HOUSTON and DALLAS - Oct. 5, 2005 - With emerging security threats against enterprise communications networks on the rise, NextiraOne is taking steps to enhance protection for its clients. The company has announced a new relationship with Critical Watch, a leading provider of Enterprise Vulnerability Management Solutions. NextiraOne will use Critical Watch's FusionVM System to power its converged communications Managed Vulnerability Assessment Service.

"Having security management for our customers' newly converged networks has been a top priority, and this alliance with Critical Watch enhances our current security offerings by providing a preventive and holistic solution that will better protect our customers against known vulnerabilities," said Dale Booth, President and CEO of NextiraOne. "As we expand our managed and professional services offerings, we will continue to add strategic alliances like this one to fully support our customers' and the broader market's requirements."

NextiraOne chose the Critical Watch solution because it can operate without the requirement of an appliance that sits inside customers' networks, as do the other solutions on the market. This alliance allows NextiraOne to offer a full suite of security vulnerability assessment and management services, without placing an intrusive device on their customers' networks. Because this will be part of NextiraOne's information security managed and professional services offerings, customers enjoy the benefits of the FusionVM solution in combination with NextiraOne's other security services - and at a much lower cost than they could purchase them individually.

"NextiraOne is taking a very proactive approach to help provide a full security solution for its customers," said David Laizerovich, president and CEO of Critical Watch. "Critical Watch is thrilled to be on the forefront of driving extended security capability for a proven leader in converged communications, and we are proud to help NextiraOne protect its customers."

The FusionVM solution automates the vulnerability management lifecycle from discovery to closure to enable a preventive security process. The service will offer recurring vulnerability scanning with Web-based reports and remediation solutions. This will enable NextiraOne clients to manage threats to systems and applications that drive services such as voice messaging, conferencing, instant messaging, unified messaging and collaboration. The engine also will provide a crucial early warning service - if a threat is identified in the market, customers of the impacted platform will be alerted immediately and offered solutions to mitigate the issue.

About NextiraOne
NextiraOne North America is a leading provider of integrated enterprise network, IP telephony, voice and data solutions and services that enable effective business communications. Built on a foundation of telecommunications industry experience dating back to the 1970s, the company's expertise ranges from planning to the implementation, support and management of traditional, IP and converged voice and data communications networks. NextiraOne also provides solutions featuring best-in-class technologies from leading manufacturers and vendors. The company offers consultation and solutions development ranging from contact center applications to network professional services. The NextiraOne companies enjoy a rich history that has been woven from the fabric of Williams Communications Solutions, Milgo Solutions, Racal-Datacom, Timeplex and Executone. For more information, please visit www.NextiraOne.com.

NextiraOne is owned by Platinum Equity (www.platinumequity.com), a global acquisition firm specializing in the strategic operation of mission-critical services and solutions businesses according to a unique M&A&O^SM model of value creation.

About FusionVM
FusionVM is an enterprise class vulnerability management system that goes beyond just scanning and tracking vulnerabilities to provide a powerful, enterprise business process platform that integrates and automates the complete lifecycle from discovery to closure in a way that is uniquely optimized for a client's business. FusionVM enables clients with the ability to collaboratively manage security across multiple internal groups and scale the process across their distributed enterprise. The result is the ability to carry out a scalable, efficient, practice-based process that drives sustainable compliance for IT security. For more information, visit www.criticalwatch.com.

About Critical Watch
Founded in 2000, Critical Watch provides corporations with the most comprehensive business process platform for integrating vulnerability management across their enterprise. Its solution FusionVM, is offered as both a managed service and an enterprise product, and is deployed in Global 2000 enterprises across verticals such as healthcare, financial services, state and local government, communications, ecommerce and manufacturing. FusionVM empowers organizations to:

• Efficiently and effectively manage business critical risks across the enterprise
• Establish better visibility, measurability and control over their security function
• Coordinate and embed a preventive process across all operational groups
• Validate regulatory and policy compliance

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Contact:
Sadie McCrary
Media Relations Representative
M/C/C for NextiraOne
972-480-8383 ext. 222
Sadie_McCrary@mccom.com

Mike Curtis
Critical Watch
972-490-3600 x 710
Mike.Curtis@CriticalWatch.com