IRE Partners With NetScreen to Deliver Remote Access VPN Technology to E-Business Sites, Broadband Service Providers, and ASPs

Business Wire, August 1, 2000

Business/Technology Editors

BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 1, 2000

Information Resource Engineering, Inc. (IRE) (Nasdaq:IREG), a leading provider of Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology and solutions for secure business communications, today announced that NetScreen Technologies Inc., a developer of ASIC-based Internet security appliances and systems, has licensed its VPN client, SafeNet/Soft-PK(TM) 5.0. NetScreen will integrate SafeNet/Soft-PK into its remote access product, NetScreen-Remote, to strengthen its security offering with an industry-leading, IPSec-compliant VPN client. This partnership will enable NetScreen to quickly and cost-effectively provide customers with a secure remote access solution that complements its line of security appliances.

"SafeNet/Soft-PK enables us to quickly bring to market a mature IPSec client with key functionality such as L2TP and Windows 2000 compatibility essential to secure Internet-based communications," commented David Flynn, NetScreen's vice president of marketing. "We can be assured that IRE's proven technology will easily integrate with the complex network environments of our customers."

NetScreen provides ASIC-based Internet security appliances and systems that integrate firewall, VPN technology, and traffic shaping functionality to deliver comprehensive security and enhanced performance for ASPs, Broadband Service Providers, e-businesses sites, and other users of large bandwidth networks. SafeNet/Soft-PK will enable NetScreen-Remote to create secure IPSec-compliant VPN tunnels with any of NetScreen's security appliances, which include the gigabit speed NetScreen-1000, NetScreen-100, NetScreen-10, and NetScreen-5.

"Our partnership with NetScreen further expands IRE's reach into key Internet service markets that rely on strong security," said Phil Saunders, IRE's vice president of marketing and business development. "SafeNet/Soft-PK continues to lead the market as the VPN remote access client of choice, enabling our customers and partners to quickly and easily take advantage of remote access communications, without compromising on security."

About SafeNet/Soft-PK

SafeNet/Soft-PK is an IPSec-certified, interoperable VPN software product for Windows 95, 98, 2000, and NT 4.0 that allows secure client-to-client or client-to-gateway communication over TCP/IP networks, including the Internet. The security services offered by SafeNet/Soft-PK include confidentiality via encryption, packet integrity and authentication via keyed hash, and identity authentication via Digital Signatures and X.509 certificates, exchanged during key negotiation. SafeNet/Soft-PK is one of only two client software products to be awarded IPSec certification from the International Computer Security Association (ICSA). It is approved for deployment by the AIAG ANX(R) initiative and is being private-labeled by major communications and security vendors. Infonetics Research, Inc. recently identified SafeNet/Soft-PK as one of the two leading players in the rapidly growing remote access VPN market. SafeNet/Soft-PK was recently named "Best Security Solution" by Solutions Integrator's SI Impact Awards and "Product of the Year" in the VPN category by Internet Telephony Magazine.

About IRE

IRE (Nasdaq:IREG) delivers cost-effective Virtual Private Network (VPN) solutions that enable organizations to use the Internet and other shared networks for private communications. IRE, the developer of the first commercial VPN in 1989 and the first Internet VPN solution in 1995, specializes in offering integrated, standards-based VPN technology and products as part of its SafeNet(TM) product family. The SafeNet DSP(TM) "Internet Security System on a Chip," with over ten patents pending, is a breakthrough addition, not only to IRE's family of SafeNet products, but for all network and telecommunications equipment manufacturers who have been searching for a way to increase the performance and decrease the cost of implementing and embedding a VPN solution. A publicly held company since 1989, IRE has been providing industry-leading network security solutions around the world for over 15 years. Our global client list includes the leading Fortune 1000 companies, financial institutions, and governments. Our commitment to providing leading-edge technology, quality design and manufacture, and around-the-clock customer support is unsurpassed in the network security industry. For more information, please visit us at www.ire.com.

About NetScreen Technologies

NetScreen Technologies develops ASIC-based Internet security appliances and systems that deliver high performance firewall, VPN and traffic shaping functionality to Internet data centers, e-business sites, broadband service providers and application service providers. This offers customers record-breaking wire-speed performance, scalability, and manageability in one comprehensive security solution. NetScreen is a privately held company with financial backing from Ericsson, Sequoia Capital, Silicon Valley Partners, Spectrum Equity, Technology Associates Management Co., Ltd. and WorldCom. NetScreen is located at 2860 San Tomas Expressway, Santa Clara, CA 95051. More information on the company and its products can be found at http://www.netscreen.com or by calling toll free at 1-800-638-8296.