We performed a comparison between Fortinet FortiGate-VMand SonicWall TZ based on our users’ reviews in five categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.
Features: Fortinet FortiGate-VM is commended for its robust protection features, including geofencing, firewalling, IPS, and antivirus. Users appreciate its user-friendly interface. SonicWall TZ is recognized for its comprehensive threat management, VPN capabilities, web security, ease of use, reliability, and content filtering.
Fortinet requires enhancements in several aspects such as key activation, log management, cloud management, MFA offerings, web filtering options, application inspection, GUI features, IPsec failover, monitoring tools, setup process, layer-seven functionality, bandwidth issues, VPN connectivity, pricing, performance, and security. SonicWall needs improvements in throughput, secondary DNS hosting, cloud management, user interface, reporting analytics, affordability, automation, application signatures, syncing, proxy feature, DPI-SSL clients, DNS hosting, technical support, VPN connections, and pricing.
Service and Support: Some customers appreciate the prompt and knowledgeable support team at Fortinet. However, others have faced challenges with slow response times and difficulties in accessing information quickly. SonicWall TZ has received mixed reviews, with some customers facing delays and language barriers when dealing with support from India. On a positive note, there have been instances where local partners have provided exceptional support for SonicWall TZ.
Ease of Deployment: The setup process for Fortinet FortiGate-VM is generally uncomplicated and can take a varying amount of time. It is user-friendly and not excessively complicated. The initial setup for SonicWall TZ is described as quick, intuitive, and can be finished within a short to moderate timeframe. It is considered straightforward and not troublesome.
Pricing: Fortinet FortiGate-VM offers a competitive setup cost. It includes licensing fees without any extra expenses. SonicWall TZ has varying reviews on pricing and licensing, with some users finding it cost-effective while others find it pricey. Additional licenses are necessary, and users have expressed the desire for more features in the basic subscription.
ROI: Fortinet FortiGate-VM provides enhanced security and stability, resulting in a favorable return on investment. It is crucial to select the appropriate size initially to prevent any financial drawbacks. SonicWall TZ has achieved positive ROI and is suggested for improved performance. Both products are essential for ensuring network security.
Comparison Results: Fortinet FortiGate-VM is highly recommended in comparison to SonicWall TZ. Users value its robust security capabilities, user-friendly interface, and seamless deployment. It offers comprehensive filtering options and scalability.
"The most valuable features are the policies, filtering, and configuration."
"Good anti-malware and web filtering features."
"FortiGate has a strong security topic which allows all of the Fortinet devices to communicate and share information which makes their security more powerful."
"The response is very quick and they can visually resolve our problems in a short period."
"The most valuable feature of Fortinet FortiGate is load balancing. It can provide central management and VPNA. Additionally, it has enhanced our security environment."
"The interface is very good."
"The most valuable features are the possibility of having one fabric for switching on security."
"It performs very well."
"The combination of SD-WAN and VPN capabilities is the most valuable feature."
"Its performance is adequate. We are quite satisfied with its performance. The fact that it is a complete ecosystem with all kinds of integrations is valuable. It did take us a couple of months to get a grip on the new software, but all in all, it replaced our on-premise and single-point solution environment."
"The most valuable features of Fortinet FortiGate-VM are its flexibility and scalability. This solution is available as a license, which allows us to activate it based on the specific needs of the customer. This gives us and the customer a great deal of versatility and customization options."
"The initial setup is very user-friendly."
"The user interface, stability, and scalability are the most valuable features."
"The most valuable features of Fortinet FortiGate-VM are the servers, analyzer, and track protection."
"The product can scale."
"The tool's most valuable feature is its ability to deploy it on live physical hardware. Specifically, when providing firewall services for clients, we can leverage such hardware appliances to support multiple customers on the same hardware."
"The feature we found most valuable in SonicWall TZ is that it is user-friendly for an administrator."
"Offers the right amount of control without being incredibly convoluted and frustrating."
"It protects against intrusion while allowing needed access."
"The solution is priced fairly and competitively."
