Built-In, Not Bolted-On: DDoS Defense Through Your Network Core

In this dynamic keynote, Michael Woduschegg, Head of Juniper’s Cybersecurity business outside the U.S., shares his candid insights into the evolving threat landscape and how Juniper and Corero are reshaping DDoS defense. Michael reflects on his journey—from building early carrier networks to partnering with innovators like Shlomo Kramer—and now driving Juniper’s vision of AI-native secure networking. He explores how Juniper’s MX and PTX routers, empowered by deep integration with Corero’s SmartWall, enable ultra-fast, sub-10-second DDoS detection and mitigation—without needing dedicated hardware or rearchitecting the network. The approach combines inline and remote mitigation strategies using advanced traffic sampling and embedded intelligence, turning the network itself into a defense mechanism. Michael discusses real-world deployments in research, healthcare, and public sectors, emphasizing the critical role of automation, built-in protection, and policy-driven control. From blocking ransomware-as-a-service attacks to safeguarding AI clusters, the session highlights how security, reliability, and agility must work hand in hand. Featuring anecdotes from field experiences, policy flexibility (FlowSpec and BGP blackholing), and plans for next-gen hardware (like the 800G PTX at Saudi Aramco), the talk reinforces the strategic importance of joint innovation. If you’re a service provider, enterprise, or cloud operator navigating escalating DDoS threats, this is a must-watch session that underscores why unified, in-network defense is the future.