Tacit Networks Demonstrates Microsoft Windows-Based "Branch Office in a Box" with WAN Optimization at SNW Spring Microsoft Pavilion

Storage Networking World Spring 2006, San Diego, April 4, 2006 Tacit Networks today announced that it will showcase its "Branch Office in a Box" solution with Wide Area File Services (WAFS) and newly released ARC (Acceleration, Reduction, Compression) Wide Area Network (WAN) Optimization technology in the Microsoft Pavilion at this week`s Storage Networking World (SNW) conference.

"In recent months, Tacit Networks` strategic relationship with Microsoft has helped develop and launch new technologies to meet our customers` needs," said Greg Grodhaus, chairman and CEO of Tacit Networks. "Windows technology is at the heart of millions of IT organizations around the world and our work with Microsoft technologies is central to offering our customers a remote office IT consolidation and optimization solution that fits seamlessly within their IT infrastructure."

Tacit Networks` Ishared Branch Office in a Box platform offers WAFS based upon the native Common Internet File System (CIFS) protocol for seamless integration with Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2, along with critical branch office IT services including print, domain controller, management and networking services, and support for disconnected operations. This native Windows support also enables customers to utilize Microsoft security schemes such as SMB Signing for CIFS traffic to protect data from "man in the middle" attacks, as well as Kerberos Authentication and optional site-to-site data encryption.

Tacit Networks` recently announced that its Ishared 3.0 software release also adds WAN Optimization to the company`s Branch Office In a Box platform, accelerating a wide range of TCP-based applications, including Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services, web-based applications, file transfer protocol (FTP) and replication. Additionally, the Ishared 3.0 release also includes features for streamlining enterprise-wide deployments and advanced management and resiliency. Customers have the choice of deploying Tacit Networks` products either on a Windows-based drop-in appliance or as a software-based installation on existing qualified customer server platforms.

"Microsoft understands the value of a branch office IT platform that can deliver WAN optimization and acceleration for the widest variety of data and applications," said Dr. Claude Lorenson, group product manager, Storage Technologies at Microsoft Corporation. "Our ability to deliver an end-to-end solution to branch offices is strengthened by working with companies like Tacit Networks and their innovative WAFS and WAN Optimization technology. We are proud to offer this solution to Microsoft`s customers."

"It is completely unrealistic to think that remote office operations are going to get rid of all the functions they run, no matter how appealing the concept," said Steve Duplessie, senior analyst, the Enterprise Strategy Group. "Microsoft plays a role at both ends of the WAN, so I like the Tacit Networks` implementation of providing Microsoft-based services locally while centralizing the data itself back at the corporate data center."