Esteban Lora - PeerSpot reviewer
Presales Engineer at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees
Reseller
Top 20
Good antiphishing and antispam but needs an easier setup
Pros and Cons
  • "The antiphishing capabilities are very good."
  • "The solution doesn't scale easily."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use the solution to protect the mail of our customers. We have a big device installed in our data center and we offer managed services. Most of our clients have Office 365 and they need that protected. 

What is most valuable?

The antiphishing capabilities are very good. 

It has good antispam features. 

The solution is stable. 

What needs improvement?

It would be better if it were easier to install.

The solution doesn't scale easily.

For how long have I used the solution?

I started using this solution for a couple of years.

Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiMail
April 2024
Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiMail. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: April 2024.
768,578 professionals have used our research since 2012.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We haven't had any issues with the solution. It is stable and reliable. There are no bugs or glitches, and it doesn't crash or freeze. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is a bit scalable. However, that's based on the size of the hardware that's available at the outset. If you are planning to install dedicated hardware, you need to size the device to meet the needs. 

How are customer service and support?

I've never dealt with technical support. That would be handled by another department. 

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

I also have some experience with Check Point. I've recently looked into comparisons between Check Point and Fortinet to show to a client. I find Check Point Harmony easier to set up.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup could be easier as it is a bit difficult. I'd rate the ease of implementation six out of ten.

We have hardware in our data center. For us, this is deployed on-premises; however, for our clients, it's available on the cloud. 

What other advice do I have?

I'd rate the solution seven out of ten. 

We're partners and resellers. 

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
PeerSpot user
Oscar Mburu - PeerSpot reviewer
Security Admin at NCWSC
Real User
Top 10
User-friendly interface, helpful online resources, and excellent technical support
Pros and Cons
  • "The key benefits of this solution are its user-friendly interface and clear instructions, as well as the wealth of online resources and helpful health community available for support. These features make it easy for users to navigate and utilize the solution effectively."
  • "The solution's pricing is flexible and can be adjusted for African utility companies. Microsoft often offers special pricing formulas for African governments and organizations and it is similar to Fortinet FortiMail. In my country, government institutions receive discounted pricing from Fortinet FortiMail."

What is our primary use case?

We are using Fortinet FortiMail as our email gateway.

How has it helped my organization?

Before implementing Fortinet FortiMail, our organization struggled with a high volume of spam emails. However, since deploying this product, we have seen a complete eradication of spam and have been able to function more efficiently as a result. As a utility company in the capital city of Kenya, it is crucial that we are able to communicate effectively and avoid any unnecessary distractions, and this solution has allowed us to do just that.

What is most valuable?

The key benefits of this solution are its user-friendly interface and clear instructions, as well as the wealth of online resources and helpful health community available for support. These features make it easy for users to navigate and utilize the solution effectively.

What needs improvement?

The solution's pricing is flexible and can be adjusted for African utility companies. Microsoft often offers special pricing formulas for African governments and organizations and it is similar to Fortinet FortiMail. In my country, government institutions receive discounted pricing from Fortinet FortiMail.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Fortinet FortiMail for one and a half years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable. It has never crashed once in and the half years we have been using it.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable because we were able to increase the number of emails without any issues and we can continue using the solution without any problems. We have approximately 3,500 users using this solution.

How are customer service and support?

Some examples of the technical support provided for the solution include addressing my initial setup questions and helping me navigate the steep learning curve. As a result, I was able to become more proficient in using the solution and the need for further escalation decreased.

I rate the support from Fortinet FortiMail a ten out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

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

We did not use another solution prior to Fortinet FortiMail. However, our ISP did handle the anti-spamming for us.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup of the solution was easy to accomplish. The engineer took only a few hours to complete it, starting in the afternoon and finishing by 5:00 pm.

What about the implementation team?

The solution was implemented by a third-party engineer from Fortinet FortiMail East Africa. After setting it up, he trained me on how to support it. In case of any issues, he was always available to provide assistance.

What was our ROI?

The solution's ROI can be seen in the decrease in spam emails, which previously caused the exchange server to shut down and disrupted communication with customers. This led to a decrease in monthly collections, but the implementation of the solution allowed for 24/7 communication and stabilized the end-of-month collections.

