Fortinet FortiClient Reviews

We use FortiClient as an antivirus and for endpoint devices, primarily for computers and laptops.

FortiClient does support our VPN services, and we haven’t faced many challenges in that area. The VPN connection has worked well. The centralized management dashboard is also a good feature. It categorizes devices, allows scanning, and collects updates directly from Active Directory. This makes it easier to manage everything.

Another strength is its ability to identify vulnerabilities, although it doesn’t categorize them into critical, medium, or low levels. It just flags everything as a vulnerability, which can be overwhelming. For example, we use a patch manager that categorizes vulnerabilities, so we know what to prioritize. But FortiClient marks many issues that aren’t even applicable to our environment.

Regarding the functionality of FortiClient, there are a few issues. One problem is how it handles blocking policies. For example, if we want to block something specific like legal or law firms, it doesn’t differentiate well and blocks anything that contains the term "law firm." 

Another issue is the frequent requests for device reboots, which slows down some applications.

Also, when an application slows down due to FortiClient, it's hard to pinpoint the cause without uninstalling it and checking if the application works fine afterward. But even then, it's difficult to identify why the application wasn’t being accepted, especially if it wasn't categorized as a restricted website or something similar.

It doesn’t categorize vulnerabilities into critical, medium, or low levels. It just flags everything as a vulnerability, which can be overwhelming.

I have been using it for two years. 

The problem only occurs on certain computers and servers, which makes it more challenging to identify. From my experience, I installed it on my own computer, and it’s been working fine.

The issues aren’t very critical. Maybe there's a step or two we’re missing or not executing properly. 

The main reason I’m seeking help [support] is to see if we could have a session with someone who can guide us through the onboarding process and rollout. This would allow us to confirm if we’re doing things right. During that session, we could ask any questions we have about the steps we’re struggling with.

Additionally, it sometimes takes a long time to investigate issues that are raised via the dashboard. We wanted to know how to better analyze the logs and events so we can identify problems more quickly.

In terms of scalability and onboarding new computers, it's fine overall. However, we still need some guidance on how best to implement it across our environment.

We are trying to determine the best way to implement it. Maybe we’re not doing it correctly, which could be causing the issues.

We do have support from Fortinet, and we’ve paid for it. We're also trying to procure local vendor support. 

The person [in my team] who handles raising tickets with Fortinet isn’t available right now, but they usually track and follow up on those.

In the past, we used Symantec, but I didn’t interact with it much—only as a user. With FortiClient, however, I’ve been involved as an administrator, so I can’t really compare the two solutions. However, I do know that Symantec was very expensive, just like many other vendors. FortiClient solution is also costly.

One challenge we faced was with the installation. Initially, we thought it could be centrally deployed, but it turned out we had to install it on each device individually [one by one] in an isolated environment. That was time-consuming.

We’ve had some challenges with certain servers, like domain controllers, and some user computers. While 80% of the installations are fine, we still have a few issues with specific cases.

I work in a department that handles the implementation.

We haven’t finalized the contract side yet because of the environment we're in. We wanted to implement things like single sign-on and others. Since it's a fabric, we will have it as a perimeter firewall. However, we can’t activate these features when we still have servers and computers that we're troubleshooting and facing challenges with. 

Once we activate and start using all the functionalities we’ve paid for, like FortiClient's services, there's a bit of worry. We’re not getting the value for money from what we’ve invested in because of the penetration challenges and difficulties in pushing the installation across the board. 

We have a paid license. FortiClient is costly. We work within a limited budget, and the pricing is steep compared to other vendors, which doesn't make sense for our organization. We’re currently in the rollout phase, but we want to fast-track it and achieve full deployment before moving on to the next phases.

From a security standpoint, FortiClient’s functionality is great, and I can work with that. However, I’ve been getting a lot of negative feedback from users, particularly around performance issues—computers becoming slow or servers freezing. While it’s expected that users might complain when they feel restricted, I would prefer if these performance issues, like computers slowing down or freezing, were addressed.

Some issues I can easily resolve, like configuration settings or specific policies that I can adjust, but problems like installing a new application causing the computer to slow down are things we need to address in a more structured report.

From a technical perspective, I would rate it around eight out of ten.

But from the users’ perspective, based on their feedback, I would rate it around six out of ten. Actually, six might be too high from the user side—it might be closer to a three. The users are very crucial in the decision of whether we will continue using FortiClient or not. That’s why our focus is to address the issues they are raising, so we can continue using FortiClient’s services as a whole.

From a technical point of view, we don’t have many complaints. In fact, we appreciate it as a technical team. However, we don’t make the final decision on whether we will continue with FortiClient. That decision is driven by the users. So we’re working to improve the user experience and the rating of the antivirus solution. We know that if you ask the users to rate it, you’ll need to aim for a minimum rating. 

Technically, we’re fine except for a few issues, which we think can be mitigated if we engage further with Fortinet. Our goal is to resolve the technical problems we’re facing and eliminate the user issues as part of this process.

