Iomega Corporation, a global leader in data protection, announced that it will acquire CSCI, Inc., a San-Diego-based managed services and outsourced IT company. CSCI is the creator of OfficeScreen(R) services, a suite of managed virtual private networks (VPNs) that provide small to medium-sized businesses with secure wide-area networks that efficiently and economically link offices and remote workers.

"With the addition of OfficeScreen, Iomega is taking the first step toward becoming a managed services company," said Jonathan Huberman, Chief Executive Officer, Iomega Corporation. "Small businesses need simple, secure, easy-to-use networks from a company they trust. The debut of Iomega OfficeScreen services will expand on Iomega's 25-year history of dependable data security products for SMBs and position the company to capitalize on the growing managed services market."

Currently hundreds of small and medium-sized businesses in the U.S. utilize OfficeScreen as a secure, outsourced network security and VPN service that does not require upfront hardware expenses or setup costs, an appealing combination for small businesses that don't have dedicated IT resources or large IT budgets. 

"Today's SMBs face many of the same risks and regulatory requirements as Fortune 100 corporations," said Huberman. "Whether it's HIPAA compliance, SEC regulations, Sarbanes-Oxley requirements or protection from malicious intrusions, SMBs must ensure the privacy of their customers' data and protect the intellectual property of their businesses. Iomega's new OfficeScreen services are simple, cost-effective turn-key security platforms that deliver on the network needs of today's small and medium businesses."

Iomega expects to grow the existing OfficeScreen business in the U.S. by selling its branded managed services through several different channels, including telecommunications providers, hosting companies, VARs and Systems Integrators, direct and indirect sales organizations and retail operations. By utilizing its strong European sales infrastructure, Iomega plans to launch its new managed services in international markets before the end of 2006.

In addition to OfficeScreen, CSCI, Inc. has a systems integration business that is included in the Iomega acquisition of the company. The transaction is expected to close within 60 days.

Iomega Corporation provides easy-to-use, high value storage solutions to help people protect, secure, capture and share their valuable digital information.