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

We paid approximately $30,000 for the solution. It is less expensive than some other solutions. We have one license that carries all the features that we wanted.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We evaluated Checkpoint. We chose Fortinet FortiMail because of its cost-effective pricing and ease of deployment and maintenance. The technical maintenance and troubleshooting were also simpler compared to Checkpoint.

What other advice do I have?

I do the maintenance of the solution. It requires updates every few months.

If somebody wants a good solution that is cost-effective and works well, I would recommend Fortinet FortiMail.

I rate Fortinet FortiMail a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiMail
April 2024
Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiMail. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: April 2024.
768,578 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Sachin Vinay - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Administrator at Amrita
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Useful in securing mail releases with an excellent user interface
Pros and Cons
  • "The anti-spam feature is very valuable."
  • "The solution could be improved by providing a virtual machine facility with a complete set of options in the VM setup."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case for this solution is securing mail releases, as it serves as our central server. For example, multiple domains have multiple mail services. To authenticate the request coming from the mail service, we require security to implement Fortinet FortiMail and establish the mail request. All domains are added to Fortinet FortiMail, and the primary protection for all domains is done with Fortinet FortiMail. We deploy the solution on a private cloud.

How has it helped my organization?

In some of our research facilities, research teams use multiple mail services to research mail servers. This solution can be used in the local domains since Fortinet FortiMail can authenticate every mail server, thereby solving blacklisting issues. Typically this global blocklisting happens when our unauthenticated emails come from our domain and public APs. So, when unauthenticated emails come from the public AP, they blacklist the public AP. Through Fortinet FortiMail, we can perfectly authenticate each local mail service and mail release so that only authenticated mail goes out from our domain.

What is most valuable?

The anti-spam feature is very valuable. For example, recently, some recent spam mails were correctly blocked by Fortinet FortiMail. Additionally, the solution has an excellent user interface.

What needs improvement?

The solution could be improved by providing a virtual machine facility with a complete set of options in the VM setup and by enhancing the clarity of the information supplied for content filtering. Additionally, in the next release, we would suggest that Fortinet FortiMail be added as an add-on to Fortinet Firewall itself. It can be included as a module and added to the Fortinet Firewall.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using this solution for eight years and are currently using the latest version.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable. We have between 5,000 and 10,000 users using the solution in our organization.

How are customer service and support?

Our experience with customer service and support has been moderate. I rate it a six out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was difficult so we used Fortinet support to guide us through implementation. Deployment took three days.

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

Unfortunately, I cannot comment on the exact licensing price as the accounting department handles it, but it is more expensive than most competitors.

What other advice do I have?

I rate this solution an eight out of ten. The solution is good but can be improved by including a virtual machine facility with a complete set of options in the VM setup and enhancing the content filtering feature. My advice to new users of this solution would be to use Fortinet and FortiMail together because they are super tools when combined.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Samvel Gevorgyan - PeerSpot reviewer
Founder and Managing Director at CYBER GATES
Real User
A stable and scalable solution with good tech support
Pros and Cons
  • "This solution is good for small and medium enterprise companies."
  • "The tool needs to improve its pricing policy. Also, it needs to be more user-friendly. I would want it to improve email security as well."

What needs improvement?

The tool needs to improve its pricing policy. Also, it needs to be more user-friendly. I would want it to improve email security as well. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for two years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I would rate the tool's stability a nine out of ten. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I would rate the solution's scalability an eight out of ten. 

How are customer service and support?

The support takes one to two days to respond. 

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The tool's distributor supported us with the deployment. The solution's deployment took around one day to complete. 

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

You need to pay additional fees for premium support. 

What other advice do I have?

I would rate the tool a nine out of ten. This solution is good for small and medium enterprise companies. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
GeorgesNassif - PeerSpot reviewer
Technical Manager at Triple C
Real User
A reasonably priced solution suitable for small to medium enterprises
Pros and Cons
  • "The user quarantine feature in the solution is good...It is a stable solution."
  • "The solution lacks to provide more visibility when there is a problem, and it needs to be tracked."

