META Security Group Launches Consulting Services with Investment from META Group; Leading Security Experts Offer Web-based Consulting Services

Business Wire, March 31, 1999

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 1999--META Group Inc. (Nasdaq:METG) today announced it has made a $2.7 million investment in META Security Group, an independent start-up consulting firm headed by some of the world's leading Internet security experts. META Security Group offers security consulting services and hands-on operational support services including threats and vulnerability assessments, policy and standards development, network monitoring services and technical research and development.

"The business and government markets have been demanding valued-based access to highly skilled technology and business risk management professionals. Resource shortages and high consulting costs have limited the availability of the required personnel and solutions," said Jeff Johnson, president and CEO of META Security Group. "We are the first firm dedicated to supplying independent, high-quality, mass-market security planning and operations services. META Security Group leverages methods-based consulting services and Internet delivery to help clients protect their intellectual capital and enable secure business use on the Web."

META Group's investment will be accounted for using the cost method, and certain META Security Group's products and services will be sold by META Group.

"META Security Group's productized security offerings pick up where META Group research leaves off," said Jim Harrison, META Group executive vice president, new business development. "The combined resources of META Group and META Security Group will provide the broad-based independent guidance needed to address increasingly complex, mission-critical security issues common to many of our clients." Mr. Harrison will be the META Group representative on META Security Group's Board.

About META Security Group Executives

META Security Group has recruited some of the top security experts to create a world-class team:

JEFFREY Z. JOHNSON, AISSR

President/CEO

Mr. Johnson is a proven leader with over 10 years experience building and managing security and information technology services and products organizations and business units. Jeff is a pioneer within the network security and information warfare communities. As a co-founder of Internet Security Systems, Trident Data Systems' Information Protection Products Group, and the U.S. Air Force's Information Warfare program, he has excelled at conceiving and building many of today's leading-edge information warfare and security programs and capabilities. He is internationally recognized for his contributions to network and business risk analysis and management, information warfare operations and network monitoring and assessment technologies and operations. He has over 17 years experience in network and business risk analysis, systems, physical, communications, and administrative security.

KEN WILLIAMS, CPP, CISSP, CFE

Vice President, National Operations

Mr. Williams has responsibility for National Strategy and Operations, and is a proven leader with a diverse management and information security and technology background. Prior to joining META Security Group, Ken was highly successful in growing and directing the telephony vertical market at Internet Security Systems for both product and services sales and services delivery. With 23 years experience, Ken held several management positions within the data security, technical auditing, and information technology operations with responsibilities in the European, Latin America, Asia, and Pacific regions and across multiple regions of the United States. Ken was also BellSouth's lead investigator during a number of highly visible intrusions and pioneered many of today's current network forensics investigative processes and methodologies.

ANDRE' L. MINTZ

Vice President, Eastern Region SecurECOM Consulting

Mr. Mintz has responsibility for SecurECOM Consulting, Eastern Region. With more than a decade of experience in the IT arena, he brings strong security centric technical management & design skills to the team. Andre' comes to the META Security Group from DIGEX, Inc. where he was Sr. Director of DIGEX Security Products Operations & Engineering (DSPOE). While with DIGEX, Andre designed and implemented DIGEX's 24x7x365 Security Management & Monitoring Center, (recently awarded No. 1 in Managed Security by Network Computing Magazine RFP November 1998). His experience includes LAN, WAN and e-commerce security solutions for some of the most complex and well-known networks in the world. The Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development, NOVA Technology Services, Innovative Thinking System Solutions, and Southeastern Savings Bank are just a few of the many companies who've benefited from Andre's experience.

About META Group

META Group helps companies make better information technology (IT) decisions by providing research and unlimited analyst consultation relevant to their specific business needs. Offering advisory services, consulting/benchmarking, and publications that span the full spectrum of IT, META Group addresses the latest technologies, industry trends, and business challenges. With more than 1,700 client companies worldwide, META Group differentiates itself from other information providers through its commitment to highly personal service (enabling "analysis in context"), bottom-line answers, and objectivity. To support this promise, META Group maintains a client-to-analyst ratio of 50:1 - the lowest in the industry - and reinvests almost 50 percent of its revenue - the highest in the industry - back into research and client services. For details, connect with www.metagroup.com.