My clients use it as a proxy. The second use case is to try a kind of web filtering. So that's the reason why they're buying. We have customers to whom we have sold an appliance, and we also have a customer to whom we have sold on a virtual machine. So, it's placed on their private cloud.
Director at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Offers proxy and web filtering, assists in meeting compliance requirements by facilitating log reports and highly scalable solution
Pros and Cons
- "I would rate the scalability of this product a nine out of ten because it is highly scalable. We have not had problems with customers in terms of scalability."
- "The UI/UX experience can be a little better."
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
We've been able to try and secure our perimeter better because of the proxy and the gateway. Moreover, traffic from all our compliance actually passes through this.
We have compliances also, so we get log reports from that, which goes into our log management software. And it actually helps us to try and analyze any security threats to our environment.
What is most valuable?
DNS security is something that is actually a good service that comes along with the FortiProXY or a Forti secure web gateway.
Fortinet FortiGate SWG is already a good solution, especially with its IP reputation and anti-botnet security features.
What needs improvement?
The UI/UX experience can be a little better.
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For how long have I used the solution?
My company has the skill set assets.
We've been in the business for more than eight years. We have implemented FortiGate SWG in the last twelve months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate the stability a nine out of ten. It's very highly stable. Even if the appliance on-premise solutions have been working fine, Fortinet has a good RMA policy in case of failure as well.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would rate the scalability of this product a nine out of ten because it is highly scalable. We have not had problems with customers in terms of scalability.
For medium and enterprise businesses, we would be looking at a web gateway. Small businesses normally don't get into buying a web gateway as such.
How are customer service and support?
We expect a little skillset from the partner as well. However, if we raise the ticket, it becomes much easier, and we get the necessary technical support.
How was the initial setup?
I would rate my experience with the initial setup an eight out of ten, where one is difficult, and ten is easy.
Usually, the deployment model is in a private cloud. It can be deployed as an on-prem solution also. The customers have proxy gateways, and so it comes as an appliance as well or as hardware.
The deployment takes days. It doesn't take weeks. But it depends on the customer environment, like the number of users and what policies need to be configured for that.
So, it depends on the complexity as far as configurations are concerned. But it definitely can be done in days, and it doesn't take more than ten odd days or so, depending upon the scope.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
From a price standpoint, Fortinet is willing to work with partners to get good deals, and Forti will not lose on a price.
So, we'll be able to try and have a good price versus performance metrics that Fortinet provides.
I would rate the pricing a six out of ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate the solution an eight out of ten. I would definitely recommend using the solution.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Implementer
Vice President, Head of B2B Marketing Department at DTAC
Is highly stable and provides a good user experience
Pros and Cons
- "The product is highly stable."
- "Fortinet FortiGate SWG's costs need improvement."
What is most valuable?
The product provides a good user experience.
What needs improvement?
Fortinet FortiGate SWG's costs need improvement. Also, there could be an efficient feature for solution consulting to answer queries related to architecture design.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product is highly stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The product is suitable for enterprise customers. The solution architecture takes a bit of time to scale as it is a new product in the market. The customers need more experience working with it. I rate its scalability a five out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
FortiGate provides the technical support services. However, customers have an SLA agreement with us, and we have an SLA agreement with FortiGate. Thus, it takes longer to establish efficient communication between them.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
How was the initial setup?
The platform requires a few months to design the architecture.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The product is expensive compared to Cisco.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend Fortinet FortiGate SWG and rate it an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Reseller
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Fortinet FortiGate
November 2026
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Associate Director at NVIT
A highly scalable security solution that is easy to deploy and provides good technical support
Pros and Cons
- "The technical support is good."
- "The solution is expensive."
What is our primary use case?
We use the product for our customers. We use it for security.
How has it helped my organization?
We can use the URL filtering and antivirus features. We can also configure rules and protocols from source to destination.
What is most valuable?
The technical support is good.
What needs improvement?
The solution is expensive.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used the solution in the past twelve months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is not the same as WatchGuard. If we have a power problem, we can lose configurations, VPN, SSL, and other things. Other products do not have these issues. The tool is stable when there are no power outages. I rate the stability a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the tool’s scalability a nine out of ten. It has high scalability. We integrate the solution for our customers. Some customers have 15 to 50 users, while others have 300 to 1000 users. Our customers are small and medium enterprises.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is easy. It was not complex.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I rate the pricing an eight out of ten on a scale where one is cheap and ten is expensive. We need to pay for additional features.
What other advice do I have?
The product could provide SD-WAN and VPN features. People can use the tool. Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Integrator
Chief Executive Officer at Spokes network
A cost-effective solution for security with application control, web filtering and SD-WAN
Pros and Cons
- "The most useful features are application control, web filtering, and SD-WAN."
