Juniper Networks picks up Altor Networks to bring security to the cloud

Juniper Networks, a provider of computer networking technology, announced today that it has acquired network security specialist Altor Networks for $95 million.

Altor Networks specializes in providing security services for companies that stream multiple “virtual” desktops to computers from a host server. Instead of having one desktop operating system available per computer, virtual desktops allow multiple desktop environments to run off of a single server. It’s a practice that’s becoming increasingly popular because it cuts back on hardware costs.  Developers can run pretty intense software on remote cloud servers that have the computing firepower to handle it and stream the results to a cheaper networked device.

But security is always a major issue when it comes to cloud computing. Most companies are reluctant to ship all their information onto remote cloud servers, even if they are more cost-effective. And if a single cluster becomes compromised, hackers then have access to multiple virtual desktops rather than just one.

That’s where Altor’s hypervisor-based firewall technology comes in — it’s designed to protect multiple operating systems running on a single host computer. Altor also provides customers with intrusion detection and network monitoring software. The company also has a reporting suite for security compliance purposes — which prevent most companies from transferring their information to the cloud in the first place.

Altor Networks was founded in 2007 and has been a technology partner with Juniper Networks since it started. Juniper Networks made an investment in the company earlier this year. Based in Redwood Shores, Calif., the company is backed by DAG Ventures, Juniper Networks, Accel Partners and Foundation Capital. It has raised $16 million over two rounds of funding.