Fortinet FortiGate Reviews

Name: Fortinet FortiGate
Brand: Fortinet
Rating: 4 (108 reviews)

Vendor: Fortinet

4.2 out of 5

108 reviews

16K followers

Post review

What is Fortinet FortiGate?UNIXBusinessApplication
Price:

Fortinet FortiGate is an innovative line of firewalls that aim to protect organizations from all types of web-based network threats. They come in a wide variety of product types. Fortinet FortiGate’s solutions are available in a large range of sizes and form factors and are key components of the Fortinet Security Fabric, which enables immediate, intelligent defense against known and new threats throughout the entire network.

Get the Fortinet FortiGate Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet FortiGate, Sophos XG, Cisco Secure Firewall and more!

Helped 735,226 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

EhabAli

Sr. Cybersecurity Solutions Architect at BMB

Apr 20, 2023

In the past, NSS Labs was utilized to test files and verify the numbers and datasheets. It would be beneficial to have an organization or testing lab that can verify the numbers in our datasheets since changes are frequently made, which can be inconvenient for review. For instance, when comparing different competitors such as Forcepoint, Palo Alto, and Check Point, the throughput or numbers in the datasheet may be lower than the actual numbers. Conversely, Fortinet typically reports very high numbers, but they cannot be replicated in the real world. Therefore, it would be advantageous for them to partner with a neutral testing organization such as NSS Labs to validate these numbers, thus providing more credibility and comfort to everyone regarding the accuracy of the datasheets. For the migration, everyone has a firewall in use and I am selling Fortinet. Typically, I am replacing another firewall. Previously, there was a tool available to convert configurations from one firewall, such as Palo Alto, to Fortinet, but this tool is no longer free. If it could be made free again, it would be very beneficial. This tool shows a lot of promise and is very good. Making it free would help many companies deliver their products in a more efficient and integrated way. It would also be more valuable to include the tool with the firewall package or license instead of having to pay extra for it. Paying extra puts more pressure on small companies to deliver the firewall and complete the configuration, especially if they have hundreds or thousands of policies. It's very painful to move through these policies line by line. The stability has room for improvement. When it comes to Secure SD-WAN, everything is fine. They are going the right way. SD-WAN is very promising. They can provide the SD-WAN solution separately, but they will not take this approach because even the smallest firewall can support the features, so there is no need to have a separate service or appliance. They are following the right steps, and there is nothing to be improved. Feature-wise, I'm really satisfied with the new release, and the features they have added. For now, it's fine.

Read full review

Irshad Ali

Presales Manager at a tech services company with 201-500 employees

Jun 5, 2023

I was not looking after the operations part, but sometimes, I did get engaged in some critical activities related to operations. There are some caveats in every product. Tunnel flapping was one of the major things I had seen wherein your internet link remains but your VPN tunnel is down. However, since I got a fix from the TAC team, I have not noticed it, but the customer complained a few times that they couldn't access the internet because of this problem. There were tunnel issues where there was already established connectivity, but at the kernel level, there were some issues. For example, there's a feature for auto-site connectivity wherein whenever it automatically creates a new tunnel, at the kernel level, it also creates an interface. Sometimes, that interface crashes and a new interface could not be created, which results in connectivity loss. Fortinet has established itself in the SMB market segment. It's doing pretty well in that space, but when it comes to the enterprise segment, they are lagging a little bit. It all boils down to the performance of the hardware. If I enable all of the security features available on my device, the throughput degrades quite a lot. If I have put 10 GBPS of throughput on a firewall and I enable all of these features available, such as IPS or UTM functionalities, the throughput comes down to 1 GBPS.

