SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)—May 22, 2006-- SPYRUS, Inc., providing security to the edge, today announced it has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program with dual competencies in OEM Hardware Solutions and ISV/Software Solutions, recognizing SPYRUS's expertise and impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified Partner, SPYRUS has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven ability to meet customers' needs. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the channel.

SPYRUS is the first company worldwide to implement the U.S. Government Suite B cryptographic algorithms (AES, SHA-2, ECC) -- the strongest commercial algorithms available today -- across its entire product line. SPYRUS seeks to drive the market transition from the legacy DES, SHA-1, and RSA algorithms towards next-generation public-key security with more powerful products that deliver demonstrably stronger security and ease of use with a lower cost of ownership. SPYRUS will demonstrate its products at Microsoft's Tech-Ed 2006, June 11-16, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston.

SPYRUS's products range from smart cards and readers, USB and hardware cryptographic security modules (HSMs), multi-token-type crypto-aware software, and integrated PKI digital certificate management systems. Product quality is proven time after time in customer deployments, independent evaluations, and FIPS security validations.

"We are extremely pleased to have attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program with dual Competencies," said Tom Dickens, SPYRUS Chief Operating Officer. "This achievement means that Microsoft recognizes our strengths in and ability to deliver hardware- and software-based security solutions, which commercial and government customers worldwide require to meet the advanced security demands for their organization."

Partners that have obtained the OEM Hardware Solutions Competency are recognized for their expertise in delivering high quality hardware solutions and are provided with information and tools needed to expand their market opportunities and maintain a competitive advantage in the industry. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners that have obtained the ISV/Software Solutions Competency have a successful record of developing and marketing packaged software based on Microsoft technologies.

"Partners that acquire the OEM Hardware Solutions Competency have demonstrated expertise and have a track record of building high-quality hardware solutions that are designed and configured with Microsoft technologies according to customer needs and supported to ensure customer satisfaction," said Kurt Kolb, vice president of Worldwide System Builder Channel and License Compliance at Microsoft. "These partners are able to closely engage with Microsoft and have access to specialized resources to help them meet and even surpass customer expectations."

"Solutions competencies are an important way for Microsoft to better enable ISVs to meet customer needs," said Sanjay Parthasarathy, corporate vice president of the Developer & Platform Evangelism Group at Microsoft. "They allow ISVs to keep and win customers through their deep knowledge of solutions-based Microsoft platform technologies. Microsoft has a long history of working closely with ISV partners to help them deliver compelling solutions and applications to our mutual customers, and the Microsoft Competencies are an important step in continuing to enhance vital relationships with ISVs worldwide."

The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in October 2003 and represents Microsoft's ongoing commitment to the success of partners worldwide. The program offers a single, integrated partnering framework that recognizes partner expertise, rewards the total impact that partners have in the technology marketplace, and delivers more value to help partners' businesses be successful.

About SPYRUS

SPYRUS has provided products and services for the information security market since its inception in 1992. Our focus is on customers in Government and Commercial enterprises, particularly those needing data protection and privacy in vertical markets regulated by stringent mandates such as Graham-Leach-Bliley, HIPAA and Sarbanes-Oxley. Our primary product lines of Hardware Security Modules, Rosetta Client Authentication (smart cards, USB tokens and readers) and Identity Management products (Signal Identity Manager and SPYRUS PKI) meet customer needs for high-assurance security through our extensive portfolio of intellectual property, our security expertise, and our implementation of the strongest commercial cryptographic algorithms available today. Our latest algorithms, termed Suite B, have been designed to exceed the highest standards of security certification such as Common Criteria, FIPS 140-2 Levels 2 through Level 4 and FIPS 201. Hundreds of government entities, corporations, systems integrators and resellers worldwide have deployed our solutions. SPYRUS is a privately held company headquartered in San Jose, California, with offices in Canada and Australia.

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SPYRUS Media Contact:
Madison Alexander PR
Dan Chmielewski, 714-832-8716 or 949-231-2965 (mobile)
dchm@madisonalexanderpr.com