"The most valuable features are unified threat management which provides security intelligence and the VPN for both site-to-site and remote access."
"From our point of view, the most valuable feature was the ease of deployment."
"The general feature is the antivirus policy, followed by the ransomware protection, and these are the features I was looking at."
"I've found the technical support to be helpful."
"We sometimes have issues with FortiGate's routing table in the latest firmware update. We had to downgrade the device because our customers complained about bugs."
"The main aspect of FortiGate that could be improved is load balancing. Our management team does not want to buy another appliance for only load balancing."
"The visibility of the network can be better. The GUI can be improved for better visibility of the network flow. Other solutions have better GUI in terms of network visibility."
"One issue that I have had is that sometimes I need to monitor the traffic, so I need to filter it according to the user and which user is using it the most. I experience a bottleneck most of the time, particularly at the peak time when the number of contracts and users are at maximum."
"To the best of my knowledge, Fortinet does not have a CASB solution and Fortinet does not have a Zero trust solution."
"Maybe they could make some features more accessible, such as a way to translate directions between two networks that share the same subnets."
"There are just some services that aren't available. For example, the Ethernet or point-to-point protocols. They could add these services to their product offering - especially services for ISPs."
"The pricing could be a bit better, especially when you consider how they have the most basic offering priced."
"Fortinet support needs improvement. The response times are lackluster. Fortunately, the product is stable and we seldom have issues. Also, it takes months for them to deliver hardware when we order it."
"The performance could be better. Some features need to have quality control when the switch is working. The dedicated bandwidth for some users is not reliable."
"Fortinet devices are acknowledged as highly potent and come with a notable cost. These devices offer extensive visibility, an array of configurations, and a range of security features. However, there's room for enhancement in their routing and switching security aspects, akin to Cisco's offerings. A noteworthy aspect here is Meraki, which offers cloud controllers. If FortiGate were to introduce a similar cloud management solution, it could strongly compete with both Meraki and Cisco products. Cisco operates in two sectors: enterprise and SMB. Particularly in the SMB market, they hold sway due to their convenient cloud management features. For instance, Meraki's cameras and wireless access points can be easily controlled through their cloud management portal. If FortiGate were to provide cloud-based management solutions for SMB customers, it could cater to a significant portion of the market, considering that a substantial number of customers fall within the SMB and mid-level enterprise categories."
"Compatibility and integration with other products or vendors such as Cisco SD-WAN products need improvement."
"There should be integration with an active directory — with Microsoft."
"The log settings and filters could use some improvement."
"Technical support could be improved."
"The users must buy FortiSIEM to get advanced analytics."
"The solution's pricing could be made cheaper."
"The monitoring is a little bit confusing."
"If the operation increases and the bandwidth consumption increases, it does not perform as per the expectations."
"I would like them to make the interface a little bit easier to use so you can find out where in the heck you're going instead of having to go to 15 different places to get something installed."
"I can't get the support that I need from SonicWall."
"I think content filtering is the area this product should improve. It's a little tricky to get put in correctly."
"We have experienced some issues with SonicWall TZ and they are lacking some advanced features other vendors have."
"The solution has lost the trust of its customers because of moving from one company to another."
Fortinet FortiGate-VM is ranked 9th in Firewalls with 113 reviews while SonicWall TZ is ranked 12th in Firewalls with 78 reviews. Fortinet FortiGate-VM is rated 8.4, while SonicWall TZ is rated 8.0. The top reviewer of Fortinet FortiGate-VM writes "An easy-to-manage and configure tool that provides ample documentation to help with the setup phase". On the other hand, the top reviewer of SonicWall TZ writes "Has efficient user access control feature and good technical support services ". Fortinet FortiGate-VM is most compared with Azure Firewall, Palo Alto Networks VM-Series, Fortinet FortiOS, OPNsense and Cisco Secure Firewall, whereas SonicWall TZ is most compared with Sophos XG, Netgate pfSense, Meraki MX, SonicWall NSa and WatchGuard Firebox. See our Fortinet FortiGate-VM vs. SonicWall TZ report.
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