SSP Solutions and HID Corporation Establish Strategic Partnership to Offer Simplified Security

SSP Solutions and HID Corporation Establish Strategic Partnership to Offer Simplified Security

Demonstration Planned for RSA Conference, Booth 201

IRVINE, CA, (MARKET WIRE), 01/15/2004–SSP Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: SSPX), a leading provider of identity and information assurance products and services, today announced a strategic partnership with HID Corporation, the premier manufacturer of contactless access control readers and cards for the security industry. SSP will become an official partner of HID, providing complementary security technologies that simplify access control and management for HID’s customer base, which includes organizations in the retail, industrial, commercial, government and institutional sectors. Initially, SSP will offer its flagship NetSign® Privacy Agent and Profile Manager® Enterprise products.

“Security and privacy issues continue to cause headaches for today’s businesses, due to their complexity and cost,” said Marvin Winkler, CEO and Co-Chairman of SSP Solutions. “We are very pleased to partner with HID, introducing NetSign Privacy Agent and Profile Manager Enterprise as ideal complements to their family of access control products. Together, they offer a simple and cost-effective solution for enterprises in virtually every industry, including financial services, healthcare, and government.”

NetSign Privacy Agent is a suite of software applications for the desktop designed to protect communications and data by providing file encryption, password management, transparently signed and encrypted E-mail, secure Instant Messaging and secure Voice over IP. When used with HID’s access control cards, customers can now use a single card to enter the workplace, access computer workstations and network resources. Additionally, Profile Manager Enterprise enables HID card administrators to centrally manage issuance, administration, and lifecycle directly on the smart card portion of the HID card.

SSP will be demonstrating NetSign Privacy Agent and Profile Manager Enterprise at the RSA conference, booth 201, February 23-27, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. For more information, please visit http://www.sspsolutions.com.

About HID Corporation

As the largest manufacturer of contactless access control readers and cards for the security industry, HID has shipped over 200 million credentials to customers worldwide. HID pioneered the development of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for physical access control. Proximity and iCLASS technologies can be housed on the same credential and combined with other technologies such as magnetic stripe, barcode, or contact smart chip modules. This provides users the ability to leverage their investment in existing systems while seamlessly upgrading to new technologies and adding new applications. For increased security, users can add a photo ID or anti-counterfeiting element such as a hologram or ultraviolet ink. HID’s experience in developing card technologies enables them to play a critical role in the evolution and adoption of contactless smart card technology used for applications such as access control, IT secure authentication, digital cash, the storage of biometric templates, and the storage and retrieval of critical information. For more information on HID, visit their website at http://www.hidcorp.com.

About SSP Solutions, Inc.

SSP Solutions, Inc. designs and develops innovative data and communication security solutions for both corporate and government institutions. We provide network security, desktop protection, and high assurance messaging systems for many organizations of the U.S. Government. For more information, visit http://www.sspsolutions.com/ or call SSP Solutions, Inc. (949) 851-1085.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

With the exception of historical information, matters discussed in this news release including, in particular the reference to the future business potential, are forward-looking statements involving a number of risks and uncertainties and may not be achieved due to factors beyond our control, including changing regulatory and technological environments, our ability to obtain key components from suppliers, technological difficulties, increased competition, and changing customer demands. Other risks inherent in our business are described in Securities and Exchange Commission filings. SSP Solutions, Inc. undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.