Raphael Haroun  Ikyagh - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Administrator at Letshego
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Security solution that protects our internal network, but it could be more secure
Pros and Cons
  • "Initial setup is straightforward. There weren't too many issues with setting it up. It takes one hour or so."
  • "The solution could be more secure and stable."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution for security and to protect our internal network from the internet.

This solution is deployed on-premise.

My company has 300 people at HQ. We have about 60 users in practice and 10-15 users per branch.

What is most valuable?

I am satisfied with the solution for now.

What needs improvement?

The solution could be more secure and stable.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Fortinet for over four years.

Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiGate
May 2024
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Stability could be improved.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It's scalable. It's an SD-WAN application, so on every site we have a FortiGate firewall there.

How are customer service and support?

I think there is a third-party vendor that is helping with technical support.

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

I have not been exposed to working with any other firewall except the FortiGate. At one point, our network was strictly on Cisco routers and switches. At that time, I was not exposed to having access to the security aspect of that, so I couldn't say which devices would be used for protection.

How was the initial setup?

Initial setup is straightforward. There weren't too many issues with setting it up. It takes one hour or so.

What about the implementation team?

We used a consultant.

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

You need to pay a license for this solution. Our licensing is now done in our subsidiary.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate this solution 7 out of 10.

Compared to Cisco, I think the Cisco routers are actually more stable.

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
Network Engineer at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Scalable, extremely reliable, and has a good user interface
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is extremely reliable."
  • "The pricing could be a bit better, especially when you consider how they have the most basic offering priced."

What is our primary use case?

In most cases, we use the solution as a firewall to access the internet. For example, we use Cisco Wireless for our clients to have access to the network and we use within the same solution the FortiGate Firewall for them to access the internet as well.

What is most valuable?

The solution offers very easy usability. 

The product can scale well.

The solution is extremely reliable.

The pricing and licensing models are pretty good. 

The user interface, both the web and CLI versions, are very good.

What needs improvement?

The solution overall is quite good. It works how we need it to. I can't recall seeing any features that are lacking.

We haven't had any breaches in our organization, however, I have read in journals that there have been some issues.

There may have been some bugs after an update, however, that has since been resolved. We saw a few bugs in the web field and when we ran an update it was resolved in the new version. 

Some resources must be accessed via web fields. We were not able to access them at first. However, it was a simple task to fix it and that has since been resolved.

The pricing could be a bit better, especially when you consider how they have the most basic offering priced.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using the solution since I started at my current company. I began my employment here about a year ago or so.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is quite stable. It doesn't give us issues. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash on us. It doesn't freeze. It's reliable. Fortinet has created a really reliable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We've found the scalability of the solution to be very good. If a company needs to expand on this solution, it can do so with ease.

We have between 2,000 and 3,000 users on the solution currently.

We do plan to continue to use the solution going forward. We have no plans to change anything.

How are customer service and technical support?

I've never contacted technical support. Having never dealt with them, I can't speak to their responsiveness or knowledgeability. I don't know enough about them from any kind of personal experience.

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

I also use Cisco wireless solutions. Our company uses both simultaneously.

How was the initial setup?

While I did not participate in the main part of the installation, I've discovered from deploying small FortiGates such as FortWiFi 60E, that it's good. It's not too complex of a process. It's pretty straightforward. It's easy.

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

We've found the pricing to be fair and the licensing model is quite good. It's a reasonable cost. It's not too expensive.

That said, I do feel they could work on the pricing policy a bit.

Right now a license to use some of the simpler features like web filtering or antivirus, you have to pay about 80% of the hardware price to have a license for a year. That's a bit too much for such basic features.

What other advice do I have?

We use a variety of Fortinet products. We are using mostly FortiGate 200E and we have some of FortiGate 100E and the FortiWiFi 60E.

We are not using the latest version of the solution at this time. We have version 6.0 and it completely meets our requirements. When we will have to update it we will do so. However, that is not so necessary right now. We will not update it until we need to.

I'd recommend the solution to other organizations. It's been a positive experience overall.

I would rate the solution at 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 FortiGate
May 2024
Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiGate. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2024.
769,976 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Operation Manager at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
MSP
Promptly addresses security threats and vulnerabilities commonly found in the modern technology world
Pros and Cons
  • "Fortinet offers the latest versions to cater to the needs of enterprises."
  • "Fortinet should focus on enhancing the capabilities of FortiGate by consolidating its various products, such as FortiGate Cloud, FortiManager, and FortiAnalyzer."

