Fortinet FortiMail Reviews

We use the solution as a security tool for anti-spam, phishing, et cetera.

The product has been beneficial in the sense that a lot of spam has been reduced. We've avoided a lot of phishing attacks. Threats have been reduced dramatically.

The GUI interface is great. 

The way we can configure security policies is very easy.

We found the initial setup to be mostly straightforward. 

The pricing is not ideal. It needs to be improved. 

They should add a lot of threat-intelligence feeds from different sources - not only from one source (FortiGuard). They should look at other threat-intelligence feed providers to include in the database so you have multiple databases checking for malicious attacks. Right now, there's only one, which is FortiGuard. The more threat intelligence feeds, the better since everybody has a different way of finding threats.

I've been using the solution for five years.

The solution is stable. I'd rate it seven out of ten. There are no bugs or glitches and it doesn't crash or freeze. 

The scalability is okay. I'd rate it seven out of ten. 

We have 800 users on the solution right now. It's used by everybody. The appliance can take up to 2,000 users and therefore we have plenty of room. We do not plan to increase usage. 

Support is very bad. 

Their response time is very slow. Once the ticket is raised, it will take at least around eight to ten hours for an engineer to respond. They will say if it is a system malfunction issue and its criteria or its risk level is high then you have to give them a call. When you call them, it's very difficult to get anybody on the phone.

Neutral

Previously, we were using Microsoft ATP; however, that was not sufficient enough. Basically, we added another layer by including FortiMail.

We've also used Barracuda in the past.

Barracuda had a lot of false positives. I don't know if they have improved since we used them. As far as I have seen, they've improved a lot in their email security solutions with total email protection. We are thinking of switching over to the cloud version of that, to save costs on the renewal and everything.

The initial setup isn't too complex. I'd rate it seven out of ten.

If people know how to set up email security, it is easier. You have to have the basic knowledge of how to set up email security and how to create policies. Any security person who's been in this field for a long time will be able to do it within an hour or two. 

You do require a minimum of at least two to three people to handle it. You need to have one from the incident-response team who will handle the incidents, analyze the incidents, and then, basically, take a response or action on the activity. Another person should be available to generate reports and, basically, review the reports and provide them to audits and the compliance team. You also need a person who knows the whole system by heart and who's experienced in it. 

I'm actually Fortinet certified, so I know the product. I was able to handle the deployment myself, in-house. 

We'd like to see better pricing. I'd rate the cost of the product six or seven out of ten in terms of affordability.

We did not evaluate other solutions. 

I'm a customer and end-user.

We are using the latest version of the solution. 

I would not recommend this solution to others. I'd rate it five out of ten. 

The solution is primarily for mail security.

We use it primarily for incoming and outgoing emails. We also use other products which are quite new for us. We just invested in GFI, and we use it also for the incoming email traffic to check with more antivirus monitoring.

The spam filtering is great. The key functionality is email filtering. 

The antivirus and most of the filtering functionality are quite useful. We use it daily. 

It offers reasonable pricing.

The solution is stable. 

It could be better. We know better solutions, like Clearswift.

The Ui isn't that intuitive. 

When 100 emails are coming in to one recipient, FortiMail only blocks from the 50th of the emails. Until that point, it doesn't see there's a problem. They aren't doing very good gatekeeping.

I've been using the solution for more than six years. 

The performance is quite good. It's reliable and stable. I'd rate the solution seven out of ten. While there are some bugs occasionally, they are usually resolved within a week. 

It's mainly suited for mid-size companies, not for bigger companies like us. We are more than 1,000 people. In fact, we're over 2000 users, so that's why we investigated some other products, and Clearswift, for example.

We likely won't increase usage. We're looking at GFI in a year or so.

We have had to contact technical support. They have been helpful and responsive. 

Positive

I have previously worked with Clearswift and Minesweeper.

I prefer Clearswift. It was handier and easier to use, and we could trust their work. We could trust their decisions on any email.

We only need five admins to manage the solution. 

The solution was installed before I started at the company. That said, my understanding is the setup process is very easy. 

We had the assistance of a reseller during implementation.

FortiMail is good for the Hungarian market since it's cheap and we can use it and it works well enough. The pricing is reasonable. There are no extra costs on top of the standard licensing. 

We're looking into other products, such as Clearswift.

I'm a customer and end-user.

