SCUR Secure Computing (MM)

Secure Computing Corporation (NASDAQ: SCUR), a leading enterprise gateway security company, today announced the results of a commissioned study conducted by IDC on behalf of Secure Computing.(1) The study, which surveyed 100 IT professionals and security decision makers in North American companies with 500 or more employees, found that 72 percent of organizations had no solution for preventing data leaks over email and 89 percent of organizations lacked an effective anti-spam solution. In addition, the survey revealed that while many IT departments are planning to upgrade their messaging security infrastructure, most have not yet deployed the seven technologies required for advanced mail protection.

"Overall, our survey found that organizations need to increase their efforts in combating email security risks," said Brian Burke, Program Director, Security Products at IDC. "While organizations have expressed concern about inbound and outbound email security, their current solutions are not getting the job done. Only 11 percent of those surveyed had adequate inbound protection, and over 70 percent have nothing in place for data loss prevention on email. Such organizations need to take advantage of new solutions and delivery models."

Companies Concerned about Data Loss Prevention

The study revealed that email encryption and data loss prevention have become top-of-mind issues for IT executives. In fact, 85 percent of respondents reported that they were very or extremely concerned about data leakage over email. Despite this concern, only 28 percent of those surveyed had implemented a system to prevent those data leaks, while 56 percent planned to do so in the upcoming year.

IDC believes that the vast majority of data loss incidents -- 80 to 90 percent -- occur accidentally. Not surprisingly, the companies surveyed were much more worried about accidental data loss than deliberate leaks. Only five percent of companies reported that they were extremely concerned about insiders intentionally revealing sensitive information, while 44 percent were extremely concerned about accidental loss.

Spam Complaints on the Rise

The survey also found that more unwanted messages are getting through messaging security systems, particularly at large corporations. In all, 28 percent of large organizations reported that their spam complaints had increased by more than 10 percent since the previous year.

Currently, many of these organizations rely on older technology that has not kept pace with the increasing volume of spam and the more sophisticated techniques used by spammers. State-of-the-art anti-spam solutions can block 99 percent or more of unsolicited communications. However, only 11 percent of organizations surveyed said that their messaging security currently meets this standard, and 60 percent said that their solution could not provide even 95 percent effectiveness.

Advances in Messaging Security Infrastructure

The comprehensive survey also highlighted some important trends in messaging security infrastructure. First, companies are very interested in hybrid approaches which combine on-premise and in-the-cloud security measures. More than 60 percent of respondents believe that these approaches are the most effective means of preventing inbound threats.

In addition, more than half of those surveyed were currently using connection and/or reputation-based technology to drop threats at the network level. However, because many of these companies are not using the latest technology, their solutions are less than 75 percent effective.

Other key findings include:

--  The majority (70 percent) of companies would like a single solution
    that addresses both inbound and outbound threats.
--  Cost-cutting measures are spurring the move toward virtualization,
    with 34 percent of companies planning to adopt virtual security appliances
    in the next 12 months.
--  Companies continue to be concerned about email-borne malware,
    including malicious URL links (56 percent), phishing attacks (49 percent)
    and malicious attachments (47 percent).
--  Over the next 18 months, 40 percent of organizations plant to increase
    their budgets for information protection and control.
    

Recommendations Based on Survey Findings

In its White Paper sponsored by Secure Computing, IDC recommends that companies deploy data leakage protection and upgrade their anti-spam solutions. The study concludes, "Organizations must accelerate their adoption of next generation email security solutions. The cost of not doing so is increased malware infection through spam and increased data leakage."

More information about the Secure Computing STAMP initiative and complete results and recommendations from the IDC White paper can be found online at www.securecomputing/stamp.

About Secure Computing Corporation

Secure Computing Corporation (NASDAQ: SCUR), a leading provider of enterprise gateway security, delivers a comprehensive set of solutions that help customers protect their critical Web, email and network assets. Over half the Fortune 50 and Fortune 500 are part of our more than 22,000 global customers, supported by a worldwide network of more than 2,000 partners. The company is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., and has offices worldwide. For more information, see http://www.securecomputing.com.

All product names and trademarks are the property of their respective firms.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. For example, there can be no assurance that demand for the company's products will continue at current or greater levels, or that the company will continue to grow revenues, or be profitable, or that the company will be able to motivate and retain key employees, staff current and future projects in a cost-effective manner, or effectively control its marketing, research, development and administrative costs. There are also risks that the company's pursuit of providing network security technology might not be successful, or that if successful, it will not materially enhance the company's financial performance; that changes in customer requirements and other general economic and political uncertainties and weaknesses in geographic regions of the world could impact the company's relationship with its customers, partners and alliances; and that delays in product development, competitive pressures or technical difficulties could impact timely delivery of next-generation products; and other risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company specifically disclaims any responsibility for updating these forward-looking statements.

(1) IDC White Paper sponsored by Secure Computing, Securing Email Against Today's Threats: A Wake-Up Call on the Benefits of Comprehensive Messaging Security, Doc # 214837, October 2008

Ally Zwahlen Secure Computing Corporation 925-288-4175 Email Contact Paula Dunne Contos Dunne Communications LLC 408-776-1400; 408-893-8750 cell Email Contact