I am using Fortinet FortiClient for remote access as I am working remotely. I need to access something in Nextiva, so I use the VPN daily.

Fortinet FortiClient provides several benefits such as saving time, saving money, and improving security.

The interface of Fortinet FortiClient is clean and easy to use. Additionally, it provides benefits like saving time, saving money, and improving security for my organization.

The setup process could be more simplified. There are complexities with the scalability part, particularly with routing and policy alignment. The routing and policy need to be tailored between both to ensure proper functionality.

I have been using the solution for four years.

Fortinet FortiClient is pretty stable most of the time, with occasional issues likely due to my internet connection.

The scalability could use improvement as you need to ensure that routes and policies are aligned, which can be complex.

The technical support from Fortinet is rated as nine out of ten.

Positive

I do not have any experience with other competitors.

The setup process was not really that easy, rating it three out of five.

The setup was done in-house.

The price is rated six out of ten. It's neither low nor high. I cannot really estimate the pricing for other solutions.

I did not evaluate other options.

I rate the overall solution as eight out of ten. 

I recommend Fortinet FortiClient to other users. At the company, we use it on-premises and I am just a user of the product.

We use FortiClient for remote users to connect to office resources. It acts as a VPN client, enabling secure access for employees working from home.

Currently, the version we are using of FortiClient has all the features required for us to run our business. It serves as a VPN client, allows connections to business URLs, and includes SAML authentication and multifactor authentication.

Remote users connect to the office using FortiClient, where they can access business URLs through a VPN tunnel configured on the FortiGate firewall. We use family authentication and multifactor authentication via Office 365 email ID, which enhances security for users working from home.

Fortinet frequently releases updates without thorough testing. We encounter issues due to multiple vulnerabilities, which leads to problems. Fortinet should focus on better iOS testing before release to avoid these bugs.

I have been using Fortinet products for approximately ten years.

The stability of FortiClient is excellent. I would rate its stability as ten out of ten.

We can recommend FortiClient for small organizations with 50 to 60 users as well as for larger enterprises due to its extensive features.

The technical support from Fortinet is good. We have not faced any issues. They initiate the troubleshooting process quickly and resolve issues in a timely manner.

Positive

The initial setup is a straightforward process. It is easy to configure with FortiClient.

Recently, Fortinet has increased prices for its products. It could be made more affordable for end-users.

The main competitor for FortiClient is Palo Alto Firewall.

I would rate Fortinet overall as nine out of ten. It is a one-stop shop for IT services, offering integration for WiFi, switches, and firewalls in one interface.

We mainly use FortiClient as a VPN client. Additionally, we use it for anti-malware, anti-spam, and as a content filter. When a user is outside the company, we can use FortiClient as a content filter to control the sites the user can access.

FortiClient has improved our security posture by providing a secure, encrypted VPN tunnel. It is easy to use, has a friendly user interface, and offers stable performance.

The most valuable features of FortiClient are its VPN capabilities and its use as an anti-malware and anti-spam solution. Another key feature is the content filter.

Improvements are needed in the compatibility between different versions, as sometimes the latest version does not work, requiring a downgrade. Additionally, performance enhancements are expected as it sometimes takes a while to connect.

We have been using FortiClient for about four to five years.

FortiClient is stable and very reliable. I would rate its stability as eight out of ten.

Scalability depends on the type of box being used. The solution is scalable with the right infrastructure, and I would rate its scalability as eight out of ten.

We have not used any support for FortiClient, which indicates its stability and ease of use.

Positive

We previously used Cisco and SonicWall products. We switched to FortiClient since it is easier to use and one of the top-rated products in its category. SonicWall became outdated and more complex than FortiClient.

The initial setup is straightforward and easy, with no need for external assistance.

The installation process involved my colleagues and around 15 engineers across our group.

I strongly recommend FortiClient because it's easy to use, stable, and has no significant operational issues.

I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.

Currently, we are using FortiClient, and there's only a firewall. I am using FortiClient for remote workforce environments. It's used for remote employees.

The SSL VPN. Yeah, VPN. These are just the VPN capabilities that are mostly used.

There are compatibility issues, and sometimes, especially with macOS, it's difficult to set up properly. Sometimes, it connects, sometimes not. Another improvement is that we need to know if there's a proper setup for both Mac and Windows systems. We disconnect sometimes, and we don't really know the cause. Also, the FortiClient feature should connect seamlessly without manual intervention. Sometimes, there is a need for manual configuration before connecting.

Currently, we are working eight or nine years.

Stability is still a five out of ten as we don't know the cause of disconnections we face.

In terms of scalability, I'm giving FortiClient a five out of ten since there is room for improvement.

In terms of setting up, there are no issues. It's simple, downloadable, and there's usually no problem.

Currently, since we are deploying it, compared to before, it's a good price and cost. That said, now it has become costly. The rating is seven out of ten in terms of pricing.

Based on requirements, I can recommend the product for other users.

I'd rate the solution seven out of ten.

We are using FortiClient to block certain firewall policies for our users.

