Juniper Makes VoIP Security Push
The network gear maker improves security to lure more to VoIP.
Looking to accelerate the shift of enterprises and service providers to Voice over IP
The network equipment giant said the improvements will help customers deploy
VoIP, peer-to-peer
New NetScreen ScreenOS features include: integrated Web filtering; extended
deep inspection firewall capabilities; and support for Windows protocols
commonly targeted for attack.
"Many organizations recognize the benefits that new applications, such as
VoIP and IM provide, but struggle with balancing the increasing network
complexity and security risks," Jeff Wilson, executive director of
Infonetics Research said in a statement.
ScreenOS version 5.1 will be available later this month for Juniper's
integrated firewall/VPN appliances and systems. ScreenOS will be offered as
a standard upgrade for current customers with an existing Juniper support
contract. An annual subscription fee is required for Web filtering.
In recent months, several high-profile companies have announced plans to
adopt VoIP.
Last month, Bank of America
In addition to long-distance savings, companies moving to IP systems expect
to cut maintenance costs, because they have only one network to manage.
Also, IP telephony services makes handling employee moves more efficient;
businesses can scale up or down without calling vendors or ordering new
cards. That cost could be significant in large companies.
A recent survey by Infonetics illustrates the trend. North American
companies reported plans to double spending on IP voice products and
services this year over last year.
And on the consumer side, the number of U.S. households using VoIP will jump from
400,000 to 12 million over the next five years, according to new report from
JupiterResearch, which is owned by the same parent company as internetnews.com.
today announced security
enhancements to its NetScreen ScreenOS operating system.
said it would install
180,000 IP phones in 5,800 facilities in 29 states and Washington, D.C.,
over three years. Juniper rival Cisco
will supply the phones and
networking equipment for the project, which EDS
will
monitor.