

Cisco Catalyst Switches and Fortinet FortiSwitch are prominent competitors in the networking switch category. Cisco seems to have the edge in feature set breadth and reliability for complex network environments, while Fortinet's standout feature is its integration with its other products.
Features: Cisco Catalyst Switches are known for features such as Port Security, VLAN support, and HSRP, which are valuable for more complex deployments. They also offer Perpetual PoE for continuous power during reboots and are praised for their stacking capabilities, which enhance network stability. Fortinet FortiSwitch stands out with its seamless integration with FortiGate, providing enhanced network analytics. It offers secure access features efficiently managed through FortiGate, and its analytics offer detailed network insights.
Room for Improvement: Cisco users highlight issues with high costs and complex licensing models, a lack of expansion slots, and limited open-source compatibility. Fortinet FortiSwitch users mention needing better independent management capabilities apart from FortiGate and improved technical support responsiveness. Cisco's pricing is a common complaint, whereas Fortinet's integration strength is sometimes overshadowed by its FortiGate dependency.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Catalyst Switches are appreciated for their stability and robust technical support despite occasional slow responses. Their on-premises deployments are reliable, with extensive community support. Fortinet FortiSwitch is noted for straightforward on-premises deployment, benefiting from its cohesive ecosystem. However, its customer service gets mixed reviews, with reliance on FortiGate for management being a point of contention, contrasted with Cisco's independent operation.
Pricing and ROI: Cisco Catalyst Switches are known for their premium pricing, which some users find justified by their quality and long-term reliability, offering good ROI over a decade. Fortinet FortiSwitch, with its mid-range pricing, offers a better ROI within three to five years. The lower upfront costs of Fortinet make it attractive, while Cisco's extensive support and feature set balance its higher pricing for many users.
I can say in terms of money saved because up until now, in the previous places where I have worked and also now, we still use the older model, the 2960 model Cisco Catalyst Switches, which has been in existence for almost 20 years and up until now it still functions very well.
From an investment standpoint, deploying Cisco Catalyst Switches offers tangible benefits, including cost reductions.
When requesting an RMA, they replace defective items in just one day.
On a scale from one to 10, I would rate the technical support of Cisco at 10 out of 10.
Cisco's support is good, one of the best supports that you will get.
They are knowledgeable, professional, and assist with any issues.
My local support is working fine, and I have my connection with my account manager in the public company of Fortinet.
It's a potential area for improvement, possibly in terms of response time or quality.
The scalability of Cisco Catalyst Switches is very much scalable, as it supports the stacking feature and growth; for instance, with 94K modular switches, based on the requirement, we can even increase modules for more bandwidth.
Unlike Meraki, where I can bring a switch online, join it to the portal, and it becomes operational immediately.
The auto-scaling and zero-touch provisioning kind of support for Nexus switches is lacking.
For enterprise solutions, it's extendable easily with options for edge connectivity or stackable devices.
You just need to connect another switch or replace the current one, and it integrates well with the existing setup.
With uniform Fortinet FortiGate switches, adding or removing switches without reconfiguring individually is straightforward.
The stability of Cisco Catalyst Switches in my environment is somewhat problematic: legacy Cisco Catalyst Switches, even though they have licenses and support, present many hardware-related issues, such as interfaces going down very repeatedly, SFP modules failing in most cases, and hardware ports becoming faulty.
What you tell it to do is exactly what it does.
Cisco Catalyst Switches are stable.
The tool is robust and lasts for three to four years without needing replacement.
The stability has been good overall.
I would give it a nine out of ten for stability.
Cisco should provide some level of software that I can bring on-premise where I can add all my Catalyst switches for central management.
Currently, I don't see much AI integration with Cisco Catalyst Switches; though they've started, it still needs improvement.
It is the highest cost in the market.
The introduction of AI integration could be valuable for detecting abnormal traffic directly on the switch.
The machine is robust and lasts for years with rare technical issues.
Cisco provides unique features that justify their pricing.
Cisco Catalyst Switches are quite pricey.
Cisco usually is costly compared to other vendors.
It has increased by about two hundred percent over the past three years.
The initial cost of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is high compared to other options.
Cisco Catalyst Switches are valuable for their reliability and performance.
With Meraki access points, I do not have to have a wireless controller for them. I can configure the wireless device directly from the switch, making the setup cleaner, and that is a major reason for my preference.
Cisco Catalyst Switches provide high performance and security features that stand out in my daily work, where they handle a high volume of traffic with low latency, making them suitable for bandwidth-intensive applications, web applications, VoIP applications, video streaming, and major data center workloads.
This centralized management saves time and ensures seamless scalability.
The powerful integration capabilities allow us to manage all devices from a single interface through the firewall.
One of the main features is the integration with FortiGate.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Cisco Catalyst Switches | 4.3% |
| Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access | 4.2% |
| Other | 91.5% |

| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 81 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 29 |
| Large Enterprise | 79 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 38 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 6 |
| Large Enterprise | 7 |
Cisco Catalyst Switches are renowned for their Power over Ethernet capabilities, performance stability, and dependable security. They support features like DHCP, stacking, and dynamic routing, offering ease of management, scalability, and reliability across different sectors.
Cisco Catalyst Switches are valued for their robust architecture and global reputation, supported by numerous trained professionals. They ensure consistent performance and adaptability across industries such as finance, education, and hospitality. With features like CLI and software integration, these switches offer ease of management, scalability, and strong technical support. Users appreciate modularity, speed, and network segmentation versatility. There is room for improvement in cost reduction, licensing simplification, usability, third-party integration, and security enhancements. Calls for improved configuration, product compatibility, faster support, and advanced training are noted.
What are the key features of Cisco Catalyst Switches?Organizations utilize Cisco Catalyst Switches for diverse applications, including data centers, campuses, and WAN connectivity. Supporting enterprise networking, VLAN configurations, and user access, they integrate smoothly with existing infrastructure. These switches enhance connectivity for access layers, core components, and edge networking, catering to industries like finance, education, and hospitality for reliable and scalable performance.
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access offers centralized control and seamless FortiGate integration, enhancing network management and security with single-console operations. Known for user-friendly configurations, it supports VLAN, PoE, and cloud-based management.
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access provides a powerful network management solution, emphasizing integration with FortiGate for streamlined operations and enhanced security protocols. Its interface and straightforward configuration support effective device management. While recognized for robust performance and affordability, users seek improvements in pricing, support, and firmware reliability. FortiSwitch fits into industries such as education, healthcare, and retail, providing secure remote access and connectivity for campus environments and remote sites. Clients value its comprehensive management features but suggest enhancements in standalone management, terminology clarity, and initial setup.
What are the key features?In industries like education, healthcare, and retail, Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is implemented to manage network security and infrastructure efficiently. Organizations use it to integrate with FortiGate, ensuring centralized management and improved security. It is deployed for secure remote access and connectivity for campuses and remote sites, enhancing security requirements in these sectors. Fortinet partners and customers benefit from its advanced management features, supporting VLANs and access-level connectivity for phones and computers, aligning with industry-specific demands.
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