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reviewer2235570 - PeerSpot reviewer
Production director at a media company with 11-50 employees
Real User
Top 20
Jul 23, 2025
We have managed functionalities quickly and easily and see potential for improvement with AI integration
Pros and Cons
  • "The interest of the Fortinet FortiGate appliance is the ability to manage quickly and easily the different functionalities."

    What is our primary use case?

    We use Fortinet FortiGate as edge protection for the customer site. Right now, we are trying FortiNAC before deploying it for our customer. We link Fortinet FortiGate Firewall to our SIEM solution. We have a cybersecurity department, and we aggregate all the logs of the firewall, the proxy, the PC, virtual machine, and other systems.

    What is most valuable?

    The interest of the Fortinet FortiGate appliance is the ability to manage quickly and easily the different functionalities. It's easier to use rather than Palo Alto, for example. AI should be a good improvement. The only difficulty that I have today with the Fortinet FortiGate is that on the Forti appliance, there are many functionalities.

    What needs improvement?

    As we are trying FortiNAC right now, there is some improvement needed on the product. For the rest, perhaps having more packages would be beneficial. We do not use FortiManager for our own usage. We have developed some scripts using Ansible and we automate everything.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We have been using the solution for more than 10 years.

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    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The question concerns failures on the appliance or security breaches.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Not all functionalities are scalable.

    How are customer service and support?

    The access to the support is good. When specific information or professional services support is needed, the professional services are very expensive.

    How would you rate customer service and support?

    How was the initial setup?

    Most of the time we are implementing the UTP service.

    What about the implementation team?

    The implementation is handled by my team. They are involved in the deployment for the customer and use it day by day. We have three people dedicated to the security part on the Fortinet FortiGate and roughly eight people working on it in the security team.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    The cost reduction potential exists but is difficult to quantify.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    Fortinet is increasing its value in this area. It's easier to use compared to Palo Alto.

    What other advice do I have?

    The functionality is acceptable but nothing really impressive. For some customers, we are using Fortinet FortiGate, FortiNAC, FortiAnalyzer. FortiMonitor is used for one customer. For FortiMonitor it's FortiAnalyzer. We don't use FortiAnalyzer on AWS. For both, we need the approval of the head office.

    On a scale of 1-10, I would rate this solution between seven and eight.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    On-premises

    If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Integrator
    Last updated: Jul 23, 2025
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    Ángel García Favieres - PeerSpot reviewer
    CyberSecurity Specialist at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
    Real User
    Top 5
    Jul 15, 2025
    Networking capabilities and community resources facilitate problem-solving
    Pros and Cons
    • "The best features of Fortinet FortiGate include everything about networking, such as routing and VPNs."

      What is our primary use case?

      Mostly firewalls.

      What is most valuable?

      The best features of Fortinet FortiGate include everything about networking, such as routing and VPNs. Fortinet FortiGate is specifically user-friendly with an easy guide. It is easy to follow and learn about and work with. It has resources available all over the internet with an extensive database. It is very popular, so every community discusses Fortinet FortiGate. Every problem has been solved at some point.

      What needs improvement?

      Without a license, it becomes difficult to implement static DNS. The FortiDDNS.com functionality is particularly challenging to access without a license.

      For how long have I used the solution?

      I have been working with Fortinet FortiGate for approximately a year and a half.

      What do I think about the stability of the solution?

      Fortinet FortiGate is quite stable. The main problem occurs when customers do not update their Fortinet FortiGate properly and regularly. Most issues stem from firewalls not being updated. I have not encountered any problems with Fortinet FortiGate devices.

      How are customer service and support?

      I have not opened many cases due to lack of need. When we do open cases, we receive fast and friendly replies. The support has been good, though I have not experienced significant issues to fully evaluate this aspect.

      How would you rate customer service and support?

      Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

      I have worked with other firewalls including Palo Alto, specifically their Prisma Access SASE solution. I have also briefly worked with Cisco systems.

      What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

      I am not in that field, but it is quite expensive, especially for personal or home use.

      Which other solutions did I evaluate?

