Ecommerce Project Manager at Equine World
Real User
Graphical user interface is user-friendly and easy to deploy but need more free security profiles
Pros and Cons
  • "The combination of SD-WAN and VPN capabilities is the most valuable feature."
  • "If I could add one feature, it would be free security profiles."

What is our primary use case?

I am a network engineer. I deploy firewalls for customers. I also provide firewall installation and configuration services.

I mostly prefer Fortinet firewalls. The graphical user interface is user-friendly and easy to configure. I recommend it to my clients because it is very easy to deploy. 

Performance, scalability, and everything else are top-notch compared to others like Sophos or Cisco. I've used them all, and Fortinet is my go-to.

How has it helped my organization?

The main use case is for organizations that can't afford or procure hardware appliances. They can install the VM and license it as a cost-effective alternative.

What is most valuable?

The combination of SD-WAN and VPN capabilities is the most valuable feature.

What needs improvement?

If I could add one feature, it would be free security profiles.

Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiGate-VM
March 2024
Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiGate-VM. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2024.
765,234 professionals have used our research since 2012.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have experience with FortiGate VM. I've used it for practice and deployed it on customer sites.

I have been using it for four years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I haven't personally experienced any bugs, and none of my clients have reported any either.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I would rate the scalability a seven out of ten. 

How are customer service and support?

The customer service and support are very knowledgeable and helpful.

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

I've deployed Cisco firewalls and hold certifications like CCNA and CCNP. But for security-level firewalls, I always go with FortiGate.

How was the initial setup?

The initial configuration is very easy, even for non-technical users.

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

VMs can be affordable, but for high-demand scenarios, I'd still recommend the hardware. For the cost, it's a ten out of ten.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend the hardware firewall unless you have specific constraints. If you're installing on a server or desktop, and something happens like a cache issue, you won't have the same backup options as a physical appliance.

With hardware, you can claim a warranty, get a new unit, and easily restore from your existing backup. That wouldn't be as straightforward with a VM.

Over a hundred customers have deployed the physical Fortinet firewall based on my recommendations.

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

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner/Reseller
Flag as inappropriate
PeerSpot user
Manager, Infrastructure Support at Al Jaber Group
Real User
Top 20
Stable with a straightforward setup, but needs a better user interface
Pros and Cons
  • "The stability of the solution is good. We haven't faced any issues at all while using the product."
  • "The user interface needs to be improved."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use cases are using the solution as a configuring solution or data management. We use it for simple data center segmentation.

How has it helped my organization?

We got a PCL segmentation instance that has been replaced with a virtual instance. This has benefitted our organization by quite a bit.

What is most valuable?

The solution's most valuable aspects are IPS and the signature.

What needs improvement?

I don't see any specific features that are missing from the solution right now.

The user interface needs to be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using the solution for about six to seven months now.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability of the solution is good. We haven't faced any issues at all while using the product.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I haven't attempted to scale the solution, so I can't speak to how easy or hard it would be to expand it.

In our organization, we currently have 500 users on the solution. They're mostly end-users and admins.

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

We were previously using Palo Alto before we switched to Fortigate. We switched after seeing the solution on a commercial.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was not complex. The implementation proved to be straightforward.

The project took about one week in total, including deployment and configuration.

There was only a single person needed to handle the deployment process.

What other advice do I have?

I'd rate the solution seven out of ten. I only really use the solution for communication and ordering support.

We don't have a business relationship with Fortigate. We're just a customer.

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-VM
March 2024
Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiGate-VM. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2024.
765,234 professionals have used our research since 2012.
IT Support Team Leader at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
Real User
Gives us strong security and is well-tailored to our organization's needs
Pros and Cons
  • "The best part about FortiGate-VM is its strong security."
  • "One thing that can be better is added automation. And, on top of that, enhanced security when it comes to the automation itself."

What is our primary use case?

We are using FortiGate-VM for the protection of our internal network and also for VPN services. Right now, there are about 200 end users in our main office and in other business units we have an additional 100-200 end users. We have about five different firewalls, yet almost all of our units are using FortiGate-VM. So, in total, we have about 500-600 users. 

What is most valuable?

The best part about FortiGate-VM is its strong security. Besides that, it's nice that there are different models for different sizes of businesses. For example, there are models tailored to enterprise companies and small organizations, and the model that we are using is perfectly suitable for our usage.

What needs improvement?

