IIJ and A10 to Announce a Joint Project for Solutions of Proxy Server Load Distribution Automation

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TOKYO-November 21, 2016-Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ, NASDAQ: IIJI, TSE1: 3774) and A10 Networks, K.K (A10) today announced that they have begun offering the new solution for automating proxy server routing which has been developed jointly. The first step is the solution to create a better Microsoft Office 365 use environment, the "IIJ Configuration Automation Solution for Office 365".

The use of enterprise cloud services like Office 365 has expanded in recent years. The increases in traffic that have come with the deployment of cloud services have led to heavier loads being placed on proxy servers that relay communications. The burden of work that comes with the complicated routing configuration for distributing cloud service traffic to dedicated lines-for customers that use dedicated or private network connections for safe access to cloud services-has also become an issue. IIJ and A10 have developed the new IIJ Configuration Automation Solution for Office 365 as a solution for precisely these issues.

This solution uses the cloud proxy functions (*1) of the A10 Thunder Series (*2), an application service gateway to achieve lighter operating loads and balanced proxy server loads by automatically managing communication paths to Office 365. By combining this solution with the "IIJ Cloud Exchange Service for Microsoft" (*3), customers can automatically distribute Office 365 communications to private network connections, allowing them to use Office 365 in a safer and more stable communications environment.

Features of the IIJ Configuration Automation Solution for Office 365

Reduced operating load thanks to automated configuration

Updating address information for Office 365 requires manual reconfiguration. This solution offers the unique feature of APIs that automate the complicated task of updating the information, easing the operating burden.

More performance stability through communication path management

This solution automatically controls and manages communication paths by bypassing existing proxy servers to distribute Office 365 communications to other proxy servers. Reducing the load placed on a network by Office 365 not only prevents drops in performance but also reduces the costs of equipment investment for increasing proxy servers. Because communication paths are managed automatically, there is no need to change terminal settings or communication paths.

IIJ and A10 will expand the applicable scope of this solution to other SaaS applications in addition to Office 365, and they will continue to develop and provide solutions that create comfortable cloud-based working environments.

• (*1) Cloud proxy functions: Solutions that lighten the increasing loads on existing proxy servers due to the use of cloud-based applications such as Office 365. This solution reduces the loads placed on existing proxies and addresses the issue of drops in performance from deploying cloud applications by changing communication paths for cloud application communications using URLs and other information. For more information, visit http://www.a10networks.co.jp/lp_cloudproxy/index.html.
• (*2) For more information on the A10 Thunder Series of application service gateways from A10, visit https://www.a10networks.com/products
• (*3) IIJ Cloud Exchange Service for Microsoft: A service that connects Azure to customer on-premise environments using the Microsoft Azure private network connection service ExpressRoute. For more information, visit http://www.iij.ad.jp/biz/cloudex/ (in Japanese). For customers using Office 365 via a connection that uses Microsoft Azure's ExpressRoute, this service can only be made available with prior confirmation from Microsoft that ExpressRoute will be effective.

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.

For inquiries, contact

IIJ Corporate Communications

• +81-3-5205-6310
• press@iij.ad.jp

• (*) All company names and service names used in this press release are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.