What is our primary use case?

Fortinet FortiMail is sufficient for our use cases.

What is most valuable?

The user quarantine feature in the solution is good. Not all the solutions have user quarantine features since they mostly have system quarantine features. The integration with Active Directory is great. The solution's antispam is really very efficient, especially the greylisting. Recently, the protection against impersonation is doing a great job.

What needs improvement?

The solution lacks to provide more visibility when there is a problem, and it needs to be tracked. The solution should provide users with more visibility so that they can track a problem.

For how long have I used the solution?

It has been only a very short time since I started using Fortinet FortiMail. I use it for my company and for our customers. My company has a partnership with Fortinet.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Regarding scalability, we did not receive any case where we had to expand. I recommend the solution to businesses that range from small to medium, including those who do not have a very large environment. It is possible to scale it more since we have one enterprise where it is deployed at a large scale.

How are customer service and support?

Fortinet's technical support is great. Usually, we do the first level of support. And when there is a really difficult problem, we raise tickets, and they are very good at handling such problems. I rate the technical support a nine out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

It is easy to deploy.

Regarding the time taken for deployment, If it is in gateway mode, then it will not take more than two to three hours. If such necessities are not there in place, it will take more time.

What about the implementation team?

We do the implementation. Also, we provide professional services since we sell the product with professional services.

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

The pricing is reasonable, and this is why small to medium enterprises are adopting it. Price-wise, the solution is not far from Microsoft ATP. So, it is affordable.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?


What other advice do I have?

In fact, some vendors tried to work with us, but we found Fortinet to be very good.

Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
Head of Security Management at Ipko Telecommunications
Real User
Top 20
Has a SPAM filtering feature and gives better protection against SPAM, phishing attempts, and ransomware; provides good support
Pros and Cons
  • "Fortinet FortiMail has a lot of valuable features. It works great. It also has an antivirus feature. Support for Fortinet FortiMail was also great when my team wanted to block some geographic IPs, but couldn't figure out how to do it. The support team provided clear communication on how to resolve that issue. Another valuable feature of Fortinet FortiMail is SPAM filtering which tells you how many spammy emails you've received. Based on my current use cases, I'm happy with Fortinet FortiMail."
  • "What's missing in Fortinet FortiMail is some sandbox information for some of the emails. It's probably configuration-based, where it could be configured on some emails. For example, there was malware in some emails that weren't detected in some of the Fortinet FortiMail sessions, but it should have been configured from my company's end to better catch scam emails, but overall, the solution is okay. At the moment, my company is okay with the current Fortinet FortiMail offerings, but in the past, because of a lack of understanding, my team wasn't able to quickly implement the geographical IP blocking feature. It was time-consuming to implement that feature, but that wasn't a fault of Fortinet FortiMail. The issue was from my team's end, but just by emailing the support team, that issue was resolved, so right now, there isn't any additional feature I'd like added to Fortinet FortiMail."

What is our primary use case?

We use Fortinet FortiMail primarily for our email security. We're also using the solution for its anti-spam, antivirus, and sandbox features.

How has it helped my organization?

Fortinet FortiMail has been beneficial to my company. In the past, there were a lot of SPAM and phishing attempts, but after Fortinet FortiMail was implemented, it gave better protection against SPAM, phishing attempts, and ransomware. The solution detects emails received from non-reputable sources. You can also finetune Fortinet FortiMail based on your requirements. For example, the solution used to quarantine even safe emails, but after finetuning it, Fortinet FortiMail now only blocks and quarantines unsafe emails.

What is most valuable?

Fortinet FortiMail has a lot of valuable features. It works great. It also has an antivirus feature.

Support for Fortinet FortiMail was also great when my team wanted to block some geographic IPs, but couldn't figure out how to do it. The support team provided clear communication on how to resolve that issue.

Another valuable feature of Fortinet FortiMail is SPAM filtering which tells you how many spammy emails you've received.

Based on my current use cases, I'm happy with Fortinet FortiMail.

What needs improvement?