Read full review

Javed Hashmi

Chief Technology Officer at Future Point Technologies

May 24, 2023

Fortinet has a very strong OS. They have a single OS through which they integrate all the networks and security operations. Our experience has been very good. Fortinet gives us a single fabric for the security and network teams. This unification has helped us a lot in providing Secure SD-WAN and other solutions, such as network switches, wireless controllers, FortiNAC, FortiAuthenticator, etc. They have a single pane of glass for all these from the monitoring and visibility aspect. The integrated application protection provided by Secure SD-WAN is very good. Fortinet is a security-focused company. The features related to application recognition and how to enhance the performance and security of applications are pretty good. The customers for whom we deployed FortiGate have become long-term customers of Fortinet. Even when they compare the solution with some of the other vendors, they're more comfortable with going with Fortinet and upgrading and refreshing the hardware and the software. It's a very good product, and the customer satisfaction is pretty good. It impacts operational efficiency because we can quickly make the changes. For example, Cisco has some limitations in terms of the time it takes for any change to take effect, which impacts the operational efficiency, whereas in the case of Fortinet, they've got a very quick way of doing the changes and reverting them, which eliminates any downtimes because of the configurations. Their method for configuring and applying policies is very simple and easy. Because of that, it's very easy to do complex changes, and in the case of misconfiguration, revert those changes without much of an impact. Overall, Fortinet FortiGate brings a lot of operational improvements because of the strength of FortiOS. Secure SD-WAN has helped us remediate threats more quickly. Normally, with the WAN solutions or the simple SD-WAN solutions, security is done on the hub side. With the Secure SD-WAN solution, we can apply security at the branch level, so unnecessary or malicious traffic doesn't reach the data centers or the hub site, which helps in improving the overall security posture. Also, we can tighten and apply a single security policy across all the branches or different segments of the WAN, which improves overall security. Fortinet offers different security measures for blocking malicious traffic and having a uniform policy across the entire organization. Secure SD-WAN has helped reduce our mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to resolve (MTTR). Applying a central security policy at the branch level immediately helps us to detect any malicious traffic and block it there, so the chances of anything reaching the hub or the data center side are less. It improves MTTD and MTTR because it has a very good interface where we can easily respond to all the attacks and manipulate things. Applying security with the help of Secure SD-WAN helps to mitigate attacks from where they are originating, which improves MTTD and MTTR. Secure SD-WAN has helped reduce help desk tickets. Because of the operational efficiency and security, there are not many issues that impact the number of tickets. With the help of Secure SD-WAN, we can provide operational efficiency because we can apply policies on an application-level basis. With Secure SD-WAN, we can apply a security policy per application. The central security application structure helps to apply all the measures from one central place and from the cloud. Because it's connected to many intelligence centers, it future-proofs a business and improves it overall.

Read full review

Pricing

Some reviewers find the pricing to be affordable and reasonable, especially compared to other vendors like Palo Alto. That said, there are also reviewers who mention that the prices have increased over the years. Some reviewers appreciate the flexibility in choosing licenses based on their needs, while others mention additional costs for features like IPS, antivirus, and web filtering.

ROI

Users have experienced cost savings, increased efficiency, time savings, and greater security. The solution's features and price have been valuable, resulting in a return on investment.

Some users have measured their actual ROI using Fortinet's calculator and have seen clear and precise figures on their savings. However, there are also users who have not seen a return on investment or find it challenging to determine a precise value in terms of security.

Primary Use Case

Fortinet FortiGate used is for network security and firewall protection. It is used by customers and organizations to secure their internal network, perform unified threat management, and control application access.

Fortinet FortiGate is also used for SD-WAN load balancing, VPN connectivity, and web filtering. It is deployed both on-premises and in the cloud, and it is used in various industries such as finance, healthcare, and government. The solution offers features like traffic shaping, SSL inspection, and intrusion prevention.

Valuable Features

The most valuable features of Fortinet FortiGate include the firewall, IPS, and VPN functions, as well as the antivirus functions.

Users appreciate the ease of management and the numerous features that assist in gaining a clear understanding of network activities. Other valuable features mentioned include a secure web gateway module, application control module, secure SD-WAN solution, reliability, solid protection against viruses and malware, affordability, unified view dashboard, threat prevention capabilities, ease of configuration and troubleshooting, flexibility, integration with other Fortinet products, user-friendliness, and the simplicity of the interface.

