Fortress Technologies Becomes Sole U.S. Distributor ofIDEA Encryption Algorithm.

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 1998--

Growing Commercial Demand for Strong Encryption Products

Expected to Drive U.S. Market

Fortress Technologies, In) used in its NetFortress(tm) security products.

Fortress Technologies

has signed a licensing agreement with ASCOM Systec, Ltd., the Swiss conglomerate that owns the IDEA patent. In addition to the sole right to license and distributly in commercial security products, following l was recently acquired by Network Associates. Some other U.S. companies currently licensing IDEA include Micrd increasing attention on the need for strong e "Fortress Technologies' patent-pending technThe global demand for advanced encryp tion products is expanding rapidly, and developers need easy access to sts proven strength. ASCOM Systec is pleased to the IDEA algorithm for use in the company's Neintense scrutiny for almost a decade, and there hield(tm) technology that incorpo rates IDEA, as well as other encryption algorithms. Secure Packet Shield combines fully-automated encryption, authentication, key exchange and data compression at the network layer to provide the fastest, simplest and most secure VPNs available. The NetFortress VPN portfolio includes NetFortress VPN-1, NetFortress VPN-3, the fastest VPN solution for T3 networks, NetFortress Remote, NetFortress Manager, and QuickStart VPN, a five-day VPN "starter kit."

Information on IDEA licensing policies and license descriptions can be obtained by sendinutions in Switzerland. Its solutions guarantee tmore information about ASCO M security solutionst enable its customers to secure and extend theDr. Aharon Friedman, the developer of Fortress' patented Secure Packet Shield technology, and Mr. Andrew Sav Wire's full file on the Internet