Cisco Extends PIX Family of Integrated Security Appliances; New Models, Performance, and Certifications Deliver Multilayered Defense for Comprehensive Security.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2003

Cisco Systems, Inc.(Nasdaq:CSCO) today announced enhancements to the Cisco(R) PIX(R) Family of security appliances that extend the value of customer's security infrastructure investments. Additions to the family include new performance levels for broadband environments, midrange models, cost-effective high-availability solutions and broad government and industry certification.

These additions demonstrate Cisco's commitment to companies of all sizes to deliver high-performance and scalable security solutions that protect and enhance business productivity. Elements of today's announcement address the following customer requirements:

-- Small-Office/Remote-Office Solutions: Enhancements to the

Cisco PIX 501 and PIX 506E offer customers using Cisco PIX

Operating System (OS) Software version 6.3 an up to five to

six times boost in firewall performance, and up to two times

increase in virtual private network (VPN) security performance

for Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) VPN environments.

Through these performance gains, customers will benefit from

enhanced security and improved productivity.

The new Cisco PIX 501-Unlimited model now enables unlimited

user connections, providing customers with enhanced

scalability and lowered total cost of ownership. Both the PIX

501 and PIX 506E cost-effectively deliver integrated security

of converged data, voice, and video deployments in a single,

easy-to-install and easy-to-manage solution ideally suited for

teleworker and small-business environments.

-- Midrange Solutions: Cisco PIX 515E and PIX 525 integrated

security appliances are ideally suited for customers needing

modular, high-performance, resilient security. The new PIX

515E-6FE offers integrated six ports of Fast Ethernet along

with 190 Mbps firewall and 140 Mbps VPN for enhanced

protection of multiple De-Militarized Zone (DMZ) and server

environments requiring physical network separation. The new

PIX 525-2GE delivers integrated dual Gigabit Ethernet and dual

Fast Ethernet ports in a cost-effective, turnkey solution

enabling more flexible deployment options in high-throughput

environments.

The Cisco PIX 515E and PIX 525 security appliances directly

address growing customer demand for cost-effective,

high-availability security solutions that simultaneously meet

certain reliability requirements with offerings starting at

less than $10,000 for a complete, two-system redundant

solution. These solutions significantly boost productivity and

reduce operational costs for small and midsized businesses and

enterprises.

-- High-Capacity Solutions: The Cisco PIX 535 and Cisco

Catalyst(R) 6500 Series security solutions now deliver among

the industry's highest-performance security services, and

raise the price/performance ratio for highly modular,

multiple-gigabit protection in high-bandwidth environments.

The Cisco PIX 535 solution offers 1.7 Gbps firewall throughput

and 440 Mbps of advanced Triple Data Encryption Standard

(3DES) and AES protection with high-available solutions for

less than $50,000. The Cisco Catalyst 6503 and Catalyst 6506

security systems provide the most demanding network

environments with 5 to 20 Gbps of highly extensible, scalable

firewall protection with IP Security (IPSec) VPN, intrusion

detection system (IDS), and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) upgrade

options.

The Cisco Catalyst security systems also offer the

highest-density LAN/WAN integration in a security solution.

Customers can choose from high-density Gigabit Ethernet and

Fast Ethernet modules (up to 16 and 48 ports per slot,

respectively), 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports and WAN options from

T1/E1 through OC-3, providing a highly adaptable solution for

any network environment.

Cisco also announced today highly prestigious certification support across the entire PIX Family of security appliances. Certifications earned include the Common Criteria Evaluation Assurance Level 4 (EAL4) certification, and both ICSA Labs firewall and IPSec certifications. These certifications provide customers with independent and objective validation that a company's product meets certain levels of quality and reliability, and are among the industry's most respected and stringent criteria for certification. Providing customers broad certification support across the Cisco PIX family within a common operating system increases operational efficiencies and lowers support and management costs.

The Cisco PIX Family delivers a multilayered defense through rich, integrated network security services including stateful inspection firewalling, protocol and application inspection, VPN, in-line intrusion protection and rich multimedia and voice security in a single device.

"Cisco's latest PIX enhancements improve its competitive position in enterprise security markets of all sizes." said Joel Conover, principal analyst, Current Analysis. Cisco's product enhancements knock down performance barriers and lower the total cost of network security for Cisco customers. Cisco leads the pack with its extensive protocol support and broad array of integrated security features for advanced protection of business applications and services."

Pricing and Availability

The Cisco PIX 501-Unlimited user license is scheduled to be available late-April for $995 USD with systems starting as low as $595 USD. The Cisco PIX 506E models are available today starting at $1,395 USD. The Cisco PIX 515E-6FE is available today for $7,495 USD with systems starting as low as $3,495 USD. The Cisco PIX 525-2GE is available today for $13,995 USD with systems starting as low as $8,995 USD. The Cisco PIX 535 is available today starting at $29,995 USD and Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series security system is available today starting at $59,995 USD. The Cisco PIX OS Software Version 6.3 is scheduled to be available at the end of March at no charge for customers with SMARTNet(R) support contracts.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc.(Nasdaq:CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at http://www.cisco.com.

Note to Editors: Cisco, Cisco Systems, the Cisco Systems logo, Catalyst, PIX, and SMARTNet are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.