Fortinet FortiGate-VM Reviews

Name: Fortinet FortiGate-VM
Brand: Fortinet
Rating: 4.2 (121 reviews)

4.2 out of 5

121 reviews
98% willing to recommend

456 followers

What is Fortinet FortiGate-VM?

FortiGate Virtual Appliances allow you to mitigate blind spots by implementing critical security controls within your virtual infrastructure. They also allow you to rapidly provision security infrastructure whenever and wherever it is needed. FortiGate virtual appliances feature all of the security and networking services common to traditional hardware-based FortiGate appliances. With the addition of virtual appliances from Fortinet, you can deploy a mix of hardware and virtual appliances, operating together and managed from a common centralized management platform.

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Fortinet FortiGate-VM is the #9 ranked solution in best firewalls. PeerSpot users give Fortinet FortiGate-VM an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Fortinet FortiGate-VM is most commonly compared to Fortinet FortiGate: Fortinet FortiGate-VM vs Fortinet FortiGate. Fortinet FortiGate-VM is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 47% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 20% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiGate-VM

May 2025

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Featured Fortinet FortiGate-VM reviews

Sitti Ridzma Salahuddin

System Engineer at Trends and Technologies, Inc

Since the solution we offered was a complete suite with Fortinet FortiGate-VM, it was easier for them to manage because they have FortiManager as well. The main reason they wanted to position FortiGate in the cloud was so that they could easily deploy through FortiManager. That was the selling point we had for them. Especially for their multiple branches, where they had approximately 60 sites, and some assets were in AWS, it was really a good deployment opportunity. FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer were also part of that solution.

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Pietro Di Blasi

Pre-Sales Analyst at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees

The main use is for clients who are migrating to the cloud. We started this journey during the pandemic, and the main case is with clients who are moving to either a private or a public cloud The solution allows us to organize our networks and access within one vendor, using an integrated…

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RajeshKumar20

Senior Engineer at Team Computers

Speaking about how the tool improved security within our company's virtualized environment, I would say that if I go for VPN, data in the cloud, or more number of users, then Palo Alto Networks is the best. If there is a smaller number of users, then Fortinet FortiGate-VM is good. For an MNC organization, Palo Alto Networks is a good option. For Indian organizations, I recommend Fortinet FortiGate-VM. A scenario where the solution was essential for cloud workload protection is applicable in a small company with 100 to 200 users of the product. If you need a tool without much of an investment, then it is better to choose Fortinet FortiGate-VM. The most effective part of the tool that is useful for network threat prevention is Fortinet Secure SD-WAN, which is free of cost and is available with a large number of uplink ports, so the servers can directly have a firewall, which is not something that is possible for Palo Alto Networks. I recommend the product to those who plan to use it. The product has a lot of customers in India. If I consider Fortinet FortiGate-VM's growing network demands, I rate the scalability a seven to eight out of ten. The management and configuration areas in the product are easy. The product offers a lot of security tools to meet a lot of security needs. Fortinet allows you to add security solutions one by one in your environment. Depending on the product's capability to deal with network scenarios and the use of internal and external firewalls, I rate the overall tool a ten out of ten.

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Fortinet FortiGate-VM mindshare

As of June 2025, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiGate-VM in the Firewalls category stands at 1.9%, up from 1.6% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls

PeerResearch reports based on Fortinet FortiGate-VM reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Firewalls	Jun 3, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jun 3, 2025	Download
Comparison	Fortinet FortiGate-VM vs Netgate pfSense	Jun 3, 2025	Download
Comparison	Fortinet FortiGate-VM vs Fortinet FortiGate	Jun 3, 2025	Download
Comparison	Fortinet FortiGate-VM vs OPNsense	Jun 3, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Fortinet FortiGate	4.2	21.4%	90%	346 interviews Add to research
Netgate pfSense	4.3	12.7%	93%	217 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Fortinet FortiGate-VM is praised for strong security, intuitive interface, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Users appreciate features like SD-WAN, VPN, IPS, web filtering, and automation. It's easy to deploy and manage, integrates seamlessly with other Fortinet products, and offers good support. It provides robust threat protection and flexibility for diverse business needs. The comprehensive threat database, effective firewall, and traffic inspection support multiple services within the same VM, making it suitable for varied environments.

"Fortinet FortiGate-VM is one of the easiest and most user-friendly brands we use, with excellent threat intelligence and accessibility."
"Fortinet Security Fabric and real-time threat response capabilities are the main selling points."
"I observed a fifty to sixty percent reduction in operational costs after migrating to FortiGate VM."

