BRAND-REX DEPLOYS ENTERASYS SECURE NETWORKS SOLUTION.

Enterasys(R) Networks, the Secure Networks Company(TM), Andover, Mass., has announced that Brand-Rex Ltd., Europe's leading data communication cabling systems provider, has deployed an Enterasys Secure Networks(TM) infrastructure at its UK headquarters in Scotland.

Brand-Rex designs, develops and manufactures some of the most sophisticated, high-performance cabling solutions for communications and extreme environment applications. It also produces specialized cables for the aerospace, defense and transportation industries. The company has manufacturing facilities in the UK and sales and marketing offices throughout Europe, in the Middle East and Asia.

With its business growing and the factories achieving record output in 2006, Brand-Rex required a data-networking infrastructure that could support the company now and be flexible enough to adapt to future requirements. The deployed solution is based on Enterasys Matrix(R) N-Series flow-based switching in the core of the network and Enterasys SecureStack(R) B2 switches at the network's edge. Brand-Rex relies on NetSight(R) Policy Manager for centralized management and security of the entire infrastructure.

"Our aging backbone was urgently in need of replacement," said Andy Williams, head of information technology for Brand-Rex. "As the producer of world-class cabling systems that connect some of the world's most powerful networks, our own infrastructure was in need of a technology refresh. The new system replaced a 100MB backbone that delivered only 10MB to the desktop.

"As we planned the upgrade for the headquarters network, security was at the top of the list," he said. "Field staff, suppliers and customers who visit our facility need role-based network access. So the new infrastructure had to provide secure guest access along with robust performance and reliability for all of our manufacturing, sales and other activities. We evaluated several vendors and Enterasys clearly provided the best solution for protecting critical information from internal and external threats and delivering Gigabit performance to the desktop."

Interoperability with the other vendors' products in its network was another key requirement for Brand-Rex. "The Enterasys hardware and software works beautifully with our existing wired and wireless equipment," he said.

Enterasys focused on providing a customized solution to best meet the needs of Brand-Rex. "The Enterasys account team and their partner Siemens really listened to us to determine the specific network requirements for our business. They submitted a very detailed proposal for a cost-effective network, optimized for our needs, with very practical and achievable steps to deliver rapid results.

"Enterasys and Siemens worked with us to develop a report that showed the performance improvements we would realize from implementing the new network, which really made the business benefits of the project clear to senior management. Our executives didn't need to hear about technical specifications," said Williams. "They just want to know that when they need to close a deal or send an order to our suppliers the network is there for them -- automatically protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our information."

Deploying the Enterasys solution was quick and easy, as well. "The Matrix and SecureStack switches were extremely easy to install," he said. "Configuring the switches was very intuitive and the support we received during installation -- both on-site and by phone -- was superb.

With a five-person IT team, Brand-Rex depends on NetSight Policy Manager and its intuitive graphical interface to centrally manage security throughout the network.

"NetSight enables us to automatically respond instantly to any security issues without disrupting the business," Williams said. "In the past, we were impacted by various viruses on occasion. Since deploying the Enterasys solution we haven't had any security incidents impact operations. Enterasys quickly isolates and locks down the offending traffic to stop the threat dead in its tracks and ensure business continuity.

"Our former network had no detailed monitoring or proactive notification capability. When a switch went down, IT wouldn't know about it until a user called the help desk. With our new Enterasys solution, we instantly receive an e-mail identifying the affected location, right down to the user level," Williams said. "NetSight also enables us to search for a PC by name to quickly see where it is connected to the network. We have created a policy so each PC on the network can only plug into a specific port on a switch. If someone moves a desktop without opening a change request with IT, the PC won't communicate because it's not connected to the correct port."

Beyond providing data-networking to keep the company operating at peak efficiency, Brand-Rex has built a new state-of-the-art Customer Innovation Center that relies on Enterasys switches to demonstrate the capabilities of its broad portfolio of cabling technologies.

The company has expanded its Enterasys Secure Network this year, at its Speciality cabling facility in England and then at field sales offices. Williams said they also expect to deploy Enterasys' network access control solution for pre- and post-connect visibility and control of devices attaching to the network.

About Brand Rex

Brand-Rex, Ltd. is a designer and manufacturer of copper and fibre based cabling systems, headquartered in Glenrothes, Scotland with facilities across Europe. Brand-Rex has two primary businesses: Connectivity and Speciality. Its Connectivity division designs and manufactures cabling systems (both copper and fibre) for Data Communications and is the no. 2 player in Europe. The Speciality division exclusively produces cables that are used for control, communications, power and instrumentation within hostile environments.

For information, visit http://www.brand-rex.com.

About Enterasys Networks

Enterasys Networks -- the Secure Networks Company -- is owned by a private investor group led by The Gores Group, LLC and Tennenbaum Capital Partners, LLC. Enterasys' unique Secure Networks solutions secure any network from any vendor and ensure the integrity and performance of IT services and the business users that rely on them. Thousands of leading companies, government agencies and educational institutions in more than 70 countries rely on Secure Networks solutions to maintain business continuity and protect vital information. The company's culture is centered on the principle "There is nothing more important than our customers." Delivering on that commitment, Secure Networks provides granular, policy-based command and control of individual user, application, device, port and flow performance, and security. Enterasys' architectural approach to network security offers a long technology lifecycle and significant operational and business benefits, while reducing total cost of ownership.

For more information, visit http://www.enterasys.com or call 978/684-1473.

About The Gores Group

Founded in 1987, The Gores Group is a private equity firm focused on acquiring controlling interests in mature and growing businesses which can benefit from the firm's operating experience and flexible capital base. The firm combines the operational expertise and detailed due diligence capabilities of a strategic buyer with the seasoned M&A team of a traditional financial buyer. The Gores Group has become a leading investor, primarily in the technology and telecommunications sectors, having demonstrated over time a reliable track record of creating substantial value in its portfolio companies alongside management. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, The Gores Group maintains offices in Boulder, Colorado and London.

For more information, visit http://www.gores.com.

About Tennenbaum Capital Partners, LLC

Tennenbaum Capital Partners is a Santa Monica, California-based private investment firm managing over US$3.8 billion in assets through private funds. The firm's investment strategy is grounded in a long-term, value approach, and it assists -- both financially and operationally -- transitional middle-market companies in such industries as technology, healthcare, energy, aerospace, business services, retail and general manufacturing. Tennenbaum's core strengths include its in-depth knowledge of equity and debt-financing vehicles in the public and private markets, as well as a thorough understanding of special situations.

For more information, visit http://www.tennenbaumcapital.com .