NSC Introduces New Software Designed to Make Networks More Secure; Secure Tunnel Bridging Secures Any Type of Multiprotocol Network.

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 1996--Network Systems Corp. (NSC) announced today the release of a new software capability that will allow businesses to communicate more securely and inexpensively over the Internet. The software, called Secure Tunnel Bridging (STB), ensures the privacy and security of any type of multiprotocol data network. NSC, a division of Storage Technology Corp. (NYSE:STK), announced the new capability during Networld+Interop `96 (Booth 2004) in Las Vegas.

This breakthrough technology can be less expensive than leased lines or public carrier services, and works with any protocol, including Windows NT and Windows 95, Novell IPX, DECnet, AppleTalk, NetBIOS, NetBEUI and other bridgable protocols.

NSC's introduction of Secure Tunnel Bridging extends to multiprotocol networks its pioneering technology for securing IP data over public-access networks, including the Internet. NSC's groundbreaking Data Privacy Facility (DPF) capability enables organizations to create secure virtual private networks on IP networks. Secure Tunnel Bridging, an enhancement to DPF, will allow companies to create secure virtual private multiprotocol networks, either within their organization or to link with customers or vendors.

Secure Tunnel Bridging will be offered as a standard feature on NSC's BorderGuard line of network security devices. STB will first be available in the BorderGuard product family, which is set for introduction next month.

"The need for truly secure transmission over multiprotocol networks is every bit as critical as over IP networks, but, to date, almost all security solutions have focused on IP," said Ted Doty, security product manager, NSC. IP and non-IP networks alike need strong safeguards against data tampering or theft.

"Secure Tunnel Bridging allows companies -- regardless of the type of protocol in use -- to create secure, inexpensive Wide Area Networks using public WAN services, or even the Internet," Doty said. "In addition to linking employee workgroups for secure data transmissions, secure virtual private networks also can be established with selected customers or vendors, thus permitting sensitive data to flow between organizations in total confidentiality."

A number of features set NSC's STB capability apart from other multiprotocol network security solutions:

o DPF with STB secures all major LAN protocols, whereas other

solutions may address a limited number of protocols.

o STB provides point-to-multipoint security. Others protect

data from point-to-point only. Limited, point-to-point security

hinders effective network utilization -- and leaves data that

is transmitted to unsecured points at risk. It also typically

costs much more than shared public WAN services.

o STB encrypts data with powerful algorithms, including the

128-bit International Data Encryption Algorithm (IDEA),

recognized as the world's strongest commercial encryption

method; the 56-bit Data Encryption Standard (DES) and 128-bit

Triple DES, proven U.S. standards; and the 64-bit NSC1, a

high-speed proprietary algorithm, suitable for export from the

US or Canada. Encryption techniques employed in competitive

solutions are not as powerful -- and are likely to be easily

deciphered by hackers.

o STB delivers security faster and at lower cost than

competitive products. To secure their data, organizations

need only install the BorderGuard on their existing Ethernet

LAN. The BorderGuard products will encrypt the data intended

for the remote destination before transmitting it to its

destination. STB provides a borderguard for existing networks

-- an overlay to existing router-based networks.

STB is targeted for availability in R3.0 (May) as part of the DPF software suite. Upon release, all NSC security products containing DPF, including BorderGuard and BorderGuard 2000, will ship with STB. For customers with existing DPF security products, software upgrades will be available. Upgrade prices are $150 per BorderGuard and $750 for other security products. List pricing for BorderGuard with DPF and STB begins at $2,200. BorderGuard 2000 with DPF and STB is $11,995 for the Ethernet/Serial models and $17,495 for the Ethernet/FDDI/Serial models.

Minneapolis-based NSC provides comprehensive solutions for successfully implementing high-performance, secure virtual private networks.

For more information, contact NSC at 1-800-9000-NSC ext. 121 or via the Internet at www.network.com. Media: contact Pam Cronin, [phone] or [e-mail], or Erik Huseby, Shandwick USA, [phone] ext. 418 or [e-mail].

CONTACT: Pamela Cronin

Network Systems Corp.

612/424-1508

[e-mail]

or

Erik Huseby

Shandwick USA

612/832-5000 ext. 418

[e-mail]