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PeerSpot user
System Administrator at a media company with 11-50 employees
Real User
Provides a high standard of security for our clients
Pros and Cons
  • "We are a visual effects company, and there have been a number of high profile security issues in our industry. This has brought us to a higher standard of security, which our clients are very keen on these days."
  • "We had a minor problem where there was a major system upgrade on the hardware platfrom and the Mac client was not available as soon as it might have been. The PC client was available immediately, but we had to wait a month or so, before there was a mac client. I was slightly irritated that it was not ready on time, but it was eventually resolved."

What is our primary use case?

I primarily use this solution for external security of our network.

How has it helped my organization?

We are a visual effects company, and there have been a number of high profile security issues in our industry. This has brought us to a higher standard of security, which our clients are very keen on these days. 

What needs improvement?

We had a minor problem where there was a major system upgrade on the hardware platform and the Apple Mac client was not available as soon as it might have been. The PC client was available immediately, but we had to wait a month or so, before there was a Apple Mac client. I was slightly irritated that it was not ready on time, but it was eventually resolved.

For how long have I used the solution?

Almost two years.

Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiGate
June 2025
Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiGate. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2025.
860,168 professionals have used our research since 2012.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Fortigate has more than adequate capability to cope with everything we require for the foreseeable future. 

How are customer service and support?

The support is very good, and we have had no issues. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Previously had a SonicWall. Even allowing for an upgrade discount on the SonicWall, the FortiGate was a more compelling purchase.

How was the initial setup?

It was fairly straightforward. 

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
it_user1296954 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Scientist at Ats, iNC.
Real User
Good SSL-VPN, anti-virus, and anti-malware protection
Pros and Cons
  • "SSL-VPN is very useful for us and has been very reliable."
  • "The user interface could be improved to make it less confusing and easier to set up."

What is our primary use case?

FortiGate is used as the primary firewall and malware detection device for the company.

How has it helped my organization?

This solution allows solid VPN service for access from the field, and the anti-virus/anti-malware detection works well.

What is most valuable?

SSL-VPN is very useful for us and has been very reliable.

What needs improvement?

The user interface could be improved to make it less confusing and easier to set up. There are too many pull-down menus.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using FortiGate for five years.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiGate
June 2025
Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiGate. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2025.
860,168 professionals have used our research since 2012.
PeerSpot user
Solution Architect at Brillbean Ventures Pvt ltd
Real User
Good security, performance, and traffic inspection
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature is the VDOM, which allows the customer to have multiple firewalls in a single campus."
  • "Improvement is needed in the Web Filter quotas to restrict users with allocated quotas."

What is our primary use case?

I have deployed FortiGate with multiple organizations such as universities, government institutions, healthcare, and ISP providers. I have worked with FortiGate models 30-500 series and I have deployed the 3200D model for one of the broadband service providers located in India, Namely Sikka Broadband. 

How has it helped my organization?

I have installed the FortiGate 500 and 400D to replace a Sophos firewall in a main corporate office. This implementation provided improved network performance.

This solution made it easier to connect all of the branches together via an IPsec VPN and remote users with SSL VPN.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature is the VDOM, which allows the customer to have multiple firewalls in a single campus.

Using the FortiGate security solution provides comprehensive visibility and advanced layer 7 security, including threat protection, intrusion prevention, web filtering, and application control. They face a major complexity hurdle managing these point products with no integration and lack of visibility.

Thie solution provides a high-performance inspection of clear-text and encrypted traffic.

The FortiOS Operating system is robust, and the WAN load-balancing very much transparent.

What needs improvement?

Improvement is needed in the Web Filter quotas to restrict users with allocated quotas.

It would be an improvement to add a feature for active users to change/reset their own passwords.

Fortinet renewal prices for all models are too high, so they should offer discounts for customers on renewal. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for almost seven years.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Consultant at WorldNet ICT Solutions Limited
Consultant
Provides good security features, and generating FortiCloud reports is helpful to us
Pros and Cons
  • "The security features are about the best that I've seen anywhere."
  • "Technical support for this solution can be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution for our company firewall.

