In the realm of network management solutions, Fortinet FortiManager and Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN are prominent players. FortiManager seems to have an edge with its affordability and scalability, notably managing up to 100,000 devices, whereas Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN offers a comprehensive set of features that appeal to large enterprises with existing Cisco environments.
Features: FortiManager offers centralized management, supporting up to 100,000 devices, with a focus on automation and security visibility. It integrates seamlessly with other Fortinet solutions like FortiAnalyzer. Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN excels in advanced application-centric routing and provides robust cloud connectivity, benefitting enterprises with scalability needs and a focus on Cisco ecosystem integration.
Room for Improvement: FortiManager needs improved documentation and easier integration with non-Fortinet products. Its support services and reporting could be faster and clearer. Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN users suggest a simplified licensing model and better security integrations, as well as enhanced price competitiveness and configuration simplicity.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: FortiManager is flexible for on-premises and hybrid deployments, though its technical support can be inconsistent, causing occasional delays. Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN supports multiple environments, including public clouds, and provides comprehensive customer support, but its complex licensing and configurations may extend deployment time.
Pricing and ROI: FortiManager is cost-effective, with a competitive licensing model, especially suitable for managing large device numbers, promising good ROI. Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN is perceived as more expensive, potentially deterring SMBs, but its extensive features can justify the higher cost for larger enterprises leveraging Cisco's ecosystem.
They are now back to do that with the remainder of their company, so they've realized the value in 12 months and are willing to invest in the remainder of their organization.
Fortinet provides a strong ROI for organizations focused on comprehensive security.
The principal third-level support is very good.
I would consider Cisco support a 10 out of 10.
I would rate Cisco's support, their customer service, and technical support as excellent.
Fortinet's support has proven to be reliable, particularly as we've been engaged with them since the project's initiation.
They are responsive and resolve issues quickly when I raise a ticket.
The level of support for P2 and P1 is wonderful.
Cisco SD-WAN is highly scalable and can be expanded to more than 10,000 sites.
The ease of configuration and features like zero-touch provisioning enhance the scalability of Cisco SD-WAN, especially in disaster recovery situations.
You can raise the capacity as you go, and there is no limit for hardware.
If you are working with a private or public cloud, it is very scalable.
The problem is cloud connectivity and roaming profiles are not working, as there is no option for them.
While some software-related issues and bugs were encountered, they did not cause the whole environment to crash.
I rate the solution's stability ten out of ten.
95% of the time, there are no problems interacting with other devices.
Now, they change frequently, making it difficult to obtain long-term support.
Including more features like integrating with Splunk for monitoring vulnerabilities would help eliminate the need for other SOC solutions.
The negative, or the downside of Cisco is the knowledge base; you need to be a little bit more tech-savvy and network-savvy to work with Cisco, while Juniper is a lot more user-friendly from what I can see, especially in terms of configuration and any kind of roll back.
FortiManager is a good tool, but there is a lack of really advanced documentation.
If you have a couple thousand policies for FortiGate firewalls, it can take a few minutes to receive a response from the remote devices.
In such cases, their CPE or other devices on-site may become unreliable, leading to occasional configuration discrepancies.
Its pricing is justifiable due to the comprehensive solution it offers.
It is also relatively cost-effective for smaller businesses when using the Meraki version.
The pricing of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN is rated between eight and nine out of ten, where ten is the most expensive.
Fortinet has the best pricing currently on the market.
It isn't the most expensive solution.
It's neither cheap nor expensive.
It also provides robust security features, including port security, analysis, mirroring, and multiple other security solutions.
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN has integrated security features which include base firewall, URL filtering, IPS, and secure segmentation.
Integration capabilities provide comprehensive security.
I can automate the installation of configurations using different programming languages like Python or HPE, and it's a GUI solution, so it's pretty easy to use, even for basic users.
Being able to push consistent firewall rules and configuration changes across multiple FortiGates saves a ton of time and reduces errors compared to managing each device individually.
Without FortiManager, you cannot manage a complex environment across several sites with multiple firewalls.
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN offers centralized management and integrates seamlessly with existing Cisco ecosystems. It simplifies deployment with zero-touch provisioning, delivering robust security and optimized application routing.
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN provides essential capabilities for organizations seeking secure remote connectivity and cost reduction, notably through its support of hybrid environments. While pricing and complexity present challenges, its advanced application control and cloud compatibility make it a valuable asset for connecting branches and data centers. Users benefit from enhanced security, network assurance, and simplified management, driving operational efficiency.
What are the key features of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN?In banking, retail, and enterprise sectors, Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN facilitates effective network management by enhancing connectivity between branches and data centers. Its security features and zero-touch deployment are particularly valued, providing scalable solutions for locations that demand reliable, application-prioritized networking.
Fortinet FortiManager is used for centralized management of FortiGate firewalls, utilizing zero-touch deployment techniques to optimize configuration and deployment, reducing installation time and errors while improving network security and efficiency.
By centralizing policy management and monitoring across devices and locations, Fortinet FortiManager enhances security and operational efficiency. Automation tools simplify management, control, and consistent configuration across environments. It offers scalability for managing large numbers of devices, beneficial for organizations seeking unified threat protection and streamlined administration from one console. The platform integrates effortlessly with Fortinet products, supporting zero-touch provisioning, SD-WAN, and traffic analysis. Although intuitive, the graphical interface and overall performance require refinement, alongside enhanced support and documentation for troubleshooting and configuration.
What are the key features of Fortinet FortiManager?Fortinet FortiManager is implemented across diverse industries like telecommunications, finance, and healthcare, where centralized management and enhanced security are crucial. Its ability to streamline processes and integrate with existing Fortinet products makes it ideal for organizations looking to maintain robust network security standards.
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