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FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) pros and cons

Vendor: Fortinet

4.2 out of 5

54 reviews
95% willing to recommend

Pros & Cons summary

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) is easy to set up, offering robust security features such as IPS and application control. It provides strong firewall and VPN capabilities but faces challenges with tech support, vulnerability issues, and high pricing. Users report performance instability and licensing concerns. Integration with additional services for scalability is beneficial, yet SD-WAN and Fortinet tool compatibility need improvements. Stability concerns and user feedback highlight areas for enhancement.

Buyer's Guide

Get pricing advice, tips, use cases and valuable features from real users of this product.

Prominent pros & cons

PROS

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall is easy to set up and configure, providing a hassle-free installation process.

It offers comprehensive security solutions with features like encryption, integrated security, SD-WAN, UTM protection, SSL inspection, and VPN functionality.

The threat detection capabilities and response to vulnerabilities of FortiGate Next Generation Firewall are highly rated by users.

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall is recognized for its scalability and rapid deployment with quick delivery times.

The firewall policies, including user-based policies, are highlighted for managing network security effectively and providing a high ROI.

CONS

Technical support is frequently criticized for being unhelpful, with response times that are considered very poor, especially when considering global time differences.

There are significant issues with security features, such as memory leaks, vulnerabilities, and inadequate handling of viruses in the operating system.

The licensing model and pricing require improvement, with many users finding it expensive and lacking a favorable discount policy.

Integration with external threat intelligence and features like SD-WAN and VPN could be enhanced for better performance and functionality.

Bug issues and frequent requirement for updates indicate that more testing is needed before releasing software updates.

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) Pros review quotes

DK

IT/DevOps at a legal firm with 11-50 employees

Jun 5, 2025

I would rate FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) as a solution a 10 out of 10.

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IT and Network Security Manager at Ouranos Technologies

Jul 7, 2023

I found the upgrades valuable.

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AM

Network Consultant at Jooya

Jun 12, 2023

When I survey FortiGate products, I see that they have a good performance, especially in terms of next generation firewalls.

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FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Free Report: FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) Reviews and More

Learn what your peers think about FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW). Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2025.

860,592 professionals have used our research since 2012.

BB

Managing Director at Inter-Caribbean Networking Solutions

Jun 13, 2024

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall has a very high ROI

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IT Lead at CMH

Jun 23, 2023

The scalability is very good.

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Information Security and Compliance Officer at Carnation

Jun 12, 2024

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall has IBS/IPS systems

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Network Admin at Naivas Ltd

Jun 11, 2024

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall has a stateless balance proposition

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Technical Head at Quoinx Technologies private Limited

Jul 10, 2023

Routing and reporting are two areas where the product has an added advantage compared to any other product.

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Key Account Manager at INTDEV INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD

Jul 21, 2023

The most valuable features we found are the SD-WAN, FortiGate SD-WAN, and the standard UTM protection, among others.

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Einstein Rozario

Principal Consultant at Sapienze Tech FZE

Dec 1, 2023

The most valuable aspects of FortiGate NGFW are its top-notch reputation in peer reviews, user-friendly interface, and excellent support.

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FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) Cons review quotes

DK

IT/DevOps at a legal firm with 11-50 employees

Jun 5, 2025

In our case, the deployment options of FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) are not scalable, but in terms of connectivity to other companies, that's exactly what we needed, and that's exactly what it does perfectly, what is needed.

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IT and Network Security Manager at Ouranos Technologies

Jul 7, 2023

One area for improvement is the IPS engine.

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AM

Network Consultant at Jooya

Jun 12, 2023

One of the weaknesses of the solution is something we noticed, especially after comparing the tool with SD-WAN features, since, unfortunately, in a massive scale size environment, the solution is not good. I

Read full review

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Free Report: FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) Reviews and More

Learn what your peers think about FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW). Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2025.

860,592 professionals have used our research since 2012.

BB

Managing Director at Inter-Caribbean Networking Solutions

Jun 13, 2024

The pricing of the solution should be more affordable

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IT Lead at CMH

Jun 23, 2023

There have been several vulnerabilities in the firewall. It is hackable, some of the images are hackable.

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Information Security and Compliance Officer at Carnation

Jun 12, 2024

More SD-WAN features can be integrated into the FortiGate Next Generation Firewall

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Network Admin at Naivas Ltd

Jun 11, 2024

The solution should allow more user-friendly integrations or deployment

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Technical Head at Quoinx Technologies private Limited

Jul 10, 2023

Vulnerabilities owing to viruses in the OS need to be reduced in FortiGate Next Generation Firewall from an improvement perspective.

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Key Account Manager at INTDEV INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD

Jul 21, 2023

Someone without certification and experience with other firewalls might find it a bit more challenging to grasp the FortiGate format and its platform layout.

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Einstein Rozario

Principal Consultant at Sapienze Tech FZE

Dec 1, 2023

I see room to explore its integration with Secure Service Automation for a more comprehensive security view.

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Show 10 more reviews (out of 53)

Product Categories

Product Categories

Unified Threat Management (UTM)

Fortinet Secure Networking

Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW)

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Product Categories

Product Categories

Unified Threat Management (UTM)

Fortinet Secure Networking

Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Popular Comparisons

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Fortinet FortiGate vs FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW)

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