What's missing in Fortinet FortiMail is some sandbox information for some of the emails. It's probably configuration-based, where it could be configured on some emails. For example, there was malware in some emails that weren't detected in some of the Fortinet FortiMail sessions, but it should have been configured from my company's end to better catch scam emails, but overall, the solution is okay.

At the moment, my company is okay with the current Fortinet FortiMail offerings, but in the past, because of a lack of understanding, my team wasn't able to quickly implement the geographical IP blocking feature. It was time-consuming to implement that feature, but that wasn't a fault of Fortinet FortiMail. The issue was from my team's end, but just by emailing the support team, that issue was resolved, so right now, there isn't any additional feature I'd like added to Fortinet FortiMail.

For how long have I used the solution?

We started using Fortinet FortiMail just this year, in particular, in March.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Fortinet FortiMail is a stable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Fortinet FortiMail is a scalable solution.

How are customer service and support?

The Fortinet FortiMail team provided great support. On a scale of one to five, I'll give it the highest score, which is five.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

Though I wasn't part of the team that installed Fortinet FortiMail, my impression was that the installation was straightforward because it had some documentation on how to do it, and it was easy, so you won't have much trouble installing Fortinet FortiMail. You just need to learn the dashboard first, which is normal for first-time users of any other application. The solution did have a very user-friendly GUI.

Fortinet FortiMail implementation didn't take long. You first put it on the testing platform with a test domain, then you implement it in a production environment, where you'll learn how to use it, and determine how to best put the solution in production. Next, you set up or orient email traffic to the platform, then let the admins and Fortinet FortiMail support team do the work in terms of finetuning the solution and figuring out how to implement it based on company requirements. Though I don't have exact information on how long the deployment took, it was just a short period. For example, for Fortinet FortiMail to be up and running, it took just a couple of days.

What about the implementation team?

My company worked with Fortinet FortiMail support in implementing the solution in the test environment, then in production.

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

My company has a three-year license for Fortinet FortiMail, including the support, but I'm not so sure of how much the solution costs because I'm not part of the procurement team. What's more important to me is the functionality and stability of Fortinet FortiMail.

In terms of Fortinet FortiMail licensing, the cost is calculated based on company requirements. For example, it's based on the features you need for your environment, on capacity, how many CPUs you have, etc.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We evaluated other options before deciding on Fortinet FortiMail. We tested Fortinet FortiMail first, discussed it with others, then went with Fortinet FortiMail.

What other advice do I have?

My company is using the latest version of Fortinet FortiMail.

Approximately six hundred to seven hundred people have mailboxes within the company, but in terms of Fortinet FortiMail usage, my company has five administrators for it. Two administrators deal with cybersecurity issues and security checks, then the other two administrators focus on the network, while a system administrator deals directly with product health. I'd say that there are three standard users of Fortinet FortiMail and two backup users.

I would recommend Fortinet FortiMail to others looking into implementing the solution for business purposes.

My rating for Fortinet FortiMail is ten out of ten.

My company is a customer of Fortinet FortiMail.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Tecnical manager at Watronix Information Technology Ltd
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
A stable tool to prevent phishing attacks
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature of the solution is the tool's ability to prevent phishing attacks."
  • "The sandboxing features are not well done in Fortinet FortiMail, making it an area of improvement."

What is our primary use case?

My company provides the tool to our clients or customers who want to control phishing and need a tool that offers DLP functionalities.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of the solution is the tool's ability to prevent phishing attacks.

What needs improvement?

I haven't worked with Fortinet FortiMail competitors, but I feel whatever it does covers everything that is needed. I probably haven't had the chance to look at the products offered by Fortinet FortiMail's competitors. The tool fulfills the requirements of the client.

Fortinet FortiMail has certain shortcomings but can do well if it integrates with sandboxing features. The integration of tools with sandboxing features is something Fortinet can work on because it can change the way the product detects malicious activities. The sandboxing features are not well done in Fortinet FortiMail, making it an area of improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have experience with Fortinet FortiMail.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable solution. There is no requirement for users to have real-time access when using the tool. The product does a good job in the way the messages are delivered, and in the way, the emails are scanned.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is a scalable solution.

My company caters to the needs of three or four customers of the solution.

My company's clients are mostly medium-sized enterprises.

