Large Brazilian Steel Company, Belgo Mineira, Turns to NetBotz for Physical Security Monitoring

AUSTIN, Texas--Nov. 2, 20034, 2003--NetBotz Inc., the global leader in IP-based intelligent physical security solutions, and recent winner of the Deloitte & Touch Rising Star Award, announced that Brazil-based Belgo Mineira, one of South America's largest steel companies, now uses NetBotz to monitor and alert about all the physical threats that can jeopardize their people, places and assets. These threats range from physical intrusion to environmental factors that can damage infrastructure.

Belgo Mineira Sistemas, which oversees all IT for its parent, the billion dollar Belgo Mineira Group, implemented the solution. The Belgo Mineira Group's major stockholder is the European-based Arcelor Group, the world's largest steel producer.

Among the NetBotz solutions the company has implemented are a number of WallBotz 500 Monitoring appliances. Surveillance-grade cameras; a modular architecture that features snap off sensors and camera pods for greater threat protection flexibility; secure SSL transmission of sensitive security data and wireless connectivity are among the appliance's features.

According to Antonio Azevedo, IT Consultant responsible for new, special projects in Belgo Mineira Sistemas, the NetBotz purchase stemmed from the company's decision to increase security throughout all their companies. "We created a group dedicated solely to this security effort and hired a consulting company that would help us decide what technologies we needed to invest in for both logical and physical security."

"One of the IT integrators that does work for us introduced us to NetBotz," said Azevedo. "We decided to go with them because their affordable solution had everything we needed, integrated into a single unit -- multiple surveillance camera pods, built in sensors as well as external ports and sensors pods that enabled us to add sensors if we needed."

First phase of the implementation has been in the disaster recovery site for the company's IT infrastructure. "Everything there is brand new," said Azevedo, "including the air conditioner. However, using NetBotz, we found out that the humidity and temperature were fluctuating. Because the air cooling system was new, if it hadn't been for the NetBotz, we probably wouldn't have pinpointed the problem until it was too late."

Belgo Mineira Sistemas has also created a network operations center (NOC) that is monitoring the entire IT operation for all of the Belgo Mineira Group companies. According to Azevedo, NetBotz will be one of the critical components of the NOC.

"If you think about how much money you invest in equipment, investing in a NetBotz solution is almost insignificant. If the system goes down, we'd have huge losses, which, in the end, would cost us a lot more. The value NetBotz brings is huge when you think about the potential losses in both equipment and revenue if your systems are up and running."

With more than 2,200 customers worldwide, including many major government agencies, academic institutions and commercial organizations, NetBotz is the leading global provider of IP-based intelligent physical security solutions. NetBotz actively monitors an organization's critical assets and spaces and alerts about physical threats that can jeopardize people, infrastructure, equipment and facilities investments. In addition to its headquarters in Austin, Texas, the company has offices in London, Tokyo and Singapore.

About NetBotz (www.netbotz.com)

NetBotz Inc. is the leading global provider of IP-based physical security solutions. More than 2,200 organizations worldwide use NetBotz solutions, which prevent potentially catastrophic losses by providing early warning of conditions that threaten people, places and assets. NetBotz markets its solution through a network of distributors, solution partners and accredited resellers around the world. Based in Austin, Texas, NetBotz is a privately held company with funding from Hill Partners, CenterPoint Ventures, SSM Venture Partners, Osprey Ventures, QuestMark Partners and Austin Ventures. NetBotz is the winner of the Deloitte & Touche Rising Star award, the Best in Show Award in the Network Management Category at NetWorld+Interop and a KPMG Start-up Standout Award.

NetBotz, RackBotz, WallBotz, BotzWare and the NetBotz symbol are registered trademarks of NetBotz Corporation in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other company and product names mentioned are used only for identification and may be trademarks of their respective companies.