Helsana Insures a Healthy Future With Brocade Solutions

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Brocade(R) (NASDAQ: BRCD) , the leader in networked storage solutions that help enterprises connect and manage their information, today announced that the leading Swiss healthcare insurance company, Helsana, has upgraded its existing Storage Area Network (SAN) by selecting Brocade 48000 Directors for the expansion of mainframe and open systems SAN infrastructure at both of its data centers.

"Years of outstanding performance with Brocade convinced us that Brocade was the only supplier who could meet our needs when it came to the expansion of our existing infrastructure. Our new Brocade 48000 Directors are the cornerstone of our data centers and the backbone of our overall disaster recovery strategy," said Stefan Schneider, Storage Management Manager at Helsana Versicherungen AG. "The distance between the main data center and the disaster recovery center is about 17 kilometers, connected over DWDM infrastructure. Brocade's fabric operating system lays the foundation for the reliable operation of our SAN environment and the flexible integration of our intermixed environment."

With 384 available Fibre Channel ports and adaptable speeds of 4, 2, or 1 Gbit/sec, the Brocade 48000 Director provides a robust, dependable, and future-proof basis for Helsana's SAN environment. Complete forward and backward compatibility for the entire Brocade family of SAN solutions also provides optimal investment protection.

Peter Balsiger, Brocade Country Manager Switzerland, commented, "Changing the SAN infrastructure to the Brocade 48000 Directors means that Helsana is well equipped for flexible data growth. Brocade has earned Helsana's business based on a great track record over the past years."

About Helsana

Helsana is Switzerland's leading health insurer, with premiums earned amounting to 5 billion Swiss francs. For the first time, the total number of insured individuals has exceeded 1.8 million. Helsana's range is aimed at private clients (individuals and families) as well as corporate clients (companies and associations). Helsana sees itself as the client-oriented insurer with "sound ideas" and a comprehensive quality-oriented range of above-average products and services at attractive premiums. For more information, visit the Helsana Web site at http://www.helsana.ch/.

About Brocade

Brocade is the leading provider of networked storage solutions that help organizations connect, share, and manage their information. Organizations that use Brocade products and services are better able to optimize their IT infrastructures and ensure compliant data management. For more information, visit the Brocade Web site at http://www.brocade.com/ or contact the company at info@brocade.com.

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