Cisco vs. Juniper Networks: Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) Comparison

Datamation content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

Cisco and Juniper Networks are two of the leaders in the next-generation firewall (NGFW) market. Cisco’s NGFW is best overall partly due its range of tools, while Juniper’s NGFW is best for solving industry-specific use cases.

See below to learn all about how Cisco and Juniper Networks compare against each other in the NGFW category.

Cisco Vs. Juniper Networks: NGFW

• Portfolio: Cisco
• Partners: Cisco
• Use cases: Juniper Networks
• User reviews: Cisco
• Industry recognition: Cisco
• Overall: Cisco

Looking for more NGFW options?: 6 Top Next-Generation Firewall Software to Protect Your Network

Cisco Vs. Juniper Networks: NGFW Portfolio

Cisco and Juniper Networks are the two leaders in network security. Both companies have been in the market for years and have extensive product portfolios.

Cisco has been number one in the market for a long time and has a wide range of products that can be used for various applications. Its products include Cisco ASA, Cisco Firepower, Cisco ISA, and Cisco NGFW. Its flagship appliance, the Cisco ASA5500-X Series Firewall is a strong choice for small businesses and branch offices, because it offers high performance and reliability at an affordable price.

The Cisco ASA5500-X Series Firewall offers industry-leading performance with stateful inspection firewall technology that protects against known and unknown attacks while offering application awareness with adaptive security policies. The threat management service helps to protect against zero-day threats by analyzing traffic and identifying suspicious activity before it reaches the network or endpoints.

On the other hand, Juniper Networks, known for being innovative in its field, also has a wide range of products marketed under Junos operating system. Some of its products include the Juniper Networks J-series firewall, Juniper Networks SRX Series firewall, and Juniper Networks T Series router among many others.

Its latest product, the Juniper Networks Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW), was designed specifically with businesses in mind; it’s designed to protect them from threats like malware and ransomware. It also allows users to monitor their networks more efficiently, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

Comparing these two companies’ solutions based on their portability, performance, and reliability, it is clear that both companies have put effort into ensuring their solutions are secure enough to provide maximum protection against cyberattacks.

See more: 5 Top Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) Trends

Cisco Vs. Juniper Networks: Partners

The partner programs run by both Cisco and Juniper Networks are similar and focused on partners that sell and support their technologies. Juniper offers a broad partner network, while Cisco’s partner network is strongest overall due partly to its depth.

Cisco partners are crucial to the company’s success. They are the ones that help Cisco customers get their networks set up, and they have access to all the latest technologies that Cisco has to offer. Cisco partners are also a resource if you’re looking to get into the business of selling networking equipment. Some of the Cisco partners include Cisco IronPort, OneNeck IT Solutions, IBM Consulting, AT&T, and CDW Hardware.

Comparatively, Juniper Networks has a robust partner program that allows partners to sell, install, and support Juniper’s next-generation firewall products. Partners can also receive training and sales support from Juniper’s experts and use the company’s marketing resources.

Cisco Vs. Juniper Networks: NGFW Use Cases

Cisco security products include security appliances and software that provide intrusion prevention, anti-malware, web filtering, and application inspection capabilities to protect networks from cyberthreats.

The Cisco solution is designed to deliver comprehensive network security for small and remote offices. The appliance provides firewall protection for wired, wireless, and VPN connections. It also includes an intrusion prevention system (IPS) that monitors traffic for suspicious activity.

The Juniper Networks NGFW is a firewall that provides protection against cyberthreats and can be used to defend against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. It features firewall security capabilities, application visibility and control, threat detection, and advanced threat protection.

This product has been reviewed by independent testing labs, like AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives, earning certifications for malware blocking and web application protection.

See more: 5 Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) Case Studies

Cisco Vs. Juniper Networks: NGFW User Reviews

One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a NGFW is how well it will work for your business. You should ensure the NGFW can meet your specific needs and offer excellent customer service. The following reviews of Cisco and Juniper Networks’ NGFWs will help you decide which company best suits your business:

Cisco Vs. Juniper Networks: Industry Recognition

Cisco

• In 2022, Cisco recognized as Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice for Meeting Solutions for the Webex Suite
• In 2021, Cisco was recognized by J.D. Power for providing “An Outstanding Customer Service Experience for its Global Certified Technology Service and Support”
• In 2021, Cisco won multiple awards in the TrustRadius web conference category

Juniper Networks

• In 2022, Gartner recognized Juniper as the Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Indoor Location Services
• In 2021, Gartner recognized Juniper as the Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Wired and Wireless LAN Infrastructure
• In 2021, Gartner recognized Juniper as the challenger in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Network Firewalls

Bottom Line: Cisco Vs. Juniper Networks

At a glance, Cisco and Juniper Networks have similar offerings in their NGFW products. But when you take a closer look at the details, you’ll find they are different.

While both companies offer suites of products that include firewalls, the focus on features is where they differ. Cisco offers a complete set of features across its product line, whereas Juniper offers fewer options but more flexibility regarding what’s included in each package.

For example, Cisco has a range of firewall-related solutions, including intrusion prevention systems and web security gateways. In contrast, Juniper allows customers to pick and choose between several types of IPS modules to get the right fit for their needs.

See more: Are NGFWs Needed? Why You Need a Next-Generation Firewall