Fortinet FortiClient Reviews

We are using FortiClient primarily for VPN purposes. We're running FortiClient for VPN for remote work or to oversee connections. Additionally, we use it for ZTN features, software filtering, and antivirus filters.

A valuable feature of FortiClient is that we can connect from anywhere if we have Fortinet access. We appreciate its VPN capabilities and the features that offer extra security functionalities like antivirus and malware scanning.

Sometimes users stay on the old version of FortiClient. When new releases are not compatible, I need to reinstall newer versions, which can be problematic. We request improvements in compatibility, particularly for old FortiClient versions that are not compatible.

For the current company, we have used FortiClient for over two years. I have been using FortiClient for more than seven years, including at my previous company.

Regarding stability, I give it a rating of ten out of ten for our setup.

Scalability is rated as ten. We can add more licenses and Fortinet tokens, demonstrating excellent scalability.

Technical support can be logged on Fortinet's support portal. Sometimes, they respond quickly, but there are delays depending on the priority we choose when contacting technical support.

We have experience with products from other vendors such as Cisco, which also offers a VPN solution.

The setup is not complex and is very simple. We are using FortiClient plus Multi-Factor Authentication through FortiToken. Only the first setup was complicated, but once configured, it becomes easy. We set it up to integrate with our systems for security with FortiToken.

Our team did the initial setup in-house.

FortiClient is cost-effective since the client itself is free with the purchase of Fortinet. Licensing costs are mid-range for us, considered as five on a ten-point scale.

Cisco is one of the competitors that provide VPN solutions.

I recommend FortiClient for all sizes of companies due to its cost-effectiveness, scalability, and reliability.

I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.

We use FortiClient as an antivirus and for endpoint devices, primarily for computers and laptops.

FortiClient does support our VPN services, and we haven’t faced many challenges in that area. The VPN connection has worked well. The centralized management dashboard is also a good feature. It categorizes devices, allows scanning, and collects updates directly from Active Directory. This makes it easier to manage everything.

Another strength is its ability to identify vulnerabilities, although it doesn’t categorize them into critical, medium, or low levels. It just flags everything as a vulnerability, which can be overwhelming. For example, we use a patch manager that categorizes vulnerabilities, so we know what to prioritize. But FortiClient marks many issues that aren’t even applicable to our environment.

Regarding the functionality of FortiClient, there are a few issues. One problem is how it handles blocking policies. For example, if we want to block something specific like legal or law firms, it doesn’t differentiate well and blocks anything that contains the term "law firm." 

Another issue is the frequent requests for device reboots, which slows down some applications.

Also, when an application slows down due to FortiClient, it's hard to pinpoint the cause without uninstalling it and checking if the application works fine afterward. But even then, it's difficult to identify why the application wasn’t being accepted, especially if it wasn't categorized as a restricted website or something similar.

It doesn’t categorize vulnerabilities into critical, medium, or low levels. It just flags everything as a vulnerability, which can be overwhelming.

I have been using it for two years. 

The problem only occurs on certain computers and servers, which makes it more challenging to identify. From my experience, I installed it on my own computer, and it’s been working fine.

The issues aren’t very critical. Maybe there's a step or two we’re missing or not executing properly. 

The main reason I’m seeking help [support] is to see if we could have a session with someone who can guide us through the onboarding process and rollout. This would allow us to confirm if we’re doing things right. During that session, we could ask any questions we have about the steps we’re struggling with.

Additionally, it sometimes takes a long time to investigate issues that are raised via the dashboard. We wanted to know how to better analyze the logs and events so we can identify problems more quickly.

In terms of scalability and onboarding new computers, it's fine overall. However, we still need some guidance on how best to implement it across our environment.

We are trying to determine the best way to implement it. Maybe we’re not doing it correctly, which could be causing the issues.

We do have support from Fortinet, and we’ve paid for it. We're also trying to procure local vendor support. 

The person [in my team] who handles raising tickets with Fortinet isn’t available right now, but they usually track and follow up on those.

In the past, we used Symantec, but I didn’t interact with it much—only as a user. With FortiClient, however, I’ve been involved as an administrator, so I can’t really compare the two solutions. However, I do know that Symantec was very expensive, just like many other vendors. FortiClient solution is also costly.

One challenge we faced was with the installation. Initially, we thought it could be centrally deployed, but it turned out we had to install it on each device individually [one by one] in an isolated environment. That was time-consuming.

We’ve had some challenges with certain servers, like domain controllers, and some user computers. While 80% of the installations are fine, we still have a few issues with specific cases.

I work in a department that handles the implementation.

