PRESS RELEASE

CANTON, Mass., March 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- NEI (Nasdaq: NEI), a leading provider of application platforms, deployment solutions and lifecycle support services for software technology developers and OEMs worldwide, today announced that the company has been awarded US Patent # 7900056 for a technology that creates a new type of "digital fingerprint" that accurately validates software updates for physical and virtual servers and cloud-based application platforms. Filed as "digital data processing methods and apparatus for management of software installation and execution," the technology enables NEI to deliver the most secure and reliable software update distribution service on the market.

The patented technology is deployed with NEI's Application Management Services using Element Manager(TM) to streamline critical update capabilities, support and other lifecycle challenges.

"As we enhance our lifecycle management technologies, NEI is continuing to redefining the application deployment model for enterprise software providers worldwide," said Rich Graber, senior vice president of engineering and operations for NEI. "Receiving this patent underscores our ongoing commitment to streamline reliable application deployment, whether via physical hardware, virtual appliances, or the cloud. Secure automatic updates will become even more important as customers increasingly move to the cloud."

The technology is embedded with NEI's innovative Element Manager suite, which enables application providers and ISVs to more efficiently monitor, manage, and maintain physical, virtual and cloud-ready application platforms. This feature-rich supervisory console automates the management and lifecycle control of field deployments by delivering OS, application and configuration updates that enable customers to cost-effectively market highly managed security, storage and communications applications.

AboutNEI

NEI is a leading provider of server-based application platforms and lifecycle support services for software developers and OEMs worldwide. Through its expertise and comprehensive suite of solution design, system integration, application management, global logistics, support, and maintenance services, NEI is redefining application deployment solutions to provide customers with a sustainable competitive advantage. More than a decade of appliance innovation with the ability to provide physical, virtual and cloud-ready solutions makes NEI one of the most trusted software deployment partners in the industry. Founded in 1997, NEI is headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts, with facilities in Plano, Texas and Galway, Ireland, and trades on the NASDAQ exchange under the symbol NEI. For more information, visit www.nei.com.