CRN 2004 STUDY NAMES CWNA THE #3 UP-AND-COMING CERTIFICATION

CRN Study shows organizations will start looking to vendor-neutral certifications like CWNP first

ATLANTA, GA - November 8, 2004 - CRN released the results of its 2004 Certification Study, and the CWNP Program joins two other well-known certifications - Linux+ and Security+ - to round out the top 3 certifications that will grow fastest in importance over the next 6-12 months. The CWNP Program is the industry standard for wireless LAN training and certification. CWNP is a vendor-neutral certification program that provides the foundation proof for skills in wireless technology, including the all-important area of wireless security.

"This is great news on two fronts," says Kevin Sandlin, CEO and co-founder of the CWNP Program. "First we have a well respected and IT VAR publication in CRN validating what the market and our customer base already knows - that obtaining CWNP certifications adds value to both employees and the organizations that employ them. Second, the CRN 2004 Certification Study further proves that vendor-neutral certifications - like CWNP for wireless LANs - do a better job of preparing IT professionals to gain knowledge about a specific technology and a multi-vendor approach, rather than just one product line."

Thirty-one percent of those surveyed hold vendor-neutral certifications, and that number is expected to rise significantly. The study also shows that while vendor-specific certifications dominate the list of the 15 most important certifications in this year's study, vendor-neutral certifications head up the list of the 14 fastest-rising certifications. Companies are quickly realizing that the most valuable IT professionals are those that design and maintain multi-vendor networks because the IT pros have a greater understanding of the underlying technology.

About The CWNP® Program

The CWNP Program is the industry standard for wireless LAN training and certification. IT professionals in 86 countries have achieved CWNP certification in how to make wireless LANs more secure, cost-effective, and reliable. The CWNP Program was created by Planet3 Wireless, Inc., a privately-held Georgia corporation. Information about the CWNP Program can be found at www.cwnp.com