Juniper vSRX vs Palo Alto Networks K2-Series comparison

Juniper and Palo Alto Networks are both solutions in the Firewalls category. Juniper is ranked #21 with an average rating of 8.0, while Palo Alto Networks is ranked #29 with an average rating of 8.2. Juniper holds a 0.3% mindshare in Firewalls, compared to Palo Alto Networks’s 0.1% mindshare. Additionally, 86% of Juniper users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Palo Alto Networks users who would recommend it.

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 16, 2024

Juniper vSRX and Palo Alto Networks K2-Series are both prominent solutions in the network security appliance space. Juniper vSRX is noted for its affordability and support, but many find Palo Alto Networks K2-Series's advanced features justify its higher price.

Features: Juniper vSRX provides comprehensive threat detection, high throughput, and robust support. Palo Alto Networks K2-Series offers advanced threat prevention, automation capabilities, and excels in dealing with complex security scenarios.

Room For Improvement: Users of Juniper vSRX suggest enhancements in integration, reporting functions, and compatibility. Palo Alto Networks K2-Series could improve its documentation, interface, and user engagement.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Juniper vSRX is praised for its straightforward setup and excellent support, while Palo Alto Networks K2-Series, although having a steeper learning curve, receives substantial support post-deployment. Deployment of vSRX is easier, whereas K2-Series provides robust assistance.

Pricing and ROI: Juniper vSRX is cost-effective and offers a quicker ROI. Palo Alto Networks K2-Series has higher setup costs but is considered a valuable long-term investment. vSRX appeals to budget-conscious buyers, while K2-Series targets those prioritizing long-term security enhancements.

To learn more, read our detailed Juniper vSRX vs. Palo Alto Networks K2-Series Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Juniper vSRX vs. Palo Alto Networks K2-Series

June 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Fortinet FortiGate

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Firewalls category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiGate is 21.4%, up from 17.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Juniper vSRX is 0.3%, up from 0.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Palo Alto Networks K2-Series is 0.1%, up from 0.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls

Featured Reviews

Vasu Gala

Manager, Information Technology Operation/Presales at TechMonarch

A stable solution with an intuitive interface and quick customer service

I have been working with Fortinet FortiGate, WatchGuard, Sophos, and SonicWall. I'm not as comfortable with SonicWall because of their UI and limitations. I prefer Fortinet above all other options. When it comes to configuration, I am confident in my ability to handle various tasks, including creating policies such as firewall rules, web policies, and application policies. Additionally, I can configure VPNs and implement load balancing, among other tasks. Overall, I feel much more comfortable working with Fortinet. Fortinet has made significant improvements by integrating AI with firewalls for threat analysis and prevention. In the past 2-3 years, they have launched FortiSASE and SIEM, and they also provide SOC services. Both Palo Alto and Fortinet FortiGate are excellent. While Fortinet FortiGate comes at higher prices, the functionality and support justify the cost. They promptly resolve firmware issues and inform all support providers about configuration changes.

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Stratos-Margaritis

Solutions Architect at Navarino SA

The ease of installation and licensing are also significant advantages

We use the application filtering, content filtering, and intrusion prevention system (IPS) features. These features are crucial for our network security. The ease of installation and licensing are also significant advantages, as it allows us to have one license for all products, which simplifies upgrading and maintenance. Additionally, the ease of deployment is critical for us.

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Krishnakumar M

enterprise architect at a tech services company with 1-10 employees

One of the best tools for the prevention of evasive threats

There is a feature called granular application controls, which I liked. Instead of relying on ports and IP addresses, they use AMP ID. This kind of solution is very good. Another valuable feature is the prevention of evasive threats, which is one of the best tools I've encountered. SSL decryption and app ID-based SSL decryption are also impressive, along with the integration with user ID. Identity-based policies ensuring only authorized users can access specific resources are excellent features. Normally, there is something called SIM or SCIM in IDA IDM, but this feature is provided on the box, which is exemplary.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The most valuable feature of this solution is Quota."

"The inspection and web security features are most valuable."

"The flexibility and ease of configuration are the most valuable features."

"Fortinet FortiGate has a very simple configuration, is easy to set up, and includes SD-WAN features at no additional cost."

"The most valuable feature is the interface, which is very user friendly. We are utilizing most of the features, like content filtering. The firewall is powerful."

"I like that you are able to manage FortiGate from the FortiManager to create a more centralized environment."

"On a scale of one to ten, I rate this solution 10 out of 10."

"User-friendly and affordable security solution that's recommended for SMB customers. This solution has good technical support."

More Fortinet FortiGate pros

"The technical support services are excellent."

"The valuable features are threat prevention to work like Jira Trust Network Access."

"The dashboard, customization, API, and pricing are good."

"The hardware is stable."

"The tool's most valuable features are routing features and service quality."

"The product's scalability is good, and my company has 150 users."

"The product’s quality and performance are better than other vendors."

"The solution has good features."

More Juniper vSRX pros

"I have found the threat profile feature valuable."

"The application ID on the Palo Alto Networks K2-Series is able to understand the application traffic, and WildFire is also good."

