Nokia Secures Global Corporate Network for Leading Furniture Retailer The Courts Group with Site-to-site VPN Deployment

Global retail chain installs Nokia VPN and IP security platforms integrating Check Point software to protect its network and serve all e-mail users across 20 countries

HELSINKI, Finland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 22, 2002-- Nokia has been chosen by The Courts Group to secure its global corporate network using Nokia IP network security appliances integrating the market-leading VPN-1®/FireWall-1® software from its global partner Check Point Software Technologies (NASDAQ: CHKP).

The Courts Group is headquartered in London with 100 shops across the UK and Ireland and at least a further 200 stores and offices in 20 countries across Africa, the Caribbean and South East Asia. As a large conglomerate the key deciding criteria focused on manageability of the system chosen, ease of deployment and central management from its corporate head office in the UK.

With a global network to manage, it was essential that Courts could rely on a secure and flexible Internet-based network for its data. With these requirements in mind, it chose Nokia's network security appliances integrating Check Point's VPN and firewall software.

Network backbone capacity across the group ranges from 16Mbps Token Ring to 100Mbps Ethernet, and sites are connected to the main network and the Internet via leased lines at speeds of between 64Kbps and 2Mbps. Such a varied system called for central management control. The management hub in London, UK, which is backed by a powerful Nokia IP440 IP network security appliance supporting all the other worldwide sites, offers this management.

Richard Turnbull, Head of International IT Infrastructure, Courts PLC says of the company's requirements: "Our network security and VPN needs were a myriad of criteria: data encryption, VPN connectivity between sites, bandwidth control and traffic prioritisation, reporting on usage including attacks and misuse, reliability and stability, central management, and a secure solution for remote administration. We have achieved all the criteria with the Nokia solution."

As well as the main IP440 VPN hub, Courts has also installed four IP330 appliances in Jamaica, Trinidad, Malaysia and Singapore, and 15 entry-level IP120 devices at smaller-sized locations in countries including South Africa, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Dominica, Barbados, Mauritius, and Guyana.

To secure its Singapore branch office, Courts has also installed an IP71 device that integrates Check Point's VPN-1/FireWall-1 SmallOffice(TM) software, a cost-effective security solution that delivers enterprise class security to remote/branch offices and small businesses.

All Nokia appliances are positioned on the perimeter of Courts' global network and data between sites is encrypted and decrypted between these points of presence to protect mission-critical tasks using the Nokia IP network security appliances.

Turnbull adds, "Nokia's easy-to-install appliances were chosen above alternative solutions offered by companies including Cisco and Symantec. An appliance-based solution like Nokia's is far more efficient and cost effective to use than alternatives being run over Windows NT, for instance."

The Courts group is very much a growing company and the scalability offered by Nokia - from small office solutions to systems able to manage truly global networks - will enable the further growth envisaged at the Courts Group.

"The fact that such a well-known name on the high street has put it's confidence in the security solutions we offer, further illustrates how reliable our technology is," says Ernie Jones, Nokia Internet Communications vice president of sales, Europe, Middle East & Africa. "We look forward to supporting their business growth in the future."

About Courts Plc
The Courts Group, which is based in the United Kingdom and is quoted on the London Stock Exchange, comprises over 300 stores in 20 countries, with approx 100 in England, Wales and Ireland, plus over 200 stores in a further 18 countries overseas. Courts (UK) Ltd is registered under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 to provide credit facilities. Courts (UK) Limited.

About Nokia Internet Communications
Nokia Internet Communications, headquartered in Mountain View, California, provides world-class Network Security, Virtual Private Network and Internet Traffic Management solutions that ensure the security and reliability of corporate enterprise and managed service provider networks. Nokia is committed to enhancing the end user experience by bringing a new level of security and reliability to the network, enabling and Internet transaction that is personal and trusted-each and every time.

For more information, please visit www.nokia.com and click on Secure Network Solutions. Nokia Internet security and virtual private network appliances span the spectrum of price/performance points, and secure the widest range of network environments-from the smallest branch office to the largest Internet data center. The expansive product line, backed by world-class global support and services, provides customers the ability to deploy multiple solutions from a single product to secure all elements of a distributed enterprise.

About Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed broadband and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges.

About Check Point Software Technologies
Check Point Software Technologies is the worldwide leader in securing the Internet. It is the confirmed market leader of both the worldwide VPN and firewall markets. The company's Secure Virtual Network (SVN) architecture provides the VPN and security infrastructure that uniquely enables secure and reliable Internet communications. SVN solutions, as delivered in the company's Next Generation product family, secure business communications and resources for corporate networks, remote employees, branch offices and partner extranets. Extending the power of SVN is Check Point's Open Platform for Security (OPSEC), the industry's framework and alliance for integration and interoperability with "best-of-breed" solutions from over 325 leading companies. Check Point solutions are sold, integrated and serviced by a network of 2,500 certified partners in 149 countries. For more information, please call us at (800) 429-4391 or (650) 628-2000 or visit us on the Web at http://www.checkpoint.com or at http://www.opsec.com.

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©2002 Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
All rights reserved. Check Point, the Check Point logo, ClusterXL, ConnectControl, FireWall-1, FireWall-1 GX, FireWall-1 SecureServer, FireWall-1 SmallOffice, FireWall-1 VSX, FireWall-1 XL, FloodGate-1, INSPECT, INSPECT XL, IQ Engine, Open Security Extension, OPSEC, Provider-1, SecureKnowledge, SecurePlatform, SecureXL, SiteManager-1, SmartCenter, SmartCenter Pro, SmartDashboard, SmartDefense, SmartLSM, SmartMap, SmartUpdate, SmartView, SmartView Monitor, SmartView Reporter, SmartView Status, SmartView Tracker, SVN, UAM, User-to-Address Mapping, UserAuthority, VPN-1, VPN-1 Accelerator Card, VPN-1 Net, VPN-1 Pro, VPN-1 SecureClient, VPN-1 SecuRemote, VPN-1 SecureServer, VPN-1 SmallOffice, and VPN-1 VSX are trademarks or registered trademarks of Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. or its affiliates. All other product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The products described in this document are protected by U.S. Patent No. 5,606,668 and 5,835,726 and may be protected by other U.S. Patents, foreign patents, or pending applications.