One thing that can be better is added automation. And, on top of that, enhanced security when it comes to the automation itself.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Fortinet FortiGate-VM for five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I think it is stable. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I am impressed by its scalability, given that we are already using it for over 500 users. And, in future, we plan to increase usage even more. 

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

We have used Palo Alto before, but we switched because at that time Fortinet was more scalable and there were more options available.

I also use Sophos Firewall, though not within the organization, but rather just for small business or personal use.

What about the implementation team?

Currently, we only require the services of three engineers and administrators on our technical team when it comes to deployment and maintenance.

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

The license we pay is a yearly fee. I can't say it's very expensive; it is a good price and is highly suitable for our usage.

What other advice do I have?

FortiGate-VM is a good solution, and I would say one of the best solutions on the market.

I would rate it an eight 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
Deputy Director at a comms service provider with 11-50 employees
Real User
Ccomprehensive security features, easy deployment, and a user-friendly GUI
Pros and Cons
  • "Fortinet FortiGate-VM is purpose-built as a next-generation firewall, excelling in its performance of this specific function."
  • "SD-WAN could be enhanced to provide a clear division between control and data planes, utilizing controllers to manage tasks within the network."

What is our primary use case?

We employ Fortinet FortiGate-VM solely for testing purposes, similar to how we employ virtual machines in a virtual lab environment to evaluate solutions. When customers inquire about potential solutions, we typically construct and thoroughly test these solutions in our lab environment before providing confirmation. Once we've successfully conducted a proof of concept, we then extend an offer to the customer.

How has it helped my organization?

Both the hardware and virtual versions offer comprehensive capabilities required for perimeter network protection. Positioned at the network perimeter, they provide profiles that can be easily configured, including antivirus, DNS protection, web filtering, IPS, and application awareness for over five thousand applications. This allows for tailored configurations based on specific application usage within our network.

The scalability and flexibility of FortiGate VM have greatly benefited our organization. Its exceptional scalability allows us to adapt and expand according to our evolving needs.

Integrating FortiGate VM with our existing systems was straightforward, as I recall no difficulties during the process. I would rate it a solid ten out of ten for ease of integration.

The performance and availability of FortiGate-VM in our setup vary depending on the specific models chosen. We refer to data sheets and comparison tables to identify devices that meet our specific requirements. This involves considering factors such as performance metrics, encryption and decryption capabilities, and the number of secure connections supported. By comparing different models, we can select the one that best suits our needs.

The GUI of FortiGate is exceptional.

What is most valuable?

The features of FortiGate VM that we find most effective for network security include its universal operating system, which is the same across both hardware and virtual machine deployments. This consistency ensures that both real boxes and virtual machines run on identical images, accessible via both command line and graphical interfaces for convenience.

What needs improvement?

SD-WAN could be enhanced to provide a clear division between control and data planes, utilizing controllers to manage tasks within the network.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using it for more than three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I am satisfied with its stability. I would rate it ten out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It provides outstanding scalability capabilities. I would rate it ten out of ten. 
We serve a diverse range of customers, including large government organizations in Ukraine and small businesses. FortiGate is suitable for a variety of customer types, accommodating the needs of both large enterprises and smaller organizations.

How are customer service and support?

We haven't encountered any open trouble tickets in the past three years, so we don't have firsthand experience with how Fortinet handles cases.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward, earning a rating of ten out of ten for ease of use. Compared to other options, it stands out as exceptionally simple, largely due to the extensive documentation provided by Fortinet. Additionally, numerous YouTube tutorials are available online, making it easy to find solutions without necessarily having to consult the documentation.

What about the implementation team?

For deployment, FortiGate can be utilized in both on-premises and cloud environments, offering flexibility in its application. It can serve as a client-side perimeter device within a customer's network or function as a cloud-based service. Our organization predominantly offers cloud-based solutions, leveraging FortiGate installations at our Sentinel node facility. Here, we manage customer traffic by configuring it to pass through FortiGate, allowing us to provide next-generation firewall services to customers who lack their infrastructure. We tailor configurations to suit each customer's specific needs.

Alternatively, if a customer requires an on-premises solution, we may deploy a physical appliance at their site. In such cases, where the customer lacks the expertise to manage the firewall effectively, we offer a managed service option.

Deployment typically takes no more than a few hours, thanks to the straightforward installation process and the clarity of the documentation provided. Especially in simple configurations with uncomplicated topologies, deployment can be completed within minutes.

