Leading U.S. network equipment makers Cisco Systems Inc and Juniper Networks Inc both announced deals to bolster their expertise in increasingly popular cloud computing, or virtualization, technology.

Virtualization and cloud computing products allow multiple users to access remote computing power and data over the Internet, and are increasingly in demand as large corporations try to cut back on hardware in their data centers.

Juniper bought Altor Networks, a company specializing in security for virtualization technology, for $95 million.

Juniper said Altor's firewall and intrusion detection systems will help companies that are adopting virtualization but are worried about the security of the new arrangements.

Separately. Cisco said on Monday it formed a sales partnership with business software company BMC Software Inc to develop and sell new equipment to communications service providers and other companies building cloud computing infrastructure.

Juniper is trying to step up competition against its bigger rival Cisco by expanding its sales focus from phone and cable service providers to a broader, corporate client base.

(Reporting by Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Derek Caney)

Cisco Systems Cloud computing Deals