Fortinet and Juniper plan to introduce this week new models of their multifunction security devices that break new ground for each company - Fortinet for protecting data centers and Juniper for defending smaller offices.

Both announcements reinforce the popularity of these devices known as unified threat management (UTM) appliances that can streamline network management and efficiency by cleansing traffic of many security threats with a single device. The devices are best suited for network junctures, such as Internet connections, or in front of data centers, where they can reduce the number of separate security devices deployed, says Richard Stiennon, chief research analyst for IT-Harvest.

Stiennon says UTM devices fall into three categories. One category, which includes Fortinet and Juniper, inspects a packet once and then run it through a series of filters. Another category, which includes WatchGuard and SonicWall, parses packets in a single device to perform multiple screenings. The third category represents hardware security platforms, such as Nokia's and Crossbeam's, on which third-party software can be deployed.

Compared with the FortiGate 3600, the FortiGate 3600A boosts firewall speed from 4Gbps to 6Gbps, VPN speed from 600Mbps to 800Mbps and antivirus screening from 300Mbps to 400Mbps. The FortiGate 3600A starts at $33,000, $3,000 more than the 3600.

Click to see: Fortinet's 3600A

Ervin Evangelista, network engineer for the municipal service provider Fibernet in Morristown, Tenn., says that with a single management platform for its FortiGate 3600 box, it is much simpler to find and shut down the source of an attack than if he had separate firewalls, intrusion prevention and antivirus software.

Juniper is announcing nine new models of its SSG security devices that are scaled down from earlier models to make them suitable to protect smaller offices.

Click to see: Juniper's SSG 5

The new models are based on three basic chassis - the SSG 5, SSG 20 and SSG 140 - with variations in WAN ports and optional integrated wireless access points accounting for the nine models that range in price from $700 to $3,200.

The smallest model, SSG 5, supports a 160Mbps firewall and 40Mbps VPN, which is fast enough for a small office. With additional annual license fees it can support software that screens for viruses, spam, unauthorized Web content and intrusions.

Whitepapers

• The Trend from UNIX to Linux in SAP(r) Data Centers
• Getting in Compliance With Government Data Regulations By Leveraging Online Security Technology
• How to Offer the Strongest SSL Encryption
• Maximizing Site Visitor Trust Using Extended Validation SSL
• Seven Steps to Reducing your Security Risk
• The Latest Advancements in SSL Technology

View more SECURITY whitepapers

Webcasts

• The Secure Web Gateway. Mission Critical For Business - Webcast
• Mobile Data Security
• Best Practices for Deploying WAN Optimization for Disaster Recovery
• Key Considerations for a Successful 802.11n Deployment
• Solutions to the Toughest IT Challenges in Remote Offices
• Lowering the Cost of Email Archives

View more SECURITY webcasts

Special Reports

• The Evolution of Network Security
• Taking Virtualization Up a Notch
• The self-managed network

View more SECURITY special reports