What is our primary use case?

We use Fortinet FortiGate for end-to-end advanced firewall protection.

Fortinet FortiGate is deployed both on-premises and in the AWS and Azure clouds.

How has it helped my organization?

Fortinet FortiGate makes it extremely easy to manage the entire security system independently of our enterprise. In our company, we operate multiple networks, each with its own distinct layers of networking. Whether it is a small or large company, each network will consist of various layers, including the first, second, and third layers, as well as Wi-Fi access points. Additionally, we have different access switches, distribution switches, and core switches. FortiGate allows for direct management of all these options, which is one of its core advantages.

What is most valuable?

FortiGate is highly user-friendly and promptly addresses security threats and vulnerabilities commonly found in the modern technology world. Additionally, Fortinet offers the latest versions to cater to the needs of enterprises. They provide a range of firewalls, suitable for both small-scale businesses and larger enterprises. Overall, we are quite satisfied with their performance, and it has been working well for us so far.

What needs improvement?

Fortinet should focus on enhancing the capabilities of FortiGate by consolidating its various products, such as FortiGate Cloud, FortiManager, and FortiAnalyzer. Currently, these multiple products often confuse users and clients. It would be beneficial if Fortinet could offer a comprehensive integrated solution instead of separate products that cause user confusion. By providing an integrated solution, users would have access to all features and functionalities within a single window, eliminating the need to navigate through multiple windows. This approach would greatly improve the user experience.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Fortinet FortiGate for three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Fortinet FortiGate is extremely stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Fortinet FortiGate can easily scale using the cloud firewall option.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support team is exceptional. They are consistently available and prompt in their responses, regardless of the region from which we open the ticket.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

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

I used Cisco at my previous company and my new company uses FortiGate. FortiGate is better than Cisco. Where Cisco requires a person with great networking or programming knowledge, FortiGate does not. We can manage everything from its user interface. It provides comprehensive security fabric management, including Forti switches and access points. Additionally, FortiGate serves as a gate for our home, allowing us to monitor who enters and exits. Therefore, if we compare it to Cisco, monitoring the entire traffic becomes much easier.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward. Fortinet provides step-by-step instructions in its documentation. The Fortinet engineers and support team are always available to assist, but even for a non-technical person, the deployment is easy.

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

The pricing depends on the FortiGate model we are using, ranging from $3,000 to $20,000 US dollars. We are using the FortiGate 600E, and its price falls within the midrange. The most expensive part is the renewal of the license subscription.

What other advice do I have?

I give Fortinet FortiGate an eight out of ten.

Fortinet FortiGate offers a cloud trial that organizations can use in a test environment to evaluate the solution before making a purchase.

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
Özden Aydın - PeerSpot reviewer
Technology Consultant at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Integrator
Top 10
The secure web gateway module and the application control module are valuable
Pros and Cons
  • "The secure web gateway module and the application control module are valuable. HA operations are very easy."
  • "Web security solutions can be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We use it for the network security operations of our customers. We've many different use cases, such as client security, server security, or DMZ sites. 

What is most valuable?

The secure web gateway module and the application control module are valuable. HA operations are very easy.

It's a very easy and simple solution for implementation and integration. I don't have any problems with this solution.

What needs improvement?

Web security solutions can be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using this solution for 10 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It's stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Its scalability is good. It's generally used in only one place as a standalone, but sometimes, it's used at multiple locations. 

How are customer service and support?

Their support is good. I'd rate it an eight out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

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

I've used Palo Alto, which is a good solution for a firewall, and their application signatures are very good. 

How was the initial setup?

I was sometimes involved in its deployment. Its deployment was simple for me. It was very simple and easy. It took five to six hours.

It does require maintenance. There are probably one to two people required for its maintenance. 

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

Its price is normal. If I compare it with other vendors, such as Palo Alto, it's normal. Palo Alto is expensive. 

What other advice do I have?

I'd recommend it to other people. It's good, and in our country, this product is very popular in our sector. It's easy and cheapest.

Overall, I'd rate Fortinet FortiGate 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
PeerSpot user
Head of IT at a educational organization with 51-200 employees
Real User
Is easy to integrate and configure with our ERP and other applications
Pros and Cons
  • "The signature database and zero-day detection are Fortinet FortiGate's most valuable features."
  • "Currently, without the additional reporting module, we only have access to basic reporting."

What is our primary use case?

