3COM DELIVERS EMBEDDED FIREWALL SOLUTION TO PROTECT REMOTE WORKFORCES IN ENTERPRISES WORLDWIDE

IT Managers Tighten Network Security with 3Com's New Centrally Managed, Tamper-Resistant Firewall PC Cards

Mississauga, ON, October 9, 2002 — 3Com today announced the availability of its newest Embedded Firewall Solution, including a new 3Com® Firewall PC Card and new versions of the existing 3Com Firewall Desktop PCI Cards, 3Com Firewall Server PCI Cards and 3Com Embedded Firewall Policy Server. Featuring hardware firewall protection with built in 10/100 LAN connectivity, the new 3Com Embedded Firewall is the only centrally managed embedded client solution to create trusted network connections that span beyond the corporate perimeter firewall.

"Our latest 3Com Embedded Firewall Solution allows IT managers to secure the most vulnerable and unprotected areas of the network -- the notebook and remote PC," said James Teel, senior director, security strategy, 3Com Corporation. "As an enterprise-class security solution, the new centrally managed 3Com Firewall Cards enable a much-needed approach to security that extends stringent security policies to end systems - and also provides a way to connect, manage and secure remote desktop and notebook PCs in an easy and cost-effective manner."

"Organizations are required to secure themselves as completely as possible, and a hardware-based PC security solution like 3Com's offers the best means for doing it," said Jaclynn Bumback, market analyst at In-Stat/MDR. "Putting security decision-making into the hands of people who understand the security objectives and policies, 3Com's Embedded Firewall solution provides a centrally managed embedded client firewall that delivers air-tight security in enterprises and government locations."

Distributed Security
Organizations leave themselves open to security breaches and potential loss if they rely only on perimeter firewall protection. Companies that rely on software firewalls to protect individual laptops are subject to operating system vulnerabilities and may be using a solution that is not centrally managed. This means that the end user can modify policies set on software-only firewalls or the end user could totally disable the firewall. This makes it virtually impossible to ensure that the software firewall is configured correctly or working properly — if at all.

Enhancing 3Com's Embedded Firewall solutions delivered in February 2002, the new 3Com Firewall Cards allow network managers to extend Embedded Firewall protection to remote users connecting to the corporate network via a VPN broadband connection. The newly announced enhanced security products also automatically detect whether a user is connecting from inside or outside the LAN's physical perimeter and apply the appropriate security policies for that location. Both versions of 3Com Firewall PC Cards ship with the necessary client license, making the solution even easier to deploy and manage. In conjunction with the Firewall PC Card launch, the desktop and server Embedded Firewall products are now bundled with the client license. In addition, the 3Com Embedded Firewall Policy Server automatically detects the presence of new hardware for easy additions or changes to policy configurations.

The 3Com Embedded Firewall solutions allows IT managers to deploy a company-wide client security scheme, a capability particularly valuable in security-conscious industries, such as government, finance, healthcare, and education, where digital asset protection is paramount. The 3Com security solution offers an increased measure of protection against internal threats with tamper-resistant security at the client and manageable policy enforcement. The unique combination of firewall hardware and centralized policy management software deters attacks and intrusions from both inside and outside the perimeter of the network in desktop, server and notebook PC, augmenting wiring closet security and perimeter firewalls to deliver 'defense-in-depth' network security.

Challenges of Securing Notebooks
One of IT managers' greatest concerns is to ensure that a mobile user does not compromise the network while working outside the perimeter of the corporate network. Since notebook computer usage is difficult, if not impossible, to monitor, IT managers have a tough task trying to prevent mobile PCs from becoming infected or compromised.

Using the 3Com Firewall PC Card and the 3Com Embedded Firewall Policy Server, IT managers can update, configure and monitor the firewall on a notebook PC via a virtual private network (VPN) connection and central management features. Additionally, in the event of a security breach, IT staff can disable any network-connected laptop installed with a 3Com Firewall PC Card.

The 3Com Embedded Firewall Solution leverages Secure Computing Corporation's (San Jose, CA, Nasdaq: SCUR) extensive expertise in security technology, and continues to bring to market several years of underlying research to provide a simple, flexible, scalable, and most important, secure solutions for global enterprises and governments.

Product Details, Pricing and Government Practices

3Com Security Product	Model Number	List Price (in CDN. Dollars)
3Com Embedded Firewall Policy Server, Version 1.5 (supports 1000 client devices)	3CR010PS-1-97B	$1495
3Com Embedded Firewall Policy Server, Version 1.5 Policy Server Starter Pack (supports 10 client devices)	3CR010STRPS-1-97B	$450
3Com Firewall PC Card with 10/100 LAN, Type II	3CRFW102	$330
3Com Firewall PC Card with 10/100 LAN, Type II, 20 Pack	3CRFW102-020	$6,000
3Com Firewall PC Card with 10/100 LAN, Type III	3CRFW103	$330
3Com Firewall PC Card with 10/100 LAN, Type III, 20 Pack	3CRFW103-020	$6,000
3Com Firewall Desktop PCI Card with 10/100 LAN	3CRFW200	$270
3Com Firewall Desktop PCI Card with 10/100 LAN, 25 Pack	3CRFW200-025	$6,000
3Com Firewall Server PCI Card with 10/100 LAN	3CRFW300	$495
3Com Firewall Server PCI Card with 10/100 LAN, 10 Pack	3CRFW300-010	$3,900

All new 3Com Embedded Firewall security solutions begin shipping this month. 3Com is in the process of obtaining GSA Scheduling and Common Criteria Certification in the U.S. Federal Government market for all products in the 3Com Embedded Firewall Solution. The 3Com Embedded Firewall Solution has been approved for export worldwide, subject to standard export restrictions. Interested customers and resellers can obtain additional information on the new solutions by calling 1-800-NET-3COM or at www.3com.com/security.

About 3Com Corporation
3Com is a tier-one provider of innovative, practical and high-value networking products for enterprise customers. 3Com is also a leader in Internet protocol (IP) service platforms and access infrastructure for the network service provider market. For further information, please visit ca.3com.com.