Press Room

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. and San Luis Obispo, Calif, July 13, 2000—Spherion® (formerly Interim Technology), a global leader in providing Information Technology solutions to premier companies worldwide, has formed a strategic alliance with InfoGard Inc. to bring specialized security assessment services to Spherion clients worldwide.

Spherion has specialties in software quality management and software testing. InfoGard specializes in technology security issues. The agreement provides for Spherion to include InfoGard's specialized expertise as a part of their SQM and testing services, and for InfoGard to offer its security-related consulting services within Spherion’s extensive client base.

“As Spherion prepares to launch its eSQM service offerings, our alliance with InfoGard gives us and our clients access to specialized technology security capabilities with a proven track record of success,” said Chris Hayes, Spherion’s Vice President for eBusiness solutions integration.

“This alliance also gives us the opportunity to expand our involvement in computer security related matters which has rapidly become a significant high profile issue with the explosion of the Internet as a business vehicle,” added Stuart Emanuel, president of Spherion’s Business Solutions Worldwide Operations.

Pat Lareau, InfoGard Vice President, noted “InfoGard is pleased to bring our IT security expertise to this partnership with Spherion. The alliance is one that gives us the opportunity to develop working relationships with Spherion’s Global 1000 clients, and which will help bring security issues to the fore. In addition, I’m certain that InfoGard and our clients will benefit from exposure to Spherion’s wider SQM and testing expertise and experience.”

About InfoGard

InfoGard is a privately held company that was founded in 1993 with a vision to become a trusted third party for IT security assurance services. The company established its credentials through the US Government's Cryptographic Module Validation Program, through which it still provides high assurance FIPS 140-1 validations. Over the past two years Infogard has expanded its IT security services into audit, system assessment, and compliance to third party criteria. Recognizing that assurance at the technological level — an imperative for secure e?commerce applications — remains but a part of the larger information security challenge, Infogard has added the synergy of management, legal, and financial professionals to provide its clients alpha to omega security solutions. Consistent with its original vision and long term strategy the Company’s professional staff has remained abreast of new technologies and security issue, applying that expertise to expand InfoGard’s business lines to meet the growing need for precisely controlled assurance assessments in IT security design across vertical markets. The company’s web site is www.infogard.com.

About Spherion

Spherion is the 6th largest provider of IT service and solutions. The company’s client-centric model leverages its proven methodologies and best practices to provide a full range of turnkey solutions and specialized services in the following practice areas: E-Business Strategy and application development, Software Quality Management (including all aspects of software testing and validation), Outsourcing, Information Design Services, Software Development and Maintenance Services. Vertical market specialists in banking, financial services, energy and insurance add further value to client solutions.
Spherion employs more than 6,000 highly skilled technology consultants. Spherion is one of only 12 companies in the world certified by The Gartner Institute as a Professional Development Partner, providing IT professional skills and training certification in the area of IT project management.

Spherion Corporation (NYSE:SFN) is a $3.8 billion human capital management company with 1,000 offices in 12 countries.