National Gypsum Wins Network World Extended Enterprise Innovator Award for Customer Extranet Powered by Juniper Networks' SSL VPN

National Gypsum Wins Network World Extended Enterprise Innovator Award for Customer Extranet Powered by Juniper Networks' SSL VPN

Network World: 'National Gypsum Wins for Constructing a Massive VPN that Pushes SSL Access Across the Board'

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 30, 2004 ? Juniper Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: JNPR) today announced that its customer National Gypsum Company, a fully integrated manufacturer and supplier of building and construction products worldwide, has won the Network World 2004 Extended Enterprise Innovator Award. National Gypsum was honored for successfully deploying a secure customer extranet and employee remote access network with the Juniper Networks NetScreen Secure Access 5000 SSL VPN, which improved the work processes of its customers and field sales employees. For more on the award and National Gypsum's business case, see: http://www.nwfusion.com/ee/2004/111504award.html

"The Extended Enterprise Innovator Award honors user organizations for significant projects that connect employees, customers and business partners through one technology architecture," said Beth Schultz, editor, Network World Signature Series. "National Gypsum wins our 2004 Extended Enterprise Innovator Award for visionary use of emerging connection technologies to better customer relationships. The SSL VPN has become the basis of their secure, easy and cost-effective extended enterprise for thousands of users. In the process, the number of individuals who can tap business data and applications remotely has grown from 150 employees to more than 9,000 people including employees, retailers and shipping companies."

"We saw an opportunity to dramatically increase customer service responsiveness and availability of delivery information with an SSL VPN solution," said Mike Brannon, senior manager of e-commerce at National Gypsum. "We are very excited to have been recognized by Network World for this prestigious award, validating my team's decision to deploy Juniper Networks' SSL VPN appliances. We are truly honored to have been named tops among all the nominations by Network World editors, and to be recognized for our project's technical sophistication, innovation and business impact."

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., National Gypsum is a leading supplier of wallboard, interior finishing products and cement board to the construction industry. The company has a network of 31 plants in North America, including its own paper mills and gypsum mines and quarries. Due to the number of National Gypsum sites and employees in the field, the company deployed the Juniper Networks NetScreen Secure Access 5000 appliances to enable remote access to its data network for both customers and its mobile sales force. National Gypsum created an intuitive, self-service customer extranet using the Microsoft.NET Framework servers for the Web interfaced to its IBM mainframe, which is integrated with the Juniper Networks SSL VPN appliance to allow customers to check and confirm construction material orders in real-time via a standard Web browser and Internet connection, or opt to receive PDF status reports via the SSL VPN. This linked with National Gypsum's sales and customer service operations helped to maintain their superior customer service. National Gypsum field representatives also log into the network from home offices, hotels and kiosks, and obtain a more secure and reliable link to headquarters via the Juniper Networks SSL VPN versus their previous dialup solution.

In addition to transitioning nearly all remote access to Juniper Networks' SSL VPN, National Gypsum has also benefited from the appliance's Secure Meeting online collaboration functionality.

"We had used the WebEx Communications conferencing service several times per week for training and paid up to $200 per meeting," said Brannon. "We're now converting everyone over to taking advantage of the SSL VPN, which has the ability to do that for a one-time, low-cost add on."

The Juniper Networks NetScreen Secure Access SSL VPN appliances provide enterprise-class secure access to network resources for remote employees, customers and partners. Contrary to traditional access technologies, there is no client software to install because the Secure Access appliances leverage SSL for secure, controlled access to resources via any Web browser. The SSL VPN appliances enable encrypted and secure connections with detailed audit logs and time outs, and allow National Gypsum administrators to establish strict access controls, protecting network resources and customer data. The appliances also eliminate the need to secure or harden servers or make changes to existing infrastructure. The result is a more cost effective, secure access solution that is easy to deploy and simple for end-users to operate.

For more information about Juniper Networks security products, visit: http://www.juniper.net/solutions/security/

About Network World's 2004 Extended Enterprise Issue

The Extended Enterprise Issue is one of six bimonthly supplements providing insights, opinions and information on the biggest trends shaping the networked world. From improving application performance and beating hackers to Web integration and maximizing networks for e-business, the Extended Enterprise Issues highlights the tools and techniques needed for extending the reach of enterprises.

About Network World, Inc.

Network World Inc., the Leader in Network Knowledge, empowers Network IT Executives through education, information and community. Network World is the leading provider of news, analysis, reviews, events and education on information technology. Network World publishes the leading newsweekly, Network World, hosts the most active online community, Network World Fusion (http://www.nwfusion.com), and produces educational seminars and events worldwide.

About Juniper Networks, Inc.

Juniper Networks transforms the business of networking by creating competitive advantage for our customers with superior networking and security solutions. Juniper Networks is dedicated to customers who derive strategic value from their networks, including global network operators, enterprises, government agencies and research and educational institutions. Juniper Networks' portfolio of networking and security solutions supports the complex scale, security and performance requirements of the world's most demanding mission critical networks. Additional information can be found at www.juniper.net.

Juniper Network, the Juniper Networks logo and NetScreen are registered trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. in the United States and other countries. The following are trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc.: NetScreen Secure Access and NetScreen Secure Meeting.