Fortinet FortiGate and Netgate pfSense compete in network security. Fortinet FortiGate has the advantage with its robust hardware and extensive support services, while Netgate pfSense is favored for its open-source flexibility and cost-effectiveness.
Features: Fortinet FortiGate offers advanced threat protection, high-throughput capabilities, and seamless integration with other Fortinet products. Netgate pfSense provides comprehensive VPN support, firewall functionality, and extensive routing options, catering to those prioritizing open-source customization.
Room for Improvement: Fortinet FortiGate could enhance flexibility and reduce initial setup costs. It could also increase customization options. Netgate pfSense might benefit from enhanced professional support services and more streamlined integration processes. Improving user-friendliness and providing comprehensive premium support might also be beneficial.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Fortinet FortiGate supports rapid installations with strong global support networks, suiting businesses requiring large-scale deployments. Netgate pfSense provides a flexible deployment model with community-based support, appealing to tech-savvy organizations that manage systems hands-on.
Pricing and ROI: Fortinet FortiGate involves higher initial costs due to premium services, offering significant ROI for enterprises with advanced security needs. Netgate pfSense provides a low-cost entry point, ideal for businesses focused on affordability, often resulting in superior ROI for those seeking scalable, customizable open-source solutions.
The automation part is giving us a cost benefit and speed; we can react faster.
It's a very useful tool to mitigate and protect your enterprise.
When investing in cybersecurity with Fortinet FortiGate 200, which costs more than $10,000, companies that are growing directly can expect ROI within 1.5 to 3 years.
It's very favorable to have the inclusion of firewall, VPN, and router functionalities.
The total cost of ownership is extremely low when you compare it to a lot of the other devices or other gateway appliances that are available on the market.
There's a significant return on investment.
The quick resolution of issues with Fortinet FortiGate is due to the support of the company and the fact that the equipment is easy to work with.
I would rate the technical support for Fortinet FortiGate a ten out of ten.
As a solution provider, when I encounter problems, I connect directly with Fortinet support, and they provide solutions within a very short time.
The support is knowledgeable and responds quickly, so the questions are addressed professionally and accurately.
Snort requires you to pay extra for that help. It's a third-party plugin for pfSense.
When we're down, that's $8000 an hour on a $1500 firewall.
They scale up really well from smaller models like the FortiGate 40 and 50 to bigger sites with the FortiGate 100 for more throughput - up to enterprise datacenters.
The variation comes in terms of the interfaces and throughputs, but from a security perspective, you get the same benefit, irrespective of whether you have an entry-level unit or an enterprise.
We determine sizing based on multiple factors: number of users, available links, traffic types, server count, services in use, and whether services will be published.
Even with a jump from a 50 megabit to a 500 megabit internet connection and approximately 65 active VPN clients, our firewall operates smoothly without any strain.
pfSense is almost infinitely scalable.
The next step up now is to the 4100, which gives you an additional preconfigured WAN port that allows you to easily separate networks.
We're experiencing 99.999% availability consistently.
I would rate the stability of Fortinet FortiGate a ten out of ten.
Currently, we are experiencing a general outage of one of the main internet service providers of the Dominican Republic, and we have not been impacted in our operations because with SD-WAN, we have another internet service provider and we are working with the second WAN connection without any disruption.
I've noticed a substantial improvement in stability and ease of use for upgrades and patching over the past year or two.
When I replace consumer routers with pfSense for small businesses with two or three employees, they are often amazed to discover the router can run for a year without a reboot.
Netgate pfSense rates a 10 for stability, and I have experienced no issues there.
It would be better for customers to get immediate replacements even with a standard subscription.
It is how quickly each of these companies adapts to that and brings in more value to the customer.
The main area for improvement in Fortinet FortiGate is the firmware versions, as we face uncertainties regarding upgrades and frequent bugs that require self-fixing of problems.
Netgate pfSense is extremely feature-rich for our specific use scenarios.
Having a reseller portal of some kind that allows us to easily remotely access all the different pfSense gateways that we have out there (like Meraki does with their equipment) would be ideal.
I need to speak to someone immediately.
It offers cost savings as it is generally cheaper than the competition.
It is about 20% cheaper.
The advantages of Fortinet FortiGate over its competitors include good pricing and meeting our requirements at a lower cost.
The cost of the 3500 was closer to $4,000.
The total cost of ownership is so low because the license and the hardware are remarkably good.
The licensing for me is relatively inexpensive for what I'm getting out of it.
They put in a thing called the FortiCookbook, which is very easy to read with real-life scenarios that make networking tasks like joining networks very straightforward.
The firewall and VPN features are the most valuable in protecting our customers' networks.
The most valuable feature is the deep inspection for traffic, which is capable of identifying zero-day attacks.
pfSense's flexibility is great. If you don't have the money to buy the NetGate hardware, anything works with it. You can toss it on any low-end piece of hardware or virtualize it if you choose to virtualize it.
In contrast, pfSense has a graphical user interface, which makes it all very straightforward and easy to use to set up some pretty sophisticated routing scenarios.
Netgate pfSense provides 100 percent visibility, enabling my organization to make data-driven decisions.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Fortinet FortiGate | 14.5% |
| Netgate pfSense | 7.7% |
| Other | 77.8% |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 372 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 138 |
| Large Enterprise | 195 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 171 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 33 |
| Large Enterprise | 29 |
Fortinet FortiGate is a versatile network security tool offering features like VPN, firewall, web filtering, intrusion prevention, and scalability. It is known for its performance and integration with other Fortinet products, making it a preferred choice for robust cybersecurity.
Fortinet FortiGate stands out as a comprehensive cybersecurity solution with strong performance and ease of configuration. It delivers unified threat management, integrating features such as dynamic routing, SD-WAN support, and centralized management. Despite its strengths, improvements in the web interface's stability, pricing structures, and reporting capabilities are needed. Users seek better integration with third-party tools and automation advancements to enhance the experience further. These enhancements, alongside improvements in bandwidth management and the reduction of licensing costs, are points of interest for users looking to capitalize on FortiGate's extensive capabilities.
What are Fortinet FortiGate's key features?Fortinet FortiGate is widely implemented across industries as a primary firewall system for securing internet gateways and safeguarding data centers. It supports businesses in achieving SD-WAN integration and enhances cybersecurity by providing essential features like antivirus, web filtering, and application control. Enterprises utilize FortiGate for securing remote connections and ensuring compliance with security standards, making it adaptable for different network sizes and industries.
Netgate pfSense is an open-source firewall and router software known for scalability, cost-effectiveness, and community support. It includes customizable packages for varied network management needs, offering solid performance and straightforward management for diverse setups.
Netgate pfSense provides an impressive range of functionalities including firewall capabilities, VPN options, and extensive customization through packages. Its low resource usage and high availability make it viable for businesses of all sizes, especially when dealing with tailored network demands. Despite its strengths, users suggest improvements in ease of use, mobile compatibility, and support for plug-ins. Enhanced centralized management, better documentation, and additional security features are frequent requests.
What are the key features of Netgate pfSense?In education and healthcare, Netgate pfSense is employed for secure connectivity and efficient traffic management, accommodating distinct demands of remote access and content filtering. Organizations in these sectors often utilize features such as load balancing and VPNs to maintain secure and reliable network operations while integrating with services like Active Directory for streamlined identity management. Small to medium-sized enterprises benefit from its affordability and robust functionality, making it a go-to choice for managed service environments requiring effective network security and control.
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