Juniper's JUNOS network operating system is a single-source code base across multiple network functions that helps organizations reduce costs, streamline management and deliver dynamic network services.

Biological organisms evolved with a single brain that can handle a wide range of inputs and communicate responses to the central nervous system. Business organizations can take a cue from biology and standardize on a single network operating system that can handle the gamut of network functions across routers, switches, security devices and more. And when choosing a single OS, it's important to select one that can remember and learn.

"Network administrators face challenges such as rapidly growing network traffic, performance bottlenecks and increasingly complex operations. Having multiple network operating systems only adds to the complexity. Organizations that standardize on a single network OS reap many financial and operational benefits," said Rob Edinger, CISSP & Network Security Practice Manager, Milestone Systems.

"It's important to note, however, that vendors define 'single OS' differently. Some vendors actually have dozens of OS variants depending on the product type - router, switch or security device - and feature set, which may or may not include security or more advanced network protocols. Milestone recommends JUNOS, the Juniper Networks operating system, because it is a single-source code base developed along a single release train."

Smart Solution
The JUNOS OS integrates a rich set of features for routing, switching, security and an array of advanced network services. This powerful combination allows network administrators to unlock more value from the network to quickly and cost-effectively keep up with changing business demands while minimizing the complexity and risk associated with implementing network features and upgrades.

"JUNOS helps automate network operations by providing a single, consistent implementation of features across the network," said Edinger. "This helps lower operational and management complexities and provides network administrators with more time to innovate and deliver new revenue-generating applications."

To keep pace with today's rapidly evolving landscape of internal and external threats, the need for dedicated, high-performance security processing is required for all layers of the network. Juniper has integrated industry-leading security services into JUNOS to address the business challenges of managing complex and often disparate operating systems to secure applications, data and network infrastructure.

"Multiple, inconsistent versions and releases of network operating systems can increase risk as new features are enabled  on the network," Edinger said. "In contrast, a single-source OS such as JUNOS gives network administrators the confidence to quickly turn on new features without compromising performance,  stability or security."

Thinking Ahead
For more than a decade, Juniper has consistently designed, developed and delivered new releases of JUNOS software on a quarterly release cycle. JUNOS software provides carrier-class continuous systems availability, automated network operations and the open innovation that businesses demand to quickly align their networks with changing business  requirements, while reducing complexity, cost and risk.

Juniper Networks JUNOS software development is based on 3 founding design principles, collectively referred to as the Power of One:

• One network operating system across platforms that minimizes the time, resources and effort required to plan, deploy and operate a high-performance network infrastructure
  
• One software release train to deliver stable and fully regression-tested, incremental features and functionality
  
• One modular software architecture to provide highly available, secure software that is able to evolve quickly to meet customer requirements
  

These time-tested founding principles have guided the evolution of JUNOS software and allows it to run across a broad portfolio of Juniper Networks platforms.

"Juniper understands that a single network operating system must continually evolve to keep pace with the escalating requirements for scale, performance, reliability and security," said Edinger. "JUNOS represents Juniper's engineering design discipline and R&D efforts."

Dollars and Sense

JUNOS delivers proven benefits.

• A recent study identified a 3-year risk-adjusted ROI of 63% associated with the deployment of JUNOS in an enterprise network, and positive financial payback within nine months.
  
• Companies using JUNOS achieved an overall 41% reduction in operational costs based upon dollar savings across specific task categories.
  
• The study also revealed a 54% reduction in maintenance and support costs, 27% reduction in network downtime, 41% increase in network stability, 40% decrease in time to resolution, and 25% reduction in cost to adding infrastructure.

Another significant benefit is higher personnnel efficiencies. The research found that the rapid learning curve for JUNOS, the overall simplicity and ease of supporting JUNOS, and the reliability of the underlying software allowed customers to forestall hiring additional network support staff to maintain the Juniper infrastructure.

"JUNOS can reduce administrative, training and management costs, which translates into lower TCO," Edinger said. "Organizations also need to improve efficiency and innovation, and JUNOS enables them to achieve operational excellence and deliver dynamic services."

Having multiple network operating systems increases costs and complexity, heightens security risks, diverts IT resources, stifles innovation and ultimately diminishes competitive advantage. Juniper continually integrates best-in-class services into JUNOS, enabling businesses to reduce complexity, cost and risk while boosting the brain power of their network infrastructure.

Milestone engineers can help you leverage JUNOS to standardize your network OS. Call 877-771-9510 or email info@milestonesystems.com for a consultation.