Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs MikroTik Routers and Switches comparison

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access and MikroTik Routers and Switches based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Ethernet Switches solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs. MikroTik Routers and Switches Report (Updated: March 2024).
768,578 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"One of the most feature-packed switching solutions you can implement.""The technical support has been very good.""It works really well, I think the equipment is solid, and the help is great.""I would rate the the ease of management and scalability within our network architecture an eight out of ten, with ten being best.""The integration with the whole platform, so there's one dashboard for everything. It is one of the most valuable features.""Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access has essential features for managing switches.""This device is easy to use.""Integration is good, as well as price and technical support."

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"The most valuable feature is that you can do anything on all platforms.""The MikroTik Hotspot is great.""They have amazing speed and reliability, and they also provide value for money. They are pretty powerful.""We make use of a script that will automatically re-route traffic when connections are slow.""It's pretty stable.""The most valuable feature is its bandwidth management ability.""We have found this solution is quite robust and there are a lot of features in a small device.""The product is simple to use."

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Cons
"I give the stability a seven out of ten because we have noticed when we hook up phones the switching of ELANs et cetera doesn't work as it should.""The product's end-user protection feature needs improvement.""Technical support needs to take a different approach and pricing should appear more competitive.""It would be easier if Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access could be managed via cloud, and this is something that could be improved in this product. Bandwidth display could also be better.""It could be simpler but compared to the competition, it's not so bad.""The product could use more security related features.""I'd like to see more integration with different platforms.""When we started using the solution, it was quite complex but then it became easier to use. It takes a while to get used to the interface."

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"They could improve their product if they set, for instance, a controller for wireless LAN. That would allow them to really have something more than an access point.""When we have a problem and reach out to MikroTik support, it's not very fast. Usually, you have to speak in English, so my technicians need to have strong English skills to communicate.""The batch management could be improved.""The CPU load is too high. This causes the Internet to lag.""The product's setup process could be easier.""f they can improve the OpenVPN, to make that a bit more straightforward, that would be ideal.""I would like to have the option of having multiple logins.""I would like to see some content filtering with MikroTik Routers and Switches."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "The cost appears to be high in comparison to other competing products although with this product you are paying for what you get."
  • "It's affordable and there are no additional costs, just regular support, and license fees."
  • "It's affordable compared to other switching products, like Cisco switches."
  • "You can buy this equipment in a multitude of ways. You can buy just the hardware, or you can buy the hardware and the licenses."
  • "Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access requires a license and the price is expensive."
  • "The price is good."
  • "The price of the solution could improve, it is expensive."
  • "Licensing is billed annually and contracts are either one or three years in length."
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  • "This product is a one-time purchase."
  • "In our last project, we used two hundred units and the price was approximately 500 Shekels ($140 USD)."
  • "There is no licensing fee in addition to the hardware, but we do pay an annual fee for support."
  • "This product is cheaper than competing products by other vendors."
  • "There are not any external or hidden costs."
  • "The price-performance is great."
  • "MikroTik is very cost-effective and quite good for the price. It performs very well. For one of our customers, the existing setup comprises Cisco Catalyst switches, and it is about 10 to 15 years old. We're looking into upgrading in a cost-effective way to get the performance and yet still be at par with the quality and expectations that customers have from Cisco. Price-wise, Cisco is really expensive, and customers are expecting something different than Cisco so that they can save on IT costs. They don't have the same budget that they had before when they installed Cisco products. That's why they're looking for a solution that can provide performance and features without too much money or investment. We're looking at some alternative brands, such as NETGEAR and MikroTik, to support our proposal."
  • "The main reason we use this solution is for the price — it's very cheap."
  • More MikroTik Routers and Switches Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer: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… more »
    Top Answer: With FortiSwitch, you can easily identify who is connected to each port, disable ports as needed, and retrieve configurations from FortiGate when required.
    Top Answer:Cisco Enterprise Routers are very stable and easy to use. They offer a very solid performance and are very secure. They also have a very good, long lifespan. We feel the command configuration is very… more »
    Top Answer:Ubiquiti Unifi is a great solution. For starters, it is easy to configure and implement, and doesn’t require a learning curve because it is easy to use. It is also simple to reconfigure an AP or… more »
    Ranking
    7th
    out of 34 in Ethernet Switches
    Views
    12,109
    Comparisons
    9,090
    Reviews
    24
    Average Words per Review
    404
    Rating
    8.0
    6th
    out of 34 in Ethernet Switches
    Views
    12,762
    Comparisons
    8,280
    Reviews
    25
    Average Words per Review
    488
    Rating
    7.9
    Comparisons
    Learn More
    Overview

    Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access is a secure, high-performance, and easy-to-manage switch. Fortinet FortiSwitch is the best solution for threat-conscious enterprises of all sizes because it is secure, simple, and scalable. Secure Access, which is tightly integrated into the Fortinet Security Fabric via FortiLink, may be handled directly from the FortiGate interface.

    Regardless of how people and devices connect to the network, this single-pane-of-glass administration provides total visibility and control. This makes the Fortinet FortiSwitch perfect for SD-Branch and campus deployments, allowing enterprises to combine their security and network access with applications ranging from desktop to data center aggregation. Fortinet FortiSwitch's Secure Access is the most adaptable security platform with end-to-end protection in the industry.

    Switches for Secure Access: Small to medium-sized businesses, scattered organizations, branch offices, and industrial control systems can all benefit.

    Switches for Data Centers: Ideal for users requiring high-performance 10 GE or 40 GE.

    Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access Features

    Fortinet FortiSwitch has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

    • Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access is designed for various installations, including desktops and wiring closets.
    • Deploy and manage switches using the FortiGate interface, with FortiGate Cloud as a cloud administration option, or manage as a standalone switch using CLI, API, GUI, or the cloud with FortiSwitch Cloud.
    • Switch configuration, management, and troubleshooting are all simplified with a single-pane-of-glass dashboard.
    • Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access is ideal for SD-Branch deployments.
    • Secure Access uses FortiGate interfaces to connect with FortiLink. This provides centralized security and access control.
    • Integration of the Security Fabric: Fortinet FortiSwitch's FortiGate management brings Security Fabric features to the Ethernet access layer.
    • Voice, data, and wireless traffic can all be carried over a single network, making it ideal for converged network environments.
    • Non-FortiLink deployments can be supported via the onboard GUI, API, or command line settings.
    • Up to 48 ports in a compact and 1 RU form factor.
    • Depending on the model, up to 300 switches can be stacked per FortiGate.
    • Supports wire-speed switching, as well as store and forward mode.

    Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access Benefits

    There are many benefits to implementing Fortinet FortiSwitch. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

    • You can easily manage all deployments in one interface if your company scales and opens a new office or location.
    • You can ensure that users are authenticated before giving network access.
    • Power over Ethernet makes it simple to set up wireless access points and IP phones.
    • With network segmentation, you can help satisfy data separation compliance.

    Reviews from Real Users

    Fortinet FortiSwitch stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are its stability and its VLAN setup. PeerSpot users take note of the advantages of these features in their reviews:

    Rutul S., CXO at Aariha Enterprise Private Limited, writes of the product, “The most valuable feature is the SD-WAN support. This device is easy to use.” He adds, “Stability-wise, this product is better than others that are on the market.”

    Emil V., System Consultant at I team, notes, “I like the VLAN setup of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access. Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access has very good scalability.” He adds, “Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is easy to set up. It only takes minutes to deploy this product, because it is mostly boxes.”

    MikroTik Routers and Switches provide all the features necessary for network administrators to secure and monitor their networks and are suitable for companies of any size. The solution is ideal for creating Wi-Fi hotspots, connecting multiple servers, setting up firewalls and VPNs, and distributing bandwidth. MikroTik's user-friendly dashboard helps you interact easily with your hardware. With MikroTik's user interface, you can obtain real statistics by user or IP address and monitor bandwidth consumption.

