SAN JOSE, Calif. -- March 2, 1999 -- Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced its Security Specialization Program, a program focused on providing Cisco channel partners with the infrastructure and skills required to deploy security solutions as part of customers' integrated networking environments. The Security Specialization Program is the latest addition to the Cisco Specialization Program, announced on January 19, 1999.

The Security Specialization Program will help the channel expedite the deployment of leading security solutions, including virtual private networks, and intrusion detection and firewall technology, by meeting customers' needs for resellers who can efficiently and expertly design, sell, implement and support customers' security needs.

"Information security is an area that requires skill and expertise to deploy. By recognizing the elite of their resellers through this rigorous Specialization Program, Cisco does a valuable service for both the channel and customers," said Lawrence Dietz, the ALEC Group in Sunnyvale, Calif. "Customers will be able to more easily discriminate among competing resellers or integrators, assured that Cisco Specialized channel partners have the expertise required to deploy a secure network."

The Security Specialization Program transfers skills to channel partners to provide customers with the network security required to maintain or develop applications that provide a competitive business advantage, including e-commerce, on-line banking and trading, Intranets, integrated messaging, call-center management, knowledge databases and fault escalation.

"With the deployment of mission-critical applications, the role of security relative to the adoption of the Internet has gained significant importance," said Michael Turner, vice president of marketing, NetSolve, Inc., a Cisco certified premier partner and industry leader in remote network management and security services, based in Austin, Texas. "Because of the fast growing importance of network security, our customers are relying on us to implement and manage their security needs. NetSolve's investment in becoming Cisco specialized will differentiate us to end users as security experts and will validate the value-add we can provide to them."

Cisco Specialization Program

Cisco's Specialization Program enables the channel to sell, design, install and support complex technology solutions in five key segments of the global internetworking market. The Security, SNA/IP Integration and WAN Specialization Programs are available now. The additional two programs, Network Management and Voice Access, will be available by second quarter 1999.

"Cisco is committed to providing the channel with the ability to differentiate themselves in the marketplace by becoming experts at selling, designing, installing and supporting complex technology solutions," said Tom Stevenson, vice president of Worldwide Channels, Cisco Systems. "Cisco Specialized channel partners have the skills required to enable customers to deploy key technologies that are essential to compete in the New World of data/voice/video convergence."

Cisco channel partners become specialized after completing specific personnel, infrastructure and support requirements.

Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet.

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Cisco, Cisco IOS, Cisco Systems and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any of its resellers.