Data Return Introduces New Suite Of Enhanced Security Offerings.

Business/Technology Editors

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 5, 2001

Data Return Corporation (Nasdaq: DRTN), a leading global provider of managed hosting services, today announced the introduction of several new security offerings developed to secure client applications and ensure faster incident response times. The new suite of products includes Reactive Intrusion Detection Services and Vulnerability Assessment Services.

Reactive Intrusion Detection Services

Data Return offers cutting edge, Reactive Intrusion Detection Services (RIDS). Data Return's custom-developed RIDS product combines intrusion detection with packet blocking technologies to deliver unique protection against attacks. RIDS works in real-time to detect, identify and block intruders before the system can be compromised. Utilizing the RIDS method, Data Return can decode and detect attacks that others miss, including fragmented attacks, NMAP scans and many other malicious attacks without affecting CPU utilization or system throughput. Most common denial-of-service attacks are also blocked utilizing the RIDS methodology.

Vulnerability Assessment Services

The Vulnerability Assessment Service (VAS) is a pre-packaged, all-inclusive offering that addresses the increased customer need for enterprise-level security in an outsourced managed hosting model. The monthly VAS package includes vulnerability scans, an annual penetration test, ongoing remediation and operating system hardening. Data Return's Information Security Team uses state-of-the-art, customized system diagnostic tools to perform scans, search for system weaknesses and exploits, and ensure the overall health of the system through regular remediation services. In essence, Data Return takes on the traditional responsibilities of an internal IT security team that would normally reside at the customer site.

Data Return also provides value-added services for event-based and point-in-time security. During an event-based anti-penetration engagement, Data Return can dedicate a security team, led by one of its senior CISSP-certified engineers, to actively monitor and aggressively respond to any security incident. In addition, Data Return's Data Forensics Team members are trained by the National Security Agency and certified expert data forensics investigators. In the event that a customer needs to go to court to reclaim damages resulting from a third-party security breach, these subject matter experts are available to provide testimony on behalf of the customer. Finally, if needed Data Return can partner with select third-party security firms to perform an external scan to validate the security controls Data Return has put into place.

"Clearly, there is a need for our enterprise-level customers to have access to the latest security technologies available," said Robert Prosen, senior vice president, operations for Data Return. "We have taken security services to a new level with this suite of products--our team of experts has combined the latest technology with Data Return's proprietary software to enable our Information Security Team to provide the most secure managed hosting environment available today."

The new suite of security offerings complement Data Return's ServiceGuard secure firewall solutions introduced in January 2000. ServiceGuard is a family of versatile managed security solutions designed to eliminate the performance and reliability tradeoffs enterprises face when securing high-traffic eCommerce and corporate extranets. ServiceGuard delivers the highest levels of protection for enterprise-level proprietary software, customer data and other content without compromising the performance, availability and scalability of Web-based applications.

About Data Return

Recognized by Microsoft as the Windows 2000 Global Hosting Partner of the Year, Data Return specializes in providing high-availability managed hosting services for companies whose applications are based on Microsoft technologies. These services are utilized by many leading enterprises including Microsoft, Compaq Computer Corporation, RadioShack.com, Texas Instruments, Pier 1 Imports and World Bank. Data Return also provides managed infrastructure services for the rapidly growing market of Application Service Providers (ASPs). Data Return strategic investors and Global Alliance Partners include Microsoft, Compaq Computer Corporation and Level 3 Communications. For more information, visit www.datareturn.com.

This press release contains forward-looking information. Statements made in this press release that state Data Return's or management's intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations or predictions of "future events" are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of risks, including changes in external competitive market factors, changes in or an inability to execute Data Return's business strategy, unanticipated changes in the hosting industry, the economy in general and changes in the use of the Internet. Data Return cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The matters discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties summarized under the heading "Risk Factors" in Data Return's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2000 and are updated from time to time through the filing of reports and registration statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of Data Return as of the date of this release, and Data Return disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise such forward-looking statements to reflect any change in Data Return's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which such statements are based.

Data Return is a trademark of Data Return Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.