    Benefits and Key Features of MikroTik Routers and Switches

    • Affordability: MikroTik routers and switches are very reasonably priced and offer features comparable to those of other higher priced solutions.

    • Highly customizable: Flexible scripting policies and configuration options enable users to enhance the functionality of MikroTik's various products. MikroTik routers also offer hotspot profiles, which allows admins to create different customizable guest user authentication profiles.

    • Consistency: All MikroTik routers have the same operating system and features, making it simple to migrate between different products.

    • Routing protocols: MikroTik provides several dynamic routing protocols that can be deployed to build robust and secure networks.

    • Built-in firewall: MikroTik offers a very powerful firewall implementation with multiple features, including state inspection, layer-7 protocol detection, and peer-to-peer protocols filtering.

    • Stability and robust performance: MikroTik routers and switches are long-lasting, resilient, and perform well.

    Reviews from Real Users

    MikroTik stands out among competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are its reasonably priced products and its user-friendly user interface, which makes it easy to work and communicate with its hardware.

    Parameshwar P., a director at Navyug Networks, writes, "I like MikroTik's GUI. It's completely handy and easy to handle because of its GUI. Despite other brands like Cisco urging me to switch, I didn't because they don't have a GUI. This is the most comfortable thing in my project that anyone can use easily. It’s effortless to maintain MikroTik routers because both screens make it very easy in GUI mode. You can easily interact with your hardware.”

    Rodney T., the chief solutions architect at Tech2go Strategic IT Solutions, says, "They are very good at providing the bandwidth for multi-tenants and multi-dwelling units. We're managing Wi-Fi hotspots for hundreds of locations, and the speed and performance are quite there. They also have very cheap 10G products that come with really good and flexible software. They are way cheaper than the top brands, and they're able to deliver the same performance and capabilities."

    A principal consultant at a tech services company notes, "The most valuable aspect of this solution is the combination of value for money. They're extremely cost effective, yet they provide you with an extensive feature set of things you can do across the board. Also, they're pretty reliable, as far as equipment goes."

    Sample Customers
    Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
    ABB, Boingo Wireless, JPL, HP, Allied Telesis, iPass, Mips Technologies, MicroAge, Matsushita, Telia, undp, WFP, NASA
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company29%
    Marketing Services Firm10%
    Comms Service Provider10%
    Manufacturing Company10%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company16%
    Government8%
    Comms Service Provider8%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    REVIEWERS
    Comms Service Provider24%
    University11%
    Educational Organization11%
    Marketing Services Firm8%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company16%
    Comms Service Provider14%
    Manufacturing Company6%
    Media Company6%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business71%
    Midsize Enterprise14%
    Large Enterprise14%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business33%
    Midsize Enterprise21%
    Large Enterprise46%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business63%
    Midsize Enterprise23%
    Large Enterprise13%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business39%
    Midsize Enterprise19%
    Large Enterprise42%
    Buyer's Guide
    Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs. MikroTik Routers and Switches
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs. MikroTik Routers and Switches and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    768,578 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is ranked 7th in Ethernet Switches with 40 reviews while MikroTik Routers and Switches is ranked 6th in Ethernet Switches with 61 reviews. Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is rated 8.2, while MikroTik Routers and Switches is rated 7.8. The top reviewer of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access writes "It's a strong product that's easy to manage and costs significantly less than competing solutions ". On the other hand, the top reviewer of MikroTik Routers and Switches writes "A cost-effective networking solutions with a robust feature set, but its interface may have a steeper learning curve". Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is most compared with Cisco Ethernet Switches, Aruba Switches, Meraki MS Switches, Ubiquiti UniFi Switches and HPE Ethernet Switches, whereas MikroTik Routers and Switches is most compared with Cisco Enterprise Routers, Ubiquiti UniFi Switches, MikroTik Cloud Router Switch, Huawei Enterprise Routers and Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches. See our Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs. MikroTik Routers and Switches report.

    See our list of best Ethernet Switches vendors.

    We monitor all Ethernet Switches 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.