The solution is praised for its scalability, high availability, load balancing, simple configuration, centralized management, performance routing, URL filtering, simple deployment, and strong security features.

It also offers features like DDoS protection, data loss prevention, antimalware, and antispam. Users find the solution to be stable, reliable, and easy to use, with good technical support and documentation resources.

Room for Improvement

Some improvements that can be made to Fortinet FortiGate include:

Simplifying the initial setup process
Consolidating and enhancing the capabilities of various products for a more comprehensive integrated solution
Improving non-error conserve mode
Enhancing web security solutions
Improving visibility and reporting functionalities
Adding sandboxing for better database security
Enhancing support services, addressing increased license renewal costs
Incorporating built-in endpoint protection features and a built-in SOC dashboard
Implementing cloud-based threat analysis similar to Palo Alto's WildFire
Resolving tunnel issues and kernel-level connectivity problems
Improving performance and hardware capacities
Addressing bugs in the operating system
Partnering with a neutral testing organization for validating datasheet numbers
Providing a free tool for configuration conversion
Improving logging details and pricing
Overcoming limitations in publishing multiple servers with a single IP
Improving filtering precision and flexibility
Adding compliance checks and multi-factor authentication capabilities to SSL VPN

Initial Setup

The initial setup for FortiGate is generally considered to be straightforward and easy. Customers have mentioned that it is easy to deploy, with step-by-step instructions provided in the documentation. Some customers prefer to have the setup done by the vendor or a service provider, while others choose to install it themselves.

The deployment duration can vary depending on the size of the environment. It is typically completed within one to two months. Technical staff experienced with Fortinet devices generally do not encounter difficulties during installations.

In some cases, customers may require recommendations on certain features or assistance with understanding their network and configuring the device. The deployment process may include understanding the customer's problem, collecting information about their network, preparing the device in a local lab, and finalizing the installation at the customer's location.

The ease of setup and implementation also depends on factors such as the customer's requirements, network topology, and level of technical expertise.

Scalability

Fortinet FortiGate is highly scalable and can easily expand using cloud firewall options. It is used in various settings, both as a standalone solution and in multiple locations and is particularly effective for small and mid-level enterprises as it provides easy configuration and deployment.

FortiGate has improved its performance over the years, resolving previous performance issues and ensuring high throughput. It offers the flexibility to deploy virtual machines and establish site-to-site tunnels.

While scalability at a specific site may depend on the chosen model, FortiManager provides additional support for expanding to multiple devices.

Customer Service and Support

Customers have varying opinions about the customer service and support of Fortinet FortiGate. Some have had positive experiences, describing the technical support as exceptional, responsive, and helpful. They appreciate the promptness of the support team's responses and the expertise of the technicians.

However, there are also customers who feel that there is room for improvement in terms of support. Some users mention issues such as long response times, difficulties in resolving certain problems, and the need for escalation to higher support levels.

Stability

Fortinet FortiGate is described as robust and very stable by multiple reviewers. Users mention that the solution is reliable, doesn't crash or freeze, and has no bugs or glitches.

There are a few reviewers who mention specific issues with stability, such as memory surges causing system freezes or the need to restart the firewall.

Pricing

ROI

Users have experienced cost savings, increased efficiency, time savings, and greater security. The solution's features and price have been valuable, resulting in a return on investment.

Primary Use Case

Valuable Features

The most valuable features of Fortinet FortiGate include the firewall, IPS, and VPN functions, as well as the antivirus functions.

Room for Improvement

Some improvements that can be made to Fortinet FortiGate include:

Simplifying the initial setup process
Consolidating and enhancing the capabilities of various products for a more comprehensive integrated solution
Improving non-error conserve mode
Enhancing web security solutions
Improving visibility and reporting functionalities
Adding sandboxing for better database security
Enhancing support services, addressing increased license renewal costs
Incorporating built-in endpoint protection features and a built-in SOC dashboard
Implementing cloud-based threat analysis similar to Palo Alto's WildFire
Resolving tunnel issues and kernel-level connectivity problems
Improving performance and hardware capacities
Addressing bugs in the operating system
Partnering with a neutral testing organization for validating datasheet numbers
Providing a free tool for configuration conversion
Improving logging details and pricing
Overcoming limitations in publishing multiple servers with a single IP
Improving filtering precision and flexibility
Adding compliance checks and multi-factor authentication capabilities to SSL VPN

Initial Setup

The ease of setup and implementation also depends on factors such as the customer's requirements, network topology, and level of technical expertise.

