U.S. Military Academy at West Point Deploys 
Cranite's WirelessWall® Software Suite 2.0

U. S. Military Academy Secures Wireless LANs for Innovative Online Curriculum

    San Jose, Calif., December 2, 2002 - Cranite Systems (www.cranite.com), a developer of software solutions for securing wireless networks, today announced that the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, has installed the new version of Cranite's WirelessWall Software Suite. West Point is using WirelessWall 2.0 to ensure the security of its new wireless network.

    West Point, the oldest military academy in continuous operation since its founding, recently decided to train its cadets with online instruction. Facing a barrage of cables and the related costs for individual network connections, the academy implemented a wireless local area network as the backbone for its online curriculum. Finding a way to secure the wireless network was the next critical step in the implementation.

    "Before we could use a wireless network in the classroom, we had to make sure that our mission-critical applications and sensitive data were truly secure," said Donald J. Welch, Ph.D., Colonel, Infantry and Associate Dean for Information and Educational Technology. "We evaluated several wireless LAN security alternatives including virtual private networks (VPNs), wired equivalent privacy (WEP), and many proprietary protocols. Cranite's WirelessWall product matched our high security requirements. Furthermore, it works well in our heterogeneous platform environment."

    Cranite also announced today the availability of version 2.0 of its WirelessWall Software Suite. WirelessWall 2.0 provides a cost-effective solution to the security, mobility, and management challenges facing organizations that are implementing wireless networks. WirelessWall 2.0 is the first solution of its kind to incorporate automatic failover capabilities to ensure mission-critical reliability in large-scale wireless LAN deployments.

    Several professors at West Point wanted the real-time benefits of teaching in a wireless environment and developed an online curriculum for their departments. Over 1,000 first-year cadets are participating in class, accessing the Internet, and taking exams over the wireless network. Each cadet is issued a laptop upon matriculating at West Point; when in the classroom, cadets log on and securely access the wireless network through Cranite's WirelessWall Software Suite.

    "West Point is a key installation for Cranite because our product is delivering the mission-critical reliability required of both government and university organizations," said Greg McNulty, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cranite Systems. "Colonel Welch's information technology team has been very innovative in implementing a wireless network in support of its educational mission. We're very excited to provide this high level of security to the future leaders of our country's Army."

    About the U.S. Military Academy at West Point
    The U.S. Military Academy at West Point is the premier military academy in the country, providing timeless leadership to the nation for over 200 years. West Point trains and educates cadets for service as commissioned army officers fully committed to the historic principles of duty, honor and country and as citizens committed to a lifetime of selfless service to the United States. Additional information on the U.S. Military Academy and its tradition of developing leaders of character can be found at http://www.usma.edu.

    About Cranite Systems, Inc.
    Cranite Systems, Inc. develops enterprise-class software solutions that enable mobile users to securely access mission-critical applications and sensitive data over wireless LANs. Cranite recognizes that wireless networks demand new approaches to solving their unique security, mobility and management challenges. In response, Cranite designed its WirelessWall Software Suite to offer IT professionals unparalleled network protection for mobile users, while simplifying daily operations of a wireless infrastructure. Cranite products are delivered in partnership with OEMs, VARs, systems integrators, and other resellers. Founded in August 2000, Cranite Systems is headquartered in San Jose, CA. Please visit www.cranite.com for more information.

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Contact:
Rick Loughery
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