Liquid Machines Announces Microsoft Gold Partner Certification

Market Wire, June, 2008

Liquid Machines®, Inc., the leader in Enterprise Rights Management (ERM) solutions, today announced it has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program with competencies in ISV/Software Solutions and Security Solutions, recognizing Liquid Machines' expertise and impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified Partner, Liquid Machines has demonstrated the highest level of competence and expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven ability to meet customers' needs. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners enjoy the closest working relationship with Microsoft and receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the channel.

Liquid Machines' solutions persistently control access to and usage of electronic files regardless of where they exist without changing the way users work. Customers use Liquid Machines to secure and control their most critical information, including intellectual property, executive and board communications, customer data, and human resources information, while enabling secure collaboration and strict adherence to regulatory compliance. The Liquid Machines Enterprise Rights Management solution is built using the following Microsoft platform technologies: Windows Vista and Server; C#, .NET, and Visual Studio; SQL Server; and Active Directory and Rights Management Services.

"Attaining Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program is the latest example of Liquid Machines' commitment to delivering persistent information protection on the leading technology platforms used by our customers worldwide," said Ed Gaudet, senior vice president of corporate development and marketing at Liquid Machines. "Achieving Microsoft competencies in Security Solutions and ISV/Software Solutions demonstrates our deep technical expertise on the latest Microsoft platform technologies and ability to deliver solutions to global customers."

"Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities," said Allison Watson, vice president of the Worldwide Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp. "They need to trust in a company that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies. Today, Microsoft recognizes Liquid Machines as a new Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise providing customer satisfaction using Microsoft products and technology."

As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Partner status, Liquid Machines had to declare a Microsoft Competency. Microsoft Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner's capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for a particular type of solution. Each competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry.

Competency: ISV/Software Solutions

The ISV/Software Solutions Competency recognizes the skill and focus partners bring to a particular solution set. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners that have obtained this competency have a successful record of developing and marketing packed software based on Microsoft technologies.

"Solutions competencies are an important way for Microsoft to better enable ISVs to meet customer needs," said Sanjay Parthasarathy, corporate vice president of the Developer & Platform Evangelism Group at Microsoft. "They allow ISVs to keep and win customers through their deep knowledge of solutions-based Microsoft platform technologies. Microsoft has a long history of working closely with ISV partners to help them deliver compelling solutions and applications to our mutual customers, and the Microsoft Competencies are an important step in continuing to enhance vital relationships with ISVs worldwide."

Competency: Security Solutions

The Security Solutions Competency is designed to recognize the unique skills and requirements of partners specializing in delivering security-based solutions. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners enrolled in this competency have proved their skill in advanced security solutions to help protect customer information assets by building solutions such as security management and operations, security-enhanced wireless VPN and perimeter, and identity and access management solutions. Specializations within the competency include Infrastructure Security and Security Management.

"Security is a priority for Microsoft, and we rely on our partners to help us deliver security-based solutions to our customers," said Thomas Dawkins, group product manager responsible for security partner strategy at Microsoft Corp. "As customers continue to automate business processes, solutions competencies such as this one enable our partners to better identify and showcase their security solutions skills to respond to increasing customer demands to better secure their infrastructure."