

Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center and FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall (FortiGate CNF) are competing in the network security category. FortiGate CNF stands out with a superior feature set, making it advantageous for those requiring enhanced cloud capabilities.
Features: Cisco provides a centralized security management with tools for automated threat intelligence and comprehensive network visibility. FortiGate CNF integrates well with public cloud platforms, offers advanced threat protection, and emphasizes scalability. Cisco's solution benefits from centralized management, while FortiGate's cloud-native design enhances integration capabilities.
Room for Improvement: Cisco could improve its cloud integration and simplify deployment processes in cloud environments. Its interface could also benefit from enhancements in usability and intuitiveness. FortiGate CNF might work on lowering initial setup costs and enhancing its vulnerability management system. Improving user interface for ease of use and expanding integration with non-cloud infrastructures are potential enhancements.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: FortiGate CNF's cloud-native deployment supports seamless integration within cloud infrastructures, facilitated by responsive customer service. Cisco's traditional deployment requires more effort for cloud environments, although its customer service is robust and supportive of user needs.
Pricing and ROI: Cisco offers competitive setup costs with a strong focus on support, ensuring a steady ROI over time. FortiGate CNF requires a higher initial investment due to advanced features but promises a potentially quicker ROI by leveraging cloud efficiencies. Cisco's cost-effective traditional infrastructure contrasts with FortiGate's investment focusing on cloud advantages.
With Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center, we can push policies centrally to multiple devices in just a few minutes, which has significantly reduced the effort and time.
There are a lot of solutions which can provide the same features.
FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall provides the same features that higher-end models offer, but at a much lower cost.
Cisco's documentation and knowledge base are quite strong, which helps with resolving issues without always raising a ticket.
I rate the technical support from Cisco as ten out of ten.
There is local support through the distributor, which is efficient and provides a friendly relationship.
For technical support from the vendor, I would give it probably an eight as they are fairly responsive and usually fairly knowledgeable.
Technical support from Fortinet is rated high, a nine out of ten, though there is always room for improvement.
It supports managing multiple devices and policies from a single console, which makes scaling operations easier.
I would rate scalability capabilities as ten out of ten.
For the 3000 new series and the 4000, we can make a cluster.
Unfortunately, FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall (FortiGate CNF) is not very scalable.
The scalability allows for increasing the capacity through configuration adjustments.
For scalability, if the hardware isn't fit or working, the box needs changing.
We have not faced any major outages from the platform itself.
I would rate the stability of FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall (FortiGate CNF) as nine out of ten, indicating it is very stable.
The stability of FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall (FortiGate CNF) is highly appreciated by the people I work with, as they love its reliability.
The FortiGate firewall is stable and supports all our requirements for infrastructure security.
I remember version 6.4 had an integration with Eddie, allowing me to define a policy according to my users, however, the latest version, lacks this integration.
Now Cisco has published the 120 series and the 1100 series, which support SD-WAN features in the firewall.
At times, it can feel complex, especially for new users, and navigation between different sections could be more intuitive.
The Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) in Fortinet products, including FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall (FortiGate CNF), is not very strong; we often prefer Cisco IPS instead.
It is a tool that we have used quite heavily, but it has a lot of vulnerabilities and they are starting to be dropping support for it.
The prices for FortiGate are way too high and are perceived as overpriced.
I find the pricing for Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center to be very reasonable, as they offer the license for both virtual and hardware options.
The initial setup cost can be significant because it involves licensing along with compatible hardware or virtual deployment.
A $80 or $200 device translates to approximately 8,000 to 10,000 Rand, which includes licensing costs.
FortiGate's cost-effectiveness is noticeable as it provides many features with one license, saving costs compared to Cisco ASA.
The pricing is considered too high and does not justify the value provided by the devices.
I consider Talos feedback that Cisco provides as free threat intelligence to be the most valuable for me and for the operation of the security policy in my organization.
The best features of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center are the centralized management and strong security visibility.
It provides full visibility of my devices, whether I have six or ten devices.
The visibility and exposure to logs provide valuable insights for our InfraSec team, aiding in monitoring and managing communication and policies.
It enables better segregation and integration with on-premise firewalls and infrastructure so that I can seamlessly handle both on-prem physical firewalls and cloud firewalls.
Threat detection and prevention features are the most effective aspects of FortiGate CNF.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall (FortiGate CNF) | 3.0% |
| Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center | 2.6% |
| Other | 94.4% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 12 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 9 |
| Large Enterprise | 8 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 13 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 2 |
| Large Enterprise | 3 |
Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center is a robust platform with features like intrusion prevention and centralized management, enhancing security with compatibility across Cisco's ecosystem.
Designed for enterprises, Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center provides advanced features like application visibility and seamless policy deployment. Its user-friendly design and extensive monitoring capabilities enable effective network management. While it excels in threat intelligence and automation, challenges remain in interface complexity, pricing, and performance. Improved API integration and enhanced user support would bolster its functionality, especially in policy management and monitoring.
What are the key features?In financial and healthcare industries, Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center optimizes security operations by managing firewalls and ensuring network protection. Its deployment aids in advanced malware detection, supporting compliance with industry regulations and securing sensitive data efficiently.
FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall (FortiGate CNF) is a scalable, enterprise-grade cloud-native firewall delivered as a service, providing robust threat protection to cloud environments like AWS and Azure.
FortiGate CNF offers advanced capabilities like IPS, web filtering, and DNS security, managed through a single interface to secure multiple accounts and networks across various regions. It integrates seamlessly with cloud service provider tools for simplified management and policy enforcement, reducing operational costs and maintaining security efficiency. Customers benefit from comprehensive threat prevention without the need for complex infrastructure deployments, ensuring cloud workloads remain protected.
What features does FortiGate CNF offer?Financial institutions, healthcare providers, and telecom companies deploy FortiGate CNF for robust cybersecurity across cloud environments. It supports compliance mandates like PCI DSS, enables zero trust policies for APIs, extends protection to high-bandwidth tasks, and integrates with on-premises infrastructure for comprehensive security strategies.
We monitor all Firewall Security Management reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.