NSCN Netscreen Technologies (MM)

NetScreen Secures Hitachi Data, Voice and Video IP Network SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NetScreen Technologies, Inc. today announced that Hitachi Consulting, the business and technology consulting arm of Hitachi, Ltd. , has deployed NetScreen integrated firewall and virtual private network (VPN) security solutions to support its multimedia IP network, which includes data, voice and video services. A major advantage of voice over IP (VoIP) and Internet telephony technologies is that they allow organizations to avoid the tolls charged by ordinary telephone service -- using the Internet backbone slashes the price for these calls. The same holds true for video conferencing over the Internet. In early 2002, Hitachi leveraged an existing relationship with another hardware vendor to deploy its initial VPN solution for its VoIP network, which is used for all intra-company voice traffic, voicemail and much of the company's long distance calls. However, within six months, Hitachi's IT department concluded that the solution had failed to provide the scalability, performance and management functionality needed to effectively operate its VoIP network. Working with Westron Communications, a trusted solution provider, Hitachi Consulting selected a NetScreen solution to replace its previous VPN network. By using NetScreen appliances to transport voice traffic over a VPN, Hitachi Consulting has seen many benefits, including secure and efficient telephone calls between offices and across the public Internet. "Within 24 hours of the NetScreen installation we were getting calls from employees telling us how happy they were with the voice quality. The difference was like night and day," said Michael Shisko, director of IT at Hitachi Consulting. As a result of deploying the NetScreen solution, Hitachi realized a significant improvement in network performance and a significant reduction in network latency. Hitachi deployed NetScreen-5XT and -204 appliances as well as a NetScreen-500 system, all purpose-built, hardware-based devices that integrate firewall, VPN, traffic management and denial of service protection. The NetScreen-500 system, a high-performance, security system offering up to 700 Mbps firewall performance and 3DES VPN performance of 250 Mbps, is located at Hitachi's corporate headquarters in Dallas. NetScreen-204 appliances, which offer up to 400 Mbps of firewall performance and up to 200 Mbps of 3DES VPN performance, are located at 14 different Hitachi field offices. NetScreen-5XT appliances offer up to 70 Mbps firewall and 20 Mbps of 3DES VPN performance provide a cost-effective solution and round out the network for Hitachi's smaller site offices. To manage the devices and security policies, Hitachi is using NetScreen's central management platform. For more information about NetScreen products, visit: http://www.netscreen.com/products/index.jsp. About Westron Communications Westron Communications (http://www.westron.com/) is a Dallas based privately held network solutions provider which has helped its client base implement complex technology solutions for over 18 years. Dedicated to engineering excellence, Westron has partnered with many of the industry's premier hardware and software manufacturers. Westron was a founding member of the innovative 1NService network of technology solution providers, now encompassing the United States and Canada. About Hitachi Consulting Hitachi Consulting (http://www.hitachiconsulting.com/) is a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. providing business and IT consulting services. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Hitachi Consulting Utilizes the Company's Knowledge-Driven Consulting Model, Hitachi's consultants have assisted hundreds of clients -- Redesign their customer touch points -- Optimize their supply chains -- Integrate and externalize their applications -- Transform their enterprise processes Hitachi Consulting serves their clients using more than 900 employees deployed across more than a dozen U.S. offices. About NetScreen Technologies NetScreen Technologies, Inc., is a leading developer of integrated network security solutions that offer the security, performance and total cost of ownership required by enterprises and carriers. NetScreen's innovative solutions provide key security technologies, such as virtual private network, denial of service protection, firewall and intrusion prevention, in a line of easy-to-manage security appliances and systems. NetScreen is located at 805 11th Ave., Sunnyvale, Calif., 94089. More information on NetScreen's products can be found at http://www.netscreen.com/ or by calling toll free at 1-800-638-8296. NOTE: NetScreen and the NetScreen logo are trademarks of NetScreen Technologies, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. This press release contains forward-looking statements about events and circumstances that have not yet occurred. For example, words such as "will," "expects," "provide," "continue," and "allows," or other statements in the future tense, are forward-looking statements. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from expectations in this press release due to a number of risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include whether the market for security products will grow as projected, if at all, whether demand for NetScreen products will continue, whether new products, if and when introduced, will be successful and whether products will perform as expected. DATASOURCE: NetScreen Technologies, Inc. CONTACT: Jennifer Jennings, +1-408-543-8243, or , or Heather C. Lowles, +1-408-543-4136, or , both of NetScreen Technologies, Inc. Web site: http://www.hitachiconsulting.com/ Web site: http://www.westron.com/ Web site: http://www.netscreen.com/

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