Douglas County Public Utility District Relies on Enterasys Secure Network

ANDOVER, MA--(Marketwire - November 12, 2007) - Enterasys Networks Inc., the Secure Networks Company™, today announced that the Douglas County Public Utility District (DCPUD) in Washington State is leveraging secure convergence, compliance and connectivity solutions from Enterasys in support of its mission to deliver clean and efficient hydroelectric power with reliable service at low rates to more than 36,000 residents and businesses. The DCPUD relies on Enterasys network security solutions to adhere to stringent state and federal regulatory requirements and licensing regulations across its three main facilities, 12 sub-stations and two data collection centers.

"Our most pressing business priority within IT is to meet regulatory requirements and automate compliance reporting activities for NERC, FERC and other agencies," said Alex Di Giacomo, Power Systems Control Engineer for Douglas County PUD. "Not only do we have our back-office and customer-facing business applications connected to the Enterasys infrastructure, but also our SCADA system and sub-station equipment for power generation and grid distribution control. Enterasys has made it easy for us to secure our networked infrastructure without requiring a large staff to operate and maintain the system -- we have no personnel dedicated to network operations as 4 technicians share the duties on a part-time basis."

Delivering secure and reliable communications within and between its rural sub-stations, district-wide facilities, and more importantly, at the 840 megawatt Wells Hydroelectric Project on the Columbia River; fiber optic lines throughout 95% of its network avoid EMF interference derived from the electromagnetically challenging Wells Project environment, while offering better physical security and longer distances than copper lines. An Avaya voice-over-IP (VoIP) and video conferencing solution is prioritized and secured by the Enterasys network as DCPUD has never had to worry about interoperability, bandwidth, latency or QoS issues.

"Enterasys ensures value across the lifecycle of our technology investments as we trust them to adapt to our needs over time," continued Di Giacomo. "We don't need to purchase a separate product for every new problem -- one Enterasys device helps us do more with less based on their architectural approach to embed network security. The long technology lifecycle has protected our investments as devices we purchased 10 years ago are supporting the latest and greatest policy-based security features."

Uninterrupted connectivity for the DCPUD means the reliable delivery of electrical power and secure, online bill payment options for its valued customers. Using Enterasys Matrix® N-Series switches and RoamAbout® wireless controllers and access points for secure mobility, DCPUD employees communicate using video conferencing to reduce travel costs and environmental impact. The Enterasys Dragon® intrusion defense system is integrated with NetSight® Automated Security Manager and Policy Manager to dynamically respond to internal or external threats and automatically enforce security throughout the entire network from core to edge -- while still assuring the flexibility and mobility required for adaptive business process workflow.

"Support from Enterasys is hands down better than any other vendor we work with," according to Di Giacomo. "We appreciate that they never point fingers and stay on the case to quickly fix the problem regardless of whether the Enterasys hardware or software is the cause or not. Enterasys has never let us down and cares about making sure we are successful with practical, cost-effective recommendations. Enterasys also understands the mission critical nature of our operations and provides effective support that meets our needs. They are a valued business partner to help us achieve our objectives."

About Douglas County PUD

Organized in 1936 and operating since 1945, Douglas County PUD is a non-profit, locally owned Public Utility committed to the delivery of a reliable utility services at the lowest possible cost consistent with sound business principles. Douglas PUD provides electric service on par with the largest systems in the nation -- delivering electricity at a price less than the average nationwide wholesale price of power. For more information, please visit www.dcpud.org.

About Enterasys Networks

Enterasys Networks -- the Secure Networks Company -- is owned by a private investor group led by The Gores Group, LLC and Tennenbaum Capital Partners, LLC. Enterasys' unique Secure Networks solutions secure any network to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, availability and performance of IT services and the business users that rely on them. Thousands of leading companies, government agencies and educational institutions in more than 70 countries rely on Secure Networks solutions to maintain business continuity and protect vital information. The company's culture is centered on the principle "There is nothing more important than our customers." Delivering on that commitment, Secure Networks provides granular, policy-based command and control of individual user, application, device, port and flow performance, and security. Enterasys' architectural approach to network security offers a long technology lifecycle and significant operational and business benefits, while reducing total cost of ownership. Information about Enterasys' award-winning policy-enabled switches, routers, wireless products, security software, and services is available at www.enterasys.com.

About The Gores Group

Founded in 1987, The Gores Group is a private equity firm focused on acquiring controlling interests in mature and growing businesses which can benefit from the firm's operating experience and flexible capital base. The firm combines the operational expertise and detailed due diligence capabilities of a strategic buyer with the seasoned M&A team of a traditional financial buyer. The Gores Group has become a leading investor, primarily in the technology and telecommunications sectors, having demonstrated over time a reliable track record of creating substantial value in its portfolio companies alongside management. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, The Gores Group maintains offices in Boulder, Colorado and London. For more information, please visit www.gores.com.

About Tennenbaum Capital Partners, LLC

Tennenbaum Capital Partners is a Santa Monica, California-based private investment firm managing over $3.8 billion in assets through private funds. The firm's investment strategy is grounded in a long-term, value approach, and it assists -- both financially and operationally -- transitional middle-market companies in such industries as technology, healthcare, energy, aerospace, business services, retail and general manufacturing. Tennenbaum's core strengths include its in-depth knowledge of equity and debt-financing vehicles in the public and private markets, as well as a thorough understanding of special situations. For more information, please visit www.tennenbaumcapital.com.

Contact Information: Contact: Trent Waterhouse Enterasys Networks +1 978 684 1506 trent@enterasys.com Jackie Abramian BridgeView Marketing +1 617 584 2580 jackie@bridgeviewmarketing.com