Check Point Software and Bay Networks form Strategic Alliance

FireWall-1 is First Full-Featured, Commercial Firewall on Router Platform; Bay Networks to OEM FireWall-1 Across Bay Router Product Line

Redwood City, CA —

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. today announced that Bay Networks, Inc. will integrate Check Point's FireWall-1 network security software into the Bay family of router platforms. This announcement marks the first time that the high level of security provided by a full-featured, commercial firewall product, such as FireWall-1, is available on a router platform.

Under the terms of the agreement, Bay Networks will resell and support the new product, BaySecure FireWall-1, as well as the FireWall-1 management console on UNIX and Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 95 platforms, to its worldwide customer base. The products are an integral part of BaySecure, a new enterprise-wide security framework, also announced today by Bay Networks.

As companies deploy client/server technologies and applications throughout their intranets and with their customers and business partners, the importance of implementing enterprise-wide security policies that address security up through the application level increases. Routers, which are widely deployed in enterprise networks, have played a critical role in providing basic "packet filtering" access control. In contrast, FireWall-1 implements Check Point's unique "stateful inspection" architecture, providing a high degree of security up through the application level and maintaining high performance levels. By integrating Check Point's FireWall-1 technology directly into Bay Networks BayRS (Bay Routing Services), the two companies are addressing customers' needs for enterprise-wide security, including secure deployment of client/server and other applications such as web browsers, e-mail, database access, enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and groupware.

"Many enterprises have deployed tens or hundreds of routers at strategic locations within their corporate enterprise network," said Shlomo Kramer, vice president of business and product development at Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. "This relationship allows Bay's customers to leverage their router platforms to implement Check Point' s comprehensive, enterprise-wide network security solution in a seamless, low-cost, and highly-integrated manner."

"With widespread use of the Internet and intranets, our customers need firewall protection for their vital business information," said Brian Schanning, Bay Networks senior product manager for security services. "Through integration of Check Point's FireWall-1 technology with our Routing Services software, customers can license the new security features through a simple upgrade to their Bay Networks routers."

Customer Reaction to BaySecure FireWall-1
Customer reaction to BaySecure FireWall-1 has been positive. One of these customers is Concentric Network Corporation, a leading North American provider of online network access services. Concentric, based in Cupertino, Calif., manages virtual private networks (VPNs) and Internet access for household-name companies such as Intuit, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Ameritech and Sega of America. "FireWall-1 is an integral part of the next-generation Concentric Network, which we will deploy in the second half of the year," said Henry R. Nothhaft, Concentric's president and CEO. "The network we are building using BaySecure FireWall-1 will make it possible to provide our customers the highest level of security."

BaySecure FireWall-1
Check Point and Bay Networks will work together to embed the FireWall-1 inspection engine across the Bay Networks router product line, making the integrated firewall/router solution scale easily across the entire enterprise. BaySecure FireWall-1 is scheduled for general availability in the fourth quarter of 1996.

BaySecure FireWall-1 is fully interoperable with FireWall-1 installations on SunSoft SunOS and Solaris, Hewlett-Packard HP-UX and will be interoperable with FireWall-1 installations on Microsoft Windows NT when released. Network managers will be able to manage BaySecure FireWall-1 installations alongside other FireWall-1 installations from the FireWall-1 management console on any supported platform, including SunOS, Sun Solaris, HP-UX, and when released, Windows NT and Windows 95. With a single, integrated, enterprise-wide security policy, administrators will be able manage all FireWall-1 installations network-wide from a centralized management station on their desktop.

About FireWall-1
As the first shrinkwrapped firewall package, and the first to employ an easy-to-use graphical user interface, FireWall-1 is consistently recognized by trade publications and users for its usability, flexibility, extensibility and high performance.

Based on Check Point's unique, patent-pending "stateful inspection" architecture, the product is flexible, easy-to-install, configure, and maintain. More than 120 applications, services and protocols are supported out-of-the-box, and administrators can easily customize the firewall to incorporate new and in-house applications. FireWall-1 allows the enterprise's customized security policy to be created, monitored, and maintained from a single workstation, and enables network managers to configure and manage multiple firewalls throughout the enterprise from one, centralized management station.

About Check Point Software
Check Point Software Technologies develops, markets and supports network security software products that enable connectivity with security and manageability, and was the leading vendor of network security software in 1995 with 40% share of the firewall market (according to IDC). Check Point's products are sold through OEMs including SunSoft, Inc., distributors and resellers including UB Networks and Vanstar Corporation, and Internet service providers and other partners worldwide, including Pacific Bell Network Integration and Hewlett-Packard Company. The company has U.S. headquarters in Redwood City, California and international headquarters in Ramat-Gan, Israel. For product information, please call (800) 429-4391, e-mail info@checkpoint.com or visit Check Point at http://www.checkpoint.com.

About Bay Networks, Inc.
Bay Networks, Inc. is a worldwide leader in the internetworking market, providing a full line of products that serve enterprises, small offices and mobile workers. The company offers market-leading LAN and ATM switches, hubs, routers, remote and Internet access solutions, and network management applications, all unified by the BaySIS architecture. With revenue of $1.9 billion over the past four fiscal quarters, Bay Networks markets and supports its products from 136 offices around the world, providing 7x24 support coverage. Bay Networks' World Wide Web address is: http://www.baynetworks.com.

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