"Palo Alto has an approach that makes the configuration easier not only for the customers but also for the IT help for the customers."

"Palo Alto's App-ID is what differentiates it from other competitors."

"The solution is reliable and scales well."

"Overall product rating: Nine out of ten."

"We've found the solution offers us good stability."

"The most valuable feature of Palo Alto Networks K2-Series is the performance which is above their competitors. The throughput they have delivered is good. When we used other solutions they failed the deployment when we were using different rules. They have a theory perform performance light and performance degradation. However, Palo Alto Networks K2-Series never fails in that scenario."

More Palo Alto Networks K2-Series pros

Cons

"The UTM filtering needs improvement."

"Fortinet FortiGate should improve the VPN tokens."

"In my opinion, Fortinet FortiGate could be improved by making the appliance smaller than what we have here, as it is pretty big."

"I'm not sure if it's something that they already have or are developing something, however, we need some dedicated features for container security."

"One drawback of Fortinet FortiGate is that they provide two types of models: one with a hard disk and another without. The model without a hard disk has very low ROM where you can store very few logs, after which you need to upload it to the cloud or purchase a firewall with SSD."

"Tunnel flapping was one of the major things I had seen wherein your internet link remains but your VPN tunnel is down. However, since I got a fix from the TAC team, I have not noticed it, but the customer complained a few times that they couldn't access the internet because of this problem."

"The things we require are already sorted out, so there isn't any scope for improvement as far as our requirements go. However, its price can be better."

"They need to improve their technical support."

More Fortinet FortiGate cons

"The solution could improve its technical support."

"he stability could be improved."

"I would like to see an activity sensor for malicious content or sensor for viruses and malware."

"The solution's GUI needs improvement."

"The solution should consider improving its licensing policies."

"In the next release, I would like to see improvements made to the GUI because it isn't very good."

"It should also support modern data technologies like zero-day protection and zero-trust network access."

"The security feature must be improved."

More Juniper vSRX cons

"I'd like to see more data protection on the system."

"I cannot think of anything specific to improve at the moment."

"The solution needs a series of OS changes."

"The technical support, and how they provide it to the client, needs to be improved."

"The graphical user interface is a little complex and difficult to manage. L1 engineers cannot work on the Palo Alto Networks K2-Series because it's too complex, which requires L2 and above level of engineers."

"In the past, we've had trouble with Palo Alto's application filtering not getting it right. I would not be recommending layer 7 application filtering yet."

"If we have issues, they take anywhere from two days to a week to respond. I even wrote to their CEO because there was no response. When it comes to support, this is the worst company."

"Higher levels of support are excellent but new users may need additional options."

More Palo Alto Networks K2-Series cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The licensing costs are very low."

"Pricing is good. They offer a lot of things, the most important is the support. Every time you upgrade your license, you also get insurance for the equipment. If you have any problem with equipment, they send in new equipment."

"Its pricing is competitive with other solutions."

"The cost is too high... They have to focus on more features with less cost for the customer. If you see the market, where it's going, there are a lot of players offering more features for less cost."

"When you look at these end security systems and firewalls, these firewalls even five years ago were $50,000 or perhaps $25,000 to implement in some types of customer sites. Now we're talking about tools that are $1,000. In this case, it might have been $500 or something like that."

"They are very competitive, but we like to have the factory warranty taken care of."

"I do not have first-hand experience with the rice of Fortinet FortiGate, but I have heard the price was reasonable."

"Go for long term pricing negotiated at the time of purchase."

More Fortinet FortiGate pricing and cost advice

"I rate the tool's pricing a five out of ten."

"The solution is inexpensive."

"The ongoing licensing cost seems to be pretty standard. There are no additional costs."

"The pricing is reasonable."

"Our experience purchasing the solution through the AWS Marketplace was good."

"It is not that costly."

"We like pricing through the AWS Marketplace."

"After some research, I think that the cost of Juniper is more than Check Point, Palo Alto, and Fortinet."

More Juniper vSRX pricing and cost advice

"It would be nice if they lowered their prices for small businesses."

"This product is designed for large companies. The price would not be suitable for a small or medium size company."

"Palo Alto firewalls are very expensive."

"We are on an annual license to use Palo Alto Networks K2-Series."

"This is an expensive solution, although you will get value for the price."

"Palo Alto Networks K2-Series is an expensive solution, the price could be reduced. They are more expensive than some of their competitors."

"Products by the leader in the field are justifiably a bit more expensive compared to other vendors."

"This solution is expensive compared to other, similar products."

More Palo Alto Networks K2-Series pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Educational Organization

14%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

62%

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

21%

Performing Arts

11%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

Which is the better NGFW: Fortinet Fortigate or Cisco Firepower?

When you compare these firewalls you can identify them with different features, advantages, practices and usage a...

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What is the biggest difference between Sophos XG and FortiGate?

From my experience regarding both the Sophos and FortiGate firewalls, I personally would rather use FortiGate. I know...

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What are the biggest technical differences between Sophos UTM and Fortinet FortiGate?