- "Support could be improved."
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution at the Internet edge to provide a security boundary between the public network and the private network.
What is most valuable?
The most useful features are application control, web filtering, and SD-WAN.
What needs improvement?
Support could be improved like Sophos. Some clients don't have the expertise to manage their environment. If they have a problem with Fortinet, they should have easy access to support. Secondly, the process of evaluation as a partner with Cisco should give you the ability to deploy access as a partner. You can do team labs and a lot of things.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Fortinet FortiGate SWG for five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We never had any problem with stability. I rate the solution’s stability a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability depends on the client's size. We have clients with as few as 500 users, as many as 800 users, and clients with just 100 users. We cater to small and medium businesses. I rate the solution’s scalability a seven out of ten.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward. Deployment time depends on the client's requirements. Some clients may agree to a monthly deployment, while others may require a different team. If you sell a new environment, the deployment time may increase. The basic setup takes one to two hours. Deployment is a continuous process, as you will need to refine the policies and settings to meet the client's specific business needs. I rate the initial setup a nine out of ten.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is cheap. Fortinet FortiGate SWG licenses are based on features, so you can choose the license that best meets your needs. This is especially beneficial for enterprise environments with different use cases. However, it can be costly for other segments, such as small businesses. I rate the solution’s pricing a seven out of ten, where one is cheap, and ten is expensive.
What other advice do I have?
Fortinet FortiGate SWG is a good solution that meets your security requirements and is an excellent alternative to more expensive security products like Cisco and Palo Alto. If budget is a concern, Fortinet FortiGate SWG is a good choice for a security product. Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Reseller
System Consultant at iTeam
Has valuable SD-WAN features and an easy setup process
Pros and Cons
- "The product's most valuable features are SD-WAN and the integration of WiFi and switches."
- "It is complicated to manage different kinds of on-premise boxes."
What is our primary use case?
We use the product as a network service for our customers.
What is most valuable?
The product's most valuable features are SD-WAN and the integration of WiFi and switches.
What needs improvement?
It is complicated to manage different kinds of on-premise boxes.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Fortinet FortiGate SWG for nine years. At present, we are using the latest version.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate Fortinet FortiGate SWG's stability a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have around 3000 Fortinet FortiGate SWG end users, including small and medium businesses. I rate its scalability a nine out of ten.
How was the initial setup?
I rate the initial setup process a three out of ten. It takes two hours to complete.
What about the implementation team?
I implemented the product myself.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I rate the product's pricing a seven out of ten. The additional cost depends on the extra feature requirements.
What other advice do I have?
Fortinet FortiGate SWG is easy to set up and combine with switches and WiFi networks of appliances. I rate it a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Integrator
CTO at Exceed NetSec LLC
Has an easy initial setup process and good security features
Pros and Cons
- "The product has the most valuable configuration, offloading, and security features."
- "Fortinet FortiGate SWG's SSL offloading features need improvement."
What is most valuable?
The product has the most valuable configuration, offloading, and security features.
What needs improvement?
Fortinet FortiGate SWG's SSL offloading features need improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Fortinet FortiGate SWG for five years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I recommend Fortinet FortiGate SWG to larger companies as the lease line is expensive. It is suitable for companies who are running web applications. It is not a necessity for small businesses.
How are customer service and support?
The product's tier-one support process is time-consuming. It takes time to reach the right person to sort out the issues.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have previously worked with a product related to SSL offloading and caching through a reverse proxy. Currently, we are serving the small and medium-sized business (SMB) segment, where the requirements and infrastructure may not necessitate SSL offloading and related features due to the absence of web servers within their networks. Simpler and more streamlined solutions suffice for their requirements in such cases.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup process is easy. It takes two or three hours for basic implementation. At the same time, it takes around two days to perform a clone test. It includes fine-tuning, optimizing, and transforming it to the environment once stabilized.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The product is expensive.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Fortinet FortiGate SWG an eight out of ten. It has a lower failure rate in terms of configuration. Once it is configured, it keeps running for years. However, they have increased the process by almost 60% to 70%.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Network administrator at PISystems
Provides efficient features for malware analysis, but its pricing needs improvement
Pros and Cons
- "The product has an inbuilt IPS software. We can configure it to block specific anonymous attacks that are happening."
- "They should provide us with a CSV number for patch updates. It will help us block specific signatures as well."
What is our primary use case?
We use the FortiGate IPS solution to analyze malware. When we receive attacks, we analyze the IPs.
What is most valuable?
The product has an inbuilt IPS software. We can configure it to block specific anonymous attacks that are happening.
What needs improvement?
