

Cisco Ethernet Switches and Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access are competitors in the network infrastructure market, particularly in providing core switching solutions. In terms of features, Cisco seems to have an edge with its advanced capabilities and robust security measures, while Fortinet excels in user-friendliness and centralized management.
Features: Cisco Ethernet Switches include advanced QoS features, seamless management with Smartports and CDP, and strong security with MACSec encryption. Their flexibility and stackability make them reliable core switches. In contrast, Fortinet FortiSwitch integrates well with FortiGate, focusing on security, usability, and streamlined centralized management leveraging the Fortinet Security Fabric.
Room for Improvement: Cisco's pricing, complex licensing, and initial setup challenges are areas for improvement, along with limited GUI options and third-party integration issues. Fortinet could enhance market appeal by refining pricing strategies and improving technical support responsiveness. The reliance on FortiGate for management can be inconvenient for users seeking standalone solutions.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco offers versatile deployment options across various environments, supported by global technical assistance, though support quality may vary. Fortinet focuses on on-premises solutions, with customer service generally well-rated, but some users face initial configuration challenges and variable support response times.
Pricing and ROI: Cisco Ethernet Switches command a premium price justified by durability and features but may be costly for smaller businesses. Fortinet FortiSwitch is more affordable but incurs additional costs due to annual licensing. Cisco's long-term ROI is positive due to reliability, while Fortinet offers good value through centralized management and reduced operational overhead.
It takes two to three days for Cisco support to address issues.
Currently, we don't have any technical support because our license doesn't allow for direct support.
Cisco support is quick and responsive, often answering within an hour.
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.
Cisco mainly provides security, patch management, hardware reliability, durability, scalability, and security features supporting my organization's expansion.
The latest products do not allow integration with the earlier environment.
The scalability depends on the model.
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 switches are very stable, rated ten out of ten.
The tool is robust and lasts for three to four years without needing replacement.
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access demonstrates great stability and reliability aspects.
The stability has been good overall.
The pricing and hardware warranty renewal costs are more expensive than other products.
FortiGate switches are considered more valuable because they have firewall capabilities.
For example, on switches, filtering specific sections isn't supported, whereas, on routers, you can do 'show run' with additional commands to filter.
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.
I would appreciate the ability to create an independent switch.
Cisco Ethernet switches are priced at a rating of nine, indicating they are expensive.
We need to pay for the subscription, as there are extra expenses after purchasing the product.
Regarding the cost, Cisco Ethernet Switches have a competitive price.
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.
Their stability and durability are essential features we've been looking for many years, and they are still working fine.
The Cisco Ethernet switches are sturdy products that do not require any kind of maintenance.
The most valuable features of Cisco Ethernet switches include plug-and-play capabilities.
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 | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Cisco Ethernet Switches | 10.0% |
| Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access | 4.1% |
| Other | 85.9% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 59 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 35 |
| Large Enterprise | 55 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 38 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 6 |
| Large Enterprise | 7 |
Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access is a secure, high-performance, and easy-to-manage switch. Fortinet FortiSwitch is the best solution for threat-conscious enterprises of all sizes because it is secure, simple, and scalable. Secure Access, which is tightly integrated into the Fortinet Security Fabric via FortiLink, may be handled directly from the FortiGate interface.
Regardless of how people and devices connect to the network, this single-pane-of-glass administration provides total visibility and control. This makes the Fortinet FortiSwitch perfect for SD-Branch and campus deployments, allowing enterprises to combine their security and network access with applications ranging from desktop to data center aggregation. Fortinet FortiSwitch's Secure Access is the most adaptable security platform with end-to-end protection in the industry.
Switches for Secure Access: Small to medium-sized businesses, scattered organizations, branch offices, and industrial control systems can all benefit.
Switches for Data Centers: Ideal for users requiring high-performance 10 GE or 40 GE.
Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access Features
Fortinet FortiSwitch has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:
Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access Benefits
There are many benefits to implementing Fortinet FortiSwitch. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:
Reviews from Real Users
Fortinet FortiSwitch stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are its stability and its VLAN setup. PeerSpot users take note of the advantages of these features in their reviews:
Rutul S., CXO at Aariha Enterprise Private Limited, writes of the product, “The most valuable feature is the SD-WAN support. This device is easy to use.” He adds, “Stability-wise, this product is better than others that are on the market.”
Emil V., System Consultant at I team, notes, “I like the VLAN setup of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access. Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access has very good scalability.” He adds, “Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is easy to set up. It only takes minutes to deploy this product, because it is mostly boxes.”
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