Akonix L7 OPSEC Certified by Check Point Software Technologies

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - July 29, 2002 - Akonix Systems Inc., today announced that Akonix L7 has been OPSEC™ (Open Platform for Security) certified by Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: CHKP), the worldwide leader in securing the Internet.

Akonix L7 is the first network perimeter security gateway to protect corporate networks against the dangers of Rogue Protocols used by public instant messaging (IM) and peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing services. OPSEC Certification ensures that Akonix L7 seamlessly integrates with Check Point's market-leading VPN-1®/FireWall-1 Internet security platform.

Rogue Protocols are so named because they intentionally circumvent network security in order to connect to public networks. IM and P2P, the most notorious rogue protocols, subject corporations to a variety of risks, including virus infections, hacker attacks and disclosure of confidential information. Akonix L7 detects and manages these protocols at the network edge, reducing the threats they pose to network security.

"The Check Point OPSEC certification allows Akonix L7 to tightly integrate with VPN-1/FireWall-1, providing customers with quickly deployable solutions to protect their networks from dangers of Rogue Protocols," said Peter Shaw, CEO of Akonix. "Akonix L7 helps companies continue to embrace emerging technologies such as public instant messaging while at the same time mitigating the risks that these technologies introduce."

"Monitoring and managing instant messaging sessions is becoming an enterprise network security requirement," said Upesh Patel, OPSEC Alliance Manager for Check Point Software Technologies. "The OPSEC Certified Akonix L7 product provides Check Point customers with an integrated VPN-1/FireWall-1 solution that controls instant messaging and other rogue protocols."

Akonix L7 protects corporate networks by intercepting Rogue Protocols, like IM and P2P, and controlling them based on company policies. All activity is archived and reported, supporting management needs for day-to-day oversight, forensic analysis and regulatory compliance. Akonix L7 recognizes Rogue Protocols through the use of protocol adaptor sets, each of which detects and translates a specific class of protocols. The first release of Akonix L7 includes an IM protocol adaptor set to detect and control popular IM protocols such as AOL AIM, MSN Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger. The August 2002 release will include a P2P file sharing adaptor set to protect the network from applications such as Kazaa, Morpheus and Gnutella, subsequent releases will include additional adaptor sets to address emerging threats.

About Akonix
Akonix Systems, Inc. is the first security software company dedicated to protecting corporate networks against Rogue Protocols. Akonix is venture capital funded and is led by a senior management team with a solid track record of startup success and extensive experience in enterprise software development. Akonix investors include Mission Ventures, Windward Ventures and Palomar Ventures, three of Southern California's premier early-stage venture firms. Founded in May 2000, Akonix is headquartered in San Diego, California. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.akonix.com.

About Check Point's OPSEC
OPSEC (Open Platform for Security) is the industry's open, multi-vendor security framework. With over 300 partners, OPSEC guarantees customers the broadest choice of best-of-breed integrated applications and deployment platforms that support Check Point's Secure Virtual Network Architecture. Products that carry the OPSEC Certified seal have been tested to guarantee integration and interoperability. For complete OPSEC Alliance program information, including partner and product listings, the freely available OPSEC SDK (software development kit) and evaluation versions of OPSEC Certified products, visit http://www.opsec.com.

About Check Point Software Technologies
Check Point Software Technologies is the worldwide leader in securing the Internet. It is the confirmed market leader of both the worldwide VPN and firewall markets. The company's Secure Virtual Network (SVN) architecture provides the VPN and security infrastructure that uniquely enables secure and reliable Internet communications. SVN solutions, as delivered in the company's Next Generation product family, secure business communications and resources for corporate networks, remote employees, branch offices and partner extranets. Extending the power of SVN is Check Point's Open Platform for Security (OPSEC), the industry's framework and alliance for integration and interoperability with "best-of-breed" solutions from over 300 leading companies. Check Point solutions are sold, integrated and serviced by a network of 2,000 certified partners in 203 countries. For more information, please call us at (800) 429-4391 or (650) 628-2000 or visit us on the Web at http://www.checkpoint.com or at http://www.opsec.com.

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2002 Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved. Check Point, the Check Point logo, FireWall-1, FireWall-1 SecureServer, FireWall-1 SmallOffice, FloodGate-1, INSPECT, IQ Engine, Meta IP, MultiGate, Open Security Extension, OPSEC, Provider-1, SecureKnowledge, SecureUpdate, SiteManager-1, SVN, UAM, User-to-Address Mapping, UserAuthority, Visual Policy Editor, VPN-1, VPN-1 Accelerator Card, VPN-1 Gateway, VPN-1 SecureClient, VPN-1 SecuRemote, VPN-1 SecureServer, VPN-1 SmallOffice, and ConnectControl are trademarks, service marks, or registered trademarks of Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. or its affiliates. All other product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.