Enterprise Administrator Surpasses Two Million Windows NT Seats Under Administration.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 1998--

One Third of Fortune 500 Rely on Mission Critical Software to Accelerate Deployment of Windows NT 4.0 and Migrate to NT 5.0

Mission Critical Software, Inc. (MCS) -- a leading provider of Windows NT administration solutions -- today announced that Enterprise Administrator has reached a new milestone with 2 million Windows NT user accounts under administration at more than 360 of the world's largest organizations. Enterprise Administrator's (EA) market momentum is being fueled by its ability to help companies move from Novell, Banyan, and other legacy operating systems to Windows NT 4.0 Server, and to prepare for and automate the migration to Windows NT Server 5.0. MCS 's client list is a who's who of the Fortune Global 500 including, British Petroleum, Dow Chemical, Anheuser-Busch, Digital Equipment Corp. and Microsoft.

"Enterprise Administrator is the most complete Windows NT management system we have found for security and user administration," said Jason Bruner, Manager, Network Systems Administration, Western Wireless (parent of VoiceStream). "We have evaluated native Windows NT administration tools as well as Novell's NDS for NT offering, but none offered the policy-based model, advanced auditing, automation, delegation, policy enforcement, and reporting capabilities provided by Enterprise Administrator."

EA provides the tools and technologies companies need to plan and prepare for Windows NT Server 5.0 today. Using EA's comprehensive reporting and auditing module, organizations can assess their current Windows NT network to effectively plan and design the Active Directory. Because EA uses the industry's only rules-based administration model, companies are not limited to a hierarchical description of their network and can create interrelationships across organizational units within the Active Directory. EA's Domain Consolidation Tool, Exchange Synchronization Tool and Command Line Interface provide advanced automation for quickly and easily migrating the largest Windows NT networks to Windows NT Server 5.0.

"Customers are telling Microsoft that they need advanced management features, such as the ability to delegate administrative authority, in their Windows NT Server 4.0 environments," said Mike Nash, Director of Windows NT Server and Infrastructure Marketing, Microsoft Corp. "Microsoft is pleased that some of the world's leading companies, including Western Wireless, are using Mission Critical's products to meet their needs and prepare for Windows NT 5.0."

EA is the leading choice for directory administration of Windows NT-based enterprise networks and is deployed by one third of the Fortune 500 companies. EA's rules-based delegation model, which allows users to manage Windows NT-based networks the same way they think and work, enhances network security, lowers total cost of ownership and allows administrators to focus on strategic network issues. For seamless and centralized administration of Windows NT networks deployed in cross-platform enterprise environments, Enterprise Administrator will soon be integrated with the Tivoli Enterprise Console (NYSE:IBM).

"The rapid acceptance of EA among the world's largest and most recognized organizations is a clear indication that it provides the most advanced solution for deploying, managing and securing Windows NT networks on an enterprise scale," said Michael Bennett, president and CEO, Mission Critical Software. "Our close working relationship with Microsoft, and industry leaders such as Tivoli Systems, ensures customers that they can rely on MCS to deliver integrated solutions for managing existing and future versions of the Windows NT directory -- in the largest enterprise environments." About Enterprise Administrator

EA provides an advanced administration environment for large-scale, distributed Windows NT networks. The EA environment uniquely unifies the administration of directory and non-directory objects. The EA server is a rules-based proxy administrator that enables granular delegation of administrative authority over user accounts, groups, and distributed resources. The EA rules-based system reduces administrative workload, saves valuable administrator time, and allows enterprises to integrate policy enforcement and automation with administrative actions. EA improves network security, automates repetitive tasks, produces detailed reports, and creates clear audit trails. Company Background

Mission Critical Software, Inc. -- a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider, ADSI Partner, Microsoft Security Partner, and a member of the Tivoli Partner Association -- is the leading provider of enterprise systems management solutions for the Windows NT market. The company develops and markets products that provide simpler, faster, less costly, more secure administration and operation of enterprise networks. MCS is based in Houston and operates seven regional offices in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The company's products are available directly and through a worldwide network of distributors. MCS is privately held, and supported by venture funding from New Enterprise Associates, International Capital Partners, Inc., Austin Ventures, and JMI Equity Fund. To contact MCS call 888-323-6768 or 713-548-1700, write to [e-mail], or visit us on the web at http://www.missioncritical.com.