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Zeus and AEP Networks partner to offer scalable and secure remote application access

CAMBRIDGE, UK, and SOMERSET, NJ – 24 July 2006 - Zeus Technology, the leading provider of extensible application traffic management software, and AEP Networks today announced they have entered into a technology licensing, co-development and marketing partnership which will integrate Zeus Extensible Traffic Manager (ZXTM) into the AEP Netilla Security Platform (NSP) architecture. Specialists in network and application access security, AEP Networks will introduce products combining their NSP solutions with the ZXTM software, providing a highly reliable and secure platform that enables high-performance, scalable remote access to centralized business applications from any location.

Integrating ZXTM into NSP Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Virtual Private Network (VPN) appliances and application-layer security gateways provides enterprise customers with increased scalability to extend remote access to in excess of 10,000 concurrent users. The leading traffic management solution also provides market leading system reliability and fault tolerance for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

The Zeus platform was selected by AEP Networks for its ability to combine traffic management, advanced security and application acceleration in a single, scalable software-based solution. ZXTM is the only pure software traffic management solution providing customers and partners with the ultimate flexibility in choosing a product that suits their technology and business needs, whatever the deployment environment. ZXTM’s business rule language, TrafficScript™, allows enterprises to apply business intelligence to application traffic as well as analyzing, manipulating and taking decisions on any aspect of incoming client request and outgoing server responses to optimize performance.

“Delivering access to mission-critical business data is one of the top priorities for businesses of all sizes today, however they must make sure that the supporting IT infrastructure is both secure and reliable,” said Reginald P. Best, EVP/GM Secure Application Access Business, AEP Networks. “Partnering with Zeus Technology provides us with a traffic management solution that delivers improved scalability, fault tolerance and reliability to our customers. Integrating ZXTM into the NSP architecture provides a solution ensuring businesses can securely put core information in the hands of their employees wherever and whenever they need it.”

Products based on Zeus’ technology will be available through AEP Networks’ global channel network from Q4 2006.

“Global organizations are increasingly demanding application traffic management to address a range of business pains, including improving website performance and securely extending IT access beyond the enterprise walls,” said Paul Di Leo, CEO, Zeus Technology. “We are delighted to be partnering with leading-edge specialists such as AEP Networks to build powerful enterprise- and SMB-ready solutions that help bring more reliability into corporate IT systems. Combining ZXTM and the NSP will enable both large enterprises and SMBs to operate with even greater efficiency and have the infrastructure to support flexible working either from home or wirelessly.”

With NSP, SSL VPN users can quickly and securely reach varied resources and applications found in office IT environments, including Microsoft Outlook, Windows Terminal Servers and server-based applications, as well as client/server applications over an SSL Tunnel. The FIPS-approved, ICSA Labs and VPNC-certified, SC Magazine Global Award-winning NSP is designed to allow enterprise and SMB organizations to gain business efficiencies.

ZXTM’s unique capabilities provides organizations with centralized control and resilience for applications, ensuring swift and seamless interaction between today's web-enabled applications and evolving XML-based Web Services. More adaptable and easier to use than anything currently available on the market, ZXTM enables both the network and applications to become more fluent and closely integrated. In 2005, ZXTM gained significant industry recognition, winning six awards both in the UK and the US from IT Week, Techworld and Broadband Testing, and has already received top commendations from InfoWorld Media Group, PC Pro and been selected as a finalist in the CNET technology awards in 2006.

Web enablement is the emerging standard for access to applications in Banking and Finance, Telecommunications, Retail, Media, Travel and Transport, Pharmaceutical, Manufacturing, Government – in fact any organization that provides an application or service to its public or enterprise-wide audience. The Zeus products are used by customers across a wide range of verticals to:

• Improve the performance of their services
• Ensure service availability during routine maintenance or unforeseen disasters
• Improve the security environment
• Make complex services easier to manage, integrate and migrate

Zeus partners include HP, IBM, Sun Microsystems, Dell, Intel, AMD, VMware and Lenovo. Zeus customers include BBC, HSBC, BT, Virgin Holidays, France Telecom, Cable & Wireless, STA Travel, eBAY, Wells Fargo, Federal Government and PLAY.COM.

About AEP Networks
AEP Networks (www.aepnetworks.com) 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 access control enforcement points, identity-based application security gateways, SSL VPNs, 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 worldwide. The company is headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey, with offices worldwide.

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