EarthLink and ANX Announce Partnership

EarthLink to Launch Managed PCI Compliance Solution for Retailers

Partnering with ANX to offer package with leading-edge security, tools

NEW YORK, NY – NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION SHOW, Booth #C356 — January 13, 2013 — As an extension of EarthLink’s product portfolio designed specifically for retailers, EarthLink, Inc. (NASDAQ: ELNK), a leading IT and communications provider, today announced the upcoming launch of a new PCI Compliance Solution complete with the PCI compliance validation tools needed to assist retailers in meeting their Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requirements. Providing validation services that retailers need to achieve PCI compliance, EarthLink’s PCI Compliance Solution features up to $100,000 in breach protection per location, Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV) vulnerability scans, a security policy, web-based training and self-assessment, and access to an online knowledge base. 

EarthLink is partnering with ANXeBusiness Corp. (ANX), a leading provider of compliance solutions, to offer this package, which features leading edge security technology and powerful tools that make achieving PCI compliance faster and easier for busy retail merchants.  For example, EarthLink’s PCI Compliance Solution provides a security policy that fulfills the PCI DSS requirements, including an online Self-Assessment questionnaire wizard, to achieve an attestation of compliance.

Designed to minimize a retailer’s cost and time to recover from a breach of their cardholder data environment and re-establish PCI compliance, EarthLink’s PCI Compliance Solution breach protection of $100,000 per merchant location is intended to cover the costs of a forensic audit, costs of replacing credit cards of affected customers, costs of PCI DSS fines and assessments incurred as a result of a breach and telephone consulting support.

"Our retail customers have made it clear that they want a partner willing to address overall business issues versus a traditional carrier that provides a connection to a store. Our new PCI Compliance offering aligns well with our long-term strategy for expanding EarthLink’s value deeper into our retail customer base," said Greg Griffiths, Vice President of Network Services for EarthLink. "We are also excited to leverage ANX’s leadership and PCI DSS market experience to protect our retail clients."

With hundreds of marquee retail customers including GNC, HoneyBaked Ham, Genesco and The Sleep Train plus thousands of others, retail continues to be a key vertical market focus for EarthLink. The company’s robust portfolio of networking solutions tailored for the retail space showcases EarthLink’s expertise with secure, managed IP networks, nationwide private MPLS networks, integrated voice and data and Direct Connect, offering a fast, secure direct connection to leading payment processors.

About EarthLink
EarthLink, Inc. (NASDAQ: ELNK) is a leading IT services and communications provider to more than 150,000 businesses and one million consumers nationwide. EarthLink empowers customers with managed services including cloud computing, managed and private cloud, and virtualization services such as managed hosting and cloud workspace. EarthLink also offers a robust portfolio of IT security, application hosting, colocation and IT support services. The company operates an extensive network spanning 28,800 route fiber miles with 90 metro fiber rings and 4 secure data centers providing ubiquitous nationwide data and voice IP service coverage across more than 90 percent of the country. Founded in 1994, EarthLink’s award-winning reputation for outstanding service and product innovation is supported by an experienced team of professionals focused on best-in-class customer care.  For more information, visit EarthLink's website at www.earthlink.net.

About ANX
ANXeBusiness Corp., headquartered in Southfield,  Michigan, is a global provider of managed security, compliance and connectivity solutions.  ANX is certified by the PCI Data Security Council as a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) and an Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV). The company is privately owned by One Equity Partners (www.oneequity.com), which manages investments and commitments for JP Morgan Chase & Co. For more information, visit www.anx.com.