When you are not a financial institution, and you are under 500 users, you should try FortiMail. However, when you are either a financial institution, and you are attacked many times, or you are more than 500 employees, then it is a good idea to try a different product.

I'd rate the product six out of ten. The UI could be better, as could the scalability.

The solution is used for email security. We used the solution for a customer who was having issues with spam.

The anti-spam features are valuable. The data loss prevention capabilities are good.

Sometimes, the tool flags legitimate incoming traffic as spam.

I used the solution for a year.

I rate the product’s stability a seven out of ten. We had to fine-tune the solution and make a rule to allow certain traffic to enter so that it is not flagged as spam.

The product adapts well to the organization’s growth. We must do a technical analysis before choosing FortiMail. We have one customer. I rate the scalability a seven out of ten.

The support team is not very responsive. There are some delays due to the time zone differences. We have to wait even if we need support immediately. The wait time depends on the time zone. We usually wait a few hours.

Neutral

We work only with cloud solutions. During the initial stages of the deployment, we must contact support. The deployment took us a week. We configured and monitored it for some time, and then we did some fine-tuning to get it up and running. Seven engineers are responsible for the deployment and maintenance of the tool in our organization.

Customers do not prefer the tool because of its price. The tool is very expensive. However, it provides value for money.

I also work with Sophos.

We do not work with on-premise clients. Since the solution’s pricing is very high, the customers tend to look at alternatives. Overall, I rate the product a nine out of ten.

We use Fortinet FortiMail to protect our corporate maintenance. It is a very good solution.

It is one of the most efficient solutions in our environment. We have more than nine hundred users. All of these users are protected by Fortinet FortiMail.          

It would be helpful if Fortinet FortiMail could monitor from a smartphone. 

I have been using Fortinet FortiMail since 2019.

There is no downtime and I believe it is stable.

It is scalable. We are planning to upgrade it in the coming stages. 

Every six months, without any charge, they conduct a thorough examination for us. This includes checking if the configuration aligns with our requirements. They provide recommendations for corrections, particularly in cases where potential vulnerabilities or backdoors are identified. Their proactive approach contributes to the security of our environment. The assistance they provide every six months is prompt, cooperative, and delivered in a friendly manner.

Positive

We previously used Microsoft ISA for our security needs, but we encountered challenges with the packages provided by Microsoft, prompting us to explore alternative solutions. After conducting assessments and evaluations, Fortinet FortiGate emerged as the most efficient and effective option from a security perspective. Its ease of deployment, straightforward monitoring tools, and user-friendly interface distinguish it, providing a seamless experience in contrast to other solutions like Check Point, which were deemed complex and challenging by clients in their reviews. Fortinet's simplicity, ease of understanding, and the ability to generate reports effortlessly, including automatic report configurations without reliance on emails, led us to select Fortinet as the preferred solution for our security requirements.

It is pretty simple and straightforward. It doesn't take a long time. 

The pricing is reasonable.

I would rate it 10 out of 10. 

We use the solution to protect the network, Internet, and external checks. It is user-friendly and easy to use. The desktops are nice to understand.

The important feature is the application control, which makes administration much easier. It also has an intrusion prevention feature. There's also the wireless functionality, which works well with Huawei devices. 

The solution's pricing could be improved.

I have been using Fortinet FortiMail as an end user for three to four years. We are using V2000F of the solution.

The solution is quite stable. There aren't many additional advantages.

The solution is easy to scale. 100 users are using this solution.

The service is very good and timely. They always address the tickets on time, and they are reliable.

Positive

One advantage of FortiMail against Symantec is its ability to effectively block spam, viruses, malware, and malicious traffic. It provides comprehensive security coverage across all these areas.

The solution is easy to deploy and takes two to four hours for migration. We have about three experts for deployment and maintenance.

FortiMail reduces your overall security-related costs. It saved 60% time and 70% cost

The price of Fortinet FortiMail steadily increases every year. There is a possible ten percent increase. It's concerning because Fortinet is well-known, and even large companies like IBM use it. However, the yearly price hikes aren't favorable for consumers. 

The data loss prevention feature in Fortinet FortiMail is not as comprehensive as it should be to cover all data movements and types. It may require additional purchases or integration with solutions like Symantec to monitor and protect the entire range of data effectively.

Fortinet FortiMail is a reputable brand known for providing robust support. They consistently strive to offer effective solutions tailored to your IT infrastructure.