Scalability

While scalability at a specific site may depend on the chosen model, FortiManager provides additional support for expanding to multiple devices.

Customer Service and Support

Stability

Fortinet FortiGate is described as robust and very stable by multiple reviewers. Users mention that the solution is reliable, doesn't crash or freeze, and has no bugs or glitches.

There are a few reviewers who mention specific issues with stability, such as memory surges causing system freezes or the need to restart the firewall.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Fortinet FortiGate Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Learn more about Fortinet FortiGate

Fortinet FortiGate provides users with next-generation firewall solutions that provide proven protection with unmatched performance across the network, from internal segments to data centers to cloud environments. You can protect every part of your network without exception. Additionally, your protections can be managed from a single central location. This ensures that the task of protecting your network is infinitely easier to accomplish.

Benefits of Fortinet FortiGate

Some of the benefits of using Fortinet FortiGate include:

The ability to manage your firewalls from a centralized automated control console. Fortinet FortiGate’s FortiManager enables administrators to exercise control of their firewalls in a streamlined manner. Administrators have full visibility and control over their system from a single location. It utilizes automation that collects information in real time, which greatly simplifies and reduces the cost of running various types of workflows. Administrators can free up resources by automating the most basic tasks.
The ability to produce uniform, appropriate, and coordinated responses to threats across networks. Fortinet FortiGate’s FortiGuard feature generates system protections in near real time. This allows administrators to address threats to the system with custom-made solutions that can be uniformly enforced.
The ability to scale up your security to fit your changing security needs. Fortinet FortiGate’s design allows users to accelerate the transfer of data between users and escalate the number of users that are covered without compromising security of performance. This means that users can grow their networks and continue to collaborate without worrying about the system slowing down or coming under attack.

Reviews from Real Users

Fortinet FortiGate’s firewall solutions are cutting edge. They stand out from competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are the robustness and power of their firewalls. Fortinet FortiGate’s firewall provides users with many valuable features that allow them to maximize what they can do with the solution. These firewalls enable users to use a single piece of software to accomplish tasks that often require the use of multiple pieces of software.

PeerSpot user Eric S., a Solutions Engineer and Consultant at a tech-services company, notes the robustness of this solution when he writes, "One of the nice things about FortiGate is that it can be deployed on the cloud or on-premises. You can actually do both. That's the biggest reason why I stick with this solution as opposed to something like Cisco Meraki. Another nice thing is that I can log directly into a FortiGate or get to it through their FortiCloud access products. They're pretty reliable and consistent. One of the reasons why I started using the product was their single pane of management. I can deploy their line of firewalls in conjunction with their switching and access points, and I can manage the entire network from one interface.”

PeerSpot user Jim M., a network admin at Penobscot Valley Hospital, notes the power of Fortinet FortiGate’s security software when he writes, "It does a lot for you for intrusion protection and as an antivirus. The threat management bundle is worth the money. You don't need another company to monitor your web traffic for you. You can do everything yourself on the firewall. You restrict your own black list for people on the firewall.”

Fortinet FortiGate was previously known as FortiGate 60b, FortiGate 60c, FortiGate 80c, FortiGate 50b, FortiGate 200b, FortiGate 110c, FortiGate.

Fortinet FortiGate is the #1 ranked solution in best firewalls, SD-WAN tools, and top WAN Edge tools. PeerSpot users give Fortinet FortiGate an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Fortinet FortiGate is most commonly compared to Sophos XG: Fortinet FortiGate vs Sophos XG. Fortinet FortiGate is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 41% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 21% of all views.