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CRYPTOCard and AEP Networks Announce Alliance

Seamless Integration of Two-Factor Authentication Sets New Standard in Simple and Secure Remote SSL VPN Access

London, England and Ottawa, Ontario, April 24, 2007 – CRYPTOCard (www.cryptocard.com), the leading authentication technology developer for heterogeneous environments, has formed an alliance with AEP Networks, the leading vendor of SSL VPN solutions, to make it simple to combine the benefits of highly-secure two-factor user authentication with the simple and flexible remote access capabilities of a SSL VPN.

By making it simple to seamlessly integrate two distinct purpose-built solutions, CRYPTOCard and AEP Networks provide improved functionality over alternative offerings that utilize less secure methods for implementing a SSL VPN. In leveraging the extensive knowledge of each others technologies the combined CRYPTOCard/AEP Networks offering meets the rigorous demands of highly-secure networks and IT systems. The two companies will jointly develop channels to market and collaborate on key customer projects.

“We have already sold the combined solution to a number of our customers, with very pleasing results,” said Willie McKee, Managing Director of Business and Scientific Services Limited, one of Ireland's leading system integration companies. “Many of our clients are Government and Public Sector based and so demand the highest possible standards and quality,” McKee continued. “We have been working with both AEP Networks and CRYPTOCard for some time now and so for us this is a perfect alliance – which we expect will improve an understanding of the benefits and acceptance of more secure SSL VPN offerings.”

SSL VPNs are increasing in popularity as more and more companies look to remote working and flexible working patterns to improve employee effectiveness. However, although inherently secure, SSL VPNs still suffer from the same access control issues as most IT infrastructures – in that static passwords are the weakest link.

As well as improving access security for remote workers, the joint offering increases user satisfaction and productivity by removing the need to remember, input, or manage password changes and makes it simple for organizations to comply with new security legislation and privacy laws such as SOX and HSPD-12.

“AEP Network's SSL VPN meets the industry's most stringent security standards, such as ICSA TLS and government-level FIPS certification, however offering the very best in network and application access security is only part of the story; there is still one weakness in the security chain – authenticating the user,” said Reggie Best, COO, AEP Networks. “Incorporating two-factor authentication plugs the security gap caused by static passwords for user authentication – allowing for more secure transactions – and is a fully complementary fit with our SSL VPN products,” Best continued. “The use of two-factor authentication takes care of the user threat adding yet another level of security to AEP's flexible working proposition.”

About CRYPTOCard, Inc.
CRYPTOCard is a leader and innovator in the Network Authentication Industry. Its multi-awarded two-factor authentication options include both a server-based or ‘product' solution (CRYPTO-Shield) and a Managed Authentication Service (CRYPTO-MAS). This combination allows organizations of any size/means to adopt a strong authentication policy. CRYPTOCard is unique in the industry in its commitment to ensuring its products/services work with any common network architecture including OS compatibility (Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac OS X), web-server flexibility (IIS, Apache), and database options (Active Directory, LDAP, Open Directory, etc). Add to that the outstanding ‘out-of-the-box' interoperability with many top industry network solutions including Citrix, Checkpoint, and Cisco, and you begin to see how CRYPTOCard has grown since its origin in 1989 to become a thriving enterprise doing business in more than 70 countries.

About AEP Networks
AEP Networks offers a comprehensive Policy Networking solution that provides complete security starting at the endpoints and working throughout a network – from the edge to the core. AEP's integrated portfolio of security products includes network admission control enforcement points, identity-based application security gateways, SSL VPNs, high assurance IPSec-based VPN encryptors, and hardware security modules for key management. Our products address the most demanding security requirements of public-sector organizations and commercial enterprises internationally. The company is headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey, with offices worldwide.

AEP Networks, the AEP Networks logo, and NACpoint are trademarks of AEP Networks, Inc., with registration pending in the United States. Netilla, SmartGate, SmartPass and SmartAdmin are registered trademarks of AEP Networks, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.