Connected Corporation to Provide Automatic Data Backup and Information Protection for Simply Accounting Customers

Business Wire, June 2, 2004

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. & PLEASANTON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 2, 2004

New Online Service Helps Small Businesses Easily Recover Financial Data

Connected Corporation, the leading provider of automated data protection, archiving and recovery solutions for distributed data, and Best Software, have launched an online backup service for Best Software's award-winning small office/home office accounting software, Simply Accounting(R). The extended service, called Simply Accounting Data Backup, augments the built-in backup functionality of Simply Accounting by providing customers with enterprise-class data protection that secures and stores important financial data offsite, while delivering the simplicity and functionality small businesses require.

Simply Accounting Data Backup allows small businesses to automatically perform regular backups, ensuring that they can recover completely from unforeseen threats to their accounting data such as viruses, hackers, hard-drive crashes, accidental deletions and other user errors. Powered by Connected DataProtector/PC(TM) technology, the solution enables small businesses to achieve on-demand protection and recovery by routinely and transparently capturing data from laptop and desktop PCs and securely storing that data at Connected's remote data center. In addition, users also have the ability to easily retrieve backed up data at anytime from anywhere via a secure Web site.

To prevent information intrusion or interception via the Internet, all data protected by Simply Accounting Data Backup sessions is encrypted using AES 128-bit encryption - the same level of security used by U.S. financial institutions, military institutions and research laboratories. The data is encrypted before it is transferred over the Internet and is also stored encrypted in geographically separate locations to ensure the highest levels of data protection and availability.

"Backup technology is vital to any organization's business continuity plan," said Scott Zandbergen, Director of Product Marketing for Simply Accounting. "We've learned that while small businesses recognize the need for this kind of service, to be accepted it must be very simple - in fact transparent - so business owners can focus on running their business, not on managing the technology. By adding Connected's proven data protection technology, we're able to provide small businesses with the data protection choices they need, delivered with the simplicity that Simply Accounting is known for."

"According to research firm IDC, the use of automated tools that guarantee 100 percent compliance in PC data backup is the best protection against data loss in the event of a disaster," said Tom Mackowski, Director of Product Management for Connected Corporation. "By providing unrivaled, automated PC backup technology for Simply Accounting Data Backup, we are enabling small businesses to achieve cost-effective, best-in-class data protection and recovery."

Pricing and Availability

Small businesses have the option of customizing Simply Accounting Data Backup to fit their data protection and recovery needs. Three levels of service are available:

Basic Backup - This plan enables users to back up Simply Accounting files and all other critical data up to 200MB, and also provides automatic file selection and backup, and file retrieval capabilities. $9.95 (USD) / $14.95 (CAD) per month.

Backup Plus - For companies with larger data storage requirements, this plan provides users the same capabilities as Basic Backup while protecting up to 4GB of data. $14.95 (USD) / $24.95 (CAD) per month.

Full System Backup - This plan provides full system backup for up to 10GB of data for Simply Accounting files, all PC data files, applications and operating system files. With this option, users can also take advantage of automated, date-based, system state roll-back and recovery via the Connected(R) Heal functionality. $19.95 (USD) / $29.95 (CAD) per month.

Simply Accounting customers will have the opportunity to receive a 15 day trial of the above services, which they may cancel at any time during their trial period with no obligation. For more information about Simply Accounting Data Backup services, or to order, visit www.simplyaccounting.com.

About Simply Accounting

Simply Accounting is award-winning small office/home office accounting software available in English, Spanish and French, and sold in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Africa, India, Australia, and Singapore. Simply Accounting Basic supports all of the major accounting needs for a small business, including general ledger, receivables, payables, order entry, inventory & services, invoicing, purchase orders, sales orders, quotes, payroll, project costing, check writing, multi-currency and reporting capabilities. Simply Accounting PRO adds multi-user support, full multi-currency, electronic funds transfer and time & billing functionality. Simply Accounting was awarded "World Class: Best of 2003 - Business Accounting Software" by PC World magazine and "Best of RetailVision: Best Productivity Software" at RetailVision 2003. For more information, visit www.simplyaccounting.com.