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FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall (FortiGate CNF) vs Palo Alto Networks Panorama comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 4, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
8.8
FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall maximizes ROI with robust, cost-effective security, reducing CapEx and enhancing value with a single license.
Sentiment score
5.0
Palo Alto Networks Panorama provides cost-effective centralized firewall management, improving efficiency and productivity while minimizing staffing needs.
FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall provides the same features that higher-end models offer, but at a much lower cost.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
7.7
FortiGate CNF is praised for strong support, though areas for improvement and training needs are identified.
Sentiment score
6.3
Palo Alto Networks Panorama support is highly rated for responsiveness and expertise but varies in efficiency and initial response speed.
There is local support through the distributor, which is efficient and provides a friendly relationship.
Technical support from Fortinet is rated high, a nine out of ten, though there is always room for improvement.
Customer service for Fortinet is rated at four out of five.
The technical support from Palo Alto is rated around nine out of ten.
The tech support I've encountered has been good, prompt, and fast.
It depends on the case, with room for improvement in both quality and response time.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
6.9
FortiGate CNF offers robust scalability for diverse organizational needs, though some users prefer open-access software and hardware adjustments.
Sentiment score
7.6
Palo Alto Networks Panorama offers scalable, centralized management for large enterprises, supporting complex networks with flexibility and cost considerations.
Unfortunately, FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall (FortiGate CNF) is not very scalable.
The scalability allows for increasing the capacity through configuration adjustments.
For scalability, if the hardware isn't fit or working, the box needs changing.
Scalability is primarily enhanced by Strata Cloud Manager as it is much easier to scale in the cloud than in an on-premises installation.
Scalability depends on whether it's a hardware or virtual machine model.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.6
FortiGate CNF is praised for its stability, reliability, and effective security performance, earning high user satisfaction and trust.
Sentiment score
7.5
Palo Alto Networks Panorama is praised for its reliable performance, with minimal issues and seamless integration, scoring high stability ratings.
I would rate the stability of FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall (FortiGate CNF) as nine out of ten, indicating it is very stable.
The stability of FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall (FortiGate CNF) is highly appreciated by the people I work with, as they love its reliability.
The FortiGate firewall is stable and supports all our requirements for infrastructure security.
Palo Alto Networks Panorama is very stable.
 

Room For Improvement

FortiGate CNF requires improvements in DNS options, support, cost, stability, processing power, and enhanced security features for competitiveness.
Users desire improved scheduling, App-ID, integration features, streamlined updates, performance, configuration simplicity, cost-efficiency, and enhanced security in Panorama.
The Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) in Fortinet products, including FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall (FortiGate CNF), is not very strong; we often prefer Cisco IPS instead.
The prices for FortiGate are way too high and are perceived as overpriced.
Migration can be quite challenging when moving from a different firewall to FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall.
In terms of operation, it is quite important that the staff managing the Panorama should be technically sound enough, and they should know exactly what they are doing.
The AI module should be on-premises, not in the cloud.
There is room for improvement in the graphical user interface (GUI), which is becoming outdated, especially the NAT section.
 

Setup Cost

FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall's pricing is seen as competitive by some, expensive by others, with flexible model benefits.
Palo Alto Networks Panorama is costly but valued for robust features; bulk discounts and virtual setups offer savings.
A $80 or $200 device translates to approximately 8,000 to 10,000 Rand, which includes licensing costs.
FortiGate's cost-effectiveness is noticeable as it provides many features with one license, saving costs compared to Cisco ASA.
The pricing is considered too high and does not justify the value provided by the devices.
Virtual Panorama is well-priced and is sold every time there's a solution.
Commercially, compared to Fortinet, Palo Alto is more expensive.
Palo Alto Networks Panorama is expensive but provides good value for money.
 

Valuable Features

FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall provides cost-effective advanced protection, easy integration, real-time updates, and extensive features for comprehensive security.
Palo Alto Networks Panorama streamlines multi-firewall management with ease of use, scalability, advanced security, automation, and integration features.
The visibility and exposure to logs provide valuable insights for our InfraSec team, aiding in monitoring and managing communication and policies.
It enables better segregation and integration with on-premise firewalls and infrastructure so that I can seamlessly handle both on-prem physical firewalls and cloud firewalls.
Threat detection and prevention features are the most effective aspects of FortiGate CNF.
I find this solution valuable for full monitoring, centralized control for reporting, and centralized management.
The platform is quite similar to the firewall interface, making it easier for tech consultants to manage.
The SD-WAN capability is particularly valued because it allows for easy management of firewalls remotely.
 

Categories and Ranking

FortiGate Cloud-Native Fire...
Ranking in Firewall Security Management
7th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.7
Number of Reviews
16
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Palo Alto Networks Panorama
Ranking in Firewall Security Management
5th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
91
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Firewall Security Management category, the mindshare of FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall (FortiGate CNF) is 1.7%, up from 1.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Palo Alto Networks Panorama is 7.1%, down from 10.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Firewall Security Management
 

Featured Reviews

MuhammadJahangir - PeerSpot reviewer
Provided us with a good experience, making it the best firewall for our needs
We are using two Fortinet firewalls. One is as an office firewall for all users behind it, configured with remote VPN for users working from home. The other firewall is for production use, with our applications behind it, ensuring PCI DSS compliance. It is deployed in AWS Cloud FortiGate has…
Waleed Aboda - PeerSpot reviewer
Centralized monitoring enhances control while seeking greater flexibility and rapid response
I am still working for Lotus. We work with Palo Alto three series, Panorama, and Firewall Banu, specifically Firewall three series and five series I find this solution valuable for full monitoring, centralized control for reporting, and centralized management. These features are instrumental in…
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
13%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Energy/Utilities Company
6%
Computer Software Company
13%
Financial Services Firm
12%
Comms Service Provider
10%
Manufacturing Company
10%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall (FortiGate CNF)?
The pricing is a bit expensive, primarily due to licensing fees. Extra expenses include upgradations beyond licensing.
What needs improvement with FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall (FortiGate CNF)?
The customization of FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall (FortiGate CNF) could be improved, particularly in terms of configurations to better adjust to specific needs.
What do you like most about Palo Alto Networks Panorama?
The most valuable aspect of Palo Alto Networks Panorama for me is the centralized management of multiple firewalls.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Palo Alto Networks Panorama?
Palo Alto Networks Panorama is expensive but provides good value for money. For the higher end, the cost is justified. However, for the lower end, a reduction in cost could improve competitiveness.
What needs improvement with Palo Alto Networks Panorama?
From the reporting side, naming the reports properly so that they can be easily identified would be an improvement. Other than that, it works well. There was a bug causing us to not get the latest ...
 

Interactive Demo

Demo not available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
University of Arkansas, JBG SMITH, Temple University, Telkom Indonesia
Find out what your peers are saying about FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall (FortiGate CNF) vs. Palo Alto Networks Panorama and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
865,295 professionals have used our research since 2012.