Help us improve your experience.

Let us know what you think.

Do you have time for a two-minute survey?

 
ON THIS PAGE
 

Juniper Mist WAN Assurance Platform Considerations

Introduction

Juniper Mist WAN Assurance is a comprehensive SD-WAN solution to streamline your operations and optimize your end user experience. It does so using tunnel-free overlay technology, integrated security, cloud management with zero-touch provisioning, and AI-driven operations. Choosing the right WAN Edge platform is crucial for leveraging the full benefits of Juniper Mist WAN Assurance. This topic aims to assist organizations in making informed decisions aligned with their specific needs, current network architecture, and future goals.

Platform Selection Criteria

For WAN edge devices in Mist WAN Assurance, Juniper Networks® Session Smart™ Routers and Juniper Networks® SRX Series Firewalls can be used as platform in a deployment.

When selecting a WAN Edge platform, it’s essential to consider how each option fits with your organization's requirements:

  • Session Smart Routers are recommended for deployments aiming to maximize network efficiency and performance, particularly in dynamic environments.
  • SRX Series Firewalls are suited for organizations seeking to maintain strong security postures while gradually transitioning to SD-WAN.

Session Smart™ Router in WAN Assurance

When selecting a platform to use as WAN edge in Juniper Mist, generally the Session Smart Routers are recommended for most SD-WAN deployments. The Session Smart Routers excels in several areas which are key to the successful implementation and operation of SD-WAN:

  • Network efficiency—By forming overlays using secure vector routing (SVR) technology, an open standard for tunnel-free forwarding between router peers, Session Smart Routers ensures your bandwidth is used as efficiently as possible. It maximizes performance for users and applications without unnecessary overhead.

  • Rapid Failover—During instances of network failure or poor network quality, the Session Smart Routers gives the fastest possible failover, minimizing downtime and maintaining connectivity for critical applications and services.

  • Rich Telemetry and Insights—The session-based architecture of the Session Smart Routers not only facilitates efficient data forwarding but also provides a wealth of telemetry data. This offers deep insights into the performance of users, applications, and the network itself. It serves as the foundation for Marvis and AI models in the Mist cloud, enabling continuous improvement and optimization of your network.

  • Integrated Security—A router with security at its foundation, the Session Smart Routers provides Layer 3-Layer 4 security policy by default, and optional Layer 5-Layer 7 where advanced security at the branch is needed. Integrations with Security Service Edge (SSE) providers and the Session Smart Routers are simplified using Mist driven orchestration for simplicity. This offers a seamless transition to a modern cloud based Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architecture.

SRX Series in Juniper Mist WAN Assurance

While the Session Smart Routers Series is recommended for most deployments, the Juniper Networks SRX Series presents an ideal alternative for environments where traditional security mechanisms and transitional benefits are prioritized.

Key features include:

  • Enhancing Existing Deployments—If your current infrastructure already utilizes SRX Series Firewalls, integrating them with Mist WAN Assurance can amplify their capabilities through the addition of cloud and AI technologies. This not only extends the life and utility of your current investments but does so in a way that aligns with modern, intelligent network management practices.

  • Evolutionary Transition to SD-WAN—For organizations looking to transition to SD-WAN at a measured pace, starting with SRX Series as your WAN edge platform within Mist WAN Assurance can offer a familiar yet powerful stepping stone. This allows your team to gradually adapt to SD-WAN technologies and principles while still gaining immediate benefits from AI and cloud management features.

Ultimately, your WAN Edge platform decision within Juniper Mist WAN Assurance should align with your organization's specific needs, current network architecture, and future goals. Under Mist, both platforms provide simplified management and Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) for easy setup, ideal for branches with limited IT support, ensuring a reliable and scalable network. The platform portfolio supports a variety of WAN types (MPLS, broadband, 3G/4G LTE) and speeds (1/10/25/40/100 Gbps). Whether you prioritize the cutting-edge routing capabilities, application performance and efficiency of the Session Smart Routers or the traditional security and transitional benefits of the SRX Series, both paths lead to a more intelligent, responsive, and user experience centric network.

For Juniper Mist WAN Assurance related information, see

Related Documentation