Fortinet FortiGate is used just to manage our network because our network is managed by another company. I work in a small to medium-sized industry.
Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall
Fortinet Inc.External reviews
External reviews are not included in the AWS star rating for the product.
Improves security and network distribution
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
Fortinet FortiGate is used to prevent security failures. Since implementing the solution, we have seen improvements in security and in the distribution of our network.
What needs improvement?
In my opinion, Fortinet FortiGate could be improved by making the appliance smaller than what we have here, as it is pretty big.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Fortinet FortiGate for three or four years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Fortinet FortiGate is better for large enterprise networking compared to MikroTik because we have about 100 people using our network, and we have had few problems compared to the time we were using MikroTik, which didn't work for us as well as the Fortinet FortiGate 200D does.
How are customer service and support?
We never have any issue or problem that hasn't been solved in two or three hours. The quick resolution of issues with Fortinet FortiGate is due to the support of the company and the fact that the equipment is easy to work with. Fortinet FortiGate does not require a lot of maintenance.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We have been using Fortinet FortiGate for three or four years, and before that, we used MikroTik. We switched to Fortinet FortiGate because the company that provides service for us started to work with Fortinet FortiGate as a partner, and they showed it to us. We liked it, and we started to use the Fortinet FortiGate solution.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup for Fortinet FortiGate was pretty easy, and they completed it in one hour and a half.
What about the implementation team?
Two people worked to support us on Fortinet FortiGate. One of their job roles was manager, and I don't know the other role.
What other advice do I have?
My advice for people thinking about using Fortinet FortiGate is that you have to try to understand your necessities first. Make a comparison with other players in the market and have a good company to manage the equipment if you don't have the competence to do it yourself, preferably a third company that does this for you.
I would rate Fortinet FortiGate an eight out of ten.
Offers diverse features for threat detection and operational efficiency
What is our primary use case?
Generally, government and PSU, diamond companies, textile companies, and chemical companies are using Fortinet FortiGate in the Gujarat segment. We are also working with the Fortinet FortiSwitch and Fortinet AP.
What is most valuable?
Fortinet FortiGate has SD-WAN, FortiView, antivirus, sandbox, and IPS, which are generally well-known features. Fortinet FortiGate has a threat detection capacity compared to other vendors.
What needs improvement?
Fortinet technical support is lacking, as OEM support is slightly better. Improvement in their technical support could include response time as well as having more technically sound people in tech support.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have more than 12 years of experience with Fortinet FortiGate.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
This product is very scalable because Fortinet offers models ranging from thirty gigs to six thousand series and also offers solutions as VMs, making it highly scalable.
How are customer service and support?
Their support could be better.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We are working with both Fortinet and Check Point. Fortinet FortiGate is better compared to Check Point because I have worked with the Check Point model CP15,500.
What was our ROI?
Financial and operational ROI from Fortinet FortiGate is very fine compared to other products.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There is no challenge in Fortinet FortiGate pricing. There is a little bit of extra cost for FortiManager and logging and reporting solutions. Fortinet can offer solutions such as FortiAnalyzer and FortiManager for free for SMB customers.
What other advice do I have?
We are not working with AI features in Fortinet FortiGate, but from my knowledge, FortiGuard is using AI tools for threat intelligence and protection.
We recommend Fortinet FortiGate to other businesses with similar security needs.
I would rate Fortinet FortiGate an eight out of ten.
Firewall functions have improved security with threat prevention and VPN capabilities
What is our primary use case?
I use the FortiGate firewall for ordinary firewall functions, including SSL inspection, VPN, and site-to-site VPN.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features of the FortiGate firewall include SSL inspection, VPN functionality, and threat intelligence features for preventing threats. These features are essential and provide significant functionality for our organization.
What needs improvement?
There should be more testing before releasing software since it can be a little buggy sometimes when new features come out after updates.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with the FortiGate firewall for many years.
How are customer service and support?
I am satisfied with Fortinet support. Usually, it is fast and provides advice effectively.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of FortiGate was an easy process. It took about three months for a full deployment across the entire organization.
What was our ROI?
The FortiGate firewall provides good value for the money. It usually is cheaper than the competition, contributing to cost savings.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing of the FortiGate firewall is good. It offers cost savings as it is generally cheaper than the competition.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Palo Alto is an alternative solution. While it may be better for filtering and category white-listing, especially in areas like banking, it is more expensive than FortiGate.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate FortiGate an eight out of ten.
For some use cases like banking, Palo Alto may perform better due to its filtering capabilities.
User-based policies improve network security but integration complexity persists
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The most helpful features of FortiGate include its firewall policy, specifically the user-based policy, which I find to be quite beneficial in managing our network security effectively. FortiGate has also provided reliable protection against many attacks, although it lacks the ability to detect specific attacks like SQL injection, which usually requires a web application firewall.
What needs improvement?
