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The
Cobion acquisition enables ISS to deliver best-of-breed
content security either as a stand-alone product or
via the Proventia?all-in-one protection appliance, fulfilling
ISS?security convergence strategy announced last October.
ISS acquired Cobion for its intelligent content analysis
technology, the world largest spam and Web content
filtering databases (20 million Web sites categorized,
four times its nearest competitor) and its robust research
infrastructure, including 1,000-central processing units
(CPUs) and 12 database distribution points around the
world.
The
strength of Cobion technology catapults ISS to the forefront
of the rapidly expanding content security market. According
to IDC, demand for content security will exceed $1.5
billion in 2006, representing the fastest-growing sector
of the information security market. Spam resulted in
$20.5 billion in corporate losses worldwide in 2003
and is expected to cost enterprises $198 billion in
losses by 2007 (The Radicati Group Inc. 2003).
ISS
is now in the content security market with a product
that automatically blocks Web content and spam like
no other product available today,?said Tom Noonan, chairman,
president and CEO of Internet Security Systems. The
Cobion acquisition completes our Proventia all-in-one
protection product family with technology that matches
the reputation and uncompromising quality ISS is known
for.?
This move is a perfect fit for Cobion and an opportunity
for our technology to reach a wide market,?said Lamprecht,
CEO of Cobion. Both ISS and Cobion place heavy emphasis
on research, quality and customer satisfaction. We'
re confident that Cobion technology will successfully
fulfill ISS?content security and convergence strategies.?
The
Cobion technology will be assimilated into ISS?Proventia?product
family, setting a new standard in protection and flexibility,
and empowering organizations to select the type of protection
that best fits their needs. Content security will be
added to ISS?Proventia M all-in-one protection appliances
in the second quarter of 2004, unifying content filtering
and anti-spam capabilities with current functionality,
including firewall, anti-virus, intrusion prevention
and Virtual Private Networking. Proventia C, a best-of-breed
content security appliance, is scheduled for second
quarter release.
As
a trusted security advisor, our customers look to us
for protection from all online threats, including spam,
unwanted Web content, viruses, worms and hackers,?said
Ingo Bock, director of Information Technology, T-Systems.
With ISS?acquisition of Cobion, our customers
will benefit from being able to source best-of-breed
protection products from one vendor.?
Spam
and unwanted Web content are more than just a nuisance,
and have quickly become a potential legal liability
and a drain on productivity for enterprises,?said Brian
Burke, analyst for IDC. We believe anti-spam will
continue to be an important adoption driver for other
more holistic security products. ISS?acquisition of
Cobion is in line with IDCs recommendation that
vendors continue to develop, acquire, or tightly integrate
with partners to offer a complete security solution.?
Business
Outlook
ISS
is currently in its Quiet Period?until earnings
are released, which are currently scheduled to be released
the last week of January. Company representatives are
not available to comment concerning previously published
financial expectations or the impact of the aforementioned
acquisition of Cobion. In connection with its release
of financial results for the quarter and year ended
December 31, 2003, ISS intends to provide guidance for
2004 that will include the impact of the Cobion acquisition.
About
Internet Security Systems, Inc.
Internet
Security Systems, Inc. (ISS) is the trusted expert to
global enterprises and world governments, providing
products and services that protect against Internet
threats. An established world leader in security since
1994, ISS delivers proven cost efficiencies and reduces
regulatory and business risk across the enterprise for
more than 11,000 customers worldwide. ISS products and
services are based on the proactive security intelligence
conducted by ISS?X-Force?research and development team
?the unequivocal world authority in vulnerability and
threat research. Headquartered in Atlanta, Internet
Security Systems has additional operations throughout
the Americas, Asia, Australia, Europe and the Middle
East. For more information, visit the Internet Security
Systems Web site at www.iss.net or call 800-776-2362.
About
Cobion
Founded
in 1997, Cobion's mission is to protect organizations
from unwanted or non-business related content, including
e-mails, spam and file attachments. All unwanted or
illegal content is kept outside, while confidential
information is kept inside the company. Cobion develops
the OrangeBox Web (Web filter), OrangeBox Mail (e-mail
and spam filter) and OrangeBox LAN (intranet filter)
security products and distributes to customers worldwide
to facilitate more productive Internet usage, reduced
liability, and intellectual property protection.
This release, other than historical information, includes
forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe
harbor?provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. The risks and uncertainties which
could cause actual results to differ materially from
those in the forward-looking statements include, but
are not limited to, the following: the level of demand
for the Companys products; the volume and timing of
orders; product and price competition; the Companys
ability to expand its domestic and international sales
and marketing organizations; the Companys ability to
develop new and enhanced products; the Companys ability
to assimilate recent and potential future acquisitions
or investments; the Company ability to attract and retain
key personnel; reliance on distribution channels through
which the Company's products are sold; the growth in
the acceptance and use of the Internet and of private
Internet-based networks or intranets;?the extent to
which unauthorized access to and use of online information
is perceived as a threat to network security; customer
budgets; the assertion of infringement claims with respect
to the Companyintellectual property; foreign currency
exchange rates; and risks concerning the rapid change
of technology; and general economic factors. These risks
and others are discussed in the Company periodic filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings
can be obtained either by contacting ISS Investor Relations
or through the Securities and Exchange Commission Web
site at http://www.sec.gov.
Internet Security Systems and Proventia are trademarks,
and X-Force is a registered trademark of Internet Security
Systems, Inc. All other companies and products mentioned
are trademarks and property of their respective owners.
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