Blue Coat Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:BCSI), the technology leader in Application Delivery Networking, today announced it has become a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and joined the Microsoft Protocol Optimization Licensing Program (POLP). In addition, Blue Coat is a member of the Microsoft Communication Protocol Program.

The status of Gold Certified Partner represents the highest level of competence and expertise with Microsoft technologies, and provides the closest working relationship with Microsoft. Blue Coat has Microsoft Gold Certified Partner competencies in advanced infrastructure optimization and ISV software solutions. As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Blue Coat personnel receive unlimited technical support and training from Microsoft as well as a myriad of marketing benefits.

Participation in POLP enables Blue Coat to enhance the performance of Microsoft applications and protocols. Blue Coat solutions accelerate remote access to Microsoft Office or SharePoint files, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft -SQL Server and other business-enabling applications. POLP provides WAN optimization vendors with access to key Microsoft technology and protocols to enable them to more effectively apply acceleration techniques to speed application performance across the Wide Area Network (WAN) to branch office-based employees or to remote employees outside of an office.

Blue Coat is the only WAN optimization vendor that is also a member of the Microsoft Communication Protocol Program (MCPP) and Blue Coat has specifically licensed the Windows Media Server protocol for proxy caching. Blue Coat ProxySG appliances deployed in branch offices can cache on-demand video locally to serve it more quickly and efficiently to users in remote offices. In addition, videos can be automatically pre-populated or pre-positioned for anticipated use in branch offices at a later time.

Blue Coat periodically conducts protocol interoperability tests at the Microsoft Enterprise Engineering Center (EEC) at Redmond, WA where Microsoft assists Blue Coat’s R&D team to maintain ProxySG interoperability with CIFS/SMB, Media Server, Exchange (MAPI) and other MS Office protocol optimizations.

“As the technology leader of Application Delivery Networking, we value our relationship with Microsoft in our ongoing work to extend application visibility, acceleration and security solutions,” said Bethany Mayer, senior vice president of worldwide marketing and corporate development, Blue Coat Systems. “Microsoft applications and technology play a critical role in any business, and Blue Coat is committed to enhancing their use and value across the extended enterprise.”

About Blue Coat Systems

Blue Coat Systems is the technology leader in Application Delivery Networking. Blue Coat offers an Application Delivery Network Infrastructure that provides the visibility, acceleration and security required to optimize and secure the flow of information to any user, on any network, anywhere. This application intelligence enables enterprises to tightly align network investments with business requirements, speed decision making and secure business applications for long-term competitive advantage. For additional information, please visit www.bluecoat.com.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Blue Coat Systems’ expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future, and including statements regarding the capabilities and expected performance of Blue Coat Systems’ products. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based upon information available to Blue Coat Systems as of the date hereof, and Blue Coat Systems assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These and other risks relating to Blue Coat Systems’ business are set forth in the Securities and Exchange Commission reports filed by Blue Coat Systems, including but not limited to the risks described in the most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, particularly under the heading “Risk Factors.”

Blue Coat and the Blue Coat logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Blue Coat Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.