Juniper Networks this week unveiled enhancements to its routers designed to scale security services across its product line and throughout a Juniper-equipped network.

J-Protect includes software and hardware extensions to Juniper's E-, M- and T-series routers. Those extensions include a so-called Adaptive Services physical interface card (PIC) and enhanced Tunnel Services module for Network Address Translation and stateful firewalling.

They also include a monitoring PIC for flow monitoring, and port mirroring in the E-series for traffic monitoring and analysis.

Juniper also said it is offering professional services to assist users in implementing the new security features.

Analysts say the security enhancements may make Juniper's offerings more appealing to customers like the federal government, which last week issued an $875 million equipment and services RFP for upgrading the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) communications network.

"We believe that for Juniper, an increased focus on offering advanced security features on its routers seems to be an area of differentiation," states Nikos Theodosopoulos of UBS Warburg. Theodosopoulos estimates that government sales are less than 5% of Juniper's business.

The products and services are available now.