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.
FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall (ARM64/Graviton)
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.
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.
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.
Enhancing network protection with advanced firewall and VPN features
What is our primary use case?
We use the FortiGate Next Generation Firewall for our customers. We mainly utilize firewall and VPN features.
How has it helped my organization?
The solution has helped us protect our customers' networks effectively due to its firewall and VPN capabilities.
What is most valuable?
The firewall and VPN features are the most valuable in protecting our customers' networks. The stability of the product is also appreciated.
What needs improvement?
I would like to see improvements in the IPS/IDS feature to enhance protection against attacks from attackers, including ransomware protection.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using FortiGate Next Generation Firewall for about five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We don't need scalability because our customers are small companies.
How are customer service and support?
We do not use FortiGate support directly; we must use distributor support.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing of FortiGate Next Generation Firewall is competitive. The licensing cost is approximately thirteen thousand.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We evaluate Palo Alto against FortiGate, and would be considering it if the price is lower.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate FortiGate Next Generation Firewall an eight out of ten. I would like to see AI capabilities in the future.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
Has enables a reduction in our security budget
What is our primary use case?
We use FortiGate as the edge firewall. We integrate it with our APIs over Microsoft Azure. We work in the VOIP industry, and our services are prone to latency. Security is a major concern for us as a U.S. research company, where we frequently test attacks. FortiGate handles these attacks well.
How has it helped my organization?
FortiGate has led to a reduction in our security budget. Our management decided to switch to FortiGate because it offers all the necessary features and even improved features within our budget.
What is most valuable?
I'm looking forward to FortiGate's dashboard features, insights, application oversight, and monitoring, which could help us significantly.
What needs improvement?
As of now, I haven't identified areas for improvement. However, once the firewall is in production and all traffic is shifted, I might be able to provide more feedback. The configuration part was challenging, especially converting configurations from another OEM to FortiGate.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working on FortiGate devices for around four years. In my previous role, we used FortiGate based on the requirements and budget constraints. Currently, my organization is transitioning to FortiGate in the Azure environment as part of the migration phase.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate FortiGate's stability as a nine out of ten, reflecting that there have been no major issues with stability so far.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
FortiGate's scalability is rated eight out of ten. We expect network expansion both over the cloud and on-premises, and we believe FortiGate will perform well in this scenario.
How are customer service and support?
We had a single instance requiring FortiGate's technical support, which was effective in solving the problem. I 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?
We used other vendors, like Cisco. FortiGate was chosen due to its cost-effectiveness and its ability to offer improved features within our budget.
How was the initial setup?
The installation process does not take much time, but the migration phase from Cisco to FortiGate is expected to take about ten days.
What about the implementation team?
We have a separate team responsible for deployments over the cloud, while our networks and security team manages migrations and operations of the devices.
What was our ROI?
There has been a cost reduction in our security budget after implementing FortiGate, attributed to its offering of essential features at a reduced cost compared to previous vendors.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We pay for additional services like perpetual licenses. Despite this, FortiGate is considered a cost-effective solution. I rate the pricing as a five out of ten, reflecting a balance between cost and benefit.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We also use other vendors like Cisco, Netgate, Ubiquiti, and others in our environment.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend this product. In future updates, it would be beneficial to see automation features, such as real-time alerts via phone, which we currently get from other OEMs.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
Reliable with enhanced threat detection with effective content filtering
What is our primary use case?
We are using the FortiGate Next Generation Firewall, and we are also providing this solution to our customers.
How has it helped my organization?
Customer is investing in this solution. We have observed a reduction in order value costs, approximately one lakh rupees per order, which contributes to reducing overall security costs.
What is most valuable?
In our territory, the most usable features include WAP content filtering, which is more utilized than IDS, sandbox license, and multiple internet connectivity. These are the primary features we are offering as a solution.
FortiGate's threat detection capability is excellent. Compared to other solutions, FortiGuard Lab has a very high capacity to detect malware and malicious content.
What needs improvement?
I would like to see improvements in some of the hard drive features on FortiGate so that we can generate reporting within a single box.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been working with FortiGate Next Generation Firewall for the last ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's reliable and works well within our needs.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
FortiGate is scalable. That said, you must change the hardware to scale in capacity.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support has improved over the last two or three years, as Fortinet now operates 24/7 support.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We have also worked with SonicWall. Compared to SonicWall, FortiGate allows us to make a DNS server, which SonicWall cannot do. SonicWall offers the advantage of providing a free reporting solution.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price is very aggressive in India as India is a rapidly growing market, the original equipment manufacturer offers competitive pricing.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We have evaluated other solutions like SonicWall and Sophos.
What other advice do I have?
For very small companies, with five to ten users and where cost is a concern, I would not recommend going with FortiGate.
If only cost is a concern, then it would not be recommended. It is a little bit expensive - the entry-level model is the FZ FortiGate. At the same time, Sophos XZ 86 is an entry-level model, which is more suitable for very small networks.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.