SOMERSET, N.J. – September 15, 2003 – Netilla Networks, Inc., a leading provider of SSL VPN and secure application access management solutions, today announced that it has been selected for the Microsoft Partner Solutions Center (MPSC). By joining this group of Microsoft technology partners, Netilla is enabling enterprises and service providers to deliver new levels of productivity to their users by providing highly secure “anytime, anywhere” access to applications and mission-critical data. Based at Microsoft Corp. headquarters in Redmond, Wash., the MPSC facility brings together world-class technology companies focused on developing the secure, end-to-end network solutions needed by enterprise and service providers in order to maintain a competitive edge.

The Netilla Security Platform (NSP) will be featured in the MPSC as a turnkey SSL VPN solution that enterprises and service providers can easily replicate and deploy; the NSP will also be used to provide secure access to proof-of-concept solution offerings developed in the center. The NSP delivers secure access to the Microsoft Windows environment and applications via several different SSL access modes -- including the Netilla Virtual Adapter for Windows™ PCs, which creates a secure network-layer-like SSL connection, or tunnel, between remote users’ Microsoft applications and corporate servers. The NSP thus securely extends the enterprise by providing SSL VPN services and complete policy enforcement support for Microsoft applications.

“Netilla’s MPSC membership gives Microsoft customers a secure migration path to Microsoft technologies as they roll out remote-access SSL VPNs,” said Bryan Bain, vice president of business development at Netilla. “In particular, our Netilla Virtual Adapter for Windows PCs and policy enforcement technologies enable enterprises to provide secure, browser-based access to existing client-server applications with the peace of mind that the solution will support future Microsoft technologies as they are developed.”

"Close integration with application and platform vendors such as Microsoft is a critical attribute for any SSL VPN vendor, enabling richer and more complete integration with application features, while still providing access to authorized users from
anywhere there is an Internet connection, " said David Thompson, senior research analyst at META Group. "The selection of an SSL VPN vendor for the MPSC underscores the growing importance of SSL-based remote access for enterprises of all sizes."

The Netilla platforms now installed at the MPSC offer advanced features and capabilities for building “dynamic trust” networks that rely on policy enforcement to grant secure access to network resources. The NSP allows enterprises to implement secure, real-time privileges that are based on the identity, environment, entitlements, authentication rating, and policy compliance of the user or service. Through Netilla’s policy enforcement engine, the NSP integrates with Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer and Software Update Server to ensure client integrity prior to granting access to network assets.

Market research firm In-Stat/MDR earlier this year identified Netilla as one of the top SSL VPN vendors in terms of both unit shipments and revenues during 2002 (“Tunneling Through the Flames: An Analysis of the Firewall and VPN Market,” April 2003). “Our research demonstrated that Netilla has emerged as one of the leading players in this rapidly growing market space,” said analyst Jaclynn Bumback, author of the report. “The real value for SSL VPNs is in offering remote access to a large number of users – typically at less expense and with greater manageability than IPSec-based VPNs entail.”

"The MPSC is dedicated to showcasing proven, multivendor solutions built on the Microsoft Windows Platform and related technologies that will enable customers to positively affect their businesses," said Steven Nielsen, Director, MPSC at Microsoft. "We're pleased that Netilla is joining the MPSC and are confident that Netilla will add significant value for our customers as they design SSL-based remote access infrastructures.”