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

It operates as an alternative mail server, particularly adept at receiving and rescanning messages before they reach the intended recipients.

FortiMail possesses notable strengths, and one key feature is its store-and-forward concept.

It could benefit from enhancing its functionality, especially in terms of advanced filtering. Introducing features such as AI-based and cloud-based filtering could significantly improve mail security. Fortinet should consider developing more robust protection mechanisms, particularly for cloud-based environments. Currently, users often refrain from placing Fortinet in front of Office 365 Exchange unless it's a cloud-based solution. Improving the upgrade process, making it more user-friendly, and simplifying the management of hardware components could enhance the overall user experience and appeal of Fortinet's email security solution.

I would rate its stability capabilities nine out of ten.

Regarding scalability, the challenge lies in the licensing model tied to the hardware appliance. The current setup necessitates choosing between a higher or lower capacity appliance, creating inefficiencies. For instance, if you opt for a smaller appliance designed for up to a hundred users and the client has fewer users, you end up paying for unused capacity. On the other hand, choosing a higher-level appliance for a larger user base may result in unnecessary excess capacity and costs. It would be advantageous if Fortinet could address this issue by offering more flexible licensing options. This way, clients could pay for the specific number of users they have without being constrained by preset appliance capacities. This adjustment would enhance the scalability and cost-effectiveness of Fortinet's email security solution.

Initially, when reaching out to Fortinet's tier-one support, we observed effective resolution of issues. However, at the entry-level, it seems that there's a repetition of updating tickets, and the problems persist. Having worked with Fortinet for an extended period, I've noticed a shift in the support dynamic. Either the personnel at the first level lack a complete understanding of the issues, or they are relatively junior, leading to extended resolution times for even minor concerns. Previously, their responsiveness was quick and efficient, with a maximum of 24 hours for a technical person to address an issue. However, recent changes in their approach may be contributing to the longer turnaround times. The process of logging a technical call and receiving a response has become somewhat extended, even for smaller issues. I would rate it six out of ten.

Neutral

I often recommend exploring alternative products that diverge from the appliance-based approach. One notable option is Marshal from Paradigm, which was previously known as NetIQ. Marshal operates as software deployed on a server, handling inbound scanning, and forwarding emails based on established policies. This on-premises solution ensures that emails undergo scanning before reaching the main server, providing a robust layer of security. Other alternatives include GFI MailEssentials, Mimecast, and FortiGuard. Each of these products has its unique features and pricing structures. I've had positive experiences with Enhanced Security, our own rebranded solution. This cost-effective option is specifically tailored for SME segments, running seamlessly for the past four years. It is AI-based, cloud-based and has demonstrated its compatibility with various email platforms, including online exchange servers, on-premises servers, shared hosting, and Google Suite. Users have found it to be a reliable and efficient choice for email security.

The initial setup of Fortinet is not suitable for everyone; it requires a solid understanding of how email systems function, making it less accessible for entry-level or junior technicians. Proper comprehension of mail concepts is crucial for a successful deployment. Incorrect configurations may lead to misleading outcomes, potentially causing disruptions in both incoming and outgoing emails. 

Upgrading the storage requires a more involved process, as it is not a simple plug-and-play scenario. Users must go through the entire setup again, which can be a cumbersome task.

The pricing is on the higher side.

While FortiMail provides a valuable option for those focused on transparent mail filtering or security solutions, it may not be the preferred choice for users accustomed to the features offered by platforms like Microsoft Exchange. In the SME segment, factors such as functionality, ease of use, and cost play a significant role. Many businesses in this category may find cloud-based solutions more appealing due to lower costs, simplified maintenance, and performance considerations. If an organization operates in the enterprise segment and has a substantial budget, considering Fortinet might be a viable option. However, for the SME segment, I would not recommend it due to the cost involved and the complexities associated with yearly renewals. Implementing Fortinet requires a level of technical expertise, particularly in understanding how mail servers function. Overall, I would rate seven out of ten.

We have an on-premises email server. Before FortiMail, we received a lot of spam and malicious emails, causing inconvenience for our users. After implementing FortiMail, it significantly reduced and improved our security.

Previously, when users received malicious emails, they would engage the IT department and ask for details about the emails they received. It consumed time and resources for IT management. With the implementation of FortiMail, these types of queries have been greatly reduced.

With the implementation of FortiMail, our spamming was reduced, and junk mail was minimized.

