Juniper Networks is delivering on a promise to pack lots of security features into its firewalls and appliances for midsize businesses and branch offices.

On Monday, the company released antispam capability, as well as an antivirus toolset that also fights spyware, adware and phishing, into the software for its SSG security appliances. It had promised those optional features in February when it introduced the SSG (Secure Services Gateway) product line.

The introductions Monday were part of a new version of Juniper's ScreenOS software, which runs the firewalls and appliances that trace their roots to the company's 2004 acquisition of NetScreen. The new software, ScreenOS 5.4, is also designed to simplify Juniper's system for keeping potentially dangerous devices from connecting to a network.

Both Juniper and its routing archrival, Cisco, want to build security features into enterprise networks and use the network to enforce good security health on PCs and other devices. Juniper already offers optional IPS (intrusion prevention system) and Web filtering for the SSG platforms, which can act as WAN routers as well as security appliances. The company gets the additional features from third-party specialists including Kaspersky Lab and Symantec.

The integration of a whole range of security features within one security device, sometimes called UTM (unified threat management), is best suited to smaller organizations and branch offices that have less bandwidth and resources to work with and so don't want a separate box for every function, said Stephen Philip, director of marketing for Juniper's security products group.   

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.

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