The main area needing improvement is the user-friendliness of FortiGate's integration with other Fortinet tools like FortiAuthenticator and VPN services. Configuring these services is quite complex and not very user-friendly, requiring technical steps that are difficult for normal users to understand. Fortinet support's resolution of issues is slow, and the research on making the solution user-friendly needs to progress further.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have worked with FortiGate for more than eight or nine years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We have not faced any stability issues with FortiGate since we specified sizable RAM and CPU, and our size was adequate for our traffic.
How are customer service and support?
Fortinet provides a prompt response. However, the resolution process is slow. While their response time is quick, their ability to resolve issues takes a long time.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We have previously used a solution called Cyberoam, which has been replaced with a new brand. There are also managed firewalls offered as a cloud solution that we have not considered yet.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
In terms of cost-effectiveness, Fortinet tools like FortiGate are costly for us as a higher education institute in India. Our expenditure is focused on minimal levels, however, FortiGate's pricing is positioned for corporate levels, which can be inflexible.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We are considering replacing Fortinet with a different solution, taking about a year to change configurations and rules.
What other advice do I have?
Fortinet should consider developing a pricing scheme for the education segment since educational institutions in India operate on non-profit terms and under government regulations. They could potentially follow Kaspersky's example, which provided a more affordable pricing model for students and educational institutes.
As a product, I would rate FortiGate around seven out of ten.
Strong network security that's enhanced with an easy setup
What is most valuable?
One valuable feature of FortiGate SWG that has significantly enhanced my network security is IPS.
What needs improvement?
I would rate the technical support of Fortinet a six or seven out of ten. It is not very helpful. I would like to see improvements in their support.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used the solution for six to eight months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Fortinet SWG is a stable solution, and I would rate it eight, indicating it is good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I think the scalability of FortiGate SWG is okay. It meets the growing demands of my network and goes hand in hand with security.
How are customer service and support?
I find the technical support of Fortinet to be not very helpful.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
How was the initial setup?
I handled the installation myself, and it can be installed by one person.
What was our ROI?
It is too early to discuss any financial benefits or cost savings from using FortiGate SWG.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
On a scale from one to ten, I would rate the pricing for FortiGate AWG as nine, which is perfect.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I am working with Fortinet and another vendor simultaneously.
What other advice do I have?
I rate this solution a nine out of ten.
Threat prevention is reliable but signature management needs attention
What is our primary use case?
We primarily deal with Check Point products and Fortinet solutions, such as FortiGate and IPS.
What is most valuable?
The firewalls are valuable for threat prevention. FortiGate IPS is also useful, even though it has room for improvement.
What needs improvement?
There is a need for enhancement with the signature management, improving the datasheet numbers, and scalability issues.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I think Fortinet has stability issues in Istanbul.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I believe the product is not scalable enough.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I think a lower price might be beneficial.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate FortiGate IPS six out of ten.
There are issues with signature management, datasheet numbers, and scalability. Information about the security technical lead was discussed for internal use.
Deep inspection provides strong threat protection but needs more advanced AI
What is our primary use case?
I primarily use FortiGate IPS to protect my company from advanced threats like zero-day attacks and other cybersecurity threats.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature is the deep inspection for traffic, which is capable of identifying zero-day attacks. This solution works well on a daily basis, detecting various types of malicious traffic. Integration with FortiFabric enables easy management and scalability across different locations.
What needs improvement?
There could be improvements in the mathematical algorithms used for behavior analytics of traffic. More advanced AI capabilities would be beneficial in future updates.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using FortiGate IPS for about two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of the solution is excellent. I rate it as nine out of ten. There are no issues with stability, and it integrates seamlessly with the main product, which is a firewall.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
FortiGate IPS is highly scalable. I can easily integrate it with FortiFabric and manage multiple firewalls and other Fortinet solutions from a single dashboard.
How are customer service and support?
Fortinet support is very responsive. I would rate their support as eight out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I also use Cisco for email security. Fortinet was chosen since it is a popular solution for middle-sized companies in my region.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup took about two to three hours and included setup and configuration.
What about the implementation team?
The implementation involved two engineers. It was handled internally.
What was our ROI?
I have not calculated ROI specifically, however, the primary goal was to enhance cybersecurity.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There are no extra expenses involved after purchasing the solution. Pricing could be better, however, overall, it is considered a middle-level price for a middle-level company.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I am currently working mostly with Fortinet as well as with Cisco for email security.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend FortiGate IPS for those looking to add an additional layer of security on top of a firewall to combat cyberattacks. I would rate the overall solution as seven out of ten.
Enhance reporting and operational efficiency with detailed insights
What is our primary use case?
I use FortiAnalyzer for reporting. It provides log management solutions for my enterprise, which is in the manufacturing sector.
What is most valuable?
FortiAnalyzer's capability to provide detailed reporting based on various criteria is highly valuable. It allows for better log management in my enterprise. The IPS functionality and the reporting capabilities of FortiAnalyzer also help in maintaining efficient operations.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have around three years of experience with Fortinet solutions.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution has been very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I must select the right size firewall to match my traffic flow rate. It is important to pick a large enough firewall to meet the site's specific needs. Like any hardware, it has finite scalability restrictions.
How are customer service and support?
