Crossbeam Systems Delivers Integrated Security Appliance with Industry's First Flow Sequencing Technology, Dramatically Reducing Costs for Data Centers.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CONCORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 2002

Crossbeam X40S provides layered defense customized for each network, creating massive operational and equipment savings by eliminating tens

of switches, load balancers and servers

Crossbeam Systems(R) Inc. today announced a major breakthrough technology for its flagship Crossbeam X40(TM) S integrated security appliance to deliver optimized security at a dramatically reduced cost over existing appliance and server models. Crossbeam's new Flow Sequencing technology allows network administrators to customize the flow of traffic between integrated security applications to maximize security specifically for their networks. Flow Sequencing leads a series of new technologies that allow Crossbeam's enterprise customers to save hundreds of thousands of dollars in capital and operational expenses by replacing racks of servers, switches and load balancers with a single X40S device.

Crossbeam's New Flow Sequencing: Customized Security for Every Network

Flow Sequencing allows the X40S to dynamically route network traffic through multiple security applications, creating "secure containment zones" among best-of-breed firewall, intrusion detection and Port 80 Web scanning solutions. By optimizing the flow of traffic in the order that best secures each individual network, the X40S provides "bullet-proof" layered security, without the need to add additional servers, layers and switches.

"Crossbeam's approach is unique in the industry. The company continues to push the envelope for high performance security applications," said Joel Conover, principal analyst at Current Analysis. "Flow Sequencing technology enables the Crossbeam X40S platform to support highly complex, performance intensive network security configurations. Crossbeam's approach delivers measurable cost savings when you consider the number of infrastructure components that the X40S platform eliminates."

"This latest version of the Crossbeam X40S is a significant advancement of our flagship open security appliance, providing our customers with vast savings while keeping network security tight. Since best practices in security change so rapidly, the ability to adapt network security infrastructure is incredibly important," said Peter George, Crossbeam's president and CEO. "The market has agreed with our approach, as Crossbeam achieved significant sales growth in the previous quarter, and we look forward to bringing our products to a wider global audience in the coming year."

Crossbeam's Flow Sequencing includes two key features:

Serialization: Crossbeam's Flow Sequencing technology provides a "point-and-click" solution where network managers can easily configure the route that network traffic takes while traversing the multiple security applications--such as firewall, VPN, IDS, anti-virus and URL filtering--within the X40S. Virtually any combination of serialization is possible with this unique and powerful feature, giving the customer ultimate flexibility in constructing its perimeter defense.

Parallelization: For increased processing horsepower, the X40S supports concurrent processing, which enables multiple security applications to process packets simultaneously at high speeds without the need of spanning or packet duplication through taps. Now, for example, the X40S can run best-of-breed IDS both before and after the firewall, without affecting the overall scalability and performance of the system, and without creating any gaps between security components.

Additional New Technologies Enhance Performance, Broaden Application Support

The X40S sports the following new features and benefits that contribute to significant security infrastructure savings:

-- Support for Dynamic Routing for increased redundancy, ease-of-management: The X40S extends its durability through new dynamic routing capabilities including OSPF. By supporting OSPF, the X40S eliminates the need for additional routers between data centers, adding to the appliance's reduction in overall capital and operational expenses. By running multiple OSPF processes, the X40S becomes a high performance, extremely resilient routing firewall. Dynamic routing eases the network support burden of managing static routes and provides resiliency by the nature of the routing protocols.

-- Dual Processor Capability: The X40S can now be powered with up to 10 dual-processor APM cards, allowing it to serve additional end users with increased performance and support for a broader range of applications. Many applications utilize dual processor capabilities, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems and VPN gateways.

-- Upgraded Linux kernel: The X40S now features version 2.4 on its hardened Linux kernel, providing "future proof" support for a broader range of applications, extending the life cycle of the appliance and eliminating the need for costly infrastructure additions when changing or updating security applications.

Industry-Leading "Best-of-Breed" Applications De-Risk Vendor Selection

The Crossbeam roster of security options emphasizes depth (multiple application vendors) and breadth (multiple application types). Crossbeam's growing base of security applications currently features best-of-breed offerings from Trend Micro (anti-virus), Websense (employee Internet management), F-Secure (gateway anti-virus), Check Point Software Technologies (firewall and VPN), Enterasys Networks (IDS) and Snort Open Source IDS. In the coming months, Crossbeam will unveil significant additions to the X40S family of best-of-breed security applications.

About Crossbeam Systems

Crossbeam Systems, Inc., has developed the X40S, a data center-class open security appliance that delivers high availability, high performance and rapid return-on-investment. The X40S utilizes patent-pending load balancing technologies and software, best-of-breed security applications from industry leaders such as Check Point, Enterasys and Trend Micro, and standards-based hardware to deliver a simple, robust and flexible security solution for Fortune 1000 and Global 2000 enterprises and service providers alike. The company was founded in early 2000 and is led by senior executives from Bay Networks, Cisco, Nortel/Wellfleet, Cascade/Ascend and Alcatel. Crossbeam's core team of engineers was instrumental in the design and deployment of the technology that powers the Worldcom/MCI HyperStream frame relay services utilized by millions of users worldwide.

Crossbeam, with a presence in North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific, is backed by top-tier investors including Matrix Partners, North Bridge Venture Partners, Commonwealth Capital Venture Partners, Intel Capital and Charles River Ventures. The company is based in Concord, Mass. More information is available at www.crossbeamsys.com.

Crossbeam Systems is a registered trademark and X40 is a trademark of Crossbeam Systems, Inc. All other names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.