For Immediate Release:

Media Contact:
Monique Bautista
Akaba Inc.
(408) 884-3765
PR@Akabainc.com

Thomas Bleier Joins Akaba as
Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Security and Networking Veteran
joins Network Security Validation company management team

Campbell, Calif. - December 17, 2001 - Akaba, Inc., a leader in Web Service based, Network Security Validation Systems announced that Thomas Bleier has joined the company as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Mr. Bleier will be responsible for product marketing, corporate marketing and World Wide Sales activities.

Mr. Bleier, a twenty year veteran in the data communications and security industries, most recently was with Alcatel where he was Vice President of Business Strategy, for the Managed IP Services business unit. Prior to Alcatel, Mr. Bleier was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Internet Devices, a network security company that introduced the first Security Policy Router in the industry.

"We are pleased to add Thomas as a core member of the management team", said Bill Hunt, CEO of Akaba. "This will be the fourth company that we have worked at together. Mr. Bleier is well known in the industry and has a proven track record in strategic marketing and in building sales teams."

"Network Security Validation is one of the largest un-met needs in the data communications industry." said Mr. Bleier. "Mid-sized and large companies have invested considerable time and money to create a defense against the growing threats to data security. Until now, there was no practical way to be sure that a company's integrated security system was consistently effective. Akaba has answered the need with a next-generation network security validation service that is web based. "

CEO Bill Hunt added, "Our team has a rich history in the data communications security space. We understand how the hackers operate and how security products are built on the inside. The founders have developed security products for Novell, VPNet (Avaya) and Internet Devices (Alcatel). Our unique insight to the problem is apparent in the finished product and reports that the end users see."

Prior to Alcatel and Internet Devices, Mr. Bleier was a key part of the management team for VPNet Technologies - the first company entirely focused on VPN's, and held senior marketing positions at ATM Inc. (now Virata Inc.) and Bay Networks (Nortel).

About Akaba, Inc.
Akaba Inc. is a leading provider of automated security scanning systems. Established in 1999, Akaba addresses the critical need for ongoing vulnerability assessments of data networks. The PointScan Product line detects potential threats associated with the setup, integration or use of operating systems such as MicroSoft Windows 2000, NT or XP, SOLARIS, LINUX, and others; Firewalls and VPN's such at Checkpoint's Firewall-1 and Cisco's PIX, and applications such as E-mail, Web and E-commerce servers. PointScan is a web service and is designed at a complimentary tool for resellers and OEM's such as service providers and security equipment manufacturers.

Akaba Inc, is headquartered in Campbell, CA and has offices throughout the United States. For more information about Akaba, please visit www.Akabainc.com. Akaba and PointScan are trademarks of Akaba Inc. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.