Novell Acquires Immunix, Delivers Industry's Best Application Security for Linux

WALTHAM, Mass., May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Novell (Nasdaq: NOVL) today announced it has acquired Immunix, Inc., a leading provider of host-based application security solutions for Linux. Immunix is the creator of AppArmor, the most effective and easy-to-use Linux application security system available today. The new product, to be called Novell(R) AppArmor powered by Immunix(TM), protects both the Linux* operating system and applications from external or internal attacks, viruses, and malicious applications. As a result, businesses can protect key corporate data, reduce network administration costs, and comply with government regulations. "Businesses understand attacks on their mission-critical applications can hit their bottom line unexpectedly and with grave results," said Novell chairman and CEO Jack Messman. "Only Novell AppArmor provides an enterprise-class security system for Linux that is easy to implement, deploy and maintain. Novell customers will sleep better at night knowing their applications are protected."

Novell AppArmor's proactive security reduces the need for urgent, reactive patching by stopping attacks before they can impact the system, allowing patching to become a scheduled maintenance activity, not an emergency. AppArmor offers a set of predefined security policies for popular applications such as Web, e-mail and remote login, as well as wizards that make it easy to create and deploy custom security policies. The built-in reporting and alert features allow IT professionals to ensure compliance with security regulations quickly and easily, and to receive instant notifications when intrusions do occur.

The addition of AppArmor expands Novell's commitment to enterprise-class security. Novell's SUSE(R) LINUX Enterprise Server 9 was the first commercial Linux distribution to support Security Enhanced Linux (SELinux) and to receive Evaluation Assurance Level 4+ (EAL4+) certification.

"Security through application containment has emerged as a favored way to protect applications from compromise and to protect applications from one another," said Al Gillen, research director, system software at IDC. "The acquisition of Immunix is a complementary addition to Novell's Linux portfolio, and ties directly into Novell's focus on bringing SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server up-market to datacenter customers."

"Intel and Novell have been working together on a common strategy to assist IT organizations in provisioning and managing their systems. The integration of Immunix AppArmor into the Novell product line is aligned with this strategy as it gives Novell customers a powerful solution for mitigating the effects of application vulnerabilities," said Jon Bork, director, Open Source Program Office of Intel Corporation. "IT organizations will increasingly be able to depend on Novell running on Intel-based platforms with Intel(R) Virtualization Technology and Intel(R) Active Management Technology to enhance security and manageability." Immunix, founded in Portland, Ore., in 1998, was instrumental in the development of the security architecture of the Linux kernel and has close ties with the Linux development community. "Security is our passion, not just our profession," said Crispin Cowan, CTO and co-founder of Immunix. "Our engineers were able to use their substantial and specialized IT experience to produced the Immunix core host-based Linux security technology. We are excited to be joining forces with Novell and gaining the ability to provide our solution to a global market."

Additional information is available at http://www.novell.com/apparmor. Legal Notice Concerning Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes statements that are not historical in nature and that may be characterized as "forward-looking statements," including those related to future financial and operating results, benefits and synergies of the company's brands and strategies, future opportunities and the growth of the market for open source solutions. You should be aware that Novell's actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations of Novell management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, Novell's ability to integrate acquired operations and employees, Novell's success in executing its Linux strategies, Novell's ability to deliver on its one Net vision of the Internet, Novell's ability to take a competitive position in the Linux industry, business conditions and the general economy, market opportunities, potential new business strategies, competitive factors, sales and marketing execution, shifts in technologies or market demand and the other factors described in Novell's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Jan. 13, 2005. Novell disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release. About Novell

Novell, Inc. is a leading provider of infrastructure software and services to over 50,000 customers in 43 countries. With more than 20 years of experience in data center, workgroup and desktop solutions, Novell's 6,000 employees, 5,000 partners and support centers around the world are meeting customer requirements for identity-driven computing and Linux solutions. By providing enterprise-class software and support for commercial and open source software, Novell delivers increased operating flexibility and choice at a lower total cost of ownership. NOTE: Novell is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. SUSE is a registered trademark of SUSE LINUX Products GmbH, a Novell business. *All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.