Essential Security Software Joins Microsoft SecureIT Alliance; Companies to Develop Security Enhancements for 30 Million U.S. Small Businesses

Business Wire, Jan 24, 2006

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Essential Security Software, a provider of email and document security solutions for small business, today announced that it has joined the SecureIT Alliance, a community of security providers working together to deliver additional integrated security solutions for the Microsoft application platform. Through the alliance, Essential Security Software and security partner members will collaborate on solutions to complex security scenarios and enhancements designed to protect the confidentiality and integrity of data for customers utilizing the Microsoft application platform.

The SecureIT Alliance will facilitate ongoing communication between Microsoft and Essential Security Software during the development process of Windows applications, facilitating increased efficiency in product integration. The Alliance provides members with a public web-site and community portal of industry peers for sharing the information and best practices needed to build security solutions. Publicly available resources on the alliance web-site include security-related information, such as business case studies, technical white papers, best practice guidance, videos, presentations, and product information provided by alliance members such as Essential Security Software.

"Microsoft is pleased to have Essential Security Software join the SecureIT Alliance," said Gerry Albert, Senior Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation. "Their participation will further enable well integrated solutions with the Microsoft application platform in the area of email and document security."

"Email and document security technology is vital to the protection of small businesses' intellectual property and confidential information," said Ray Zambroski, CEO, Essential Security Software. "We're delighted to partner with Microsoft and the other alliance members to ensure small businesses have access to the most affordable, powerful, and easy-to-use encryption and rights management tools for protection of their email and files."

Essential Security Software is the developer of Essential Taceo, an email encryption and rights management security solution for small business. Taceo integrates with Microsoft(R) Outlook(R) to provide one-click email content protection and rights management control, enabling small business users and individuals to easily and securely distribute sensitive email messages and documents while protecting the privacy, integrity and authenticity of their intellectual property. Taceo includes strong encryption with 1024bit RSA asymmetric encryption, 192bit 3-DES encryption and digital signatures that can be applied to any file type. Taceo's persistent security and control remains for the life-cycle of the email or document including while in storage, transit, and after it has arrived on the recipient's desktop.

About Essential Security Software

Essential Security Software (ESS), a provider of document and email security solutions, delivers business tools that enable small business owners and individuals to securely distribute sensitive email messages and documents while protecting the privacy, integrity and authenticity of the content. Founded in September 2003 and headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., ESS believes that people have the right to affordable security technology that is powerful, flexible and easy-to-use. ESS provides robust software security solutions that enrich people's lives by leveraging the full power of computing technologies. More information is available at http://www.essentialsecurity.com.

Taceo is a trademark of Essential Security Software. All other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.