We use Fortinet FortiGate to prevent intruder connections to our internal network.

How has it helped my organization?

Fortinet FortiGate's unified view around network operations and security operations is good.

The solution is easy to integrate and configure with our ERP and other applications. I am satisfied with the integrated application protection provided by Fortinet FortiGate.

The Fortinet FortiGate 60E Series resolved the bottleneck problem and CPU usage that was previously experienced with the 60D Series. Now, our employees can check their emails without encountering any bottleneck issues, and the CPU usage remains stable at around 50 percent.

We are satisfied with the ability to remediate threats more quickly.

We are pleased with the amount of time saved in detecting our mean time.

What is most valuable?

The signature database and zero-day detection are Fortinet FortiGate's most valuable features.

What needs improvement?

The Fortinet FortiGate 60D Series poses a problem by causing a bottleneck when several users access their emails simultaneously, as the device consistently consumes 90 percent of the CPU resources.

The reporting could be improved. Currently, without the additional reporting module, we only have access to basic reporting. However, reporting is crucial for network security, and it should be included as a standard feature.

The price and technical support have room for improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Fortinet FortiGate for three years.

How are customer service and support?

The local vendor support needs improvement.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

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

Previously, I have utilized few other brands of NG Firewalls, which offer certain advantages. However, when comparing their price and performance to that of Fortinet FortiGate, Fortinet proves to be a strong competitor.

How was the initial setup?

The time required for a basic deployment is roughly three weeks, whereas a full deployment involving customizations and optimization of rules and policies may take up to two and a half months.

What was our ROI?

We experienced a return on our investment, however, when it comes to security, it is challenging to determine a precise value.

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

The price is high compared to some of the other solutions.

What other advice do I have?

I give Fortinet FortiGate an eight out of ten.

We saw time to value within the first month of using Fortinet FortiGate.

We deployed Fortinet FortiGate in one location and the maintenance was mostly handled by internally and sometimes a third party.

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
Heson Ko - PeerSpot reviewer
Software Development Specialist at Unicomp Information Co. Ltd.
Reseller
Top 5
Simple and efficient security solution for end-users
Pros and Cons
  • "Security, SD-WAN, and Streetscape are valuable features."
  • "The solution can have more features in a single box that can be multi-applied to integrate everything."

What is our primary use case?

We use SD-WAN to connect the checking role between our branch offices, like Yap installation or fire shooting. We use Fortinet FortiGate to control the different segmentation.

How has it helped my organization?

The IT manager could monitor every security device and increase SD-WAN. Still, the SD-WAN function had to be integrated into our older device. So now our IT manager can see all the end user information about the network information and security event in the single panel base. SD-WAN has helped the organization to remediate threats.

We provided great information to our end users, and our guys could quickly interact with the tool for information.

What is most valuable?

Security, SD-WAN, and Streetscape are valuable features. It is a straightforward solution for our partners. The solution is more efficient for user applications.

What needs improvement?

In the next release, the tool can have more features in a single box that can be multi-applied to integrate everything.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for twenty-thirty years.

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?

It is a scalable solution.

How are customer service and support?

The customer service and support team is good. 

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

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

We used CheckPoint previously. We switched because it was high-priced.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was easy.

What about the implementation team?

It was deployed through a vendor team of one-two person.

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

We think the price is lower, and suitable for most end users.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate the solution an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
PeerSpot user
Michael Vlahakis - PeerSpot reviewer
Founder at Digivalue
Real User
Fits the customer requirements very well, comes with good support, and is very stable
Pros and Cons
  • "It is useful for protecting and segregating the internal networks from the internet. Most of our customers also use the FortiGate client to connect to their offices by using the VPN client, and of course, they usually activate the antivirus, deep inspection, and intrusion prevention services. They are also using it for web filtering and implementing various policies dealing with forwardings, NAT, etc."
  • "A sandbox would be good in order to be able to inspect the emails containing spam and be able to validate the emails that contain malware, prior to delivering to the customer."

What is our primary use case?

We manage FortiGate firewalls for our customers. We are working with 100F, 100D, and 60D.

All our FortiGates are installed on-premises, but we can manage our customers' firewalls remotely.

What is most valuable?

It is useful for protecting and segregating the internal networks from the internet. Most of our customers also use the FortiGate client to connect to their offices by using the VPN client, and of course, they usually activate the antivirus, deep inspection, and intrusion prevention services. They are also using it for web filtering and implementing various policies dealing with forwardings, NAT, etc.

