Crossbeam Systems Partners with F-Secure To Provide Integrated Security That Strengthens Firewalls, Stops Viruses At the Gateway.

Business/Technology Editors

CONCORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 2002

Crossbeam's X40S open security appliance now couples

best-of-breed gateway anti-virus and firewall

applications to strengthen perimeter security

Crossbeam Systems(R) Inc., a developer of high performance, data center-class appliances for non-stop security, today added powerful anti-virus software from F-Secure(R) as an option for its X40(TM)S open security appliance. Customers can now equip their single X40S, Crossbeam's flagship open security appliance, to serve as a single source for network perimeter security. When running F-Secure's Anti-Virus(TM) for Firewalls alongside Check Point(TM) Software Technologies' market-leading firewall software, the X40S provides a powerful, easy-to-manage solution to stop viruses and unauthorized traffic at the gateway without disrupting authorized network traffic.

Crossbeam's partnership with F-Secure, an international company with a presence in more than 90 countries, is the latest in a series of agreements with leading security application vendors, fulfilling Crossbeam's vision of providing customers with industry-leading breadth and depth of choices to power their network security. The partnership also strengthens existing agreeents both companies have with Check Point. F-Secure's Anti-Virus for Linux is OPSEC(TM) compliant, and Crossbeam's X40S recently was awarded OPSEC certification.

No matter how malicious traffic seeks to enter the network--via email (SMTP), file transfer (FTP) and Web browser (HTTP)--the X40S now provides an integrated, layered security solution for stopping it inbound and outbound at the gateway. F-Secure integrates seamlessly with Check Point's FW-1(TM) firewall software, creating a comprehensive solution for stopping unauthorized traffic and malicious code from entering the network. The X40S takes the best-of-breed capabilities of these applications significantly further: patent-pending load balancing and self-healing technologies combine for data-center class "five nines" uptime, providing a single-box, bullet-proof source of no-fail security at the gateway.

"Crossbeam's partnership with F-Secure comes from listening to our customer's desires to use best-of-breed solutions to more securely fortify their networks at the perimeter without creating new layers of complexity," said Peter George, president and CEO of Crossbeam Systems. "Our customers can now implement a single-box security solution that helps them to more effectively leverage their firewalls to secure their corporate networks right at the gateway."

"In addition to protection on the desktop, there is a need for anti-virus security at the gateway level to protect malicious code before it even enters the network" said Fred Fondriest, director of business development at F-Secure. "F-Secure's gateway protection is an essential strategy for enterprise level security, and is delivered by Crossbeam's cutting-edge appliance solutions. This partnership is a win-win for our companies and our customers and we are please to be joining forces with Crossbeam."

As an open appliance, the X40S replaces a host of servers, switching devices and load balancers to provide enterprises and service providers with a comprehensive solution for a safer, simpler network. For Fortune 1000 and Global 2000 companies, it serves as the cornerstone of a network's "no fail" security system by concurrently running proven best-of-breed security applications.

The X40S features up to ten application processing modules (APMs), each equipped with single or dual PentiumR Ghz+ processors with up to 4GB of RAM. Each APM is capable of running a single application or being pooled into "virtual application processors" (VAPs) for added power. Should an APM fail, the X40S will, within seconds, dynamically allocate the application and traffic to a redundant blade. If all ten APMs are in use, the X40S will pull one from a VAP pool to replace the failed blade, while a new APM can be hot-swapped, ensuring the correct level of processing power for any set of applications. No matter how the applications are deployed, the X40S provides a controlled, predictable environment that delivers 99.999 percent availability in a single, open appliance.

About F-Secure

F-Secure Corporation is the leading provider of centrally managed security solutions for the mobile enterprise. The company's award-winning products include antivirus, file encryption and network security solutions for all major platforms from desktops to servers and from laptops to handhelds. Founded in 1988, F-Secure has been listed on the Helsinki Exchanges since November 1999. The company is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, with the North American headquarters in San Jose, California, as well as offices in Germany, Sweden, Japan and the United Kingdom and regional offices in the USA. F-Secure is supported by a network of value added resellers and distributors in over 90 countries around the globe. Through licensing and distribution agreements, the company's security applications are available for the products of the leading handheld equipment manufacturers, such as Nokia and Compaq.

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 Networks 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.