IPSec Security Standard Captures Industry Leaders; SKIP Championed As A Dominant IPSec Protocol.

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 5, 1998--Leading vendors today announced that they are actively building on Sun Microsystems Inc's Simple Key Management for Internet Protocols (SKIP) specification for secure virtual private networks (VPNs), making SKIP the most widely implemented IPSec protocol to date. Sun Microsystems, Novell, Internet Dynamics, The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Check Point Software Technologies, ltd., OpenROUTE Networks Inc., Toshiba Corp. and VPNet, have all announced that they are incorporating VPN-enabling SKIP technology into their security products.

"Rapid cost-savings are driving the replacement of expensive leased lines and value-added network services with virtual private network-enabled Internet connections," said Jim Hurley, director of information security at Aberdeen Group. "While experienced information systems (IS) managers know that most VPN solutions are nstead of the promise of better standards-based future releases, the SKIP-partners are delivering working solutions today."

Sun's SKIP protocol, a pioneering technology in the encryption space, has been in the public domain since 1994, and allows corporations or individuals to perform data encryption and/or authentication between two or more hosts across an IP network. SKIP enables secure communications on the Solaris(tm) operating environment as well as the SunOS(tm), Novell Netware, Microsoft Windows 95 and Microsoft Windows NT platforms.

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Sun's Commitment to Standards

In addition to the ongoing efforts around the widely implemented SKIP standard, Sun is committed to supporting all approved IPSec protocols. This enables customers to build secure Service-Driven Networks that reliably deliver high-quality services to users. Customers will soon have the benefit of choosing the key management protocol that will best meet the needs of their businesses.

SKIP has a proven record as a mature protocol that is available today and offers advanced features such as multicast support and certificate discovery protocol.

SKIP Support for Developers and Partners

Sun is looking to SKIP and future IPSec protocols to provide secure communications to its customers well into the new millennium and has committed resources to developer and partner programs. In January, 1998, Sun hosted its largest annual SKIP Developers Conference, which serves as a means to educate, relate and interoperate with SKIP developers around the world. In addition, Sun has implemented the Security Partner Program that features SKIP and IPSec protocols as fundamental elements in achieving the security goals of vendors and customers.

Pricing and Availability

    See individual vendor sites for pricing and availability:

    SKIP Web site                       www.skip.org
    Check Point Technologies            www.checkpoint.com
    Internet Dynamics                   www.interdyn.com
    Novell                              www.novell.com/bordermanager
    OpenRoute                           www.proteon.com/
    Sun Microsystems                    www.sun.com/security/skip.html
    Swiss Federal Institute of
     Technology                         www.tik.ee.ethz.ch/~skip/
    Toshiba Corp                        [e-mail]
    VPNet                               www.vpnet.com

Sun Microsystems, Inc.

    Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, "The Network Is The
Computer(tm)," has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc., (NASDAQ:
"SUNW"), to its position as a leading provider of high-quality
hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide
intranets and expanding the power of the Internet.  With more than $9
billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 150
countries and on the World Wide Web at http://sun.com
    -0-
    Note to Editors:
    Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, The Network Is the Computer,
Solaris and SunScreen are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun
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Security Industry Adopts Sun's SKIP

    "By supporting both SKIP and IPSec in future versions of Novell's
BorderManager, customers can seamlessly integrate with other leading
VPN solutions to provide secure electronic transactions over the
Internet and share information between customer and suppliers,"
    - Simon Kandah, product manager, Novell Border Services Group.

    "Security and mobility are key to the future of Internet/intranet
computing.  Toshiba has succeeded in developing Network CryptoGate, a
unique VPN product with superior mobile functionality, thanks to
Toshiba's software technology and cutting-edge Internet technology
like SKIP."
    - Dr.Takashi Kamitake, senior manager of business
development, Computer and Network Product Division, at Toshiba
Corporation

    "We believe that Sun is delivering the industry's best security
solution.  While other groups and vendors have proposed new
technologies, Sun is deploying secure network services now - when
users need it most.  We believe our strategy for next generation VPNs
maps well with Sun's initiatives.  Going forward, we expect to work
closely with Sun to give users the strongest, most interoperable
security solutions with the best price-performance in the industry."
    - Robert Koch, vice president for product development and management
at OpenROUTE Networks, Inc., Westboro, Mass.

    "Internet Dynamics is actively addressing the security needs of the
NT-based customer by integrating SKIP into Conclave, our
intranet/extranet security.  We recognize the importance of having
our product shipping with the SKIP protocol as it is an essential
component in building a secure VPN."
    - Peter Selda, president of Internet Dynamics

CONTACT: Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Mary Camarata

650/786-8645

[e-mail]

or

GCI Group

Jessica Banfill

415/974-6200

[e-mail]