Akonix Addresses Instant Messaging Security

Introduces all-in-one appliance to affordably protect networks and meet industry and federal regulations

San Diego, CA – May 29, 2007 – Akonix Systems, Inc., provider of the most deployed instant messaging (IM) security and compliance products in the world, today introduced the Akonix A1000 IM Essentials Appliance, a simple-to-install and administer, all-in-one IM management solution designed specifically to address the risk management, archiving and compliance needs for IM use in small and medium-sized business (SMBs). The A1000 IM Essentials Appliance, priced at $6,995, includes 100 seats and provides smaller firms an all-inclusive, complete risk management solution for instant messaging.

The SMB market faces significant demands as it has IT requirements similar to those of larger enterprises, primarily due to federal and industry regulations, but significantly fewer resources. In order to meet the financial, security and compliance obligations of smaller organizations, Akonix now offers the A1000 IM Essentials Appliance. The unit is factory-configured with Akonix’s L7 Enterprise™, a risk management platform designed to archive, secure and control access to IM communications, and L7 Enforcer™, a policy enforcement platform. It is powered by AkOS™, Akonix’s customized hardened operating system developed for secure, real-time messaging environments.

Nearly one in six organizations does not have either an email or instant messaging retention policy, according to Osterman Research . Akonix’s new appliance archives IM conversations based on company-determined policies to ensure compliance with industry and government regulations, including newly amended federal rules on legal discovery of electronic records – a key challenge for most SMBs. The appliance also enables businesses to protect themselves from viruses, worms and other malicious IM threats, as well as manage and enforce policies for all public and private IM networks.

“Vendors have been slow to offer products that allow SMBs to meet federal and industry archiving regulations, especially when it comes to instant messaging,” said Matt Anderson, senior analyst with The Radicati Group. “They need to offer the full features of an enterprise product, yet be easy to implement and manage, as well as affordable.”

“As IM is increasingly becoming the preferred method of real-time communications, organizations of all sizes need to be able to manage and archive IM communications for both compliance and risk management purposes,” said Don Montgomery, VP of marketing. “We recognize the fact that not many vendors cater to the SMB market, whose IT staff is typically limited and in need of a low maintenance product with minimal administrative burdens. It is for this reason we wanted to apply the technology deployed in the world’s largest companies to a product that meets the requirements of this highly underserved market in a form that is simple to buy, install and administer.”

With the A1000 IM Essentials Appliance, SMBs are able to filter, archive, virus-scan, apply and enforce policy for IM use on AOL, MSN, Google Talk, Yahoo!, Microsoft Live Communications Server, Jabber XCP and IBM Lotus Sametime. The product also provides point-and-click integration with leading message archival systems, including EMC EmailXtender, HP RISS, ZANTAZ Digital Safe, Intradyn and CA Message Manager.

For an all-inclusive price of $6,995, companies receive licenses for 100 IM users, first year hardware warranty, software support and maintenance, network access fees, anti-virus scanning for file transfers and security update services, as well as live customer support during business hours.

The A1000 IM Essentials Appliance is available immediately. To order or request more information, please call 619-615-9415 or email sales@akonix.com. Companies interested in putting Akonix products to work protecting their networks can receive a free 30-day evaluation of A6000, A1000 and A1000 IM Essentials security appliances at http://eval.akonix.com.

About Akonix
Akonix is the most deployed IM security and compliance product in the world, enabling companies of all sizes to install productive, enterprise-wide IM that is secure, compliant and managed.

Over 1.9 million people around the world rely on Akonix’s products to protect their networks and meet compliance requirements. With more than 20 patent applications, Akonix’s 360° Security provides the industry’s only automatically-updated protection to block viruses and malware for both enterprise and public IM systems. Akonix is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, an IBM Business Partner and an HP Business Partner. The company is licensed and certified by America Online®, Microsoft and Yahoo! to inspect and archive IM traffic. Furthermore, Akonix has developed business alliances and integrated its technology with leading enterprise IM platforms, including Reuters, IBM, Jabber, Inc., Parlano and Bloomberg, and message archiving products from EMC, HP, ZANTAZ and Intradyn.

An IM industry first, the Akonix IM Security Center (www.imsecuritycenter.com) provides real-time information about worms, viruses and other vulnerabilities that target IM and P2P networks. The company issues monthly and quarterly IM threat watch reports to track key trends and vulnerabilities.

For further information on the company, please visit www.akonix.com.

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Noah Dye

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LEWIS PR

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