Desktop or Online — Employee Game Use is Growing Problem On Corporate Computers, Warns Websense Inc

Business Wire, March 26, 2003

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 26, 2003

Nearly One in Three Workers Have Games Installed on Work PCs,

According to Survey

Battling dragons. Simulated civilizations. Intergalactic wars. It's all in a day's work for many employees and is becoming a growing concern for businesses and organizations.

More than ever before, office workers are evolving beyond Solitaire, turning to games such as Quake, EverQuest and Snood during work hours. In fact, more than half of corporate IT managers report that employees access online game sites at work, according to recent data from Websense Inc. (Nasdaq:WBSN), the worldwide leader of employee Internet management solutions. And nearly one in three employees report having installed games on their work computers. In fact, 55 percent of HR managers expressed concern about workers using game applications at the office.

"The online gaming explosion first hit the workplace because of prevalent broadband Internet access," said Andrew Meyer, vice president of marketing for Websense Inc. "But employees are now bringing in unauthorized games on CDs or downloading free games via peer-to-peer networks, some of which have embedded malicious mobile code. Most workers are unaware of the security problems and unnecessary help desk hours that accompany workplace computer games."

The popularity of online and PC games shows no signs of slowing. Datamonitor predicts that worldwide game software revenues will grow from $17.7 billion in 2001 to $21.6 billion in 2006 -- a 22 percent increase. In addition, the overall games audience is expected to grow 18 percent with 61 percent penetration in 2007, but PC gamers will outnumber console gamers, according to Jupiter Research. Websense data shows that there are nearly 1,400 computer game applications worldwide, and more than 10 million game-related Web pages on the Internet.

To help companies manage workplace game playing beyond employee access to Web sites, Websense launched a first-of-its-kind employee Internet management (EIM) platform that manages employee computing at the gateway, network and desktop levels. The product, Websense Enterprise v5, enables companies to manage employee access to game Web sites, peer-to-peer protocols that are used to download gaming packages and desktop game applications.

"As PC games become more entertaining and interactive, they require increasing quantities of broadband Web access and employee mind share," said Meyer. "Websense Enterprise v5 is the only product that will manage employee access to online games, games downloaded using P2P and games installed via CD. EIM products without functionality at the Internet gateway, network and desktop levels are simply incomplete."

For more information about Websense Enterprise v5, as well as to view a new IDC white paper about emerging challenges beyond the browser, visit http://www.websense.com/products/newreleases/v5/.

About Websense Inc.

Websense Inc. (Nasdaq:WBSN) is the world's leading provider of employee Internet management solutions. Websense Enterprise software enables organizations to manage how employees use their computing resources, including Internet access, desktop applications and network bandwidth. This helps improve productivity and security, conserve network resources, and mitigate legal liability. Websense serves more than 18,100 customers worldwide, including many of the world's largest corporations. For more information, visit www.websense.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which, if they do not materialize or prove correct, could cause Websense's results to differ materially from historical results or those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including statements containing the words "planned," "expects," "believes," "strategy," "opportunity," "anticipates" and similar words. These statements may include, among others, plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements regarding proposed new products, services or developments; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; statements of belief and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. The potential risks and uncertainties which contribute to the uncertain nature of these statements include, among others, customer acceptance of the company's services, products and fee structures; the success of Websense's brand development efforts; the volatile and competitive nature of the Internet industry; changes in domestic and international market conditions and the entry into and development of international markets for the company's products; risks relating to intellectual property ownership; and the other risks and uncertainties described in Websense's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at http://www.sec.gov. Websense assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which it was made.