Business Services Industry

Independent Research Firm Cites Forum Systems for Strongest Strategy in XML Security Gateway Report; Growing Web Services Adoption is Driving Demand for Secure Web Services

Business Wire, April 28, 2004

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 28, 2004

Forum Systems, Inc., leading provider of trust management and threat protection Web services security solutions, today announced that analyst firm Forrester Research has named Forum Systems as having the strongest strategy in a March 2004 report titled "Forrester Wave(TM): XML Security Gateways" by Randy Heffner with Ted Schadler and Carey E. Schwaber.

"While some gateways are offered in appliance and software-only form factors, Forum adds a third form factor, PCI card, and it packages its XML firewall as a separate product, XWall, from its XML security gateway, Sentry," writes Randy Heffner, vice president for Forrester. "He adds that multiple products and form factors provide flexibility for user deployment and for Forum's adaptation to future market changes. In addition, Forum has competitive functionality across most of our evaluation criteria."

The report is based on a quantitative assessment of XML security, including 15 vendor and user company interviews. The report finds that growing Web services adoption is driving demand for secure Web services and recommends that XML security gateways offer a quick-hit solution -- perfect for high-priority projects operating on a tight schedule. Users can benefit from their integrated package of attack protection, trust enablement and message processing acceleration.

"We applaud Forrester for undertaking one of the first comprehensive studies of the growing Web services security space. This industry analysis is another proof point that Web services adoption is happening and that security has matured to play a critical role in the success of these strategic applications. We are honored to be recognized as a leader by Forrester and are committed to continuing to add value to our customers," said Wes Swenson, president and CEO, Forum Systems.

About Forum Systems

Forum Systems, Inc. is the leader in Web services security with a comprehensive suite of trust management and threat protection solutions for the automated web. Forum Systems flexible hardware, software and embedded products actively protect Web services from the networks edge to the application server. Forum Systems products are winners of Network Computing Magazine's Editor's Choice Award, Network Magazine's Product of the Year 2003 Award, DEMO 2004 Invitation, and are finalist for Network Computing Magazine's 2003 and 2004 Well-Connected Awards. Forum Systems, founded in 2001, is headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT. For more information contact 801-313-4400 or http://www.forumsys.com/.> Product and service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.