FortiClient benefits us by allowing control over internal and external users of the Fortinet network. We can apply the same policies from the physical firewall to the cloud side, which is beneficial for managing both types of users.

We primarily use the firewall feature in FortiClient, which is highly valuable to us.

We require that the process be simplified more. The user interface is a bit sluggish and needs improvement.

I have been working with FortiClient for three years.

FortiClient is stable. I don't find any issues regarding its stability.

FortiClient can easily scale up.

The support is sluggish. Sometimes there are delays, and sometimes they do not respond. So, I would not recommend FortiClient for enterprise-level implementation based on their support.

Neutral

The initial setup is simple. It is much simpler than the previous version.

The pricing is a bit on the higher side compared to other products.

Cyberoam has more of a competitive edge, especially with AWS.

I would recommend FortiClient to other users.

I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.

I'm a data network consultant, and some of my clients ask me to provide a remote access solution. In India, many people were working from home because of COVID, so they needed a reliable solution to connect to their network for work. For that reason, I suggested that they use FortiClient and Fortinet firewalls, which were already deployed. I just extended their connectivity and provided them with a remote access solution.

We're using the latest version, which is being updated by my IT team. My organization is also using FortiClient to provide remote access to the internal services. It's being managed by our IT policies and the governance team. For the clients that I'm managing, I recommend Fortinet firewalls to them.

We are using on-premises devices for US-based clients and clients in Europe. We're using on-premises devices 90% of the time.

More than 1,000 users in my organization are using Fortinet FortiClient software.

We are a team of eight to 10 people who manage our own network and our clients' network. We have junior consultants, consultants, and managers who are working together to provide the solution to our customers and organizations for managing the network.

It's easy to use, easy to deploy, and I have more visibility over my network to see which users are connected to the firewalls, which users are connected to the network, and what they're accessing.

The connectivity could be improved. It should be more user-friendly. For a layman user who doesn't have any information about VPNs, they won't know how it connects. 

There's an overhead when we use the solution and deploy users. You need to configure FortiClient for each individual user. Their systems need to be configured to connect to the VPN. It would be better if the process was automated.

Some configuration and VPN features could more user-friendly.

Now, I'm working on a solution from Palo Alto firewall. It's basically an endpoint firewall. When a user opens his laptop, the laptop is already connected to a VPN, so it's secure before the login feature. I would like to see that feature in Fortinet as well. The system connects to the VPN as soon as it starts, no matter if it's connected to a network.

I've used FortiClient for more than five years.

It's been stable for most of the time that I've used it. I spend nearly 8 to 12 hours on the VPN. It depends on the internet connection, but the VPN itself is stable enough.

It's scalable.

Technical support is helpful and responsive. Whenever we need any support, they are there to help us.

I would rate technical support as four out of five.

I've used Cisco AnyConnect and Cisco Meraki. I use this software to connect to the VPN.

Initial setup would be better if it was automated. It will take a couple of minutes to set up a VPN. If there are more than 100 or 1,000 users in an organization, you can multiply that number with the number of employees.

The number of people needed for maintenance depends on the deployment. For our organization, there are 10 people managing it. There are some projects that I'm single-handedly managing, so I am doing the Fortinet firewall's configuration, the VPN configuration, and site to site VPN for the client's VPN. There are some instances where I require more support from my team. It depends on the deployment and the project on which we're working.

The deployment was done by my own team.

We took some assistance from Fortinet support, but we did most of the configurations ourselves. There were some cases in which we required some expert assistance, so we contacted Fortinet support. They were super helpful and useful.

There was a return on investment, mainly in terms of security. After COVID, there were a lot of incidents in my country and in the banking sector. Some of our customers lost a lot of data, which was worth a lot for them. After investing in Fortinet, their network has been quite secure. They've been audited from multiple organizations and have achieved their mark.

I would rate this solution as eight out of ten. 

If there was an automation feature and it was more secure, I would rate it as 10 out of 10. 

I would recommend this solution to others. We had some incidents and were asked to provide solutions to some of our commercial clients. We provided Fortinet. We shortlisted the firewall and gave them a technical solution.

We use the tool for our internal private network. We have many in-house servers. If we want to connect to the servers from home, we need to use FortiClient to connect to the network and access the virtual machines.

We cannot access the network without FortiClient. It can be used as an additional layer for the firewall.

We can manage users and traffic using the solution. We can use it for personal communications and virtual tunnels. Only authorized employees are allowed to access and use the VPN. Others can’t make any changes. We can create a hierarchy for the employees and allow them to access particular networks. For example, we do not allow any employee to use social media.

We can monitor and restrict some websites. The product is user-friendly. The level of security depends on how well we configure the product. We can enhance the security level by adding proper configuration. We only allow access to limited websites. There is a minimum chance of clicking on any malware links.

The tool is expensive.

I have been using the solution for more than five years.

I rate the tool’s stability a nine out of ten.

I rate the tool’s scalability a nine out of ten. We are using the enterprise version. We have purchased licenses for 100 users, but our organization has 50 to 70 users.

We pay an annual subscription fee.

Overall, I rate the product an eight out of ten.