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Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center vs Fortinet FortiPortal comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 4, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Secure Firewall Manag...
Ranking in Firewall Security Management
8th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
27
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Fortinet FortiPortal
Ranking in Firewall Security Management
10th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
12
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Firewall Security Management category, the mindshare of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center is 1.3%, up from 0.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Fortinet FortiPortal is 1.0%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Firewall Security Management
 

Featured Reviews

Yonas Abebe - PeerSpot reviewer
Great dashboard with extensive visibility and good support
I expect more integration with AI. I expect Cisco to be easier for users in India, especially for junior users. For a junior one, it may somehow be complex, especially when configuring something. 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. The logging of FMC should be improved as it does not offer real-time solutions like DazaSodo.
Andriejus Artamonovas - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers reliable log retention and monitoring with prompt customer support
Fortinet FortiPortal's most valuable feature as a free service is the log retention for at least seven days. It is useful for our service-providing company as I manage many clients and need reminders for UTM license expiries. The service comes bundled when buying licenses, providing these features for free. Fortinet cloud also allows for basic management such as monitoring expiries and storing logs from devices for a week if configured correctly.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"My clients have never contacted me with any issues, so I believe the solution is stable."
"The overall product rating is eight out of ten."
"The solution is quite scalable."
"The most valuable aspects are the antivirus and URL filtering."
"The solution is easy to use."
"One of the most valuable features of Cisco Secure Firewalls is their seamless integration with other Cisco products."
"The tool's deployment is not complex."
"Malware detection, URL filtering, and antivirus are the most beneficial features for our security management. The platform has three main components: filters, hardware, and antivirus. We use the standard approach for automation and integration. The person in charge of management follows the rules and policies of the equipment and handles operations. However, we haven't set up any notifications, so it's mostly manual."
"I am very comfortable with it, including it's reporting on threats and through its activities."
"I recommend Fortinet FortiPortal without any reservations, backed by my experience with its potent features and reporting capabilities."
"The firewall and site-blocking features are valuable."
"The documentation has been satisfactory."
"I like the product's asset management which gives clear hardware details."
"I like the tool's controller facility."
"The role-based access controls give us granular control over what features to present to a customer, and the integration into FortiAnalyzer is the most valuable feature."
"From a scalability perspective, I found the solution to be completely fine...The solution's technical support is absolutely fine."
 

Cons

"Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center needs to reduce its price."
"We use the suggested standard policies that come with the equipment. We don't put much effort into customizing these policies, which we know is a risk. We're moving to a more advanced IT area that will change how we manage the firewall policies. Cisco offers many ways to manage the equipment, but our team lacks extensive knowledge. We're moving these responsibilities to a specialized security team."
"I would go with a rating of three out of ten for the stability issues."
"The product's setup could be easier."
"The first version had a lot of bugs, but the recent versions have sorted them out."
"The initial setup is a bit complex."
"Due to the lack of enough tutorials available online, I face problems with Cisco."
"The solution should improve the user interface."
"I find their logging a little bit trickier to manage. The logging of events is broken up into a lot of different categories. Instead of breaking up my logs into several different places, I personally like to have all the events in one spot and then filter them down. In particular, I find that troubleshooting on Fortinet takes a little bit longer just because of those functional breakups in the logs."
"The solution is more expensive than other products."
"The product must have in-built SD-WAN connectivity."
"If you are a very small company or a person on your own, it's harder to get any response from technical support."
"Fingerprint access security would improve this solution."
"The tool should provide a 10-15 days extension for customers when their license expires."
"There can be defects in Fortinet FortiPortal when functioning at high temperatures."
"Fortinet FortiPortal could improve by providing a learning portal and better security."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I rate the tool's pricing a four out of ten. The licensing costs are yearly."
"It could be considered relatively cheaper when compared to some other vendors in the market."
"Technical support is an additional annual cost and is not included with the license."
"It is rather expensive."
"As for pricing, the tool is expensive for us. I'd rate it eight out of ten on a scale where ten is the most expensive."
"The price of the solution is expensive. We do not have to pay more than the standard licensing fees."
"I rate Secure Firewall Management Center eight out of 10 for pricing."
"The solution is expensive. We have a multi-license, and we pay extra for support."
"The solution is quite expensive."
"The licensing costs attached to the solution make it an expensive product."
"Fortinet FortiPortal is expensive in Pakistan."
"The price of the solution is reasonable."
"Fortinet FortiPortal is not expensive."
"I am satisfied with the pricing for this solution."
"On average, it tends to be cheaper than other enterprise solutions."
"Fortinet FortiPortal is relatively expensive, but being an industry-leading firewall, it does come with a cost."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Government
22%
Computer Software Company
16%
Engineering Company
9%
Performing Arts
6%
Computer Software Company
11%
Media Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Financial Services Firm
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center?
The platform has significantly enhanced our organization's operations by providing secure communication channels between different office locations.
What needs improvement with Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center?
Licensing has been a challenge with Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center, and personally, I would consider switching to another solution. We are thinking of taking a Fortinet or another solution...
What do you like most about Fortinet FortiPortal?
The firewall and site-blocking features are valuable.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiPortal?
The cost of Fortinet FortiPortal is affordable, particularly for our subscription. Compared to other solutions like Cisco, it's significantly cheaper. I would rate the price as a six out of ten.
What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiPortal?
The only complaint about Fortinet FortiPortal is the need for frequent firmware upgrades, as it requires constant updating due to potential security vulnerabilities. With a proper license, the abil...
 

Also Known As

No data available
FortiPortal
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center vs. Fortinet FortiPortal and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
865,164 professionals have used our research since 2012.