IBM and Aberdeen Research Offer New Online Security Assessment Tool Targeted at Midsize Companies

BOSTON, MA - IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS), today announced the availability of a new online information security assessment tool designed specifically for midmarket organizations. The tool, which utilizes Aberdeen's primary research in IT Security, helps midsize companies identify potential security issues such as safeguarding critical data, securing IT infrastructure and meeting compliance demands, and recommends solutions to resolve those issues.

The simple assessment helps midsize companies determine their security posture by benchmarking against Best-in-Class organizations, as identified through Aberdeen's PACE™ (Pressures, Actions, Capabilities & Enablers) research model. By completing a 10-minute online survey, midsize companies receive a personalized summary of how they compare and helps them to quickly identify the IT Security strategies, capabilities, and technologies used by companies with Best-in-Class performance. The companies can then implement those strategies to improve their security infrastructure.

"Together with Aberdeen, IBM has developed an online tool that can help midsize companies find security holes quickly and prioritize their strategic actions," said Marc Dupaquier, General Manager, IBM Global Midmarket. "Not only does this new security assessment tool help identify security issues, it also will help clients solve those issues and comply with government regulations."

"Aberdeen is pleased to partner with IBM and enable midsize organizations to make timely, informed decisions on their security needs based on our industry research," said Stephen Gold, President of Aberdeen. "The Assessment Tool Series, launched in 2004, has proven to be a very effective format to share research in a very personalized way."

For more information about the online security assessment tool, visit: http://securityassessment.aberdeen.com.

To access a complimentary copy of recent Aberdeen research, see: http://research.aberdeen.com.

About Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company

Aberdeen is a leading provider of fact-based research and market intelligence that delivers demonstrable results. Having benchmarked more than 30,000 companies in the past two years, Aberdeen is uniquely positioned to educate users to action: driving market awareness, creating demand, enabling sales, and delivering meaningful return-on-investment analysis. As the trusted advisor to the global technology markets, corporations turn to Aberdeen™ for insights that drive decisions.

As a Harte-Hanks Company, Aberdeen plays a key role of putting content in context for the global direct and targeted marketing company. Aberdeen's analytical and independent view of the "customer optimization" process of Harte-Hanks (Information - Opportunity - Insight - Engagement - Interaction) extends the client value and accentuates the strategic role Harte-Hanks brings to the market. For additional information, visit Aberdeen http://www.aberdeen.com or call (617) 723-7890, or to learn more about Harte-Hanks, call (800) 456-9748 or go to http://www.harte-hanks.com.