NetApp Named One of the World's Most Innovative Companies by Forbes Magazine

Only Major Storage Vendor to Make Inaugural List of Global Innovation Leaders

SUNNYVALE, Calif.-July 21, 2011-NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP) today announced that it was ranked #34 out of 100 on Forbes magazines Worlds Most Innovative Companies list for 2011. NetApp was recognized for building a culture of innovation that has transformed the foundation of its customers business and been a catalyst to their success. Most importantly, NetApp innovation provides its customers with the technology, products, people, and service that allow them to outpace, outinnovate, and outperform their competition to achieve remarkable results for their business.

NetApp is honored to be identified as a global innovator-this is great recognition of the innovative spirit that is at the core of NetApps DNA, said Tom Georgens, president and CEO of NetApp. NetApp was built on a culture of innovation that has pushed the boundaries of what is possible. We are focused on innovating in all aspects of our business to create a clear competitive advantage. Forbess recognition is the result of our employees commitment to creating an environment where innovation thrives and hard work leads to better business outcomes for NetApp, our customers, and our partners.

Innovation Fueling NetApps Growth and Success

NetApps commitment to making its customers successful with breakthrough innovation has resulted in growth that only a select group of companies have achieved. NetApp has historically been recognized throughout the industry for continually pushing the limits of todays technology and being at the forefront of major market shifts by delivering product and technology innovation that has fueled its customers success. This innovation has continued today as NetApp has delivered unprecedented efficiency and flexibility for customers to respond quickly to their rapidly changing business needs. This stream of new innovations, many of them around new technologies and around new markets, continues to fuel NetApps growth.

NetApp is also currently ranked as a Top 10 best place to work around the globe for 2011 by the Great Place to Work Institute, based on a unique corporate culture that values creativity, teamwork, open communication, leadership, adaptability, and trust. This culture drives NetApps innovative technologies, products, and business strategies. By living these values, NetApp employees are empowered to develop new ideas every day and continue to make breakthroughs happen for its customers.

About the Forbes Most Innovative Companies List

The Worlds Most Innovative Companies list aims to identify which leading-edge corporations are most likely to succeed now and in the future based on an eight-year study by Harvard Business School professor and master of disruptive innovation Clayton M. Christensen, along with colleagues Jeff Dyer, a professor at Brigham Young University, and Hal B. Gregersen, a professor of leadership at INSEAD, and also found in their newly released book, The Innovators DNA. The methodology relies on investors to identify the companies they expect to be innovative today and in the future.

Embedded in each of these companies is a code for innovation, discernible in their people, processes, and philosophies-what Forbes refers to as a 3P framework for understanding the DNA of innovative organizations. What does the average company need to achieve in these areas to spark an innovation premium? It needs a fundamental change within senior managers (some mastery of the five discovery skills), changes in how their innovation project teams work (processes that support innovation), and changes in philosophies that foster the belief that innovation really is everyones job.

The full list of winners and related stories will appear in the August 8 issue of Forbes and is available now online at www.forbes.com/special-features/innovative-companies.html.

Additional Resources

Watch Dave Hitz speak with Forbes Publisher Rich Karlgaard about what innovation means to NetApp: video.forbes.com/fvn/innovation-11/netapp-taking-clayton-christensen-book-to-heart

Read Dave Hitzs blog to learn more about NetApps inclusion on the list: blogs.netapp.com/dave/

Read Val Bercovicis blog to learn more about what making the list means to NetApp: blogs.netapp.com/exposed/

Follow NetApp on Twitter: www.twitter.com/NetApp

Join NetApp on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NetApp

View NetApp videos on YouTube: www.youtube.com/NetAppTV

Connect with NetApp on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=111681

How is your company innovative? Share your story of innovation on the NetApp communities: communities.netapp.com/thread/16004

About NetApp

NetApp creates innovative storage and data management solutions that deliver outstanding cost efficiency and accelerate business breakthroughs. Discover our passion for helping companies around the world go further, faster at www.netapp.com.

Press Contact:

NetApp PR Hotline

Ph: (408) 822-3287

xdl-uspr@netapp.com

NetApp, the NetApp logo, and Go further, faster are trademarks or registered trademarks of NetApp, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other brands or products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and should be treated as such.

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Culture of Innovation Drives Customer and Partner Success, Lands NetApp on Forbes's List of the World's Most Innovative Companies

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