Handelsbanken Chooses NetScout to Optimize Performance and Manage Costs Across Global Network

04 Mar 2002

Leading European Bank Uses nGenius to Assure System-Wide Performance of Applications from the Web Site to the Back Office

WESTFORD, Mass., March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- NetScout Systems (Nasdaq: NTCT) today announced that Handelsbanken, a leading, full-service retail bank based in Sweden, has purchased NetScout's nGenius(TM) Performance Management System to manage the performance of its global, wide-area network. In conjunction with implementing its nGenius solution, Handelsbanken will use the information it generates to improve infrastructure efficiencies, create service-level reporting for its numerous retail banking locations and assure performance of applications supporting its internal operations and on-line banking services.

Handelsbanken provides retail, investment and Internet banking services to more than 1.5 million customers worldwide. Its international network spans 10 different countries and connects over 500 branch offices throughout each of the Nordic countries, as well as Europe, Asia and the US. Its retail e- commerce sites are accessed by more than 50,000 customers, each day.

"Without nGenius it's like flying in the dark as far as your network is concerned," said Lars Wibeck, network communications manager for Handelsbanken. "We chose nGenius because it gives us a clear view of the network - whether it's understanding the big picture or pinpointing what's going on behind the scenes. For example, we can do high-level reporting such as analyzing network usage and costs across multiple offices, but we can also drill down to see what's causing a specific slowdown. This allows us to be proactive in managing our network so that we spend our resources more wisely and deliver the highest quality service to our customers and employees."

The unique performance information generated by nGenius enables enterprises to gain proactive control over the responsiveness of individual business applications being delivered across the network. It enables enterprises to plan network capacity for high efficiency while reducing the likelihood of future network bottlenecks.

Wibeck added, "Our goal in deploying NetScout was to gain as much knowledge as possible about the network. We need to understand where and why network application degradation occurs. NetScout's nGenius provides us that visibility."

Handelsbanken purchased the complete nGenius Performance Management System, an integrated suite of comprehensive performance management applications, real-time application-aware probes and intelligent active agents. The nGenius System is comprised of the nGenius Real-time Monitor(TM), the nGenius Capacity Planner(TM) and the nGenius Application Service Level Manager(TM). These network monitoring and reporting applications work together to provide a full range of network management capabilities and draw on some of the richest and broadest network performance information available in a single solution.

"Our base of leading financial customers across Europe and Asia continues to grow. We are pleased to begin this relationship with Handelsbanken and deliver the same high quality technology to Handelsbanken that has resulted in long-term, flagship relationships with our other financial customers," said Michael Szabados, senior vice president of product operation for NetScout.

"nGenius is the fullest solution available on the market to ensure network performance is fully optimized from the Web site through the back office, and that infrastructure investments are targeted correctly to deliver the strongest possible returns."

About Handelsbanken

Founded in 1871, Handelsbanken is one of the largest banks in the Nordic countries and offers complete universal banking services including traditional corporate transactions, investment banking and trading, consumer banking and life insurance. The company is based in Stockholm with approximately 510 branches throughout Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway and 20 locations throughout Europe, Asia and the United States. It has six subsidiaries, Handelsbanken Finans (finance), Handelsbanken Liv (life insurance), Handelsbanken Fonder (mutual funds), SPP (life insurance), Stadshypotek (mortgage banking) and Stadshypotek Bank (telephone banking). More information on the company can be found at http://www.handelsbanken.com.

About NetScout Systems, Inc.

NetScout Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTCT) is a market leader and pioneer of integrated infrastructure performance management solutions for leading companies and service providers worldwide. NetScout serves the Global 2000 and counts among its customers AmericanGreetings.com, ArvinMeritor, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Cable and Wireless, Cisco Systems, China Telecom, Fidelity Investments, Getronics, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Hold Brothers, Nextel Communications, Northwest Airlines, Optimus Telecommunications, Samsung SDS, Siemens Health Services Corporation, Starband Communications, Travelocity.com, Visa International and Wachovia Bank. NetScout's solutions are offered through its nGenius(TM) Performance Management System, an integrated solutions-based suite of advanced monitoring and reporting applications that draw on the rich performance data generated by NetScout's real-time, application-aware probe suite, advanced intelligent software agents and network devices. The nGenius System helps organizations increase their return on infrastructure investments by optimizing the performance of their network, applications and content. NetScout is headquartered in Westford, Massachusetts and has approximately 360 employees, with offices in North America, Europe and Asia. Further information on the company is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.netscout.com.

     For Further Information:
     Peggy Flynn                   Dawn Sullivan or Dustin Smith
     NetScout Systems, Inc.        Schwartz Communications, Inc.
     Phone: +1 (978) 614-4162      Phone: +1 (781) 684-0770
     Mobile: +1 (617) 283-6996     netscout@schwartz-pr.com
     flynnp@netscout.com

SOURCE NetScout Systems

Web site: http://www.netscout.com

CONTACT: Peggy Flynn of NetScout Systems, Inc., +1-978-614-4162,
flynnp@netscout.com; or Dawn Sullivan or Dustin Smith of Schwartz
Communications, Inc., +1-781-684-0770, netscout@schwartz-pr.com