R. E. Mason Company Selects Blue Coat for WAN Optimization Combined with Web Security and Control

Business Wire, April 29, 2008

ProxySG Appliances Speed File Access While Enabling Branch Office Web Security for Direct Internet Access

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Blue Coat Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:BCSI), the leader in WAN Application Delivery and Secure Web Gateway, today announced that the R.E. Mason Company, a provider of leading process automation and asset management solutions, has deployed Blue Coat([R]) ProxySG([R]) appliances for a combination of WAN optimization and Web security. The same ProxySG appliance that speeds file access in the branch office also enables that office to access the Internet directly by also providing integrated Web security and policy control.

"The Blue Coat appliances perform double duty for us by combining WAN optimization with Web security," said Walter Weber, IT director, the R. E. Mason Company. "We can put a single appliance in the branch office to secure, control and accelerate direct Internet access, as well as secure, control and accelerate business applications across the WAN."

Fast Remote File Access and Increased Remote Terminal Sessions

Blue Coat ProxySG appliances have increased the speed of remote file access 200-300 percent, even over a relatively short distance of 150 miles. A Microsoft Word or Excel file that may have required 90 seconds to access in the branch office can now be accessed in approximately 3 seconds. In addition, the R. E. Mason Company can boost the number and improve the quality of simultaneous remote terminal sessions. Before adding the Blue Coat appliances, the company could only run two or three remote terminal sessions at one time. Even then, another application, such as file access, could completely disrupt the session. Now, with ProxySG appliances, the company can run up to 14 simultaneous remote terminal sessions without disruption.

Decreased Bandwidth Consumption for Cost Savings or Future Growth

Through a combination of caching objects locally and managing or controlling content, the R. E. Mason Company has reduced the amount of bandwidth it consumes across the WAN and at its Internet gateways by up to 35 percent. The company uses ProxySG appliances to block streaming audio and video and peer-to-peer traffic and to place limitations or controls on other content. The savings in bandwidth consumption gives it room for future growth and the ability to deploy its own internal audio and video services in the future.

Direct-to-the-Net Branch Office Internet Access

Because a ProxySG appliance in a branch office can apply the same level of Web security and control as exists at the corporate headquarters, using the same set of policies, the R. E. Mason Company can achieve "direct-to-the-net" Internet access, rather than having to backhaul Internet traffic to the corporate headquarters. The ProxySG appliance that protects and controls Internet access in the branch is the same one that conducts WAN optimization. Having a single appliance saves capital and operational costs, eases management and utilizes a common set of policies.

Installation at the R. E. Mason Company was straightforward, and the solution was operational in a short time. Dataline, Inc. in North Carolina helped in the overall process.

"Acceleration and security need to be fully integrated functions of the same infrastructure," said Kevin Biggs, senior vice president, Worldwide Sales, Blue Coat Systems. "As the success of the deployment with the R. E. Mason Company indicates, it is critical that acceleration, security and control be driven by integrated policy and the same understanding of users and applications. In some cases you need to stop the bad; in others you want to accelerate the good--the process of knowing how to do this stems from integrated policy and user and application awareness."

About Blue Coat Systems

Blue Coat secures Web communications and accelerates business applications across the distributed enterprise. Blue Coat's family of appliances and client-based solutions - deployed in branch offices, Internet gateways, end points, and data centers - provide intelligent points of policy-based control enabling IT organizations to optimize security and accelerate performance between users and applications. Blue Coat has installed more than 40,000 appliances worldwide. Blue Coat is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, and can be reached at (408) 220-2200 or www.bluecoat.com.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Blue Coat Systems' expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future, and including statements regarding the capabilities and expected performance of Blue Coat Systems' products. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based upon information available to Blue Coat Systems as of the date hereof, and Blue Coat Systems assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These and other risks relating to Blue Coat Systems' business are set forth in Blue Coat Systems' Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2007, and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.