Stratosphere upgrades features of its "OmniSphere" -an SDN solution for corporate networks- to deliver more robust security and more efficient network management

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TOKYO-February 3, 2015-Stratosphere Inc. ("Stratosphere") today announced that it has developed a new, feature-enhanced version of its solution "OmniSphere", which provides virtual office networks using SDN(*1) technology-OmniSphere ver. 1.3.0. Stratosphere launched the new version on January 30, 2015.

In recent years, tablets and smartphones have become commonplace items, resulting in a greater variety of devices that access the companies' networks. It has become more complex and convoluted for companies to manage a wide range of devices and permit users from outside or inside to securely access intranet sites. Thus companies are expected to take an active role for the variation in device use and accelerated decision-making. The Stratosphere-developed OmniSphere offers a solution for such an environment by using SDN technology to provide flexible management and control of corporate networks.

New features of OmniSphere ver. 1.3.0:

Scheduling

The scheduling feature controls time slots during which access to the virtual network is permitted. More fine-grained control over telecommunications can be achieved because the feature allows administrators to set specific times, by user or by device, when the network can be accessed while blocking access at all other times, to give one example.

Restriction for Access Point

This feature restricts, by user or device, the IP addresses that can be accessed. Using the Restriction for Access Point, administrators can limit access to only the company intranet, block connections to undesirable sites, or implement whatever other controls may be required to make the company network more secure.

IP Address Allocation

The OmniSphere provides DHCP server functionality for each virtual network that it manages, automatically assigning IP addresses and other configuration parameters required to connect to the network. Because of this new feature, customers no longer need in-house DHCP servers, and configuration parameters such as client MAC addresses, IP addresses and user names can all be viewed on a single admin screen. These are just two ways in which the feature allows more efficient network management.

New web user interface for monitoring

The new version of OmniSphere comes with a web-based monitoring UI that allows network administrators to view which users, devices and network equipment are connected on a single screen. In addition to being able to check which users are connected to the network at a glance, admins can also use the feature's search function, allowing them to simplify the task of monitoring office networks.

All these new features will also be available in Stratosphere's security solution "Secure Enterprise SDN", which will be offered in partnership with Trend Micro Incorporated and Allied Telesis K.K. and which was announced on December 11, 2014.

• (*) Please see the press release: http://www.stratosphere.co.jp/press/2014/1211.html (Japanese text only.)

Stratosphere will continue to develop solutions that allow the secure use of corporate networks without harming usability.

• (*1) Software-defined networking (SDN): A next-generation network concept in which the entire network is controlled (defined) by software in order to dynamically configure a network.

About OmniSphere

Stratosphere launched OmniSphere in June 2013 as an SDN solution for building flexible virtual L2 networks on top of physical corporate networks. This solution enables the automatic configuration of LAN and wireless LAN office networks by simply authentication the user's (employee's) terminals, which previously had to be rebuilt and reconfigured whenever the organization or the office layout changed, and will significantly reduce network operation costs.
OmniSphere supports numerous authentication methods and can even be used as a system for user, device and asset management. Stratosphere aims to maintain a high degree of compatibility with applications of all kinds, and the OmniSphere API and documentation are publicly available.

The statements within this release contain forward-looking statements about our future plans that involve risk and uncertainty. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. Readers are referred to the documents furnished by Internet Initiative Japan Inc. with the SEC, specifically the most recent reports on Forms 20-F and 6-K, which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.

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