WRQ and F-Secure Announce Strategic Partnership; WRQ Solidifies Security Focus, Assumes Distribution of F-Secure SSH

Business Wire, Sept 8, 2004

SEATTLE -- WRQ, Inc. and F-Secure Corporation announced today that the companies have entered into a strategic partnership. Under the partnership, WRQ(R) becomes the exclusive global distributor of F-Secure(R) SSH(TM), the company's industry-leading SSH (Secure Shell) security offering. F-Secure, based in Finland, is listed on the Helsinki Exchange under the symbol FSC1V. WRQ, based in Seattle, is privately held. Terms of the partnership were not disclosed.

On Oct. 1, 2004, as the exclusive global distributor, WRQ will take over the sales of new licenses and maintenance agreements for F-Secure SSH. WRQ will also begin to assume technical support for the product, working closely with F-Secure to ensure a smooth transition for customers. WRQ and F-Secure will work jointly on product development to evolve the product line.

"Through this agreement, F-Secure can focus on our key strength areas to further develop our approach to a broader concept of content security and intrusion prevention. WRQ has the perfect profile to sell the F-Secure SSH products and the ideal structure to provide high-quality technical support to the existing and future F-Secure SSH users. This agreement also guarantees that SSH solutions will continue to evolve and meet customer needs in the future," said Risto Siilasmaa, president and CEO of F-Secure Corporation.

"Security remains the most critical issue that enterprises face today and WRQ has long been focused on providing secure access to host systems," said Doug Walker, CEO and co-founder at WRQ. "Our partnership with F-Secure underscores our focus on this critical issue and positions us well for future revenue growth and technology innovation. Our immediate goal will be to ensure a smooth transition for F-Secure SSH customers and channel partners, providing them with the outstanding support and collaboration we proudly offer all WRQ customers."

Customers in a range of industries rely on SSH security software to protect assets and safeguard operations, including organizations in government, financial services, and health care. SSH is an internet protocol that allows users to connect to remote host systems via an encrypted link, providing a secure communications channel for applications like telnet and file transfer protocol.

Introduced in 1996, F-Secure SSH is the leading secure connectivity solution. The product line is comprised of server software for UNIX and Windows, as well as client software for those platforms. F-Secure SSH keeps passwords and connections secure from outsiders, mitigating security concerns.

The F-Secure product line has received FIPS 140-2 level 2 certification for both its client and server software. F-Secure SSH also supports a wide variety of authentication mechanisms, giving customers flexibility in the levels of security they require.

Reflection(R), WRQ's feature-rich line of host access and PC-X server software, currently offers SSH support in its Windows and web clients. The addition of the F-Secure product line to WRQ's portfolio enables WRQ to offer both ends of the secure SSH channel and more options in client capabilities.

WRQ has a solid record and reputation in the security sector, having established its credentials through ongoing development and successful customer implementations. Many government and health care institutions globally rely on WRQ to ensure confidential and secure connections to host systems. For more information on how WRQ has assisted customers in these markets, visit www.wrq.com.

About F-Secure Corporation

F-Secure Corporation protects individuals and businesses against computer viruses and other threats coming through the Internet or mobile networks. Our award-winning solutions include antivirus, desktop firewall with intrusion prevention and network encryption. Our key strength is the speed of response to new threats. For businesses our solutions feature centralized management. Founded in 1988, F-Secure has been listed on the Helsinki Exchanges since 1999. We have our headquarters in Helsinki, Finland, and offices in USA, France, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Japan. F-Secure is supported by a global ecosystem of value added resellers and distributors in over 50 countries. F-Secure protection is also available through major Internet Service Providers, such as Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom.

About WRQ

WRQ(R) builds software for accessing and integrating legacy applications. WRQ Reflection(R) software provides a broad range of terminal-emulation and PC X-server solutions. WRQ Verastream(R) integration server provides a single platform for reusing legacy logic and data in web applications, CRM applications, or portals. Our products help companies get the most from their hosts today as they advance their long-term IT strategy.

Established in 1981, WRQ is one of the largest privately held software companies in the U.S. It has over six million users worldwide and the highest customer-support rating in the industry. Four out of five of Fortune 500 companies rely on WRQ daily.