The News: Juniper Networks, a supplier of secure, AI-driven networks, announced the expansion of its SASE offering with the addition of Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) and advanced Data Loss Prevention (DLP) capabilities to its Juniper Secure Edge solution. When combined with Juniper’s SD-WAN solution driven by Mist AI, Juniper is now offering full-stack SASE solution with visibility into both the edge and the data center. Read the Juniper Press Release here.
Juniper Ups SASE Proposition and Stirs Competition with CASB and DLP Additions
Analyst Take: Juniper is upping its SASE proposition by adding CASB and DLP features that target burgeoning organization demand for SASE solutions that assimilate directly with their existing security implementations also using single-policy framework and same management UI to remove visibility shortfalls and security posture gaps.
The new SASE solution capabilities build on Juniper’s Security Edge portfolio focusing on top security priorities across edge and data center environments such as easing the overall SASE adoption process, safeguarding SaaS applications from vulnerability, broadening visibility for security teams and IT ops, and strengthening cloud security defenses by preventing unauthorized access to cloud-based data. I anticipate that the new SASE enhancements, in combination with Juniper’s strong suit in Mist AI and SD-WAN portfolio assets can expedite Juniper’s SASE sales and marketing cycles, especially among CIOs and CISOs, throughout the tightly contested SASE market segment.
I see Juniper’s latest SASE portfolio enhancements as directly addressing the limitations of pre-SASE CASB implementations due to factors such as legacy solution’s using signature-based approaches that rely on static application libraries. This limits the dataset range needed to crowdsource the intelligence that can enable security teams to comprehend the risks from emerging apps before they become liabilities. Using manual assignment of SaaS application signatures have proven insufficient to keep pace and manage the risks that come with the proliferation of SaaS apps.
Moreover, traditional CASBs are implemented in the cloud and administered independently as standalone implementations that are decoupled from the enterprise’s core security architecture, which can generate operational intricacies downstream for security specialists who are tasked with syncing their security policies and data protection across a separate layer of the stack. I anticipate that Juniper’s portfolio development focus on providing a full-stack/single-stack SASE solution directly addresses this specific challenge and can help boost overall SASE sales and marketing objectives.
I see Juniper gaining more ecosystem credence by also emphasizing its full-stack SASE solution that provides the DLP capabilities that are critical to developing identity-based micro-perimeters around users SaaS apps, and the data contained within, as well as securely maintaining confidential and sensitive data within the organizational framework. DLP requires that all existing data must be tagged and classified with appropriate controls applied, including the tagging of all new data upon inception. This includes meeting the challenge of applying DLP to supply chain and third-party partner data.
Juniper’s move dynamically counters the recent moves of key SASE rivals such as Cisco, Cato Networks, Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, VMware, and Zscaler. At the recent RSA Conference, Cisco, for instance, unveiled Cisco+ Secure Connect Now, a unified SASE solution that is designed as a turnkey solution for facilitating SASE deployments using cloud-managed platform and as-a-service capabilities.
Overall, I see Juniper’s new Secure Edge CASB and DLP capabilities as fulfilling stringent demand, particularly across the CIO and CISO teams of organizations, for improving the experience of their SASE journeys amidst burgeoning demand for SASE. I view Juniper’s latest moves as positive steps for the entire SASE ecosystem – let the SASE competition heat up.
Disclosure: Futurum Research is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of Futurum Research as a whole.
Other insights from Futurum Research:
Juniper Unveils Juniper Secure Edge to Up SASE Proposition
Juniper Evolves its 5G Portfolio and Messaging
Image Credit: AiThority.com
The original version of this article was first published on Futurum Research.
Ron is an experienced research expert and analyst, with over 20 years of experience in the digital and IT transformation markets. He is a recognized authority at tracking the evolution of and identifying the key disruptive trends within the service enablement ecosystem, including software and services, infrastructure, 5G/IoT, AI/analytics, security, cloud computing, revenue management, and regulatory issues.