We haven’t finalized the contract side yet because of the environment we're in. We wanted to implement things like single sign-on and others. Since it's a fabric, we will have it as a perimeter firewall. However, we can’t activate these features when we still have servers and computers that we're troubleshooting and facing challenges with. 

Once we activate and start using all the functionalities we’ve paid for, like FortiClient's services, there's a bit of worry. We’re not getting the value for money from what we’ve invested in because of the penetration challenges and difficulties in pushing the installation across the board. 

We have a paid license. FortiClient is costly. We work within a limited budget, and the pricing is steep compared to other vendors, which doesn't make sense for our organization. We’re currently in the rollout phase, but we want to fast-track it and achieve full deployment before moving on to the next phases.

From a security standpoint, FortiClient’s functionality is great, and I can work with that. However, I’ve been getting a lot of negative feedback from users, particularly around performance issues—computers becoming slow or servers freezing. While it’s expected that users might complain when they feel restricted, I would prefer if these performance issues, like computers slowing down or freezing, were addressed.

Some issues I can easily resolve, like configuration settings or specific policies that I can adjust, but problems like installing a new application causing the computer to slow down are things we need to address in a more structured report.

From a technical perspective, I would rate it around eight out of ten.

But from the users’ perspective, based on their feedback, I would rate it around six out of ten. Actually, six might be too high from the user side—it might be closer to a three. The users are very crucial in the decision of whether we will continue using FortiClient or not. That’s why our focus is to address the issues they are raising, so we can continue using FortiClient’s services as a whole.

From a technical point of view, we don’t have many complaints. In fact, we appreciate it as a technical team. However, we don’t make the final decision on whether we will continue with FortiClient. That decision is driven by the users. So we’re working to improve the user experience and the rating of the antivirus solution. We know that if you ask the users to rate it, you’ll need to aim for a minimum rating. 

Technically, we’re fine except for a few issues, which we think can be mitigated if we engage further with Fortinet. Our goal is to resolve the technical problems we’re facing and eliminate the user issues as part of this process.

I am using Fortinet FortiClient for remote access as I am working remotely. I need to access something in Nextiva, so I use the VPN daily.

Fortinet FortiClient provides several benefits such as saving time, saving money, and improving security.

The interface of Fortinet FortiClient is clean and easy to use. Additionally, it provides benefits like saving time, saving money, and improving security for my organization.

The setup process could be more simplified. There are complexities with the scalability part, particularly with routing and policy alignment. The routing and policy need to be tailored between both to ensure proper functionality.

I have been using the solution for four years.

Fortinet FortiClient is pretty stable most of the time, with occasional issues likely due to my internet connection.

The scalability could use improvement as you need to ensure that routes and policies are aligned, which can be complex.

The technical support from Fortinet is rated as nine out of ten.

Positive

I do not have any experience with other competitors.

The setup process was not really that easy, rating it three out of five.

The setup was done in-house.

The price is rated six out of ten. It's neither low nor high. I cannot really estimate the pricing for other solutions.

I did not evaluate other options.

I rate the overall solution as eight out of ten. 

I recommend Fortinet FortiClient to other users. At the company, we use it on-premises and I am just a user of the product.

We use FortiClient for remote users to connect to office resources. It acts as a VPN client, enabling secure access for employees working from home.

Currently, the version we are using of FortiClient has all the features required for us to run our business. It serves as a VPN client, allows connections to business URLs, and includes SAML authentication and multifactor authentication.

Remote users connect to the office using FortiClient, where they can access business URLs through a VPN tunnel configured on the FortiGate firewall. We use family authentication and multifactor authentication via Office 365 email ID, which enhances security for users working from home.

Fortinet frequently releases updates without thorough testing. We encounter issues due to multiple vulnerabilities, which leads to problems. Fortinet should focus on better iOS testing before release to avoid these bugs.

I have been using Fortinet products for approximately ten years.

The stability of FortiClient is excellent. I would rate its stability as ten out of ten.

We can recommend FortiClient for small organizations with 50 to 60 users as well as for larger enterprises due to its extensive features.

The technical support from Fortinet is good. We have not faced any issues. They initiate the troubleshooting process quickly and resolve issues in a timely manner.

Positive

The initial setup is a straightforward process. It is easy to configure with FortiClient.

Recently, Fortinet has increased prices for its products. It could be made more affordable for end-users.

The main competitor for FortiClient is Palo Alto Firewall.

I would rate Fortinet overall as nine out of ten. It is a one-stop shop for IT services, offering integration for WiFi, switches, and firewalls in one interface.

We mainly use FortiClient as a VPN client. Additionally, we use it for anti-malware, anti-spam, and as a content filter. When a user is outside the company, we can use FortiClient as a content filter to control the sites the user can access.

