Critical Path Announces General Availability of InJoin Directory Server 3.1.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 30, 2000

New Web Data Manager Feature Extends Access To Directory Information

And Enables User Self-Service

Critical Path Inc. (Nasdaq:CPTH), the leading provider of Internet messaging infrastructure, today announced the general availability of InJoin(TM) Directory Server (IDS) Version 3.1. IDS 3.1 features a new web-based directory agent, the Web Data Manager (WebDM), which allows easier access to directory-based information from a wider group of people. By allowing users within an organization to modify their own profiles, known as user self-service, companies are able to keep directory information accurate and up-to-date while driving down the costs of maintaining directory information. Additionally, IDS 3.1 continues Critical Path's record of delivering Mega-Scalability and the highest levels of performance, availability and reliability for enterprises, service providers and eBusinesses. IDS 3.1 with WebDM is available immediately through Critical Path and authorized resellers.

A successful, cost-effective and secure eBusiness strategy requires that a company's directories contain the most accurate up-to-date information, and be capable of reflecting changes at a very rapid pace during times of tremendous growth without degradation in performance. The new WebDM feature helps enterprises make changes within their directories, while focusing valuable IT resources on more strategic activities rather than spending time updating white pages and other standard directories.

"User self-service is a critical feature that customers have been asking for as the strategic importance of directories continues to grow in eBusiness," said Karl Klessig, vice president of business development at Critical Path. "It's been estimated that the average business has more than 180 disparate directories running at any one time. WebDM will enable users to update their own profile information, alleviating much of the burden placed on IT departments as they try to keep disparate directories updated with accurate information. With WebDM and our ability to deliver Mega-Scalability, Critical Path's directories are helping businesses drive down the costs of doing eBusiness."

WebDM and IDS 3.1

The WebDM allows users to browse, view and modify the directory data via a web browser, either Internet Explorer 4.0 or greater, or Netscape Communicator 4.6 or greater, using a standard HTTP or HTTPS connection. WebDM features a customizable user interface, enabling businesses to modify the look and feel of WebDM to match existing applications on the company's intranet or extranet. In addition, Web DM is template based, ensuring that customizations are easy to perform. For instance, a business can add buttons to the user interface providing single-click access to mission-critical activities or applications. IDS 3.1 also supports access to directory information through both the LDAP and X.500 standards.

Delivering On The Markets Core Needs

Critical Path's directories simultaneously deliver on four key characteristics that have proven to be the most critical characteristics for directory products:

          Mega-Scalability -- The explosion of eBusiness requires
        companies to provide customers, partners, and vendors with
        access to authorized information, dramatically increasing the
        number of relationships and transactions companies are
        required to handle, thereby drastically increasing the demand
        on a company's infrastructure. Critical Path directories
        deliver Mega-Scalability using industry standard LDAP for
        universal access, X.500 for proven scalability using
        distribution and replication, and a directory-specific object
        database for storing all types of business-critical
        information needed to organize an eBusiness environment.

          Reliability -- Companies need to ensure directory information
        is not lost, corrupted, or jeopardized, which would affect
        mission critical operations such as ensuring positive
        identification through PKI, and to manage proper authorization
        levels. Critical Path works closely with customers and
        partners to ensure that each directory release meets the
        highest standards of dependability and resilience required to
        address the electronic economy's increasing reliance on
        directory services.

          Availability -- When IT systems go down, businesses grind to a
        halt and revenue is lost. Critical Path has engineered and
        evolved its directories to deliver "glass-house" availability
        that helps current customers in the financial services,
        telecommunications and enterprise markets stay in business 24
        hours a day, 365 days a year.

          Performance -- Not only must directories have the capacity to
        scale to hundreds of millions of users, they must be able to
        handle hundreds of millions of users and hundreds of millions
        of transactions simultaneously, regardless of the geographic
        distribution of people and information. Using features like
        chaining and replication, Critical Path directories are
        delivering the highest real-life performance levels currently
        available for enterprises, service providers and eBusinesses.

About Critical Path, Inc.

Critical Path Inc. (Nasdaq:CPTH) ignites the power of information for eBusiness by providing the Internet messaging infrastructure upon which the new economy is built. The company is a single resource that powers the flow of mission-critical information through an integrated portfolio of secure messaging, directory, integration, and collaboration solutions. Critical Path's technology strengthens all aspects of the eBusiness value chain by providing the messaging infrastructure that fuels customer's new and existing eBusiness initiatives. Critical Path is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices worldwide. More information on Critical Path can be found at www.cp.net.

Note to Editors: Critical Path and the Critical Path logo are the trademarks of Critical Path, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their holders.

The statements in this press release relating to matters that are not historical are forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties facing Critical Path are described in its prospectus dated June 1, 1999 and with its periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov).