The FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) from Fortinet is a comprehensive cybersecurity solution designed to cater to a wide array of organizational needs. It integrates seamlessly into the Fortinet Security Fabric, offering robust protection against various internal and external threats, including attacks, malware, and vulnerabilities. The NGFW is known for its advanced features such as SSL inspection, application control, visibility enhancements, and an effective intrusion prevention system (IPS). This IPS plays a critical role in identifying and blocking malicious traffic by monitoring and inspecting incoming data.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) | 0.8% |
| Fortinet FortiGate | 20.1% |
| Netgate pfSense | 11.1% |
| Other | 68.0% |
| Type | Title | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Firewalls | Sep 1, 2025 | Download |
| Product | Reviews, tips, and advice from real users | Sep 1, 2025 | Download |
| Comparison | FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) vs Fortinet FortiGate | Sep 1, 2025 | Download |
| Comparison | FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) vs Netgate pfSense | Sep 1, 2025 | Download |
| Comparison | FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) vs OPNsense | Sep 1, 2025 | Download |
| Title | Rating | Mindshare | Recommending | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fortinet FortiGate | 4.2 | 20.1% | 91% | 419 interviewsAdd to research |
| Netgate pfSense | 4.3 | 11.1% | 93% | 217 interviewsAdd to research |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 35 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 11 |
| Large Enterprise | 5 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 110 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 43 |
| Large Enterprise | 116 |
FortiGate NGFW can be deployed in diverse environments, including on-premises, in the cloud, or hybrid setups. The firewall is equipped with next-generation antivirus capabilities, IPS, web filtering, sandboxing, and intelligent security automation features like threat intelligence integration and automated incident response. Its reporting and analytics tools are comprehensive, aiding in enhancing an organization's security posture.
A notable aspect of the FortiGate NGFW is its diverse and highly rated features, including a powerful VPN, a user-friendly Firewall Management Console, policy-based controls, and advanced reporting and logging capabilities. The system also supports Identification Technologies, Visualization Tools, Content Inspection, and seamless integration with Active Directory and LDAP directories. Its High Availability and the flexibility to deploy in various configurations, such as on-premises or as a Virtual Machine, make it a versatile choice for different business needs.
The FortiGate NGFW also excels in providing secure connectivity. It supports various VPN protocols, offers SD-WAN for intelligent traffic routing, and integrates SASE for unified security and networking solutions. These features contribute to improved security, reduced operational costs, and increased agility for organizations.
When it comes to user experiences and satisfaction, FortiGate NGFW has garnered positive feedback, with an average rating of about 4.26 out of 5 on PeerSpot Reviews. Users from diverse roles, including core network teams, technical officers, and cybersecurity engineers, and from various sectors such as tech services, education, and finance, have found the solution effective. This indicates its versatility and suitability across different company sizes and types.
However, there are areas for improvement. Enhancing the details in Logging Services and making 10 Gigabit Interfaces available for lower models are some suggested enhancements. Simplifying the installation of FortiAP services is also noted as a potential area for improvement.
| Author info | Rating | Review Summary |
|---|---|---|
| IT Consultant at a financial services firm with 201-500 employees | 5.0 | I have extensive experience with FortiGate NGFW, which effectively protects against emerging threats with essential features like antivirus, malware protection, and IP VPN connections. Despite minor connectivity issues, it provides immediate benefits compared to more expensive alternatives like Cisco. |
| IT/DevOps at a legal firm with 11-50 employees | 5.0 | I use FortiGate NGFW primarily for secure IPsec VPN connections between companies. Its ease of use and quick configuration outweigh AWS's VPN option. While deployment isn't scalable, it meets our connectivity needs effectively and has proven secure and reliable. |
| IT Director at Atlantic Quantum Innovations | 4.0 | In our organization, FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) serves as the main security system, known for its ease of use and efficiency in managing firewalls. It improved our security visibility compared to our previous system, Cisco, which was more challenging to manage. |
| Director at Widya Presisi Solusi | 4.0 | We implemented FortiGate NGFW after our ISP to enhance our internal network security, following ISO 27001 with web filtering, spam, and IPS. While multi-threat protection is valuable, we wish it had integrated solutions like FortiManager for smaller businesses. |
| Head of computer systems at Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology(IIST) | 3.5 | We primarily use FortiGate firewalls, valued for their user-based policy management and reliable attack protection. However, integration with other Fortinet tools is complex and support is slow. We’re considering alternatives requiring significant configuration changes. FortiGate lacks SQL injection detection capabilities. |
| UC Solutions Architect at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees | 4.0 | I use FortiGate NGFW across various industries for its strong security, easy configuration, and effective traffic control, though its application database could grow faster; overall, I rate it 8.5 out of 10. |
| CEO at a construction company with 11-50 employees | 3.5 | I resell and manage FortiGate NGFW for customers like universities, valuing its customizable security policies and segmentation. However, transparency in automatic rules is needed. While I've considered Netgate pfSense, FortiGate offers more features despite pricing differences. |
| IT Infrastructure Architect at Apotek 1 | 4.0 | I use the FortiGate firewall for SSL inspection, VPN, and threat intelligence. It's cost-effective, offering significant value, though occasional bugs arise post-updates. While Palo Alto excels in filtering, FortiGate remains a budget-friendly choice despite needing more pre-release testing. |
