SafeNet Announces Security Processor for SME Networking Equipment

SafeXcel-5150 is the First Security Processor Purpose-built for Fast Ethernet Bandwidth

Network Systems Design Conference, SAN JOSE, California – October 19, 2005 - SafeNet, Inc. (NASDAQ: SFNT), setting the standard for information security, today announced the SafeXcel-5150, adding a high-performance processor to the suite of Enterprise Security Processors specifically designed for network equipment manufacturers targeting the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) market.

The SafeXcel-5150 integrates an industry-standard 32-bit RISC processor with a unique inline security packet engine and flow processor. The SafeXcel-5150 achieves full-duplex 100 Mbps IPsec throughput with 64-byte packets, and full-duplex 200 Mbps IPsec throughput with average-sized and larger packets.

The SafeXcel-5150 is the latest product in SafeNet's range of Enterprise Security Processors. While the SafeXcel-5140 achieves full-duplex 45 Mbps IPsec throughput for 64-byte packets, the SafeXcel-5150 is fully compatible and provides OEMs an easy migration path in building higher-performance appliances.

"The SafeXcel-5150 is designed to deliver a low-cost, integrated hardware/software solution." adds Henk Pruim, Vice President and General Manager for SafeNet's OEM/Networking Business Unit. "Its unique architecture delivers an impressive price/performance ratio compared to conventional security-enabled communications processors. The SafeXcel-5150 is the best choice for OEMs looking for high-performance network processing, maximum security, and affordability in a single chip."

Pre-integrated with SafeNet's QuickSec Unified security software, the Enterprise Security Processor enables OEMs to build complete VPN gateways, broadband access devices and home networking equipment, while significantly reducing time-to-market.

The SafeXcel-5150 Enterprise Security Processor features unique characteristics, including:

PERFORMANCE - As high bandwidths become more widely available to SMEs, the SafeXcel-5150 processor is precisely delivering the throughput levels this market requires, ranging from full duplex 100 Mbps for small packets to full-duplex 200 Mbps for average-size and larger packets. While existing security-enabled processors can handle large IPsec packets at reasonable data rates, they often perform very poorly when it comes to processing small packets. In contrast, the SafeXcel-5150 chip excels at all packet sizes and maximizes headroom on the embedded processor.

PRICE - SMEs are looking for powerful yet economical networking security appliances. With a sub-$50 price tag, the SafeXcel-5150 is the most cost-effective security processor in its performance class – dramatically improving material cost and margins for networking equipment OEMs.

INTEGRATION & TIME-TO-MARKET - The SafeXcel-5150 chips are pre-integrated with SafeNet’s QuickSec Unified security platform to provide a complete, proven hardware/software security solution. This pre-integration significantly reduces design and integration cycles, resulting in accelerated time to market and reduced project cost for OEMs.

FEATURES - The SafeXcel-5150 provides hardware implementations for 3DES, AES, SHA-1, MD5, random number generation, and public-key acceleration. The enterprise security processor also features packet filtering and flow processing, NAT, NAT-T, NAPT, IPSec and Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP) processing, as well as SHA-256, AES Galois Counter Mode (GCM), AES-XCBC-MAC-96, and Extended Sequence Numbers.

POWER REDUCTION - Power consumption is a major concern among system designers as it affects total system cost, density, and performance.

The SafeXcel-5150 reduces system power requirements in two significant ways: first by replacing a 2-chip solution with a single chip, and second by providing dedicated IPSec packet processing hardware, which is substantially more power-efficient than using a general purpose processor.

The SafeXcel-5150 Enterprise Security Processor is a key component of SafeNet's fully integrated security solutions for OEMs in telecommunications, SME, SOHO, and Semiconductor markets. SafeNet OEM products include QuickSec security software, SafeXcel hardware security processors and silicon-proven semiconductor IP. This complete security platform enables vendors to build complete network security solutions while reducing total cost and time to market. For more information about the SafeXcel-5150, please visit http://www.safenet-inc.com/SafeXcel5150.

About SafeNet, Inc.
SafeNet is a global leader in information security. Founded more than 20 years ago, the company provides complete security utilizing its encryption technologies to protect communications, intellectual property and digital identities, and offers a full spectrum of products including hardware, software, and chips. ARM, Bank of America, NetGear, the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, Adobe, Samsung, Texas Instruments, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and scores of other customers entrust their security needs to SafeNet. For more information, visit www.safenet-inc.com.