FortiClient has improved our security posture by providing a secure, encrypted VPN tunnel. It is easy to use, has a friendly user interface, and offers stable performance.

The most valuable features of FortiClient are its VPN capabilities and its use as an anti-malware and anti-spam solution. Another key feature is the content filter.

Improvements are needed in the compatibility between different versions, as sometimes the latest version does not work, requiring a downgrade. Additionally, performance enhancements are expected as it sometimes takes a while to connect.

We have been using FortiClient for about four to five years.

FortiClient is stable and very reliable. I would rate its stability as eight out of ten.

Scalability depends on the type of box being used. The solution is scalable with the right infrastructure, and I would rate its scalability as eight out of ten.

We have not used any support for FortiClient, which indicates its stability and ease of use.

Positive

We previously used Cisco and SonicWall products. We switched to FortiClient since it is easier to use and one of the top-rated products in its category. SonicWall became outdated and more complex than FortiClient.

The initial setup is straightforward and easy, with no need for external assistance.

The installation process involved my colleagues and around 15 engineers across our group.

I strongly recommend FortiClient because it's easy to use, stable, and has no significant operational issues.

I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.

Currently, we are using FortiClient, and there's only a firewall. I am using FortiClient for remote workforce environments. It's used for remote employees.

The SSL VPN. Yeah, VPN. These are just the VPN capabilities that are mostly used.

There are compatibility issues, and sometimes, especially with macOS, it's difficult to set up properly. Sometimes, it connects, sometimes not. Another improvement is that we need to know if there's a proper setup for both Mac and Windows systems. We disconnect sometimes, and we don't really know the cause. Also, the FortiClient feature should connect seamlessly without manual intervention. Sometimes, there is a need for manual configuration before connecting.

Currently, we are working eight or nine years.

Stability is still a five out of ten as we don't know the cause of disconnections we face.

In terms of scalability, I'm giving FortiClient a five out of ten since there is room for improvement.

In terms of setting up, there are no issues. It's simple, downloadable, and there's usually no problem.

Currently, since we are deploying it, compared to before, it's a good price and cost. That said, now it has become costly. The rating is seven out of ten in terms of pricing.

Based on requirements, I can recommend the product for other users.

I'd rate the solution seven out of ten.

We are using FortiClient to block certain firewall policies for our users.

FortiClient benefits us by allowing control over internal and external users of the Fortinet network. We can apply the same policies from the physical firewall to the cloud side, which is beneficial for managing both types of users.

We primarily use the firewall feature in FortiClient, which is highly valuable to us.

We require that the process be simplified more. The user interface is a bit sluggish and needs improvement.

I have been working with FortiClient for three years.

FortiClient is stable. I don't find any issues regarding its stability.

FortiClient can easily scale up.

The support is sluggish. Sometimes there are delays, and sometimes they do not respond. So, I would not recommend FortiClient for enterprise-level implementation based on their support.

Neutral

The initial setup is simple. It is much simpler than the previous version.

The pricing is a bit on the higher side compared to other products.

Cyberoam has more of a competitive edge, especially with AWS.

I would recommend FortiClient to other users.

I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.

We use the solution for antivirus and endpoint security.

When combined with EMS, Fortinet FortiClient's features are most helpful for endpoint security. It does improve our company's security posture.

We use real-time threat detection for scanning files and antivirus. It's integrated with Fortinet FortiAnalyzer. When an endpoint is compromised, Fortinet FortiClient and FortiGate trigger to block and isolate the user on the network.

This integration isn't difficult—it's part of the Security Fabric when FortiAnalyzer, FortiGate, and Fortinet FortiClient work together.

It with Security Fabric and FortiGate for blacklisting IPs and blocking compromised hosts, and providing VPN connectivity to encrypt traffic.

The tool could use more features, such as improved antivirus scanning with filters and application control to manage users. If you don't have FortiGate for web filtering and application control, you can use these in Fortinet FortiClient EMS. This gives you two options: on-site and off-site.

When a user is on-site at the company, you can apply policies to control your network's web filtering and application control. But when the user or PC is outside the company, you don't need to control what they open in their browser.

This is a benefit because I don't care what users access at home - they can open YouTube or Facebook. But when they're at the company, I want to restrict what they can open in the browser. I want to block YouTube and Facebook at work but allow all access at home.

My company has 200 users.

The support is open for 24/7 tickets. 

It took about three days to install - one day for server and EMS installation, integrating with the LDAP server, and pushing the Fortinet FortiClient image over group policy.

I rate the solution a nine out of ten.