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AEP Networks Announces Successful Completion of MSPAlliance Vendor Accreditation Program

AEP joins vendor-neutral program for benchmarking service-enabling technology vendors worldwide

SOMERSET, NJ – March 6, 2008 – AEP Networks, the leader in policy-based networking, today announced that it has received accreditation under the MSPAlliance's (MSPA) Vendor Accreditation Program (VAP). VAP is the first program of its kind, specifically designed by managed service providers (MSPs) as a benchmark for vendors who sell to the MSP community. Vendors who bear the VAP seal have shown they abide by the highest principles of quality in areas such as financial stability, positive channel practices, product research and development, and MSP customer satisfaction.

"The Vendor Accreditation Program is important to MSPs, since companies that receive accreditation have demonstrated their ongoing commitment to the channel,” said Charles Weaver, president of the MSPAlliance. "We are very proud to have AEP Networks certified as a part of this prestigious body of vendors.”

VAP was created using a wide base of criteria considered as critical by MSPs when selecting a vendor. Criteria examined during the accreditation process include:

• Business practices: Focusing on channel development, channel competition safeguards, experience in the managed services industry, etc.
• Product Roadmap: Examining the vendor ' s willingness to invest in their products in order to ensure continued relevance for the MSPs on a continued basis.
• Financial: Examination of financial stability to ensure adequate support of channel initiatives and product development.
• Client References: Vendor must provide at least three MSP specific client references.

“Choosing a vendor is all about relationships. AEP supports us with terrific products and outstanding services,” says Andrew Lingenfelter of NCS DataCom, Inc., an AEP Networks MSP customer. “It's as if we're part of the company.”

“The MSP market is critical to the growth of our company, and the MSPA accreditation confirms the strength of our partner program,” say Pat Donnellan , CEO of AEP Networks. “Outsourced security services represent one of the fastest growing segments of the service provider market. AEP's products with quick, cost-effective set-ups, robust auditing and reporting, and remote manageability provide a compelling opportunity for service providers to generate new revenue streams through remotely managed security solutions and services.”

The MSPAlliance, with more than 4,000 corporate members worldwide, is committed to increasing reliability and dependability in the industry surrounding the value and benefit of using managed service providers to provide a wide range of mission-critical services. In addition, the MSPAlliance collects data on the practice of managed services on behalf of its members, to help them increase the value delivery of IT to the organizations they serve.

About MSPAlliance
The MSPAlliance is a global organization made up of more than 4,000 managed service providers and service enabling technology vendors, who work in a collaborative effort to define, promote and educate the Managed Services Industry and the end-user consumer on the adoption and successful use of technology through Managed Services. The MSPAlliance is committed to increasing reliability and dependability in the industry surrounding the value and benefit of using Managed Service Providers to provide a wide range of mission-critical services. In addition, the MSPAlliance collects data on the practice of managed services on behalf of its members, to help them increase the value delivery of IT to the organizations they serve. For more information about the MSPAlliance please visit www.mspalliance.com.

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.

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