What needs improvement?

A sandbox would be good in order to be able to inspect the emails containing spam and be able to validate the emails that contain malware, prior to delivering to the customer.

Its initial setup could be simpler.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for about five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Its stability is great. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have not had the necessary size to experience extendability.

How are customer service and support?

They supported us in many of our projects when we needed the expertise to configure the devices properly according to the customer's specifications.

How was the initial setup?

It could be simpler. Sometimes, it is very difficult. Policies tend to mix up sometimes, and it can be difficult to have clear policies for one particular thing.

What other advice do I have?

We recommend this product to customers with up to 200 or 250 people. This size is considered large by Greek standards. If a customer is located in one single building or two or three buildings, and they do not have a complicated architectural infrastructure, this product is ideal for them. It is not recommended for customers with a complex infrastructure and a lot of buildings.

I would rate it a nine out of 10. It is a fantastic product. It fits the customer requirements very well, and the vendor is great. We are very pleased with it.

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
Technical support engineer at a comms service provider with 1-10 employees
Real User
Enables me to easily see the events and make a decision about next steps
Pros and Cons
  • "The feature I like most is the SD-WAN. It allows you to manage more than one ISP at the same time. And there is a high-availability mode, so if one of your ISPs is down, you still have a backup."
  • "I would like to see improvements in the support from Fortinet. Here in the Philippines, whenever we have problems with a Fortinet product, we mostly ask for support from distributors and resellers and not directly from Fortinet."

What is our primary use case?

It's mainly used to secure our clients' network access because they do not have any servers. The only things we have connected to the FortiGate firewall are access points, CCTVs, and a printer. It's just used for web browsing and internet access.

How has it helped my organization?

It definitely helps with intrusion prevention. When managing a firewall, you need to create policies to dictate the traffic flow within your environment. And once you enforce a policy, it has an intrusion prevention assistant that you can activate, so it's not just acting as a firewall.

Like most next-generation firewalls today, it helps control network traffic. I don't have any problem managing the network traffic within our network. It's very easy to access and manage.

FortiGate has also helped reduce the risk of cyberattacks. If such an attack happened, the main consequences for us would be data breaches, where some of our company's most important information might be leaked and used by other people. That would endanger our production and security.

And with the System Events page, I can easily access and see the events that are happening within the device and the network. It's easy to track if something has happened and, based on that, make a decision about the next step that I should take. I can see if it is severe or if it is just something that is not critical but more than a nuisance. Even in that case, I have to think about the steps that I will take to prevent it from happening again.

Mostly, it's about protecting the internet access of our end users in the production area of our company. It protects us during our web browsing and from internet-related activities.

What is most valuable?

The feature I like most is the SD-WAN. It allows you to manage more than one ISP at the same time. And there is a high-availability mode, so if one of your ISPs is down, you still have a backup.

It also provides us with visibility because we are able to track the IP addresses, as well as the type of device, OS, vendor name, and the name of the devices.

In addition, Fortinet Security Fabric helps us meet regulations and compliance requirements.

The built-in APIs enable us to integrate with different vendors, such as TP-Link and Luigi. We did not have any problems with the integration. It's very easy to configure and connect. This helps reduce deployment time, but that has more to do with network knowledge than with the product. If you're familiar with basic networking, it would be easy for you to understand the application of a certain device and integrate it with the API of your choice.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been working with Fortinet FortiGate for about 10 months.

How are customer service and support?

I would like to see improvements in the support from Fortinet. Here in the Philippines, whenever we have problems with a Fortinet product, we mostly ask for support from distributors and resellers and not directly from Fortinet.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

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

I don't know why our company acquired FortiGate because I'm not the account manager. I'm just the technical person who installed the product. But I can assume they just looked at other companies that are securing their networks and decided to secure their internet access like those companies do.

How was the initial setup?

Including the reconfiguration of the network setup, the deployment took at least five days. But the actual deployment of the device only took one day. There were four people involved.

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

I have no idea what the difference in pricing is if you buy it from a reseller or distributor compared to Fortinet, or even if Fortinet gives that option. The pricing is justified. It's a little pricey, but what you pay for is what you get.

What other advice do I have?

I can't say how much it has reduced MTTR because I have not experienced any issues with FortiGate.

When I first built the FortiGate firewall, it enabled me to learn more about the network security field.

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
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Buyer's Guide
Download our free Fortinet FortiGate Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: May 2024
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Fortinet FortiGate Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.