ComNet/DC '99 to Feature Pavilion Dedicated to Virtual Private Networks

Business Wire, Dec 15, 1998

WASHINGTON, D.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 15, 1998--

'VPN Proving Ground' will Showcase Benefits to Organizations and

Tools Necessary to Create Private Pathways over the Internet

Reinforcing its reputation as the show for never-before-seen networking and communications technologies, ComNet/DC '99 will feature a new pavilion specifically dedicated to 'virtual private networks,' or VPNs.

ComNet/DC, the premier networking and communications show, takes place Jan. 25 - 28 at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center and Washington, D.C. Renaissance Hotel.

Sponsored by The Tolly Group, an independent testing and strategic consulting organization based in Manasquan, N.J., Bell Atlantic, and ComNet/DC '99, the 'VPN Proving Ground' will showcase technologies defining the future of virtual private networks. VPNs allow organizations to configure private networks over the Internet, while still maintaining privacy and protecting sensitive organizational data.

"There is tremendous interest among organizations large and small in creating virtual private networks over the Internet," said Debra Hart, ComNet show director for IDG Expo Management Co., producers of the show. "We are excited to have The Tolly Group and Bell Atlantic sponsoring the 'VPN Proving Ground,' which will let attendees get a first-hand look at the tools and solutions necessary to create VPNs and determine how they can begin utilizing this technology."

Among the companies participating in the VPN Proving Ground and demonstrating their VPN solutions: Lucent Technologies, of Holmdel, N.J.; V-ONE Corp., of Germantown, Md.; Bay Networks, of Billerica, Mass.; IBM, of Research Triangle Park, N.C.; 3Com, of Santa Clara, Calif.; RedCreek Communications, of Newark, Calif.; TimeStep Corp., an affiliate of Newbridge Networks, of Kanata, Ontario; Compatible Systems Corp., of Boulder, Co.; Indus River Networks, Inc., of Acton, Mass; and Shiva Corp., of Bedford, Mass.

VPN experts from The Tolly Group will offer a presentation three times daily in the Proving Ground Theatre that takes attendees through each of the participating vendors' solutions. The Tolly Group will address the objectives of a particular configuration, the environmental details, and how it verified that each VPN solution is secure.

"VPN technology is the talk of the industry and holds the promise of eventually replacing wide-area backbones now in use by organizations worldwide," said Atul Kapoor, managing director of The Tolly Group. "We chose to create a VPN pavilion at ComNet/DC '99 to take advantage of ComNet's reputation as a showcase for new technologies that promise to remake the networking and communications landscapes."

By controlling access and using encryption technologies, organizations can create what Kapoor calls "a secure tunnel through the Internet." That "secure tunnel," provided by Bell Atlantic, will demonstrate multiple connections between headquarters, mock branch offices, and remote users. By creating VPNs over the Internet, organizations can obtain significant cost savings over proprietary private networks.

The VPN Proving Ground will be located in Hall C of the Washington, D.C. Convention Center.

To register for ComNet Expo, please visit the Web site at www.comnetexpo.com.

About ComNet Conference & Exposition

ComNet, produced by IDG Expo Management Company, is the largest technology conference and exposition dedicated to global networking utilizing wide-area telecommunications, data communications, networking and Internet technologies. Each year more than 800 manufacturers and suppliers of computer networking and communications, hardware, software, services, and solutions participate in ComNet. Founded in 1977, ComNet Washington, D.C. has served the IT market for two decades as the premiere information source for networking professionals. ComNet has captured the imagination of IT buyers, information seekers and network professionals responsible for designing, building, facilitating and managing global networks. ComNet/ Washington, D.C. will be held at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center, January 25-28, 1999 and ComNet/ San Francisco will be held at the Moscone Convention Center, August 17-20, 1999. For more information on ComNet Conferences and Expositions, call 800-545-EXPO or visit our Web site at www.comnetexpo.com

About The Tolly Group

The Tolly Group, an independent testing and strategic consulting organization based in Manasquan, N.J., is recognized worldwide for its expertise in assessing leading-edge technologies. For more information on The Tolly Group's services, visit its Web site at http://www.tolly.com or E-mail info@tolly.com, call 800-933-1699/732-528-3300 or fax 732-528-1888.

About IDG Expo Management Company

Headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts, IDG Expo Management Company is a premium producer and manager of exposition and conference events that shape the IT marketplace. IDG Expo Management Company is an affiliate of the International Data Group (IDG) family of companies. IDG Expo-produced events include the MACWORLD Expos in Boston and San Francisco; ComNet in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco and E3 -the Electronic Entertainment Expo produced for the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA). Each year, more than 2,000 exhibiting companies and more than 250,000 IT professionals attend IDG's U.S. events to buy, sell, learn about and influence the IT purchasing agenda. IDG Expo Management Company was founded in 1979 as Mitch Hall Associates. For more information, please call 781-551-9800 or visit the company's Web site at www.idgexpos.com