As a solution, Sophos UTM offers a lot of functionality, it scales well, and the stability and performance are quite ...

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What do you like most about Juniper vSRX?

One of Juniper vSRX's most valuable features is its integration with safety applications. It keeps the software secur...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Juniper vSRX?

The pricing is competitive, being neither the most expensive nor the cheapest option. It falls within the medium to h...

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What needs improvement with Juniper vSRX?

I would suggest improving the pricing, particularly the licensing model. Although it is currently quite reasonable, m...

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Features comparison between Palo Alto and Fortinet firewalls

In the best tradition of these questions, Feature-wise both are quite similar, but each has things it's better at, it...

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What do you like most about Palo Alto Networks K2-Series?

It is a stable solution.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Palo Alto Networks K2-Series?

The pricing for the Palo Alto Networks K2-Series solution is affordable and there are no complaints about the licensing.

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 20% of the time

Netgate pfSense vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 12% of the time

Cisco Secure Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 11% of the time

SonicWall TZ vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 5% of the time

WatchGuard Firebox vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 5% of the time

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Juniper SRX Series Firewall vs Juniper vSRX

Compared 15% of the time

Azure Firewall vs Juniper vSRX

Compared 14% of the time

Meraki MX vs Juniper vSRX

Compared 11% of the time

Palo Alto Networks VM-Series vs Juniper vSRX

Compared 10% of the time

OPNsense vs Juniper vSRX

Compared 10% of the time

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Cisco Secure Firewall vs Palo Alto Networks K2-Series

Compared 100% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiGate

June 2025

Download Fortinet FortiGate product report

Buyer's Guide

Juniper vSRX

June 2025

Download Juniper vSRX product report

Buyer's Guide

Palo Alto Networks K2-Series

June 2025

Download Palo Alto Networks K2-Series product report

Also Known As

FortiGate 60b, FortiGate 60c, FortiGate 80c, FortiGate 50b, FortiGate 200b, FortiGate 110c, FortiGate, Fortinet Firewall

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Overview

Fortinet FortiGate offers comprehensive network security and firewall protection across multiple locations. It effectively manages data traffic and secures environments with features like VPN, intrusion prevention, and UTM controls.

Organizations rely on Fortinet FortiGate for its robust integration with advanced security policies, ensuring significant protection for enterprises, cloud environments, and educational sectors. It facilitates network segmentation, application-level security, and authentication management, securing communication within and between locations such as branches and data centers. Its efficient SD-WAN and UTM features enable streamlined data management and enhanced threat protection capabilities. Users appreciate its centralized management, facilitating seamless operations across diverse environments.

What are the key features of Fortinet FortiGate?

VPN Capabilities: Ensure secure remote access for users and seamless site-to-site connections.
Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): Detect and prevent security threats and vulnerabilities.
Advanced Firewall: Offers robust firewalling with application control and web filtering.
SD-WAN: Optimizes application performance and enhances bandwidth management.
SSL VPN: Provides reliable and secure access for remote workers.

What benefits should users expect from Fortinet FortiGate?

High-performance Security: Delivers effective threat mitigation with high availability.
Centralized Management: Simplifies network operations with cloud-based management tools.
Detailed Analytics: Provides comprehensive insights into network activity and security threats.
Load Balancing: Ensures optimal resource distribution and traffic management.

Fortinet FortiGate is crucial in sectors like education, offering robust networks for secure data flow between campuses and facilitating remote learning. In enterprise environments, it allows efficient management of application traffic and security across multiple branches, while in the cloud, it seamlessly integrates with diverse platforms to enhance security infrastructure.

Fortinet

Juniper vSRX is a virtualized security platform that provides advanced threat protection for virtualized and cloud environments. It offers a comprehensive set of security features, including firewall, VPN, intrusion prevention system (IPS), and unified threat management (UTM).

With its scalable architecture, the vSRX can be easily deployed and managed across multiple virtual machines, making it ideal for organizations with dynamic and distributed networks. It also supports high-performance data processing, ensuring minimal impact on network performance.

vSRX is designed to integrate seamlessly with Juniper's broader security ecosystem, enabling centralized management and visibility across the entire network.

Juniper

Designed to handle growing throughput needs due to increasing amounts of application-, user-, and device-generated data, the K2-Series offers amazing performance and threat prevention capabilities to stop advanced cyberattacks and secure mobile network infrastructure, subscribers, and services.

Palo Alto Networks

Sample Customers

Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, Dell, HP, Oracle, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Vodafone, Orange, BT Group, Telstra, Deutsche Telekom, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, CenturyLink, NTT Communications, Tata Communications, SoftBank, China Mobile, Singtel, Telus, Rogers Communications, Bell Canada, Telkom Indonesia, Telkom South Africa, Telmex, Telia Company, Telkom Kenya

Expedient Data Centers

State of North Dakota, SEGA, Alameda County Office of Education, Temple University, VERGE, CAME

Buyer's Guide

Juniper vSRX vs. Palo Alto Networks K2-Series

June 2025

Free Report: Juniper vSRX vs. Palo Alto Networks K2-Series

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