Juniper BYOD Combines Remote, Network Access Software, Services with MDM Solutions

Juniper (JNPR) is kicking off an initiative that combines upgrades to its Junos Pulse remote access and network access control (NAC) solutions with new alliances with MDM enterprise providers AirWatch and MobileIron.

The idea, Juniper said, is to enable enterprises and service providers to simplify and better secure their BYOD blueprints by levering the Junos Pulse Secure Access Service and Junos Pulse Access Control Service solutions with providers of MDM and other mobile security platforms. AirWatch and MobileIron are the first Juniper partners in the initiative and others are invited to participate.

Juniper said IT organizations and service providers will benefit from this initiative, which will leverage mobile device attributes such as device location, device status and compliance across both Juniper solutions. The integration will help organizations consolidate policy management views into common dashboards, simplify operations and improve policies, it added.

As for upgrades, both Junos Pulse Access Control Service v5.0 and Junos Pulse Secure Access Service 8.0 Release support KVM-based virtual deployments in addition to VMware (VMW), which expands the range of IT environments in which the NAC and remote access solutions work.

And, Junos Pulse now supports Apple’s (AAPL) OS X Mavericks and iOS 7, Microsoft’s (MSFT) Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 RT, with both Windows versions baking in Junos Pulse client connectivity.

“More needs to be done to help IT embrace BYOD by both enabling users to work everywhere, anytime, on any device while keeping the network secure,” said Tamir Hardof, Juniper Security Product Marketing senior director. “Integrating and linking VPN, NAC and MDM solutions reduces complexity, functional silos and provides a better BYOD experience for both IT and end users.”

Data on employee BYOD practices gleaned from Juniper's Trusted Mobility Index in part prompted the initiative. The study, released last year, revealed that more than 40 percent of employees using their personal mobile devices for work did so without permission from their employer.

With enterprises seeking to establish BYOD policies and investing in associated solutions, resources typically are allocated to purchase and manage systems from a number of vendors to secure the device and its connection to the network. When budgets get tight, organizations often have to choose between protecting the device or the network connection.

However, Juniper said, with its BYOD solutions companies can leverage their existing MDM investments to tighten security and control of mobile devices and simplify management.