Fortinet FortiWLM and Aruba Instant On Access Points compete in the wireless market. Aruba appears to have an edge due to its ease of deployment and advanced features, making it more appealing for many users.
Features: Fortinet FortiWLM offers a comprehensive security fabric with seamless integration with other Fortinet products. Its centralized management and scalable options reduce manual intervention across extensive networks. Aruba Instant On Access Points are easy to manage and deploy, with robust mobile management and advanced antenna technology enhancing user experience.
Room for Improvement: Fortinet FortiWLM could improve reporting and support for smaller clients and enhance centralized management to showcase advanced technologies like Virtual Cell. Aruba Instant On Access Points should improve range and documentation, with a more flexible pricing model for additional features.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Fortinet FortiWLM provides exceptional customer service and suits enterprises with local infrastructure needs due to its on-premises deployment. Aruba Instant On Access Points offer cloud-based deployment but have average tech support, although deployment is straightforward for both products.
Pricing and ROI: Fortinet FortiWLM offers reasonable pricing but faces criticism over certain practices like RMA fees, though it integrates security and management well. Aruba Instant On Access Points are license-free and offer clear pricing, ensuring a quick ROI as all necessary features are included in the base price.
The technical support from Aruba is rated seven due to limitations, such as support issues when the controller is on the VM side.
There are still issues with the language barrier and the overall quality of support.
The local support we receive from our distributor is perfect.
If we encounter any bugs, they inform us of the recommended configuration and firmware to resolve our problems.
With active maintenance, we can open tickets and receive professional assistance without issues.
Fortinet's solutions are integrated into many standard frameworks, allowing for good scalability and interaction with other vendors' products.
The stability of Aruba Instant On Access Points is generally good.
The default configuration can be overridden to enhance performance beyond the default settings.
In future updates, more AI for intelligence and the option for a separate network could be beneficial.
There is not enough focus on security across networking vendors, and they often add features without testing them thoroughly.
Firmware upgrades and bug improvements need to be tested well.
Regarding the integration with other vendors, we try to buy only products from a single vendor to avoid problems of compatibility from devices of different vendors.
One area that needs improvement is the configuration aspect, which is more challenging compared to other products.
The pricing of Aruba Instant On Access Points is competitive compared to Cisco, and they are actually cheaper.
Aruba Instant On Access Points work without a list price, suggesting that they are open source and no additional licensing costs are incurred.
The cost of Aruba Instant On Access Points is reasonable;
While the pricing of Fortinet FortiWLM is a bit high, it remains effective.
Fortinet's pricing is different from Aruba, as Aruba has solutions for small business and enterprise in different categories.
The price is competitive.
Customers choose Aruba because it is more stable, has superior radio management, and offers features like mesh and a stateful firewall.
The product is incredibly stable and meets our needs excellently.
The virtual controller feature is very beneficial because it removes the need for a physical controller.
The solution is controlled from one device and one GUI for all devices.
It also has integration capabilities with FortiFirewall which is beneficial for customers.
The tool facilitates network connectivity effectively.
Ingredients for success.
Fast 802.11ac Wave 2, secure employee and guest access, easy-to-use web, and mobile app management.
Say yes to secure Wi-Fi access.
Pre-built access control lists (ACLs) and built-in firewall in the access points prevent malicious traffic from entering your network – we call it “hassle-free” security.
Never drop an important call.
With Instant On, voice and video business applications are automatically prioritized, so you stay connected with your peers.
Consolidate security and wireless LAN management with our integrated wireless solutions. Single-pane-of-glass management for security and access without the need to add point products simplifies deployment and reduces management complexity. These solutions are highly scalable to support even the largest organizations and distributed enterprises.
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