FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

University of Missouri-Kansas City Chooses NetBotz to Monitor
and Protect Classrooms, Server Rooms, Video Editing Suites

AUSTIN, Texas- December 04, 2002 - NetBotz®, Inc., the leading global provider of IP-based intelligent physical security solutions, today announced that The University of Missouri-Kansas City is now using NetBotz to protect its IT infrastructure from physical threats that could jeopardize operations. Such threats include human error and intrusion as well as a host of environmental factors such as inadequate airflow, extreme temperatures, high humidity, water damage, amperage fluctuations and more.

The NetBotz Intelligent Monitoring Solution consists of Intelligent Monitoring Appliances with built-in environmental sensors and an integrated color camera that can capture and store motion events; Centralized Management and Monitoring; as well as Add-On hardware (sensors) and software. A fully scalable solution, users can deploy just monitoring appliances and get great value out of the solution. At any time, users can add centralized management as well as a variety of Add-On Hardware and Software options.

The University is using a number of NetBotz Monitoring Appliances as well as NetBotz Central, which provides the ability to consolidate all information from installed NetBotz appliances across the campus and view it from one place via a browser. The school is in the first phase of a NetBotz implementation.

One of the things that make this Midwest campus unique is what it calls its Ideal Learning Environment. All classrooms at the University have the necessary technology needed to support learning. This technology ranges from VCRs to document cameras to Internet-connected computers equipped with a wealth of applications and more. Of special interest is that all the desks, which are designed to support individual use of room technology, have standardized configurations. This means that, regardless of what different technology is deployed in each classroom, all desks work the same way. This considerably reduces the learning curve students face when using different technologies in different classrooms.

Because of the wealth of technology found in these classrooms, the University looked for a solution that would help protect its technology investments as well as its technology infrastructure, including its main server room. Because NetBotz offers physical security as well as environmental monitoring, it proved to be the ideal choice for the University.

"We needed a solution that would monitor room usage, security, temperature and humidity," said Tom Brenneman, director, Interactive Video Network/Multimedia Technology Services. "In addition we were looking to ensure that all our multimedia/audio visual equipment was safe. I looked at alternate solutions, including web video streaming products and direct video feeds."

"What I found was that NetBotz had several advantages over competitive solutions. Above all, it was NetBotz Central, with its ability to run surveillance software, that convinced us. Other solutions simply didn't have the ability to centrally manage and monitor our entire NetBotz environment or watch over our entire environment 24x7."

Interestingly, "ROI was not a factor in the initial purchase decision. However, the total cost of our purchase to date was quickly recovered because of the NetBotz ability to prevent thefts and mischief."

Brenneman uses NetBotz to monitor and map the heating and cooling trends in the main server room. "We print out a graph to see how the temperature has fluctuated over, say, the last 12 hours. We then talk with our facilities people to determine what's going on in that room. It's a great diagnostic tool. We can then troubleshoot a potential problem. We've saved a lot of equipment and the data that flows over the network."

Besides monitoring the environmentals in the University's server room, NetBotz is being used in a variety of unusual and innovative ways. For example, before sending a maintenance crew over to a classroom, Brenneman consults, via a browser, a NetBotz-generated thumbnail view of the room to check that it's open. According to Brenneman, this has saved both time and money in labor costs by ensuring the room is open when the crew arrives.

He also consults a NetBotz view whenever there's a classroom scheduling conflict. Sometimes, two rooms get booked at once. Before sending students to another room, Brenneman checks to make sure that second is available.

Right now, NetBotz is monitoring and protecting about a third of all multimedia-equipped classrooms. To date, according to Brenneman, "NetBotz has picked up a student disconnecting multimedia equipment; identified a purse snatcher who had been stealing from various offices all over the campus; and identified a person who broke into an equipment storage room."

"All our equipment supports the education of our students," Brenneman added. "So securing our technology assets means we're protecting a piece of the education we provide."

About NetBotz (www.netbotz.com)
NetBotz, Inc. is the leading global provider of IP- based intelligent physical security solutions that secure against physical threats. 1,500 organizations use the NetBotz solution, which prevents business and financial losses attributed to network downtime by providing early warning of physical conditions that threaten the integrity of a company's data, technical and equipment assets. Based in Austin, Texas, NetBotz is a privately held company with funding from QuestMark Partners, SSM Venture Partners, CenterPoint Ventures, Osprey Ventures and Hill Partners Inc. NetBotz has received the Best in Show Award in the Network Management Category at NetWorld+Interop and is a recipient of KPMG's Start-up Standout Award.