Hong Kong, July 15, 2004 - Fortinet - the only provider of ASIC-powered, network-based antivirus firewall systems for real-time network protection –today formally announced its FortiPartner eseller Program for Australia/New Zealand, South Asia, South-East Asia, and Hong Kong. The objective of the program is to recruit a select group of strategic value-added reseller (VA) and solution provider partners to provide domain expertise, security specialization, and geographic coverage for Fortinet's products.

The FortiPartner eseller Program aims to provide resellers with effective sales and marketing programs, tools, training and support services needed to ensure their business success. The FortiPartner eseller Program is tiered into Platinum, Gold and Silver levels. The program delivers value to partner members by rewarding them for their commitment with a number of incentives for engaging with Fortinet on joint business opportunities. FortiPartner eseller Program members also enjoy discounts on Fortinet products, direct access to Fortinet's sales and marketing support, technical certification and sales training, among other key benefits. Annual revenue, the number of certified sales and technology professionals, and lead generation events, among others, are criteria to determine which tier a reseller best belongs.

The FortiPartner eseller Program combines Fortinet's technology leadership and comprehensive support with the program members' domain expertise. Customers will benefit from this synergy through effective and accelerated delivery of security solutions.

"As a company that is 100% channel, we view our reseller partners as an essential extension of our sales effort and strategically invaluable towards growing and maintaining our market leadership in security technology in the Asia Pacific region," said F. Matthew Young III, vice president and general manager for Fortinet Asia-Pacific. "With the FortiPartner eseller Program, we are creating a world-class partner ecosystem that enables Fortinet and our reseller partners to maximize their business opportunity with Fortinet's family of industry leading solutions and flourish in the red-hot security market space."

Based on the initial response from leading solution providers in the region, the FortiPartner eseller Program is slated for success.

"MCI Datacom has established a strong presence as a security solution provider in Australia," said Gavin Matthews, CIO of MCI Datacom, a leader in security services and solutions in Australia. "Fortinet's FortiGate products combined with our value-added services and customer-specific pricing model has enabled MCI Datacom to grow our business. Fortinet is part of our long-term business plans and we are excited about the introduction of their new partner program - they are taking a step in the right direction."

"Fortinet offers tremendous value through its feature-packed products that deliver effective security at high throughputs. Their expansive range of products provides us required options to optimize our solution to meet customers' needs. We are very excited to expand our working relationship through the FortiPartner Program", said N. C. Ananthasayanam, Business Manager - Information Security Solutions, of amco Systems Ltd, India. "Through formalized access to account management, certification, lead sharing and other key features of the FortiPartner Program, amco will be better equipped to deliver Fortinet solutions in the region. Our customers stand to benefit."