Room for Improvement

Fortinet FortiGate-VM needs enhancements in user interface responsiveness, detailed traffic reporting, and technical support efficiency. The pricing requires better competitiveness and integration capabilities should improve, especially with SIEM tools. Enhancements in reporting functionalities, flexibility in customization, and scalability are necessary. Features like SD-WAN, cloud management, and improved security measures could be included. High reliance on command-line interface instead of a graphical interface is problematic. Licensing and pricing transparency and better interoperability are also required improvements.

"In the Philippine market, where cybersecurity is still growing but not yet fully mature, we have many clients who have Fortinet FortiGate-VM or hardware. However, we cannot really position the Fabric if the licenses, renewal parts, or other components have monetary requirements that hinder full utilization."
"In the Philippine market, where cybersecurity is still growing but not yet fully mature, we have many clients who have Fortinet FortiGate-VM or hardware. However, we cannot really position the Fabric if the licenses, renewal parts, or other components have monetary requirements that hinder full utilization."
"Interoperability could be improved. The API needs better integration to match accounts and objects more effectively."

ROI

Fortinet FortiGate-VM shows varying return on investment perceptions among users. Stability and security improvements are frequently noted, enhancing network protection and reducing operational costs. Users see potential returns contingent on accurate sizing and long-term use. Some appreciate the cost-effectiveness and competitive pricing, while others feel it falls short in simplifying tasks. The value is recognized from enhanced traffic visibility and security, with ratings often high. Many consider it worthwhile due to investment recovery and feature renewability.

Pricing

Fortinet FortiGate-VM pricing is competitive, often cheaper than main competitors like Palo Alto and Check Point, but expensive compared to open-source solutions or, in some regions, alternatives like Sophos. Pricing varies based on license duration and features, with options for one, three, and five-year licenses. Enterprise buyers find value in bundled support and updates, though some users express concerns over the complexity and cost when scaling. Despite being mid-priced, some suggest exploring discounts or special offers to reduce costs.

"For large enterprises, price is not a problem because they need that solution. However, in the Philippine market, many of our clients are still small to medium businesses, so the price can be challenging. The license for Fortinet FortiGate-VM costs 100K to 150K Philippine pesos per year for VM1 or VM2."
"The tool is neither expensive nor cheap, so it is okay."
"The price falls somewhere in the middle; it's neither cheap nor expensive."

Popular Use Cases

Fortinet FortiGate-VM is primarily used for firewall functions, offering comprehensive security for internal and external networks. It secures cloud environments, enables VPN connections, and provides intrusion prevention. Organizations utilize it for network segmentation, site-to-site connections, and SD-WAN capabilities. It supports both on-premises and cloud deployments. Companies apply Fortinet FortiGate-VM to protect data centers, manage internet traffic, and enhance security for distributed sites. It is favored for its flexibility, performance, and ease of deployment.

Service and Support

Technical support for Fortinet FortiGate-VM receives mixed feedback. Many find it responsive and helpful, with a fast response time and knowledgeable staff, although some experience delays, unhelpful replies, or slow issue resolution. Local support and distributors are often praised, but some users prefer Fortinet's system to be more like Cisco's. Positive experiences frequently highlight efficient communication and problem-solving, while criticisms focus on slow response times or less competent staff members.

Deployment

Users found that Fortinet FortiGate-VM's initial setup is generally user-friendly and straightforward, though some complexity may arise, especially during migration from other solutions. Basic networking knowledge or experience with similar setups can aid the process. While installations can range from a few hours to several weeks depending on requirements and configurations, additional assistance or documentation can facilitate the deployment. Adjustments and maintenance vary based on specific needs and environments.

Scalability

Fortinet FortiGate-VM demonstrates strong scalability for various user needs. Many users find it handles increased loads effectively, though some experience constraints due to incorrect sizing or budget limitations. It's considered flexible for small to large companies, but certain virtual environments can pose challenges. Users appreciate its capacity to expand with enterprise needs, and it is often rated highly for scalability, particularly when virtual resources allow for enhanced flexibility in deployment.

Stability

Fortinet FortiGate-VM shows a mix of stability experiences. Many users express satisfaction, noting it as reliable with minimal issues. However, some mention problems with stability, especially during updates or incorrect configurations. Versions with new releases tend to introduce bugs, affecting consistent performance. Users rate Fortinet FortiGate-VM's stability mostly between six to ten out of ten, indicating varying levels of satisfaction. Scalability and ease of configuration are highlighted as positive aspects.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

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