(Market Wire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) DALLAS, TX, October 25 / MARKET WIRE/ --

A sampling of corporate America's top IT
executives reveals that despite today's emerging technologies, the lack of
IT security expertise is one of the biggest threats to their organization's
secure networks. The survey was conducted last week during the twice-annual
Storage Networking World Conference (SNW), an event designed specifically
for IT executives and managers responsible for IT infrastructure and
storage. Co-owned by Computerworld and the Storage Networking Industry
Association, SNW is the world's largest IT storage networking event.

As the use of the Internet continues to rise and become a standard of doing
business, IT executives are faced with a growing concern of protecting
their computer networks from viruses and other attacks that can penetrate
an IT enterprise. While one-third of the conference attendees participating
in the survey said data and database encryption is their operation's
weakest point, almost the same number said lack of IT security expertise
was the their biggest vulnerability.

Overall, 37 percent said they were totally capable of withstanding hacker
attacks but weaker to physical threats; 34 percent said their enterprises
were weak to both physical and hacking threats. Of those surveyed, only 3
percent said their IT enterprises were completely "bulletproof."

"While encryption software and appliances are relatively easy to deploy,
managing the keys to that technology continues to pose a concern to storage
administrators. If you lose the key, you lose the data. I believe that is
at the crux of security management issues," said Lucas Mearian, storage
editor for Computerworld magazine. "As most IT managers know, 60 percent of
cost relates to personnel. So the larger and more complex the
infrastructure, the higher the personnel cost the organization will face."

Storage Networking World came to a close Thursday after the nation's top
technology executives and managers gathered to discuss the most critical
storage networking issues facing organizations today. The event took place
Oct. 15-18 at the Gaylord Texan Hotel in Dallas. Several of the leading
technology companies took advantage of the select gathering by introducing
various storage-related products and components.

In my role, "I need to stay on top of what is new out there and SNW
provided an opportunity to learn and keep up with what technologies and
trends are next," said Roland Etcheverry, Ph.D., CIO of Champion
Technologies and a featured presenter at this fall's conference. "Personal
connections are tremendously valuable and the reality is that now more and
ever, business transactions often take place either by phone or email, and
the SNW conference gives the IT storage networking industry a face-to-face,
human dimension to business relationships."

Honorees were also announced for Computerworld's "Best Practices in Storage
Awards," at a gala ceremony held at the conclusion of the event. (For more
information, visit http://www.snwusa.com/awards for complete announcement
and list of finalists and honorees.)

About Computerworld

Computerworld is the leading source of technology news and information for
IT influencers worldwide. Computerworld's award-winning Web site
(www.computerworld.com), weekly publication, focused conference series and
custom research form the hub of the world's largest (40+ edition) global IT
media network. In the past five years alone, Computerworld has won more
than 100 awards, including Folio Magazine's 2006 Gold EDDIE Award for the
best technology/computing magazine, the 2004 and 2006 Magazine of the Year
Award, and 2006 Best Overall Web Publication from the American Society of
Business Publication Editors (ASBPE). In addition, in 2007 Computerworld's
editor-in-chief Don Tennant received the prestigious Timothy White Award
from American Business Media.

Computerworld leads the industry with an online audience of over 2 million
unique monthly visitors and a print audience of 1,252,000 readers each week
(IntelliQuest CIMS Fall 2006).

About International Data Group (IDG)

International Data Group (IDG) is the world's leading technology media,
events, and research company. IDG's online network includes more than 450
Web sites spanning business technology, consumer technology, digital
entertainment, and video games worldwide. IDG publishes more than 300
magazines and newspapers in 85 countries including CIO, CSO, Computerworld,
GamePro, InfoWorld, Macworld, Network World, and PC World. IDG's
lead-generation service, IDG Connect, matches technology companies with an
audience of engaged, high-quality IT professionals, influencers, and
decision makers.

IDG is a leading producer of more than 750 technology-related events
including Macworld Conference & Expo, LinuxWorld Conference & Expo,
Entertainment for All Expo (E for All), DEMO, and IDC Directions. IDC, a
subsidiary of IDG, is the premier global provider of market intelligence,
advisory services, and events. Over 900 IDC analysts in more than 90
countries provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and
industry opportunities and trends.

Additional information about IDG, a privately held company, is available at
idg.com. Note: All product and company names are trademarks of their
respective companies.

About the Storage Networking Industry Association

The Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) is a not-for-profit
global organization, made up of more than 460 member companies and close to
7,000 active individuals spanning virtually the entire storage industry.
SNIA members share the common goal of advancing the adoption of storage
networks as complete and trusted solutions. To this end, the SNIA is
uniquely committed to delivering standards, education and services that
will propel open storage networking solutions into the broader market. For
additional information, visit the SNIA web site at http://www.snia.org.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Bill Wrinn
Topaz Partners
781-404-2417Email Contact
Duncan Newell
Computerworld
508-271-8029Email Contact

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