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
At my last company, I switched from Cisco to FortiGate due to performance and functionality.
How was the initial setup?
My service provider manages the setup, so I do not have direct experience with the initial setup.
What about the implementation team?
My implementation is managed by a third-party provider, and I do not handle equipment directly.
What was our ROI?
It is hard to measure, but the return on investment with Fortinet has been good with improvements in operational impact.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The hardware is competitively priced.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I switched from Cisco due to performance and functionality improvements with Fortinet.
What other advice do I have?
I never rate anything a perfect ten. There is always room for improvement in any product. I rate the overall solution a nine out of ten.
Powerful bandwidth control and seamless connectivity management
What is our primary use case?
I use Fortinet FortiGate IPS for firewall applications, VPNs, dial-up VPNs, and different types of connectivity, specifically on-site to site VPNs and for securing networks.
It's not just regular firewall applications; I use it on a ship to manage bandwidth by controlling website access and blocking high bandwidth-demanding applications like gaming.
What is most valuable?
Fortinet FortiGate IPS allows me to block certain applications, which is valuable in managing bandwidth on a ship. The IPS enables controlling and securing networks. I appreciate FortiGate for its reliable, powerful, and flexible setups. Even smaller boxes perform with great power, which is crucial for my operations. FortiGate's chips make it very fast and integrate virtual firewalls, simplifying complex setups.
What needs improvement?
Fortinet FortiGate could improve their documentation on forward error correction and failover technologies.
Additionally, better documentation and applications for SD WAN setups, especially for satellite-based internet like Starlink, would be beneficial. This area is vital, and they have not capitalized on it compared to competitors like Peplink.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Fortinet FortiGate IPS for about five to six years. Before that, I was using WatchGuard.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate the stability as a nine out of ten. There was only one instance where I had to restart FortiGate due to it running out of memory.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
FortiGate is easily scalable and I would rate it a nine out of ten. It works well with additional endpoints and global networks.
How are customer service and support?
I have minimal direct experience with Fortinet customer support as I usually find solutions online. However, in my encounters, documentation available is rated an eight out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Previously, I used WatchGuard. I switched to Fortinet since WatchGuard was more complicated. Fortinet offered powerful applications and built-in features that made my life easier.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was straightforward. Fortinet has thought well of the user experience, making it user-friendly to implement.
What about the implementation team?
I have a few other sites working with me, involving IT technicians to establish connections. It's a collaboration with some remote sites and a handful of people.
What was our ROI?
FortiGate's ease of implementation relative to WatchGuard saves time and ultimately provides a higher return on investment.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Fortinet is competitively priced. It is neither particularly cheap nor expensive compared to other products like WatchGuard. The pricing and performance are better, making it a viable choice.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I evaluated Peplink for SD WAN solutions that offer more high-tech features than FortiGate.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate FortiGate a nine out of ten overall. To avoid losing market share, Fortinet must focus on satellite-based internet solutions such as Starlink.
Robust user management and bandwidth control with an easy setup
What is our primary use case?
The company uses FortiGate to offer protection for clients transitioning from MPLS to Internet, ensuring security for this new type of connection. In Brazil, clients typically seek protection, and FortiGate is used to offer such solutions. We start with this new kind of connection, explaining and training clients about the product.
How has it helped my organization?
With the FortiGate solutions, I see a benefit in controlling the bandwidth and managing users' access. It's important for leading the market and helping IT managers use the solution.
What is most valuable?
The common valuable feature for FortiGate is its UTM functionality, which includes various features under a license that is commonly implemented. FortiGate is widely used across fifty percent of the solutions in Brazil, making it a prevalent choice for many clients. It's beneficial because it allows the orchestration of networks with multiple vendors like Huawei, Cisco, and Juniper.
What needs improvement?
Improvements could be made when companies expand and need better equipment and more licenses. Additionally, a way to upgrade equipment when increasing Internet bandwidth is necessary. Companies often have to quickly close negotiations due to exchange rate changes affecting budgets.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have had about five years of experience with FortiGate.
How are customer service and support?
FortiGate offers good support, especially for telcos that have engineers inside the SOC to provide solutions to problems.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Previously, I worked with FortiGate. Now, I am studying to use Huawei. My current company has various solutions, though their firewall is not as developed. FortiGate is known for its firewall solutions, however, with Huawei, it’s a hard work to establish the offering.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup for FortiGate is straightforward and easy. The company frequently conducts meetings to present their solutions in Brazil, helping to streamline the process.
What was our ROI?
Using FortiGate has enabled us to increase security, control user access, manage bandwidth, and enhance the ability to provide a variety of operations solutions to clients.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We work with a price list that changes every three or six months, however, we purchase in dollars. The exchange rate between the local currency and dollars affects the budget of our clients, so we need to quickly close negotiations.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
The clients in Brazil often use Fortinet, given its familiarity and integration with existing networks comprising vendors such as Huawei, Cisco, and sometimes Juniper.
What other advice do I have?
It’s crucial to understand the client’s necessity first and implement only the solutions needed initially, expanding later with more solutions as required.
I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.