Network Appliance(TM), Inc. on Jan. 20 announced that AutoNation, Inc., America's largest retailer of both new and used vehicles, has deployed a Network Appliance Internet access and security solution to reduce costs and significantly limit security risks.

AutoNation said it selected the NetApp solution to cost-effectively manage Internet access for over 25,500 of its employees across 300 locations nationwide.

"One out of every 10 of AutoNation's sales transactions takes place on the Web, and all our dealership management system applications are Internet-based," said Brian Fritz, director of IT Systems, AutoNation. "The NetApp solution enabled AutoNation to reduce costs and improve employee productivity. In addition to the annual productivity savings, AutoNation has also experienced a reduction in bandwidth usage that will extend the life of our existing dealership network infrastructure."

NetApp says the appliance-based approach to Internet access management provides proven reliability, minimizing the time required for maintenance and administration. This approach gave AutoNation the confidence to deploy NetApp NetCache(R) appliances running Webwasher AG's DynaBLocator(TM) content-filtering software across 300 dealership locations. AutoNation has also deployed webwasher's Content Reporter(TM) software for managing and analyzing Internet traffic.

"The NetApp solution has reduced our short-term costs significantly and has also 'future proofed' our infrastructure," Fritz said. "Moving forward, as our business needs change we will be able to leverage the NetApp systems when we deploy new Web applications such as streaming video."

"Non business-related Internet usage equates to lost productivity and other potentially unwanted costs," said Amit Pandey, vice president and general manager, Content Delivery Business Unit, Network Appliance. "To protect themselves, corporations need to proactively take measures to effectively manage employee Internet access and security. The NetApp solution offers enterprise customers such as AutoNation significant cost savings, improved Internet security, and the ability to support a wide range of content-rich Web applications, all backed by world-class global customer support."

About AutoNation

AutoNation, Inc., headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is America's largest retailer of both new and used vehicles.

Ranked No. 93 on the 2003 Fortune 500 and a component of the Standard and Poor's 500 Index, AutoNation employs 28,500 people and owns and operates 373 new vehicle franchises in 17 states.

For additional information, visit corp.AutoNation.com or www.AutoNation.com, where more than 100,000 vehicles are available for sale.

About webwasher AG

Webwasher AG is a provider of Internet security solutions for companies and public institutions.

On the basis of their own technology developments as well as by cooperating with leading technology partners, the company develops and markets products for the growing Content Security Management market. With Internet access management, Internet content filtering, E-mail and spam filtering, and virus protection and reporting, webwasher says companies can optimize their Internet usage and protect themselves effectively and efficiently from threats and annoyances arising from the Internet.

The server-based webwasher solutions are deployed by more than 4,000 companies worldwide -- among them 20 U.S. Fortune 500 companies. Webwasher has established strategic partnerships with Network Appliance, Check Point, Computer Associates, and Network Associates.

About Network Appliance

Network Appliance specializes in unified storage solutions for today's data-intensive enterprise. Since its inception in 1992, Network Appliance says it has delivered technology, product, and partner firsts that continue to drive "The evolution of storage.(TM)"

Information about Network Appliance solutions and services is available at www.netapp.com.