They should provide us with a CSV number for patch updates. It will help us block specific signatures as well.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Fortinet FortiGate IPS for four years. We are using the latest version.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product is stable, but we need to monitor IPs as new patches are released daily. Attackers will use these new patches to develop new attack methods and signatures. We need to ensure that our FortiGate IPS is up-to-date with the latest patches. We can get the logs and see if anything we have detected is suspicious. It includes programs, applications, files, or anything else. We investigate suspicious activity and act appropriately, such as blocking IP addresses or updating policy analytics.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The product is scalable. I sometimes have enterprise clients, but my client base is mostly small businesses. We have to implement the entire setup for them. In addition to the endpoint solution and firewall, we need to create IP addresses for users and define their services. Then, we can protect these resources from FortiGate by enabling the IPS upgrade.
How are customer service and support?
There is a customer support portal number. We can create a case there and upload our details. They provide support services instantly.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is easy. The default CSV is already updated so that we can block those threats. We have to update the block list from the policy settings.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The product is expensive. I rate its pricing a six out of ten.
What other advice do I have?
Enterprises use Fortinet FortiGate IPS because it protects government or critical infrastructure networks. For small businesses, IPS may be sufficient. Overall, I rate it a six out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. partner
Arquiteto Pré Vendas - Soluções Digitais - Cyber Security at Embratel
Comes with a valuable content filtering feature and helped reduce tickets at our operations center
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is easy to implement and easy to configure. The most valuable feature is FortiGate’s content filtering."
- "The price could be improved."
What is our primary use case?
I’m using Fortinet FortiGate SWG to study it as a proposal for our clients in Brazil.
How has it helped my organization?
The solution reduced a few tickets from our operations center, and we're able to work better with flash incidents.
What is most valuable?
The solution is easy to implement and easy to configure. The most valuable feature is FortiGate’s content filtering.
What needs improvement?
The price could be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I’ve used the solution for four years and I’m currently using the latest version.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate FortiGate SWG’s stability a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate FortiGate SWG’s scalability an eight out of ten.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
The solution is easy to use, and it’s a great solution. I rate Fortinet FortiGate SWG a ten out of ten.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was straightforward.
What was our ROI?
I have seen an ROI using FortiGate SWG.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Senior Network Engineer at Dejpaad
Suitable for medium-range companies and user-friendly interface
Pros and Cons
- "It is a very user-friendly solution. Moreover, Foritgate offers good performance."
- "There should be better customization in the IPS."
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case is for protection. We have general use cases.
What is most valuable?
It is a very user-friendly solution. Moreover, Foritgate offers good performance, where it outperforms Cisco Firepower in various ways.
What needs improvement?
The solution doesn't cover all aspects of protection. There should be better customization in the IPS. The Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) and FortiGuard could benefit from enhancement.
So, in future releases, I want to see improvements in IPS, particularly in terms of customization.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The firewall is very stable and reliable.
I would rate the stability a nine out of ten. There's always room for improvement.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have around three to four customers using this solution.
How are customer service and support?
I can't use the technical support because of some sanctions in Iran.
How was the initial setup?
The setup process is easy and very fast. The setup process is very fast, typically taking only one to two days.
What about the implementation team?
The purchasing process is straightforward, and then the normal deployment process.
Moreover, a single person can handle the deployment and maintenance tasks.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There is a licensing fee; it is on a yearly basis. The pricing iss actually quite normally priced.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I have used Cisco. I find impressive about Cisco is its powerful enterprise-grade solution, comparable to Fortinet firewall. FortiGate is not superior to Cisco, but it stands out for its user-friendly interface.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate the solution an eight out of ten. It is a suitable solution for medium-range companies due to its well-designed user interface.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
IT Manager at Heat and Control
Scalable platform with efficient filtering features
Pros and Cons
- "FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) 's most valuable features are reporting and filtering."
- "The product's data guard feature should support a USB port when the internet connection is unavailable."
What is our primary use case?
We use the product for security and filtering purposes.
How has it helped my organization?
The product helps block multiple ports during ransomware attacks.
What is most valuable?
FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) 's most valuable features are reporting and filtering.
What needs improvement?
The product's data guard feature should support a USB port when the internet connection is unavailable.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the platform's stability a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Our organization has 500 FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) users. We utilize the platform 24/7. I rate its scalability a ten out of ten.
How was the initial setup?
The platform's initial setup process is easy. I rate the process a ten out of ten. It takes a couple of days. The deployment involves integrating it with SSO in FortiGate. It helps with filtering access to user accounts through Active Directory. One executive is required for deployment. Additionally, one executive is needed to take care of packet updates for maintenance.
What about the implementation team?
We implemented the product with the help of our in-house team.
What other advice do I have?
I rate FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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Updated: November 2026
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