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

The price falls somewhere in the middle; it's neither cheap nor expensive. I would rate it five out of ten.

When purchasing an appliance, it's essential to acquire the accompanying subscription. This is crucial because frequent updates to antivirus profiles and other features are necessary, often occurring daily. Operating the device effectively requires a subscription from Fortinet, which we consistently purchase.

What other advice do I have?

Fortinet FortiGate-VM is purpose-built as a next-generation firewall, excelling in its performance of this specific function. Its designated place in the network aligns perfectly with its capabilities, making it an ideal device for its intended purpose. Overall, I would rate it ten out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Flag as inappropriate
PeerSpot user
Florian-Buis - PeerSpot reviewer
CEO at Easyteam
Real User
Top 20
A flexible and scalable solution that easily integrates with the network infrastructure
Pros and Cons
  • "It’s easy to integrate the solution with our network infrastructure."
  • "We face some issues with the IPsec connection during replication."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution for our private cloud.

What is most valuable?

We use Fortinet for everything in our organization. Our organization has Fortinet experts. The virtualized network features work fine. The flexibility is fine. It’s easy to integrate the solution with our network infrastructure.

What needs improvement?

We face some issues with the IPsec connection during replication. It must be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for six months.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is fine.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I rate the tool’s scalability an eight out of ten. We have many users in our organization.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is complex because we use CLI. The solution is cloud-based. We have moved our on-premise VM to a private VM.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I have used Netgate. I prefer Fortinet FortiGate-VM.

What other advice do I have?

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

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Private Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Flag as inappropriate
PeerSpot user
Volodymyr Khorenzhyi - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Engineer at Thunder Software Technology Co., Ltd.
Real User
Top 5
An expensive solution that is stable and scalable
Pros and Cons
  • "I rate the tool's stability a ten out of ten."
  • "The tool is expensive."

What needs improvement?

The tool is expensive. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with the product for two years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

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

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Fortinet FortiGate-VM is scalable. We have 15 users. 

How was the initial setup?

Fortinet FortiGate-VM's deployment is easy. 

What other advice do I have?

I rate Fortinet FortiGate-VM an eight out of ten. 

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Flag as inappropriate
PeerSpot user
Tenishan Fernando - PeerSpot reviewer
Solution Architect - Network and Cybersecurity at NCinga
Real User
Top 10
Provides secure connectivity and enables consistent protection
Pros and Cons
  • "The ease of access and user-friendly setup is a valuable feature. Fortinet proves to be particularly straightforward to configure, offering simplicity without complexity. Moreover, visibility is easily attainable due to certain factors. Price, implementation, and budget considerations play a role. When it comes to Cisco implementation, the process tends to be more intricate, which many customers find unfavourable for their business needs."
  • "Fortinet devices are acknowledged as highly potent and come with a notable cost. These devices offer extensive visibility, an array of configurations, and a range of security features. However, there's room for enhancement in their routing and switching security aspects, akin to Cisco's offerings. A noteworthy aspect here is Meraki, which offers cloud controllers. If FortiGate were to introduce a similar cloud management solution, it could strongly compete with both Meraki and Cisco products. Cisco operates in two sectors: enterprise and SMB. Particularly in the SMB market, they hold sway due to their convenient cloud management features. For instance, Meraki's cameras and wireless access points can be easily controlled through their cloud management portal. If FortiGate were to provide cloud-based management solutions for SMB customers, it could cater to a significant portion of the market, considering that a substantial number of customers fall within the SMB and mid-level enterprise categories."

What is our primary use case?

In a recent scenario, a manufacturing company, was in need of migrating its services, specifically their ERP SAP application, to a cloud-native environment. They chose to migrate their servers to GCP for hosting. Since they required a firewall, they opted for cloud-native firewall solutions. They acquired two firewalls, one for internal usage and another from the GCP marketplace. Both firewall vendors provided yearly subscriptions. Following this, we proceeded with the configuration.

They established a VPN connection via the internal Forti firewall. Simultaneously, an external firewall from Palo Alto was set up. This external firewall, positioned at the perimeter, handled incoming traffic from Internet users. Our configuration focused on enabling ECPs for the Internet-based cloud network.

What is most valuable?

The ease of access and user-friendly setup is a valuable feature. Fortinet proves to be particularly straightforward to configure, offering simplicity without complexity. Moreover, visibility is easily attainable due to certain factors. Price, implementation, and budget considerations play a role. When it comes to Cisco implementation, the process tends to be more intricate, which many customers find unfavourable for their business needs.