How are customer service and support?

Fortinet FortiMail office provides good support to users. Within the region where I operate, the support offered by Fortinet is good, especially considering the taken by the technical team to resolve issues.

The longest time taken by the support team to resolve an issue is a day, and it is mostly because the support depends on the time you raise a ticket with the technical team, or it may be based on the support contract that a user has opted for in the company. Support also depends on the contract a user has chosen, which may include support for twenty-four hours and seven days a week in a year or eight to five support.

I rate the technical support a seven out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

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

In the past, I haven't worked with any commercial tools similar to Fortinet FortiMail, but I know a few online tools that can be integrated into our company's systems. I chose to work with Fortinet FortiMail since it was strongly recommended by someone who had been using it.

How was the initial setup?

With the right guidance, the product's initial setup phase is not that complicated. Fortinet FortiMail provides good documentation and a support team to help users.

The solution is deployed with the help of Open Virtual Appliance (OVA).

The time taken to deploy the solution depends on the organization, but generally, the deployment process takes around seven days to complete in SMEs.

What was our ROI?

The product has an immediate impact on its users after deployment because it lets them know how the attacks are being blocked, and it provides a good analysis of why a certain email or activity has been flagged. There is good feedback related to the product from users.

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

It is a fairly priced product, considering what it does. The product offers good value for the money users spend on it.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

There are no tools similar to Fortinet FortiMail that are available because each product has its own way of functioning. Similar products will have many features that may be similar, so duplication of services is something a company wants to avoid. It is probably the better choice to select a product that is the easiest to use and offers a good support team.

What other advice do I have?

I rate the overall product an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partner
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PeerSpot user
CEO at Prosperátor Kft.
Real User
Top 5
Has a high level of security and integrates well with other security products
Pros and Cons
  • "It has a very high level of security through special licensing with solutions like FortiGuard, sandboxing solutions in the cloud, and URL rewriting solutions."
  • "The logging information is sometimes not clear or easy to understand."

What is most valuable?

The solution is easy to use and easy to configure. It has a very high level of security through special licensing with solutions like FortiGuard, sandboxing solutions in the cloud, and URL rewriting solutions. They are very helpful and secure.

We can install FortiMail products in two different types of installations. One is the security gateway, the inner gateway, and the other is the enterprise mail server. But we never used this product as an enterprise mail server, only a security gateway.

What needs improvement?

The logging information is sometimes not clear or easy to understand. When the product drops or rejects an email, it is hard to understand what was the original reason why this email was blocked. The logging and the troubleshooting have to improve.

The Forti solutions are not easy to use. We can learn how to use them, but they are not easy. Suppose you must deal with different types of Fortinet products, such as FortiMail, FortiGate, and FortiAuthenticator. In that case, you have to use many different types of troubleshooting, such as through CLI commands and parameters, and it's not too easy to know those off the top of your head.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've worked with Fortinet FortiMail for four or five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate FortiMail's stability a ten out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I rate FortiMail's scalability a nine out of ten. My clients are typically medium to enterprise-sized businesses. Enterprise and medium businesses are not the same from a Fortinet point of view. Especially here in Hungary, which is a little country. When we consider a company enterprise-sized, it might be considered a medium-sized company in the international environment.

How are customer service and support?

I like Fortinet's technical support. But it could always be better.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

I rate the initial setup a nine out of ten.

If there is only one gateway in the environment and it's the first deployment, it's easy. However, the initial setup can be difficult if you have to integrate and migrate from different products or solutions.

It took about a week to deploy the solution. But it depends on the difficulty of the environment. Sometimes, we must migrate policies, rules, and other configuration parts from different old mail gateways, such as Symantec Brightmail. And it's not too easy to configure all of the parameters exactly in the new environment.

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

FortiMail is not cheap. The basic license is not bad, but the high level of solutions is not cheap. Our customers like the basic license but find it too expensive to buy detailed technical solutions.

What other advice do I have?

I rate Fortinet FortiMail a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Integrator
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Buyer's Guide
Download our free Fortinet FortiMail Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: April 2024
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Buyer's Guide
Download our free Fortinet FortiMail Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.