Microsoft to Acquire Enterprise Anti-Virus Security Provider Sybari Software

Microsoft to Acquire Enterprise Anti-Virus Security Provider Sybari Software

Technology Will Help Businesses Protect Messaging and Collaboration Servers From Viruses, Worms and Spam

REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) today announced that it has signed definitive agreements to acquire Sybari Software Inc., a leading provider of security products that help more than 10,000 businesses worldwide protect their messaging and collaboration servers from viruses, worms and spam. Microsoft will use this acquisition to further provide its enterprise customers with new solutions to help protect them from malicious software.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )

"Enterprise customers face a complex set of attacks through their e-mail and collaboration infrastructure," said Mike Nash, corporate vice president of the Security Business and Technology Unit at Microsoft. "Through this acquisition, we're excited to be able to provide customers with a server-level anti-virus solution that delivers advanced file and content-filtering capabilities and the use of multiple scan engines. In this way, customers get choice, high-quality performance and the most up-to-date protection possible."

The planned acquisition of Sybari Software will play a key part in Microsoft's enterprise security strategy, providing anti-virus technologies that shield communications servers and supply customers with multiple-engine protection that can help with increased detection rates of malicious software. In a recent ICSA Labs survey, e-mail attachments were cited as the means of infection in 88 percent of virus incidents in corporate environments, a clear indication that further innovation is required.

"We've been able to provide sophisticated, comprehensive protection for millions of mailboxes worldwide, and we're excited that through the addition of Microsoft's expertise and contribution, these solutions will be available to even more businesses," said Robert Wallace, president and CEO of Sybari Software. "We're proud of the effectiveness of our antigen products in providing protection against malicious software."

Sybari Software's products provide an additional layer of messaging defense, helping stop threats before they reach end users. Sybari Software's security solutions are deeply embedded within the server infrastructure they protect, providing a consistently high level of security while maintaining infrastructure reliability and performance.

In addition, Microsoft's enterprise customers will see greater value from their security investments because a single Sybari Software product will work with multiple versions of Microsoft(R) Exchange and Lotus Notes. Therefore, when migrating from one version to the next, or deploying multiple versions long term, a company can see a lower cost of maintenance and support for the comprehensive protections that Sybari Software's technology can provide. Sybari also provides solutions for Microsoft Office SharePoint(R) Portal Server 2003 and Microsoft Windows(R) SharePoint Services.

Microsoft's goal for helping to secure collaborative environments is to enable businesses to foster collaboration among employees and with partners through technology without exposing their networks and assets to attack by malicious code. This acquisition will put Microsoft in a better position to make that happen by focusing on the following areas:

-- Layered defenses. It is common practice in business networks to use a
set of layered defenses to improve protection against malicious code.
Similarly, effective protection of collaborative environments requires
layers of defense.
-- Integration with infrastructure. The layers must be tightly integrated
not only with each other, but with the rest of the infrastructure in
the network. Without such integration, a security solution can be
unmanageable, have poor performance and let attacks through.
-- Protection from the latest threats. Malicious threats evolve quickly.
Defenses must be updated often, and be backed by worldwide networks of
researchers who will identify and develop protection measures against
the latest threats before they have a chance to impact businesses.



Terms of the acquisition were not announced. Sybari will maintain all current operations until regulatory approval.

More information about Microsoft and its efforts to address computer security is available at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security .

About Sybari Software

Sybari Software secures the information workplace with award-winning anti-virus, anti-spam and content-filtering technologies. Its solutions are used by leading organizations worldwide to protect their e-mail, instant messaging and document sharing, enabling them to maximize productivity and profitability and achieve corporate compliance. Sybari Software delivers its products through a worldwide channel partner network. Headquartered in New York, Sybari Software maintains operations throughout the Americas, Asia, Australia, Europe and the Middle East.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

NOTE: Microsoft, SharePoint and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Microsoft Corp.

CONTACT: press only, Rapid Response Team of Waggener Edstrom,
+1-503-443-7070, or rrt@wagged.com, for Microsoft

Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security

Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/

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