Mirage Networks Security Expert to Speak on Securing and Protecting Student Networks

AUSTIN, Texas—July 10, 2007--Mirage Networks®, Inc., developer of award-winning Network Access Control (NAC) technology, will be on hand at next week's Mississippi Student Information System’s 2007 Data Conference in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, to help school districts and other organizations understand how NAC plays a key role in securing and protecting student networks.

The K-12 network poses unique security challenges to IT professionals in educational institutions across the country. While endeavoring to close the digital divide for all Americans and provide open access to protected speech on the Internet, school districts also strive to protect children, limit their exposure to inappropriate material, and comply with legislation such as the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Network Access Control has proven to be a foundational element in taking control of any network.

Trent Fitz, director of product management at Mirage Networks, will speak to the unique challenges faced by K-12 IT managers. Specifically, Fitz's presentation will cover:

• Stopping zero day threats such as worms and viruses from propagating on the network
• Reducing risk by ensuring all devices are compliant before gaining network access
• Monitoring all network traffic and eliminating prohibited communication
• Managing and protecting all wired and wireless endpoints, regardless of operating system
• Assimilating NAC into any network infrastructure

Trent Fitz has more than ten years of experience with security-focused products and technologies including networking, content delivery, and centralized computing. Prior to joining Mirage, Trent was a leading network architect for IBM Global Services, designing secure networks from the ground up across multiple industries including education, healthcare and financial services. He has designed multiple K-12 network infrastructures supporting secure voice, video and data services.

The Mississippi Student Information System (MSIS) provides for the electronic collection and storage of comprehensive detailed data about Mississippi teachers, administrators, students (K to 12), and school board members. MSIS also allows for the electronic transfer of student records from one school district to another, thus offering a unique student tracking system. The purpose of this project is to provide an efficient means to:

• Support the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) performance-based accreditation model
• Support education funding programs
• Provide timely and accurate reporting of education data (schedules, attendance, grades, transportation, discipline, Vocational, and Special Education) to meet state and federal requirements
• Allow for student tracking across the state to determine student mobility trends and to assist in the reduction of the drop-out rate within the state

About Mirage Networks

Mirage Networks, Inc. is the leading provider of Network Access Control (NAC) solutions, including both pre- and post-admission security. The company’s patented technology gives organizations control over unknown, out-of-policy, and infected devices resulting in increased network uptime, policy compliance, and reduced operational costs. Mirage’s NAC appliances work in all network environments, deploy out-of-band, and require neither signatures nor agents to enforce policies and terminate zero-day threats. Based in Austin, Texas, Mirage Networks Endpoint Control is a consistent winner of industry awards and recognition. Learn more at http://www.miragenetworks.com.

Contacts
Mirage Networks
Alison Guzzio, 610-925-2761
alison@inktankstrategic.com

© 2007, Mirage Networks, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Mirage Networks, its product and program names and design marks are trademarks of Mirage Networks, Inc.