Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) pros and cons

Vendor: Fortinet

4.2 out of 5

53 reviews
95% willing to recommend

Pros & Cons summary

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) delivers comprehensive security with scalable, user-friendly setup and robust routing and reporting. Key features include SD-WAN, UTM protection, and threat intelligence. Although firmware updates enhance security, challenges with stability, technical support, pricing, and vulnerability management persist. Scalability and integration remain limited, affecting virtual machine and SD-WAN flexibility. Improvements are needed in pricing flexibility and licensing models to better fit diverse business needs. Customers report mixed experiences with support efficiency and issue resolution.

Buyer's Guide

Get pricing advice, tips, use cases and valuable features from real users of this product.

Prominent pros & cons

PROS

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall is user-friendly and easy to configure, making setup uncomplicated.

The firewall offers substantial security features including IPS, application control, and VPN, which contribute to enhancing network protection.

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall stands out for its scalability, allowing seamless expansion as organizational needs grow.

This firewall has strong performance capabilities and provides a stable and reliable network security solution.

The firewall's comprehensive security capabilities, including SD-WAN and threat intelligence, deliver a high return on investment.

CONS

Technical support needs significant improvement, including response time and availability across different time zones.

Licensing and pricing models require revision, as costs are high and adding new features often necessitates additional licenses.

Stability issues persist, with frequent updates necessary and problems arising in large-scale environments.

Integration capabilities with other Fortinet tools and third-party services need enhancement for better user-friendliness and flexibility.

Security vulnerabilities and features like IPS/IDS need significant upgrades for comprehensive protection, including against ransomware attacks.

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) Pros review quotes

DK

IT/DevOps at a legal firm with 11-50 employees

Jun 5, 2025

I would rate FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) as a solution a 10 out of 10.

Read full review

IT and Network Security Manager at Ouranos Technologies

Jul 7, 2023

I found the upgrades valuable.

Read full review

AM

Network Consultant at Jooya

Jun 12, 2023

When I survey FortiGate products, I see that they have a good performance, especially in terms of next generation firewalls.

Read full review

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Free Report: FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) Reviews and More

Learn what your peers think about FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW). Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2025.

856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.

BB

Managing Director at Inter-Caribbean Networking Solutions

Jun 13, 2024

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall has a very high ROI

Read full review

IT Lead at CMH

Jun 23, 2023

The scalability is very good.

Read full review

Information Security and Compliance Officer at Carnation

Jun 12, 2024

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall has IBS/IPS systems

Read full review

Network Admin at Naivas Ltd

Jun 11, 2024

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall has a stateless balance proposition

Read full review

Technical Head at Quoinx Technologies private Limited

Jul 10, 2023

Routing and reporting are two areas where the product has an added advantage compared to any other product.

Read full review

Key Account Manager at INTDEV INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD

Jul 21, 2023

The most valuable features we found are the SD-WAN, FortiGate SD-WAN, and the standard UTM protection, among others.

Read full review

Einstein Rozario

Principal Consultant at Sapienze Tech FZE

Dec 1, 2023

The most valuable aspects of FortiGate NGFW are its top-notch reputation in peer reviews, user-friendly interface, and excellent support.

Read full review

Show 10 more reviews (out of 52)

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) Cons review quotes

DK

IT/DevOps at a legal firm with 11-50 employees

Jun 5, 2025

In our case, the deployment options of FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) are not scalable, but in terms of connectivity to other companies, that's exactly what we needed, and that's exactly what it does perfectly, what is needed.

Read full review

IT and Network Security Manager at Ouranos Technologies

Jul 7, 2023

One area for improvement is the IPS engine.

Read full review

AM

Network Consultant at Jooya

Jun 12, 2023

One of the weaknesses of the solution is something we noticed, especially after comparing the tool with SD-WAN features, since, unfortunately, in a massive scale size environment, the solution is not good. I

Read full review

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Free Report: FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) Reviews and More

Learn what your peers think about FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW). Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2025.

856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.

BB

Managing Director at Inter-Caribbean Networking Solutions

Jun 13, 2024

The pricing of the solution should be more affordable

Read full review

IT Lead at CMH

Jun 23, 2023

There have been several vulnerabilities in the firewall. It is hackable, some of the images are hackable.

Read full review

Information Security and Compliance Officer at Carnation

Jun 12, 2024

More SD-WAN features can be integrated into the FortiGate Next Generation Firewall

Read full review

Network Admin at Naivas Ltd

Jun 11, 2024

The solution should allow more user-friendly integrations or deployment

Read full review

Technical Head at Quoinx Technologies private Limited

Jul 10, 2023

Vulnerabilities owing to viruses in the OS need to be reduced in FortiGate Next Generation Firewall from an improvement perspective.

Read full review

Key Account Manager at INTDEV INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD

Jul 21, 2023

Someone without certification and experience with other firewalls might find it a bit more challenging to grasp the FortiGate format and its platform layout.

Read full review

Einstein Rozario

Principal Consultant at Sapienze Tech FZE

Dec 1, 2023

I see room to explore its integration with Secure Service Automation for a more comprehensive security view.

Read full review

Show 10 more reviews (out of 52)

Product Categories

Product Categories

Unified Threat Management (UTM)

Fortinet Secure Networking

Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Popular Comparisons

Popular Comparisons

Fortinet FortiGate vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Netgate pfSense vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

OPNsense vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Azure Firewall vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

WatchGuard Firebox vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Juniper SRX Series Firewall vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Fortinet FortiGate-VM vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Sangfor NGAF vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Tailscale vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Twingate vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Zyxel Unified Security Gateway vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

IPFire vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Palo Alto Networks PA-Series vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Google Cloud Platform Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Hillstone A-Series vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

See all alternatives

Product Categories

Product Categories

Unified Threat Management (UTM)

Fortinet Secure Networking

Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Popular Comparisons

Popular Comparisons

Fortinet FortiGate vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Netgate pfSense vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

OPNsense vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Azure Firewall vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

WatchGuard Firebox vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Juniper SRX Series Firewall vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Fortinet FortiGate-VM vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Sangfor NGAF vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Tailscale vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Twingate vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Zyxel Unified Security Gateway vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

IPFire vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Palo Alto Networks PA-Series vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Google Cloud Platform Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Hillstone A-Series vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

See all alternatives

Related questions

69

What do you recommend for a corporate firewall implementation?

85

Comparison of Barracuda F800, SonicWall 5600 and Fortinet

437

Sophos XG 210 vs Fortigate FG 100E

133

Which is the best network firewall for a small retailer?

128

When evaluating Firewalls, what aspect do you think is the most important to look for?

38

Cyberoam or Fortinet?

612

Fortinet, Palo Alto or Check Point?

11

If you could go back, would you change your decision to buy that firewall and why?

68

Sophos XG vs Fortigate UTM

28

Can you recommend a solution to replace Cyberoam 200ing Firewall?