Public Relations

Asgent Announces Distributor Agreement with Blue Coat Systems

- Providing a one-stop gateway security solution through integration with existing security gateway products -

November 25, 2009
Asgent,Inc.
（JASDAQ：4288）

Asgent, Inc. (President & CEO: Takahiro Sugimoto, located in Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo), a pioneer in network security and operations management solutions, today announces the signing of a distributor agreement with Blue Coat Systems G.K. (Managing Director: Matt Bennett, located in Minato-ku, Tokyo), a technology leader in application delivery networking, to start sales of the Blue Coat appliance series, including web security appliances.

【Blue Coat Systems, Web Security Appliance Market Leader】

Blue Coat Systems’ solutions have the most well established reputation in both Japan and overseas for making the internet faster and safer for users, and the markets for Blue Coat Systems’ web security appliance, WAN access acceleration and bandwidth management solutions are expected to continue to expand in the future. According to a survey conducted by Fuji Chimera Research Institute, the market size for these solutions is projected to expand to 17.65 Billion Yen (※1) in 2013. Also, Blue Coat Systems’ solutions possess overwhelming market share in these markets. For example, Blue Coat Systems currently holds the top share of 75.6% (※1) in the web security appliance market.
Blue Coat Systems provides an application delivery network infrastructure based on the three concepts of “visibility”, “acceleration” and “security” to optimize and secure the flow of information by evolving, strengthening and integrating their product concept with existing solutions and technology.

【Blue Coat Systems’ Channel Restructuring Creates Distributor Position】

Asgent signed the distributor agreement with Blue Coat Systems as part of their channel restructuring in the Japan market. Below are comments from Blue Coat Systems Managing Director Matt Bennett regarding the distributor agreement with Asgent.
“First, I am very pleased to announce the distributor agreement with Asgent. Asgent is a leading security company, and was the first to introduce the ‘IP Appliance’ to the Japanese gateway security market. In line with the Blue Coat channel restructuring, we really took notice of Asgent’s high level of sales, support and system integration capabilities in the gateway solution field. We have high expectations for Asgent as one of our most powerful partners for promoting Blue Coat Systems’ concept of the application delivery network solution in Japan.”

Asgent has focused on gateway security business since the inception of the company, and has long held a leadership position as a solution provider in the FireWall/UTM market, primarily with Check Point Software Technologies’ ‘IP Appliance’ series. Blue Coat Systems’ solution positioning as a gateway solution like FireWall/UTM provides a high level of business and technical synergy for Asgent.
The agreement with Blue Coat Systems allows Asgent to start sales of all products that comprise the application delivery network advocated by Blue Coat Systems, including the Blue Coat SG series and the Packeteer PacketShaper series acquired in 2008 etc. By integrating the sales, support and integration capabilities that Asgent has cultivated over many years through sales of FireWall/UTM with Blue Coat Systems’ solutions, it is possible to provide a more complete, safer and faster information delivery solution to end users.

Asgent will start sales of Blue Coat Systems gateway appliances on December 1st, and will also provide the same integration services and 24hour nationwide onsite support that is already provided for other gateway security products.

[Blue Coat Systems’ Solution]

※1 Fuji Chimera Research Institute “2009 Communication Marketing Survey (1)” Breakdown (WAN Acceleration: 5 Billion Yen, Bandwidth Management: 10 Billion Yen, Web Security Appliance: 2.65 Billion Yen)

【Main Products】

• Blue Coat SG Series

  Web security appliance for accelerating web communication and business applications

• Blue Coat PacketShaper

  Bandwidth management appliance for optimizing WAN applications and performance

• Blue Coat AV Series

  Security appliance providing network protection from viruses, worms and spyware

• Blue Coat Web Filter

  URL filtering for managing internet access

• Blue Coat Reporter

  Web traffic reporting and monitoring tool

• Blue Coat Director

  Blue Coat SG Series central management solution

* All company names or product names are registered trademarks of their respective companies.