Crossbeam C30 Delivers Enterprise-Strength Security, Reliability and Simplicity With First Stackable Solution For Medium and Large Businesses.

Business Editors

CONCORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 2003

Crossbeam Unveils the C30, the High-Performance Security Services Switch For Consolidating, Upgrading and Enhancing Network Security

Crossbeam Systems(R), Inc. today announced a new family of solutions that delivers enterprise-strength security to medium-sized businesses and divisional offices of larger businesses. The Crossbeam C30 provides a complete solution for customers to consolidate, upgrade and enhance their network infrastructure while preserving their security policies. As the industry's first stackable security services switch, the C30 surpasses the competition in terms of performance, reliability and simplicity, by compressing the functions of multiple appliances, load balancers, switches and cables into a single- or dual-device implementation, at half the cost of traditional solutions from companies such as Nokia, NetScreen and Cisco.

The Crossbeam C30 is available worldwide through Crossbeam's global sales and channel partner operations. (Editors: please see separate release issued today, "Crossbeam Unveils Authorized Partner Program.")

The C30 is Crossbeam's newest security services switch, a hardware-software solution that surpasses simplistic security appliances by integrating best-in-class security engines with patent-pending, dual-stage data classification and switching capabilities. Using an ingenious network-processor-based architecture, the C30 is a future-proof solution that delivers high performance, high availability and multiple layers of defense in a compact, expandable form factor. Customers can equip their C30 with individual security engines or in layered "all-in-one" bundles, such as solutions for network access (combining firewall with intrusion detection and prevention), mail (combining firewall, SPAM and content scanning, and anti-virus) and Web content (combining firewall, Port 80 control and anti-virus).

Setting New Standards for Performance and High Availability

The C30 is the first security services switch available with stacking capability, providing customers with scalability, flexibility and reliability through a simple software upgrade. In stacked form, the C30 offers the first solution for dynamic capacity management, leading to increased security while minimizing network downtime. Companies can stack two C30s for industry-leading processing power and traffic overflow capabilities. The C30's built-in load balancing capabilities direct traffic to separate application hosts on each of the security switches, through an extended Ethernet backplane.

For high-availability implementations, the C30 supports the Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP), enabling load balancing and active redundancy between two C30 systems. Should one of the C30s fail, the application traffic is automatically transferred to the second C30 with no noticeable interruption. Additionally, the C30 outclasses its competition with two redundant, hot-swappable, dual-feed power supplies, typically found only in service-provider-class appliances, to ensure high availability for mission-critical security.

Safer, Simpler Networks for Large and Mid-Sized Customers

Crossbeam has already solved the stringent security needs of the major global enterprise with its X40(R) security services switch, which has gained significant share in the high-end enterprise and service provider markets. For major global enterprises, the C30 is designed to complement the X40 by providing security for regional offices, business units and divisional operations. With the X40 standing guard in headquarter data centers, the C30 provides integrated perimeter security for standalone operations, or interior security at junction points between departments, floors, campuses and other intra-network boundaries.

For medium-sized companies, the C30 offers a future-proof solution to upgrade and consolidate security infrastructures by replacing a handful of security appliances with a single device. These companies can easily add multiple new security services, such as IDS or anti-virus, or upgrade their existing services.

"The C30 is going to be an important part of our intra-campus network security, as we expand our partnerships with Los Angeles Center Studios (LACS) supporting Playstation, and the EASports E3 launch at LACS," said Winston Johnson, founder and chairman of WinSonic Holdings, a major service provider to the entertainment, massive multi-player video gaming, video and film industries. WinSonic is already using the Crossbeam X40 to provide carrier-class firewall services for its network. "The C30 will help WinSonic maximize the performance of our multi-player network while keeping it completely secure."

Crossbeam allows C30 users to choose best-in-class security engines to couple with Crossbeam's patent-pending technology. Customers equip their C30 with pre-defined bundles of best-in-class security engines, such as firewall, intrusion detection and prevention, anti-virus and other content security solutions from leading vendors such as Check Point Software Technologies (NASDAQ: CHKP), Enterasys Networks (NYSE: ETS), Internet Security Systems (NASDAQ: ISSX) and Trend Micro (NASDAQ: TMIC).

Additional significant features and benefits from the C30 family include:

-- High-Performance Network Processing Power--Crossbeam's

X-Stream(TM) flow management and acceleration software powers

the C30's network processor, providing performance that

surpasses ASIC appliances without having to sacrifice the

choice of best-in-class security engines. The C30 can scale up

to 2 Gbps of throughput under brutal traffic conditions, while

performing compute-intensive functions such as Network Address

Translation. The C30's performance can easily grow with a

company's security needs, by simply upgrading CPU and memory

and adding acceleration cards.

-- Ease-of-Deployment and Management--Customers can manage the

C30 with the same intuitive Web interface that they use to

manage the X40. The C30 can also be managed through a

command-line interface.

-- Flexible, Future-Proof Technology for Today and Beyond--The

C30 is emerging as the "platform of choice" for companies that

are upgrading from version 4.1 of Check Point's firewall to

version NG, replacing simplistic appliances that cannot be

updated.

"Crossbeam has solved the difficult problem first: we've built bullet-proof security solutions for the Global 1000, and the market has responded. With the C30, we're making that power available for the next tier of customers--mid-market companies that have the same needs for security and uptime as their larger brethren, and similarly-sized operations within large enterprises," said Peter George, president and CEO of Crossbeam Systems. "With the C30, these companies will recognize the benefits that our pilot customers have already seen: a future-proof, easy-to-deploy, easy-to-manage solution that keeps their networks safe and secure."

"The Yankee Group has identified security services switches as a key platform of choice for enterprises over the next 3-5 years. Crossbeam is pushing the security services switch market further into medium-sized businesses with the new C30," said Matthew Kovar, CFA, director, Security Solutions & Services at the Yankee Group. "Crossbeam has created a powerful and flexible solution that will significantly elevate the overall level of security and provide an impressive return-on-investment for its customers."

Pricing and Availability

The Crossbeam C30 is available immediately, with pricing starting at $24,000. The stackability option will be available as a turnkey software upgrade to the C30 later in 2003. For information on local resellers, please visit http://www.crossbeamsystems.com/partners_resellerloc.asp.

About Crossbeam Systems

Crossbeam Systems, Inc., is a leading global developer of total security solutions required for safer, simpler networks. Crossbeam enables companies to consolidate their security infrastructures while preserving their security policies, resulting in significant savings in capital and operational expenses. Crossbeam's patent-pending architecture integrates best-in-class security engines such as firewall, virtual private networks, intrusion detection and content security into high performance, highly available, self-healing security services switches. The company has tailored solutions for global enterprises, carrier networks and medium-sized businesses.

Headquartered in Concord, Mass., Crossbeam was founded in early 2000 and is led by senior executives from Bay Networks, Cisco, Nortel/Wellfleet, Cascade/Ascend and Alcatel. With a presence in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, Crossbeam is backed by top-tier investors including Matrix Partners, North Bridge Venture Partners, Commonwealth Capital Venture Partners, Intel Capital and Charles River Ventures.

More information is available at www.crossbeamsystems.com.

Crossbeam Systems, Crossbeam and X40 are trademarks of Crossbeam Systems, Inc. All other company, product or service names not owned by Crossbeam mentioned in this press release are the property of their respective owners.