of the most pressing issues we face in keeping our infrastructure secure," said Jim McIntosh, manager of System Services at Cincinnati-based Health Alliance. "BindView's new patch management capabilities allow us to update and maintain our patch levels far more efficiently, greatly improve the security of our network and reduce the costs of implementing new fixes."

BindView Patch Assessment capabilities are available with the company's new release of bv-Control for Windows v7.35, and provide users with rapid and proactive assessment across the spectrum of their Microsoft environment. BindView Patch Deployment, which includes downloading and packaging, is a companion product and available separately. Portions of the BindView solution include OEM components from Shavlik Technologies as previously announced by the company in January 2004.

"Patch management is top of mind for many customers right now and we're pleased to announce a function-rich solution that can scale to the needs of the largest Microsoft environments," said Arshad Matin, BindView's executive vice president for product and technology operations. "Coupled with bv-Control from our Vulnerability Management suite, BindView patch management equips customers with the technology, knowledge and processes needed to support a repeatable, closed-loop lifecycle for keeping servers and workstations up to date with the most current security patches."

BindView patch management at a glance:

-- Accurate Patch Assessment: Utilizes BindView's unique

agent-free, highly scalable architecture for Microsoft

environments to assess Microsoft operating systems and

applications including Windows NT, XP, 2000, Windows Server 

2003, Exchange, SQL Server, Outlook and Microsoft Office.

-- Automates Packaging and Deployment: Built-in packaging

automatically downloads and validates patches and service

packs for authenticity, and then distributes updates in

required sequence to servers and workstations to ensure proper

deployment.

-- Leverages Third-Party Software Distribution Tools: For

organizations using an existing software distribution tool,

BindView patch management offers an easy-to-use packaging

wizard to provide flexible packaging options and integration

to in-house software distribution systems.

-- Closed-Loop Audit: Following patch deployment, BindView patch

management can audit the enterprise, providing new information

on servers and workstations that are unsecured and vulnerable

to attack.

Availability

BindView patch management is immediately available and will be demonstrated at Microsoft Tech Ed in San Diego, May 23-28, 2004.

About BindView Corporation

BindView Corporation is a leading provider of proactive business policy, IT security and directory management software worldwide. BindView solutions and services enable customers to centralize and automate policy compliance, vulnerability assessment, directory administration and migration across the entire organization. With BindView insight at work(TM), customers benefit from reduced risk and improved operational efficiencies with a verifiable return on investment. More than 20 million licenses have shipped to 5,000 companies worldwide, spanning all major business segments and the public sector. Contact BindView via e-mail at [e-mail] or visit BindView's website at http://www.bindview.com. BindView can also be reached at 1-800-749-8439 or at 1-713-561-4000.