      We recommend it primarily because we have more knowledge in the Fortinet FortiGate field. Customers ultimately choose what they prefer. We work better with Fortinet FortiGate due to our extensive experience with it.

      What other advice do I have?

      I have not used FortiGuard extensively as it is not in my field. The only SASE solution I have used is Prisma Access from Palo Alto, not the Fortinet FortiGate SASE. The interface is very user-friendly and easy to use, though knowledge of networking aspects, VPNs, and protocols is necessary. Fortinet FortiGate offers great compatibility with other Fortinet FortiGate functions such as IDS, antivirus, and sandbox features.

      All problems we have encountered have had straightforward solutions. Throughout my year and a half working with Fortinet FortiGate, I have not found myself needing additional features.

      I rate this solution 8 out of 10.

      Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

      On-premises

      If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

      Other
      Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
      Last updated: Jul 15, 2025
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      IT Infrastructure Architect at a manufacturing company with 5,001-10,000 employees
      Real User
      Top 10
      Feb 20, 2025
      Firewall functions have improved security with threat prevention and VPN capabilities
      Pros and Cons
      • "The most valuable features of the FortiGate firewall include SSL inspection, VPN functionality, and threat intelligence features for preventing threats."
      • "The most valuable features of the FortiGate firewall include SSL inspection, VPN functionality, and threat intelligence features for preventing threats."
      • "There should be more testing before releasing software since it can be a little buggy sometimes when new features come out after updates."
      • "There should be more testing before releasing software since it can be a little buggy sometimes when new features come out after updates."

      What is our primary use case?

      I use the FortiGate firewall for ordinary firewall functions, including SSL inspection, VPN, and site-to-site VPN.

      What is most valuable?

      The most valuable features of the FortiGate firewall include SSL inspection, VPN functionality, and threat intelligence features for preventing threats. These features are essential and provide significant functionality for our organization.

      What needs improvement?

      There should be more testing before releasing software since it can be a little buggy sometimes when new features come out after updates.

      For how long have I used the solution?

      I have been working with the FortiGate firewall for many years.

      How are customer service and support?

      I am satisfied with Fortinet support. Usually, it is fast and provides advice effectively.

      How was the initial setup?

      The initial setup of FortiGate was an easy process. It took about three months for a full deployment across the entire organization.

      What was our ROI?

      The FortiGate firewall provides good value for the money. It usually is cheaper than the competition, contributing to cost savings.

      What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

      The pricing of the FortiGate firewall is good. It offers cost savings as it is generally cheaper than the competition.

      Which other solutions did I evaluate?

      Palo Alto is an alternative solution. While it may be better for filtering and category white-listing, especially in areas like banking, it is more expensive than FortiGate.

      What other advice do I have?

      Overall, I would rate FortiGate an eight out of ten. 

      For some use cases like banking, Palo Alto may perform better due to its filtering capabilities.

      Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
      PeerSpot user
      Consultant at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
      Reseller
      Top 5
      Dec 23, 2024
      Deep inspection provides strong threat protection but needs more advanced AI
      Pros and Cons
      • "This solution works well on a daily basis, detecting various types of malicious traffic."
      • "The most valuable feature is the deep inspection for traffic, which is capable of identifying zero-day attacks."
      • "More advanced AI capabilities would be beneficial in future updates."
      • "There could be improvements in the mathematical algorithms used for behavior analytics of traffic."

      What is our primary use case?

      I primarily use FortiGate IPS to protect my company from advanced threats like zero-day attacks and other cybersecurity threats.

      What is most valuable?

      The most valuable feature is the deep inspection for traffic, which is capable of identifying zero-day attacks. This solution works well on a daily basis, detecting various types of malicious traffic. Integration with FortiFabric enables easy management and scalability across different locations.

      What needs improvement?

      There could be improvements in the mathematical algorithms used for behavior analytics of traffic. More advanced AI capabilities would be beneficial in future updates.

      For how long have I used the solution?

      I have been using FortiGate IPS for about two years.

      What do I think about the stability of the solution?

      The stability of the solution is excellent. I rate it as nine out of ten. There are no issues with stability, and it integrates seamlessly with the main product, which is a firewall.

