* Juniper readies branch-office VPN gear based on NetScreen technology
Juniper this week is coming out with its take of where branch-office VPN equipment is going with the announcement of its Secure Services Gateway (SSG).
The device combines the functions of a full Juniper WAN router and firewall/VPN appliance based on the NetScreen firewall/VPN gear it acquired when it bought the company 18 months ago.
The SSG also supports an array of other security functions including anti-virus from Kaspersky, anti-spam from Symantec and Web filtering from SurfControl and WebSense.
These devices in the new SSG 520 family are built for speed, featuring optional Gigabit Ethernet WAN ports and throughput nearing 2Gbps.
All this speed and functionality are geared toward branch offices with up to 500 people and midsize businesses. And the company says the boxes have extra capacity built in for even more applications such as WAN optimization. Juniper has already made an investment in that market by buying up Peribit last year, but hasn’t done much yet to integrate Peribit’s products into other Juniper technology.
Juniper says it will continue to support its NetScreen gear for those customers who already have separate firewalls or separate WAN routers that they’re happy with or are committed to until they are paid off. The company also says it will upgrade the NetScreen gear and not try to force a migration to the SSG platform.
The device can replace separate branch office routers, security platforms and firewalls, streamlining office hardware. At $6,500 for a base model, that is a compelling reason alone to consider the SSGs. When you toss in that it can add functionality and streamline branch network architecture, it warrants a look.
