Banyan expands school ties at Northeastern University

Business Wire, Nov 3, 1994

WESTBORO, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 3, 1994--Banyan Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:BNYN) and Northeastern University announced today a new partnership to expand the reach of the university's information systems to every member of the faculty, staff, administration and student body -- a total of 25,000 users.

An important component on Northeastern's enterprise-wide computing environment, the plan will enable users to communicate across campus or around the world through a set of applications integrated with messaging, management, security and directory services. The partnership also includes a scholarship program for Northeastern students.

"Northeastern, like the private sector, requires comprehensive technology solutions that allow users to access information anywhere at anytime. Banyan's products create a flexible and stable computer environment that reduces the high administrative costs of managing large networks," said Vice President of Information Services, George Harris.

Northeastern's approach to information technology is designed to create a fully connected educational community where faculty, staff and students can take full advantage of the university's internal and external information resources. "Our enterprise network is a basic building block in our plans to reengineer the administrative and educational services of our institution," continues Harris. "It's a major component of our strategy for creating a 21st century approach to higher education." Northeastern will deploy Banyan VINES, the company's network operating system as well as Banyan's Intelligent Messaging products.

The relationship between Banyan and Northeastern began in 1991. Since then, the university has expanded its ratio of PCs to users by 75 percent. Banyan has entered into a similar relationship with the University of Michigan, establishing scholarships and training programs to provide Banyan technology and resources for tomorrow's information technology managers. The Northeastern partnership will also be supported by another local company, New England Systems, a Waltham-based systems vendor.

"The enterprise is a term applied to those computing environments that span across campuses like Northeastern or multi-national organizations with offices throughout the globe, but still look and act like one single network," said Banyan's vice president and chief financial officer, Jeff Gliden. "A Banyan enterprise network is a perfect introduction for Northeastern students to engage the global computing technology they'll be using tomorrow."

Banyan Systems Inc. also delivers ENS, Enterprise Network Services, across multiple platforms, enabling customers to integrate heterogeneous environments into a single, enterprise-wide network. Banyan's ENS strategy enables customers to leverage their hardware investments and provides them with choice for future growth.

-0- About Banyan Systems Inc.

Banyan Systems (NASDAQ:BNYN) is a pioneer and leader in enterprise-wide networking and messaging software products. These products enable customers to integrate multiple heterogeneous computer platforms into a unified global network that is easy and economical to use and manage. Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Westboro, Mass., the company markets products worldwide through authorized network integrators, resellers and international distributors.

About Northeastern University

Boston-based Northeastern University grants degrees through eight college and 10 graduate and professional schools. Under the university's cooperative education program, students alternate terms of course of study. Representing a wide variety of cultural and ethnic groups, nearly 11,000 undergraduates come from throughout the United States and more than 100 other countries to experience Northeastern's dynamic learning environment.

CONTACT: Banyan Systems

              Patrick Wright, 508/898-1000
              or
              Northeastern University
              Janet Ilookailo, 617/373-5426