What needs improvement?

Fortinet devices are acknowledged as highly potent and come with a notable cost. These devices offer extensive visibility, an array of configurations, and a range of security features. However, there's room for enhancement in their routing and switching security aspects, akin to Cisco's offerings.

A noteworthy aspect here is Meraki, which offers cloud controllers. If FortiGate were to introduce a similar cloud management solution, it could strongly compete with both Meraki and Cisco products. Cisco operates in two sectors: enterprise and SMB. Particularly in the SMB market, they hold sway due to their convenient cloud management features. For instance, Meraki's cameras and wireless access points can be easily controlled through their cloud management portal. If FortiGate were to provide cloud-based management solutions for SMB customers, it could cater to a significant portion of the market, considering that a substantial number of customers fall within the SMB and mid-level enterprise categories.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have experience with Fortinet FortiGate-VM.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Hardware performance is a determining factor. A recent case made me notice that in comparison to the other vendors, Fortinet exhibited superior scalability. This was mainly due to their package-oriented approach, which involved scaling the VM version based on the number of customers. They offered various packages, and depending on the package, the VM version would be adjusted.I would rate it an eight out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I would rate scalability an eight out of ten.

How are customer service and support?

The customer service and support is good. Within this domain, we have local support in place. They are primarily responsible for initial support. However, if a situation exceeds their capabilities, they escalate it to level two support. This setup is highly satisfactory.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

FortiGate offers straightforward planning and a user-friendly interface. This simplicity is seen through graphical user interfaces (GUIs), enhanced visibility and effective troubleshooting. I would rate it eight out of ten. 

In the industry landscape, approximately seventy per cent of businesses predominantly rely on on-premise solutions. Specifically, our focus is directed towards banking clients, who are aligned with the guidelines of the Central Bank due to their emphasis on security, governance, and compliance protocols. However, the manufacturing sector and telecommunications companies are more inclined towards cloud adoption. This inclination is rooted in factors such as cost efficiency and power savings, internal infrastructure maintenance and resource allocation, including power and human resources.

In Sri Lanka, the banking and finance sector still prefers on-premise solutions. This choice is aligned with their security compliance needs and regulatory considerations.

In our proposals involving FortiGate, it's common practice to include FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer. Over the past two years, many clients have adopted FortiManager for cloud-based management. We've facilitated this by providing cloud subscriptions, allowing them to manage their FortiManager through the cloud. This approach is well-received, and it's worth noting that even in the banking sector, some customers prefer on-premise setups for their FortiManager.

What other advice do I have?

It would be beneficial for Forti to expand its cybersecurity solutions even further. While solutions like FortiSolor exist, there's room to enhance feature sets in line with the increasing requirements of compliance and private security needs. These can effectively address client-side security needs. Comparing Forti's offerings to competitors, certain strengths stand out. There are notable visibility and flexible configuration options. The client-side experience benefits from robust management capabilities accessible through this solution and the troubleshooting becomes seamless because of good visibility and an effective controller. I would rate it an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Reseller
Flag as inappropriate
PeerSpot user
Thabo Molemele - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Administrator at Furnmart
Real User
Scalable security solution with well-defined intrusion detection feature
Pros and Cons
  • "Its technical support is excellent."
  • "The solution's web-filtering configuration could be better."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution for securing our network.

What is most valuable?

The solution's intrusion detection feature is excellent.

What needs improvement?

The solution's web-filtering configuration could be more straightforward. It takes a long time to configure.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for eight years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is primarily stable. Although, some time ago, there were performance drops where it was freezing as the logs were full. We managed to resolve the issue. I rate its stability eight out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is a very scalable product. The solution users in our organization include IT managers, finance officers, accountants, and chief financial officers. I rate its scalability a nine out of ten.

How are customer service and support?

The solution's support team is excellent and efficient.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The solution's initial setup and configuration are straightforward. But if someone is trying to put policies and restrictions in place, then one has to understand many things. It takes one and half hours to configure and requires two executives for maintenance.

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

Initially, the solution's price was high for us. But it decreased on the purchase of more than one license.

What other advice do I have?

I recommend the solution to others and rate it a nine.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Fortinet FortiGate-VM Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: March 2024
Product Categories
Firewalls
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Fortinet FortiGate-VM Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.