Sony Life Chooses F5 Networks' FirePass® Product for Enterprise-Wide Secure Remote Access

Business Wire, Sept 27, 2005

SEATTLE -- Dynamic endpoint security checking identifies remote access source, ensuring maximum security for a leading insurance company in Japan

F5 Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:FFIV), the global leader in Application Traffic Management, today announced that Sony Life Insurance Co. Ltd., one of Japan's leading insurance companies, has chosen F5's FirePass(R) Controller. Over 4000 Sony Life employees and 2,700 distribution agents now have simple, reliable and secure access to their business applications. Using F5's SSL VPN product, Sony Life improves work efficiencies by enabling its employees to access internal applications from any location and from any device (laptops, home PCs, kiosks, etc.). Key reasons for Sony Life's choice of FirePass include:

--Sales staff can easily gain network access from any location in a secure manner

--Strong endpoint security capabilities and interoperability with their existing LDAP system

--Easy deployment process, with no need to configure client PCs

--Out of the box integration with Sony's applications and user directory

--Flexible Windows Registry checks to identify the remote system connecting to the FirePass Controller.

Because Sony Life handles highly confidential private information, security is a key concern for the company, particularly in light of Japan's Privacy Policy Act that took effect in April 2005. The decision to deploy the FirePass SSL VPN was part of Sony Life's broad company-wide initiative to improve information security. In addition to making VPN access more secure, this includes such measures as establishing an information security policy and gaining ISMS (Information Security Management System) authentication.

All Sony sales representatives have laptops, enabling them to access AIOS 2000, the company's sales support system, from any location. This system gives them the information they need to prepare proposals, quotations and presentations. Before deploying the FirePass product, Sony Life sales representatives had been using a dial-up remote system to access their internal resources. However, representatives working from a location with a broadband connection could not connect to AIOS 2000, since the dial-up system works only with analog modem or ISDN systems. Sony Life was also concerned over the complexity and hassle of managing accounts on the dial-up system. For example, password changes were managed by an outside agency.

About the FirePass Controller

The FirePass Controller is the industry's first SSL VPN solution that provides complete cross-platform support and broad access to applications, including Web hosts, client-server applications, and legacy hosts. Unlike IPSec VPN products, which require the installation of special client software, the FirePass solution offers a clientless SSL VPN service that provides access through any standard browser interface. It also offers the only open API (application programming interface) and SDK (software developer's kit), enabling third-party application vendors to build seamless, secure remote access into their client applications.

About F5 Networks

F5 enables organizations to successfully deliver business-critical applications and gives them the greatest level of agility to stay ahead of growing business demands. As the pioneer and global leader in Application Traffic Management, F5 continues to lead the industry by driving more intelligence into the network to deliver advanced application agility. F5 products ensure the secure and optimized delivery of applications to any user -- anywhere. Through its flexible and cohesive architecture, F5 delivers unmatched value by dramatically improving the way organizations serve their employees, customers and constituents, while lowering operational costs. Over 9,000 organizations and service providers worldwide trust F5 to keep their businesses running. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington with offices worldwide. For more information go to www.f5.com.

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