Trend Micro Announces Strategic Global Alliance with WatchGuard Technologies

Business Wire, Sept 28, 1999

CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 28, 1999--

Companies will jointly market Trend Micro's Internet gateway

antivirus software technology- InterScan VirusWall- to WatchGuard

customers worldwide

Trend Micro, Inc. (NASDAQ:TMIC)(Japan OTC:4704), a leading developer of antivirus software and Internet-based security services, today announced a strategic alliance with WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: WGRD), a leading provider of Internet broadcast security solutions. With this announcement, Trend Micro and WatchGuard Technologies will jointly market Trend Micro's award-winning, Internet gateway antivirus software, InterScan(R) VirusWall(R), to protect WatchGuard's LiveSecurity Broadcast subscribers from email-borne viruses and malicious mobile code.

According to the International Computer Security Association (ICSA.net), more than 50% of computer virus infections in corporate America are caused by infected message attachments. Moreover, the worldwide cost of virus infections during the first half of 1999 is estimated to be $7.6 billion (Computer Economics, Inc., June 1999). As companies increasingly rely on email and the Internet for communication and selling their products, comprehensive Internet gateway protection is more crucial than ever.

WatchGuard plans to add a new channel to its LiveSecurity Broadcast Service in October 1999 that transmits real-time virus alerts and offers subscribers special promotions for virus protection software, InterScan(R) VirusWall(R) from Trend Micro. The LiveSecurity Broadcast Service is one of four components in the WatchGuard LiveSecurity System that helps network administrators keep their security software current by transmitting threat responses, software updates, information alerts, expert editorials, support flashes - and now, real-time virus alerts, directly to a subscriber's desktop.

Trend Micro will become a member of WatchGuard's LiveSecurity Alliance, a technology and marketing partnership. The alliance provides best-of-breed security products to complement WatchGuard's family of firewall, authentication and Virtual Private Networking security solutions.

The LiveSecurity Alliance is an open industry initiative consisting of companies that support the LiveSecurity architecture. A key component of the LiveSecurity architecture is the LiveSecurity Broadcast Service, an innovative service that transmits security alerts and information over the Internet, enabling organizations to keep their security systems current with minimal effort.

"The LiveSecurity Alliance consists of an impressive line-up of Internet security leaders protecting organizations that use the Internet for electronic commerce and communications," said Todd Hooper, vice president of business development at WatchGuard Technologies. "Our alliance with Trend Micro will enable WatchGuard customers to easily purchase Trend software and receive real-time virus alerts through WatchGuard's LiveSecurity Broadcast Service. By combining our strengths, we're making the Internet safer for all of our customers".

"We are delighted that InterScan VirusWall is WatchGuard's antivirus protection of choice," said Bernie Wu, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Trend Micro's Internet Service Group. "WatchGuard's customers can be assured that InterScan VirusWall will integrate smoothly with WatchGuard's security products. Trend's eDoctor Global Network, as well as our continuing leadership in the Internet gateway virus protection category, will enable us to deliver the most complete, up-to-the-minute virus security alerts and updates."

The Trend eDoctor Global Network is comprised of managed service providers who have partnered with Trend Micro to provide their customers with value-added Internet antivirus security services. Services can range from offering customers Internet virus scanning as a value-added service to providing complete eDoctor network antivirus management services.

LiveSecurity subscribers will be provided a direct link to Trend Micro's on-line store for efficient and easy purchasing of all Trend Micro software. WatchGuard and Trend Micro also expect to make other cooperative marketing initiatives available to LiveSecurity subscribers via the LiveSecurity service.

Pricing and Availability

The WatchGuard LiveSecurity System is now shipping and available through a network of resellers in the U.S. and worldwide in all government approved export countries. Suggested list price for the WatchGuard LiveSecurity System is $4,990 with the Firebox II, $9,990 with the Firebox II Plus and $12,990 with the Firebox II Plus with VPN acceleration option. During the promotional period, WatchGuard customers will be offered a 10% discount for 25, 50, 100 and 250 user versions of InterScan VirusWall, with a limit of two purchases per customer.

About InterScan

InterScan VirusWall scans Internet email (SMTP) and HTTP/FTP traffic for viruses and malicious code. Through its optional eManager(TM) plug-in, InterScan VirusWall also filters content and monitors bandwidth usage, while providing central management of multiple servers from a single point. InterScan VirusWall scans both incoming and outgoing file attachments. Viruses and malicious code are stopped at the server, before incoming infected files have a chance to reach the desktop. Likewise, InterScan VirusWall also stops infected email attachments from leaving the network.