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Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs HPE Ethernet Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 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

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secu...
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
6th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.7
Number of Reviews
48
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
HPE Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
9th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
103
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is 4.9%, down from 6.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HPE Ethernet Switches is 2.6%, up from 2.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Uri Harf - PeerSpot reviewer
Integration with cloud management simplifies network expansion
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is expensive, and this initial cost can be a barrier, especially for new businesses setting up from scratch. Although the machine is robust and lasts for years with rare technical issues, the initial price can be high. Sometimes, I have to offer alternatives like Aruba or HP, which might be cheaper.
Ashley Magee - PeerSpot reviewer
Reliable and long-lasting network equipment with good customer support
Our primary use case for the switches is for a small business we run. It's mostly in the office, but we also have a plant where we run a lot of monitoring equipment There have been no significant improvements to our network performance as the switches we are using are quite old and we have not…

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The product is a total solution with the FortiGate, switch, and access point. It is integrated with FortiGate, allowing us to manage all the equipment through it. You can handle everything from a single point."
"Stability and scalability for this product are very good. Setup is easy and deployment can be completed within minutes. The technical support for Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is good."
"It can integrate well with other Fortinet products."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access has essential features for managing switches."
"It works really well, I think the equipment is solid, and the help is great."
"The most valuable feature is the breakability after integration with the FortiGate firewall."
"Having a single dashboard to manage everything simplifies the process."
"I can say that the product is easy to use...The initial setup of the product was easy."
"It is a stable product."
"The main features of the solution I have found to be the interface and unique features other solutions do not have. Additionally, they have a lifetime warranty on the hardware."
"The technical support for this solution has improved from what it was."
"HPE is very reliable because it has a lifetime warranty, so the switches didn't give us any problems."
"The solution is easy to set up and easy to use, unlike, for example, Cisco, which is more complex."
"I value that there is a clear place to find a MAC table with HPE Ethernet Switches."
"The graphical userface is very good and quite easy to run with."
"These switches are very stable, to date I have not experienced any issues."
 

Cons

"More integration would be helpful, especially since we sometimes have devices from other companies. Improved interoperability would be very beneficial."
"The product's pricing needs improvement for small and medium businesses."
"If you contact Fortinet, it's a bit difficult. Most of the time, they send you just links and documents to read for troubleshooting. When you contact support, you don't need documents. You want someone that can understand your problem, give a hand, and help you. I'm not impressed by the support really."
"The scalability and technical support can be improved."
"In the next release, I would like to see more outdoor products."
"I feel that the product's stability is an area where improvements are required."
"The pricing could be improved, and it could be easier to configure."
"The pricing is considered high due to the currency exchange changes in our region."
"The solution is a bit expensive."
"HPE Ethernet Switches must ensure that the updates and patching are done regularly. When we have new software updates, we can resolve issues quickly."
"The security of the solution always has room for improvement."
"The solution's throughput should be increased because we often get stuck when it comes to IPTV streaming."
"The ability to stack, as well as a unified operating system, would be extremely beneficial."
"Configuration can be complex."
"The solution lacks certain protocols and has a limited warranty."
"There is a limitation of capability."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Price-wise, I find Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access to be an okay product. It is not an expensive product."
"We signed up for a three-year license for support and replacement."
"We have to renew and pay for the licenses."
"The solution is expensive but overall the cost makes sense."
"The cost appears to be high in comparison to other competing products although with this product you are paying for what you get."
"I rate the product's pricing an eight out of ten."
"The tool's pricing is fine."
"The pricing for Fortinet FortiSwitch is not expensive."
"There are no licensing costs for this solution."
"Licensing fees are on a yearly basis."
"The cost is a bit high."
"The price could be more competitive."
"It would be great if certain features, like licensing, were included in the base price of the switches."
"The licensing cost is yearly, and there aren't any additional costs on top of the standard fee."
"It is a more expensive solution."
"I like HPE switches because you get a perpetual license with the hardware. The initial cost is about the same as other switches, but it starts beating the competitors after three or four years because you don't have to pay for additional annual licensing costs."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Computer Software Company
14%
Educational Organization
9%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Which would you choose - Fortinet Fortiswitch secure access or Cisco Ethernet Switches?
We researched Cisco but ultimately chose Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access, mostly because of the price. Fortinet FortiSwitch is an ethernet switch solution that provides security and performance...
What do you like most about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access?
With FortiSwitch, you can easily identify who is connected to each port, disable ports as needed, and retrieve configurations from FortiGate when required.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access?
The initial cost of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is high compared to other options. Although robust and rarely needs replacement, it can be overqualified for some jobs, which affects the re...
What do you like most about HPE Ethernet Switches?
The solution is very stable and easy to use.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HPE Ethernet Switches?
When compared to Cisco, Aruba is about 40% cheaper. However, Huawei would be even cheaper than Aruba. We can't compare HPE Ethernet Switches with Huawei directly because of different price ranges.
What needs improvement with HPE Ethernet Switches?
HPE Ethernet Switches have room for improvement in the initial setup and integration process, especially when incorporating them into an existing infrastructure with competitor products. It's a cha...
 

Also Known As

No data available
HP Ethernet Switches
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
Emirates Palace Hotel
Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs. HPE Ethernet Switches and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.