What is most valuable?

This solution has many good features. The security features are about the best that I've seen anywhere.

I really like the fact that I am able to generate FortiCloud reports.

What needs improvement?

FortiWAN was supposed to help in doing intersite linking, but we've realized that most of the ISPs use BGP. FortiWAN supports OSPF but does not support the BGP protocol. This is a problem for us because without BGP they are not doing anything, and we've had to pack them up. I would like to see the BGP protocol supported on FortiWAN.

Technical support for this solution can be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using this solution since 2017.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is very good.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability of this solution is fantastic.

How are customer service and technical support?

I've been in contact with technical support a few times and it is good. It might be better, but as far as I'm concerned, it's good.

How was the initial setup?

The challenge for the initial setup was at the ISP level. We have the Fortinet firewall running, but between the various sites, we wanted to implement FortiWAN. It didn't work because of the BGP issue.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The pricing for this solution is good.

What other advice do I have?

This is a product that I recommend.

I would rate this solution a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
PeerSpot user
Network & Hardware Administrator at Nile Projects & Trading Co.
Real User
Top 20
SD-WAN allows me to better manage and load balance our traffic
Pros and Cons
  • "It blocks the vulnerabilities that can negatively impact us."
  • "I would like to have logs, monitoring, and reporting for a month without extra fees."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution for securing and controlling our company, as well as to improve VPN services.

How has it helped my organization?

This solution has helped us by controlling our incoming and outgoing traffic. It blocks the vulnerabilities that can negatively impact us.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature is the SD-WAN because I can manage many lines and load balance them all.

What needs improvement?

I would like to have logs, monitoring, and reporting for a month without extra fees.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using this solution for more than eight years.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Fortigate
PeerSpot user
Network Engineer at Concentus
Real User
An intuitive user interface for our SOHO edge protection solution
Pros and Cons
  • "This solution has solid UTM features combined with a nice GUI."
  • "The Web-filter in this solution is not very good."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution for edge protection in SOHO and K-12 environments.

How has it helped my organization?

FortiOS has a very good, intuitive GUI.

What is most valuable?

This solution has solid UTM features combined with a nice GUI.

What needs improvement?

The Web-filter in this solution is not very good. Perhaps because Fortinet does not want to compete with its own dedicated solution.

For how long have I used the solution?

Three years.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1112532 - PeerSpot reviewer
President at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
Reseller
A solution that impresses our customers and saves them money in the long run
Pros and Cons
  • "This is a quality product with ok support, and it is better than the competition we've tried."
  • "FortiOS is not simple."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use for this solution is as an SMB boundary firewall, and we now use their Security Fabric.

How has it helped my organization?

This is a quality product with ok support, and it is better than the competition we've tried.

What is most valuable?

Security Fabric makes VLANs a breeze. It impresses customers, as well as saves them money over the long run when comparing apples to apples.

What needs improvement?

FortiOS is not simple. Too many people think it should be simple to use, but the complexity of the product makes that impossible.

For how long have I used the solution?

Seventeen years.

How are customer service and technical support?

The support for this solution is ok.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Works at GOldair Handling
Real User
Has a friendly GUI and CLI to access its many features
Pros and Cons
  • "The features that we have found most valuable are the SSL VPN and the User Portal."
  • "This product could be improved with Active directory integration and better handling in IPsec and GRE Tunnels."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use this solution for our firewall, Application Control, QoS, IPSec, and SSL VPN.

How has it helped my organization?

This solution has a very friendly GUI and CLI as compared to other vendors.

What is most valuable?

The features that we have found most valuable are the SSL VPN and the user Portal.

What needs improvement?

This product could be improved with active directory integration and better handling in IPsec and GRE Tunnels. There are not enough recent online materials to assist in integration with Cisco for VPN, GRE, and IPSec.

For how long have I used the solution?

One to three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Our experience with this solution is that it is stable and reliable.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We found the user interface to be better than what is found in other products.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Fortinet FortiGate Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: June 2025
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Fortinet FortiGate Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.