The key features that I find valuable are the ones related to securing our email server. After implementing FortiMail, the spam, and malicious emails we receive have significantly reduced, making it much simpler to manage. So it has made email server management much simpler.

FortiMail offers a user-friendly GUI interface, which makes it easy for administrators to browse and use. The interface is designed well, and it simplifies the administration.

I believe there is room for enhancement in the content security and web security features. These two aspects can be further developed to improve the overall scalability of the solution.

We have been using this solution for one year. One year ago, we implemented it. It's the FortiMail version, not the cloud version. It's an on-premises, hardware-based appliance.

With one and a half years of experience implementing it, I can say it's not unstable. I think it's up to the mark, so we rate it at nine, indicating high stability.

I would rate the scalability at seven. While FortiMail offers good security, there are areas where improvements can be made, particularly in content security and web security features.

I believe there is room for enhancement in the content security and web security features. These two aspects can be further developed to improve the overall scalability of the solution. We have more than 400 email users utilizing Fortinet FortiMail.

FortiMail handles email monitoring around the clock. It's a big version 24, and it's used over email traffic. We always monitor FortiMail over emails 24/7. All our emails go through FortiMail.

We are using it with 400 email boxes. In the future, we may increase it by 50 more users, and FortiMail is compatible with that. It meets our requirements, and there's no need to increase anything.

Over the past year and a half, we encountered an issue with our website. There was a malicious script on our website that disrupted our email service. FortiMail scans our emails, but due to the malicious script on our website and the same domain, we were unable to receive emails on Gmail.

The reason behind the email blocking was Fortinet FortiMail, which detected the malicious script on our website. We reported the issue to Fortinet, and Fortinet resolved it within an hour. Fortinet's support was excellent, and we would rate it nine out of ten. It was a pretty good support. 

Positive

It's not very difficult. It's quite easy with GUI. Within a short span of time, you can easily configure the firewall and FortiMail and integrate them. It's not a big deal. I would rate it as eight.

We received it in December, and within one month, we tested it. After some time, we went live with Fortinet, which took around seven days. So, the deployment process took about five to six weeks.

We implemented it with the support of our distributor. Two technical persons were involved in the deployment process. We deployed the solution with our network administrator with the coordination of our distributor and technical team. They handled the deployment within four to six weeks.

The solution does require maintenance. Routine maintenance is necessary to implement and tighten security policies, especially for handling malicious emails and bypasses in the email solution. You need to stay vigilant and conduct regular searches to identify and respond to potential threats even after implementing FortiMail. Monitoring and maintenance are ongoing processes.

Generally, only one person is needed to handle maintenance tasks. This individual should possess the necessary skills to manage the email server, FortiMail gateway, and firewall. Additionally, they may be responsible for network maintenance as well. 

In our case, the person responsible for maintenance is our network administrator. They work in coordination with our distributor and technical team to ensure the smooth operation of FortiMail. This person oversees various aspects of network maintenance.

There is definitely an ROI. If we calculate the return on investment and consider the time and effort saved from dealing with spam and email glitches, we feel more comfortable and receive safer emails. Overall, it has been a positive experience.

The solution is quite pricey compared to other competitors in the market. Due to Fortinet's reliability and quality service,  Fortinet offers a high cost. We rate it around seven. So, it's pretty pricey.

ur licensing costs for FortiMail are quite high, especially with the currency exchange rates in Pakistan. The costs keep increasing day by day, and we are concerned about it. There are no additional costs. We only pay for the maintenance.

FortiMail is already working on enhancing its next-generation terminology, and there is always room for improvement in various aspects. Fortinet continuously strives to improve its solutions.

I believe they are on the right track with the GUI interface. Overall, I think they are doing a good job. We also prioritize securing our email server against future threats, as I mentioned earlier, by proactively safeguarding it from any potential security vulnerabilities or malicious activities.

Fortinet FortiMail has adopted a GUI interface and made improvements in several areas. I think they will continue to provide routine updates and enhance the email server security further. We have integrated FortiMail with our firewall, which is also from Fortinet, and we didn't face any issues during the integration process.

I believe Fortinet is leading the industry by following international standards and incorporating the necessary features to secure users from future threats. They should continue adding more security features where needed.

Overall, I would rate the solution an eight out of ten. 

We are using Fortinet FortiMail as our email gateway.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Positive

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.