Government Sector Validates Demand for IP SAN Solutions; LeftHand Networks Recognizes FedTek as Federal Reseller of the Year, Commending its Growth in the Government Industry

Business Wire, Sept 20, 2004

BOULDER, Colo. -- LeftHand Networks(R), a leading provider of complete, integrated IP storage area network (SAN) solutions, today announced FedTek as its Federal Reseller of the Year. FedTek, a network solutions provider that services the federal information technology marketplace, has seen significant growth in data storage spending in the government sector and has found IP SAN technology to be an increasingly requested solution.

According to Scott Deen, president of FedTek, there are several factors affecting new approaches to government information technology (IT) storage spending. The primary factors cited by federal, state and local governments are compliance with new government regulations, an increased awareness of disaster recovery and remote replication needs and the ability to upgrade storage capacity without excessive investment. Currently, IP SAN solutions are requested in more than 20% of government bids as the most cost-effective approach to network storage. FedTek's customers that have selected LeftHand Networks include: Fort Rucker Army Base, Randolph Air Force Base, Peterson Air Force Base and NORAD.

"The Fort Rucker unit was concerned with deploying a fibre-based solution when they had no prior experience with a fibre channel storage network," said Deen. "The LeftHand SAN was the perfect solution for the agency's Windows environment and provides Fort Rucker's IT staff with a solution that is quick to deploy and easy to manage. In addition, LeftHand Networks' solution was 25 percent more cost-efficient than the fibre channel alternatives." Fort Rucker deployed 6.4 terabytes of storage.

LeftHand Networks and FedTek have been strategic partners since October 2003. The combination of FedTek's focus on government IT combined with LeftHand Network's award-winning storage software has helped more than a dozen government entities improve their approach to critical storage applications.

"FedTek deserves this award for many reasons," said David Bangs, vice-president of sales, LeftHand Networks. "Not only has FedTek proven to be a great partner to us, but their team has demonstrated a unique knowledge of the daily storage challenges that government end users face. The success of the partnership makes it clear that our cost-effective IP SAN solution will continue to grow in the foreseeable future."

About LeftHand Networks

LeftHand Networks re-defined shared network storage in 2001 with the introduction of the first full-featured IP Storage Area Network (SAN). By building a SAN with LeftHand's SAN/iQ software and the existing Ethernet infrastructure, the LeftHand solution provides all the functionality of a fibre channel SAN while eliminating the learning curve, complexity and expensive components associated with fibre channel. SAN/iQ -- the intelligence behind the SAN -- spreads the power of the LeftHand SAN across all storage modules using a distributed computing model. The advantages for users include simple management and unlimited, dynamic growth, no single point of failure, and performance that scales up as storage capacity grows. The LeftHand SAN is ideal for server and storage consolidation, centralized backup, and disaster recovery projects.

About FedTek

With over 16 years of experience providing total network solutions to the Federal Information Technology marketplace, FedTek understands the changing world of technology and how it applies to the Federal Government. FedTek offers a wide array of information technology (IT) products and services ranging from infrastructure management software and mass storage devices, to computer desktops and notebooks. FedTek specializes in providing enterprise wide storage management solutions such as Netware and NT from such well-known manufacturers as Exabyte, HP/Compaq, IBM, ICS, NetIQ, OverLand Storage, QLogic, LeftHand Networks and Veritas. The company's technical strengths include project management, systems integration, deployment, training and outsourcing.