      What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

      FortiGate IPS is highly scalable. I can easily integrate it with FortiFabric and manage multiple firewalls and other Fortinet solutions from a single dashboard.

      How are customer service and support?

      Fortinet support is very responsive. I would rate their support as eight out of ten.

      How would you rate customer service and support?

      Positive

      Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

      I also use Cisco for email security. Fortinet was chosen since it is a popular solution for middle-sized companies in my region.

      How was the initial setup?

      The initial setup took about two to three hours and included setup and configuration.

      What about the implementation team?

      The implementation involved two engineers. It was handled internally.

      What was our ROI?

      I have not calculated ROI specifically, however, the primary goal was to enhance cybersecurity.

      What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

      There are no extra expenses involved after purchasing the solution. Pricing could be better, however, overall, it is considered a middle-level price for a middle-level company.

      Which other solutions did I evaluate?

      I am currently working mostly with Fortinet as well as with Cisco for email security.

      What other advice do I have?

      I recommend FortiGate IPS for those looking to add an additional layer of security on top of a firewall to combat cyberattacks. I would rate the overall solution as seven out of ten.

      Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
      PeerSpot user
      Information and Communications Technology specialist at a government with 51-200 employees
      Real User
      Top 20
      Jul 30, 2025
      Stands out because of its functionality, longevity, and support
      Pros and Cons
      • "All the features of Fortinet FortiGate are good; when customers have issues, it's very easy to talk them through the interface, and when they've got any support issues and they want to figure them out themselves, it's very easy for them to contact the FortiGate support."

        What is our primary use case?

        I handle solutions architecture for security and systems design. I have customers who use Fortinet FortiGate

        What is most valuable?

        All the features of Fortinet FortiGate are good. When customers have issues, it's very easy to talk them through the interface, and when they've got any support issues and they want to figure them out themselves, it's very easy for them to contact the FortiGate support. All the knowledge bases have various information and knowledge articles to assist them in getting solutions as quickly as possible.

        We use SASE, and it's a great product; I wish FortiGate had come out with it sooner because it helps significantly.

        Fortinet FortiGate stands out due to its functionality and longevity. It's stable once you've completed the setup.

        What needs improvement?

        In Fortinet FortiGate, they've already improved many areas and built in new features. When considering what can be improved in Fortinet FortiGate, more competitive pricing is needed more than anything else. Fortinet FortiGate is a very good product, but when we look at the South African market, they just need to relook at the pricing because it's a bit pricey for some of the local government organizations.

        For how long have I used the solution?

        I've been using Fortinet FortiGate for the last 15 years.

        What do I think about the stability of the solution?

        The stability of Fortinet FortiGate rates as a nine out of ten.

        What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

        It is scalable. I would rate it a nine out of ten for scalability.

        Our clients range from across the board.

        How are customer service and support?

        It's easy for customers to get assistance with the product.

        I would rate their support a nine out of ten. I don't have any problems with the vendors.

        How would you rate customer service and support?

        Positive

        How was the initial setup?

        It's mostly on prem. I'm going to do data center solutions and cloud deployment.

        It's very easy to do the implementations. Even training the customers on how to do their own rules and whitelists is very easy. On average, it takes me about two and a half hours with all the customization for the clients.

        Fortinet FortiGate does not require any maintenance. Once it's done, the only times we do maintenance is if the customer wants something or there are updates.

        I've shown them how it works with FortiSIEM, so now I can get them to actually do inspections on their infrastructures every six months, do penetration testing, and see that their environments are secure.

        What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

        When you look at certain sectors of the market, the pricing is a little high. 

        What other advice do I have?

        We are implementing FortiGate's data center solution now because I'm starting to let local government sites work through one data center. 

        With FortiGate SD-WAN, the impact has been very little on the network performance because we've done certain things at night and certain things during the day, so the impact on the network is very low. In my organization, there are about three Fortinet specialists focusing on FortiGate.

        I'd recommend Fortinet FortiGate to other users. Overall, I'd give Fortinet FortiGate an eight out of ten, with pricing being the main factor preventing a higher score.

        Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

        On-premises
        Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
        Last updated: Jul 30, 2025
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        reviewer2078835 - PeerSpot reviewer
        Network Analyst at a manufacturing company with 11-50 employees
        Real User
        Top 10
        Jul 16, 2025
        Offers granular application control and cost efficiency
        Pros and Cons
        • "The impact of SD-WAN on the network performance has been significant."

          What is our primary use case?

          It is a next-generation firewall used to create policies to allow and deny any traffic. I have used Fortinet FortiGate in the finance sector previously, and we are now using it in the manufacturing side.

          What is most valuable?

          In my opinion, some of the best features of Fortinet FortiGate include its ability to block specific applications. For example, if I want to block someone from using Facebook videos, I can disable or use its application control features to block access. Facebook has many components such as video features, chat features, and VoIP calling features, and I can block any of these features to be more granular.

          SD-WAN is an excellent feature where you can route the traffic to other WAN links without manual interruption. Technically, you cannot put two default routes on any firewall, but SD-WAN is a feature we can use to divert our traffic from one ISP to another. The impact of SD-WAN on the network performance has been significant. Previously, when we didn't have Fortinet FortiGate, we had Cisco routers where we used manual routing, and if one of the primary links was down, we had to do manual routing. With Fortinet FortiGate, it's much easier as we don't have to do anything; it's already configured, and if something happens, our configuration automatically changes the link and diverts the traffic when one of the links is down.

          What needs improvement?

          Fortinet FortiGate can be improved by being more stable because when we look for logs or open a case, we always find a bug and then we have to upgrade it. However, since it's a cost-effective solution, we are satisfied.

          For how long have I used the solution?

          I have more than 10 years of experience with Fortinet FortiGate.

          What do I think about the stability of the solution?

          Fortinet FortiGate is stable, but it has some bugs, so you have to upgrade it. I would not say it has all the capabilities, but it's good for a manufacturing site.

          What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

          Fortinet FortiGate is pretty scalable.

          How are customer service and support?

          I would rate Fortinet FortiGate's support at a seven out of ten because whenever I open a case with their support, I have to explain everything and clarify the background. They take some time—at least a day—to see what's happening with the firewall. The agents aren't much experienced in providing solutions, but it's better than Palo Alto's support, which is the worst.

          How would you rate customer service and support?

          Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

          Previously, we had Palo Alto firewalls which were expensive—the contracts were particularly expensive. Fortinet FortiGate is not that expensive and is more affordable when comparing pricing. Nowadays, firms usually look for cheaper models and solutions, so Fortinet FortiGates are good, but for financial sectors, Palo Alto is better.

          The main differences between Palo Alto and Fortinet FortiGate are that Palo Alto has more features and functionality compared to Fortinet FortiGate. Palo Alto can be slow, but Fortinet FortiGate is fast. With Palo Alto, we have to commit and it takes five minutes for the configuration to push, which isn't the case with Fortinet FortiGate.

          How was the initial setup?

          The initial setup of Fortinet FortiGate is straightforward. The upgrade process is also straightforward.

          What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

          It's cost-effective.

          What other advice do I have?

          I would rate Fortinet FortiGate a nine out of ten. If you are looking for a cost effective solution and want to avoid the risk, go with the Fortinet FortiGate.

          Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

          On-premises
          Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
          Last updated: Jul 16, 2025
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          Taha Turkestani - PeerSpot reviewer
          Senior IT specialist at a import and exporter with 10,001+ employees
          Real User
          Top 5
          Jul 2, 2025
          Easy interface and resilience against power interruptions improve network security
          Pros and Cons
          • "Two aspects I'm happy with regarding Fortinet FortiGate firewall are the easy user interface and its resilience during power interruptions."

            What is our primary use case?

            We are using Fortinet FortiGate firewall as a data center firewall.

            What is most valuable?

            Two aspects I'm happy with regarding Fortinet FortiGate firewall are the easy user interface and its resilience during power interruptions. We experienced two power interruptions where the firewall got disconnected from electricity, but it resumed working normally without any issues. 

