Combination Creates an Integrated Approach to Securing Enterprise Email and Web Communications and Content

$1billion+ Secure Web Gateway Market Estimated to be Growing over 20 percent per Annum

ORANGE, Calif. and BASINGSTOKE, UK – November 12, 2008 -- Marshal, a UK-based leader in email and Web content security software and technology, and 8e6 Technologies, a US-based leader in Web filtering appliances and technology, announced their agreement today to merge and form a new company, Marshal8e6. The combination creates the only independent software company capable of securing all forms of Internet-based communication streams -- including internal corporate emails, Internet-based email services, websites and Instant Messaging.

The combined company serves more than 20,000 customers managing more than 16 million end users in 96 countries, and had combined billings of more than $50 million in the past twelve months. Marshal8e6 will begin operations with more than 250 employees and major R&D and sales operations in Orange, California, Basingstoke, England, Auckland, New Zealand and Taipei, Taiwan.      

"The driving force behind our new company is that the threat environment has evolved and is much smarter than it used to be: reputable websites now have malware buried deep inside; seemingly innocent emails direct users to corrupted content; and instant messages contain infected attachments. Our customers are demanding coordination of content policy and protection across all these major communications streams, and this combination addresses that need," said George Shih, CEO of 8e6 Technologies. "Together we will have a broader product line, more advanced technologies and greater resources to deliver best-in-class solutions."

According to a 2008 Gartner report[1], Gartner estimates that the total composite market exceeded $1 billion in 2007 and was growing at a rate of 44 percent year over year. Dedicated Secure Web Gateway vendors are the fastest-growing submarket, averaging 140 percent year-over-year growth. Gartner expects average market growth rates to be in the 25 percent to 35 percent range for the next two years.

"Today’s threat landscape does not discriminate between Web-based and email threats," said Ed Macnair, CEO of Marshal. "To combat these threats effectively, you need the ability to integrate email and Web security. IT Directors want an easy-to-manage, integrated solution that filters malware from inbound and outbound email and Web traffic, stops data leakage, and does so with common administration and reporting. Marshal8e6 has all the pieces in place to be the new leader in the Secure Web Gateway market."

[1] Gartner, Inc. "Magic Quadrant for Secure Web Gateway" by Peter Firstbrook and Lawrence Orans, Sept. 11, 2008.