Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024
Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points and Fortinet FortiAP are leading competitors in the wireless solutions market. Juniper Mist appears to have an advantage due to its AI integration and comprehensive reporting capabilities, while Fortinet FortiAP gains favor for its seamless integration with other Fortinet products and centralized management.
Features: Juniper Mist's AI-driven features like Marvis excel in network management and troubleshooting, enhancing network optimization through rich reporting. Users find the integration with existing systems seamless, offering comprehensive insights. Fortinet FortiAP is highly valued for its integration with FortiGate and FortiManager, facilitating unified management and boosting network security. The ability to manage through a single console and passwordless authentication are considerable benefits.
Room for Improvement: Juniper Mist could benefit from enhanced customization options, expanded AI capabilities, and better support for third-party system integration. Pricing issues also pose a challenge for smaller enterprises. Fortinet FortiAP needs improvement in outdoor performance, support response times, and offers limited automation features. Its spectrum analysis and signal range require upgrades for diverse environments.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Juniper Mist supports diverse deployment environments, including public and hybrid clouds, allowing flexible setup. While customer service receives mixed reviews, it remains knowledgeable. Fortinet FortiAP primarily serves on-premises and hybrid environments, with controlled integration into existing Fortinet infrastructure. Although users find the support satisfactory, extended response times are a noted issue.
Pricing and ROI: Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points are considered expensive, presenting a challenge for smaller companies. However, the investment returns through reduced network issues and advanced features are significant, benefitting from flexible licensing options and robust support. Fortinet FortiAP is seen as more cost-effective, particularly when integrated into an existing Fortinet ecosystem. It offers competitive pricing against other enterprise solutions, with favorable ROI achieved through improved network security and management efficiencies.
