CipherOptics Taps Former Cisco Executive Ron Willis as President and CEO.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

NetWorld+Interop 2002 Las Vegas 

RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 7, 2002

Company caps an impressive second quarter that resulted in $5 million

in Series A funding and launch of its Security Gateway product

CipherOptics Inc., a leading innovator of high-speed data encryption, announced today the addition of former Cisco executive Ron Willis as President and CEO, capping a flurry of recent activity that includes obtaining an initial round of funding and introducing the CipherOptics Security Gateway, a high performance data encryption network security appliance.

Willis will take the reigns from company co-founder and former President Mike Doss. Doss will continue his primary roles in corporate strategic direction and operations guidance.

"This has been a very pivotal time in the development of our company and the realizations of our dreams to introduce the first true Gigabit-speed data encryption product," said Mike Doss, CipherOptics co-founder and former president. "Ron is clearly the right person for this job as CipherOptics moves from product development to a more customer-focused, sales and marketing operation. We are extremely pleased to have someone of his caliber and experience to lead CipherOptics into its next phase as the market leader in the high-performance network security marketplace."

Willis brings over 20 years of experience in sales and marketing management in information technology and networking markets. Most recently he was vice president of worldwide commercial marketing for Cisco Systems where under his direction a number of key programs were developed, including programs that made secure, high speed Internet and intranet access from public access facilities possible.

"This is an exciting time to join a company committed to high-performance security and data encryption," said Willis. "The network security marketplace is positioned for tremendous growth and that, coupled with the unsurpassed encryption technology created by CipherOptics, makes this a most promising opportunity."

Willis joined Cisco through the acquisition of Aironet Wireless Communications, where he was senior vice president of sales and marketing. Before his current assignment at Cisco, he directed the marketing launches of the Aironet 340 and 350 Series of wireless LAN products for residential/small business/branch office and enterprise facilities.

Previously, Mr. Willis was employed with Digital Equipment Corporation for over 14 years where he held significant management positions in marketing and sales.

About CipherOptics

CipherOptics Inc., a privately-held company headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, designs data security solutions for high-speed networks. With its recent introduction of the industry's first true Gigabit-speed encryption Security Gateway, CipherOptics is dedicated to increasing security across all network applications at maximum throughput levels. For more information about CipherOptics, visit http://www.cipheroptics.com.