Juniper and Microsoft Enhance IPTV Security

By Cindy Waxer

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

In a move that should further the adoption of Internet Protocol television, Juniper Networks has agreed to provide security services for Microsoft Corp.’s Internet Protocol television (IPTV (News - Alert)) software.

 

Juniper Networks (News - Alert), a computer network equipment maker, and Microsoft (News - Alert) are collaborating to provide end-to-end security to address the current and emerging needs of their service provider customers. With this agreement, Juniper can offer IPTV network security solutions to customers of Microsoft TV IPTV Edition.

 

The Juniper Firewall and Firewall IDP (Intrusion Detection and Prevention) product platforms complement the Microsoft TV IPTV Edition content security mechanisms to help protect the infrastructure from malicious traffic and attacks such as worms, trojans, spyware and application layer threats. In addition, Juniper will offer various security consulting services that assist operators to assess service infrastructure vulnerabilities and design network security solutions.

 

The Juniper security products offer cost-effective scale and performance, enabling operators to protect large numbers of video serving platforms. The security products include:

 

-- Juniper Networks NetScreen-5200 and NetScreen-5400 Integrated Firewall/IPSec Virtual Private Network (VPN) appliances that are purpose-built, dynamic security appliances with industry-leading flexibility and performance capabilities to protect service provider networks and network data centers;

 

-- Juniper Networks Integrated Security Gateway (ISG) 1000 and 2000 with Intrusion Detection and Prevention (IDP) appliances that provide strong access control, secure communications and network and application-level security. These products lower the total cost of ownership for deploying best-in-class firewall, VPN and intrusion prevention services.

 

-- Juniper Networks NetScreen-Security Manager that provides easy-to-use centralized management to control all aspects of the Juniper Networks Firewall/IPSec VPN appliances including device configuration, network settings and security policy.

According to Christine Heckart, general manager of marketing for Microsoft TV, "Juniper delivers a unique security solution for the IP infrastructure that will add a layer of network security and enable operators to more reliably utilize IP networks to deliver a range of next-generation television services and experiences."

 

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