            The firewall provides enhanced security for our network, and as administrators, we are satisfied with the friendly interface. We are particularly pleased with the Fortinet FortiGate firewall's ability to provide network and security convergence.

            For how long have I used the solution?

            We have been using it for three years.

            What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

            It is scalable.

            Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

            We did not use any solution before Fortinet FortiGate.

            What was our ROI?

            The price-to-performance ratio that we get from using Fortinet FortiGate firewall is very good.

            What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

            The pricing is affordable. We are satisfied with the Fortinet FortiGate firewall.

            What other advice do I have?

            I would highly recommend Fortinet FortiGate firewall. We feel more secure after implementing it. We are securing the whole network with the Fortinet FortiGate firewall, not specifically the data. 

            On a scale of one to ten, I rate this solution a nine.

            Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

            On-premises
            Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
            Last updated: Jul 2, 2025
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            MURALI NIDAMANURI - PeerSpot reviewer
            Managing Director at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
            Reseller
            Top 5Leaderboard
            Jun 25, 2024
            Has good two factor authentication and client VPN for advanced threat protection across clouds and data centers
            Pros and Cons
            • "The strengths of Fortinet FortiGate include network security, VPN, site-to-site tunnels, client VPN solutions, two-factor authentication for VPN clients, and SD-WAN for branch level. We have implemented these solutions for various customers."
            • "Regarding challenges, customers initially faced issues like internet dropping, but after firmware upgrades, everything worked well."

            What is our primary use case?

            My customers use Fortinet FortiGate for SD-WAN, network security, branch-to-branch communication, site-to-site channel communication, multi-layer protection, authentication, and antivirus solutions. They span various industries, including IT setups, chip-level designing, VLSI companies, software development, SAP implementation, manufacturing, and production groups.

            How has it helped my organization?


            What is most valuable?

            The strengths of Fortinet FortiGate include network security, VPN, site-to-site tunnels, client VPN solutions, two-factor authentication for VPN clients, and SD-WAN for branch level. We have implemented these solutions for various customers.

            What needs improvement?

            Regarding challenges, customers initially faced issues like internet dropping, but after firmware upgrades, everything worked well.

            I believe Fortinet should offer short and frequent training sessions, preferably in video format, whenever they introduce new features. These sessions should be around five to ten minutes long, allowing users and partners to quickly grasp the information without disrupting their daily tasks.

            Long training sessions spanning one or two full days can lead to distractions and reduced focus due to continuous support calls. Therefore, providing brief and focused training snippets would be more beneficial for users.

            For how long have I used the solution?

            I have been using Fortinet FortiGate for six to seven years.

            What do I think about the stability of the solution?

            Our customers are satisfied with the stability of Fortinet FortiGate. I would rate it as a ten out of ten for stability.

            What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

            Fortinet FortiGate is quite flexible and scalable, allowing us to scale up from sixty to a hundred units. However, there are limitations for extremely high production levels. I would rate its scalability an eight out of ten.

            How was the initial setup?

            Setting up Fortinet FortiGate is straightforward and easy. I would rate it a ten out of ten for ease of setup. The deployment typically takes around two to three hours.

            What was our ROI?

            Operational costs for Fortinet FortiGate are pretty low because once it's configured, no changes are needed. In terms of ROI, clients have seen benefits. After switching from other brands to

            Fortinet, they experienced fewer support calls. Initially, there were some support calls in the first one to two months, but after that, there were none. Clients are now comfortable and not wasting productive hours on IT support.

            What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

            The cost of Fortinet FortiGate is competitive and not expensive compared to other enterprise- grade solutions. On average, the license cost per year is around seventy percent of the firewall's purchase price.

            What other advice do I have?

            Regarding AI elements, I believe Fortinet has the capability to implement machine learning snippets for improved security and advanced configurations, but this should be integrated as part of their overall strategy.

            I will advise to focus on configuring the admin tools and monitoring users and serial numbers effectively. 

            As for rating the solution, I would give it a ten out of ten for being a very good solution.

            Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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            Buyer's Guide
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            Updated: February 2026
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            Download our free Fortinet FortiGate Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.