The use case varies depending on the customer, but we use all of FortiGate's features, including policies, web filtering, routing, etc.
Founder at a tech vendor with 1-10 employees
They're easy to manage and more affordable than competing solutions, but there are some stability issues
Pros and Cons
- "FortiGate firewalls are easy to manage through a user-friendly web interface. They also have advanced features like DDoS and DLP. However, I wouldn't recommend enabling all of these features on one device because it can cause performance issues."
- "We sometimes have issues with FortiGate's routing table in the latest firmware update. We had to downgrade the device because our customers complained about bugs."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
FortiGate firewalls are easy to manage through a user-friendly web interface. They also have advanced features like DDoS and DLP. However, I wouldn't recommend enabling all these features on one device because it can cause performance issues.
What needs improvement?
We sometimes have issues with FortiGate's routing table in the latest firmware update. We had to downgrade the device because our customers complained about bugs.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Fortinet for nearly ten years.
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Fortinet FortiGate
January 2026
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate FortiGate an eight out of ten for stability. It is less stable than Palo Alto Networks and Check Point firewalls because there are lots of bugs in the latest firmware.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
FortiGate is scalable.
How are customer service and support?
I rate Fortinet's support a seven out of ten. We had to open several tickets due to the firmware bugs. We don't have an issue with the support team. It's more of a problem with the testers and developers.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have also used Palo Alto and Check Point firewalls. Fortinet firewalls are cheaper and easier to manage. Palo Alto is more complex and harder to use, but it's more stable than FortiGate. Palo Alto doesn't didn't have as many models for small and medium-sized enterprises.
How was the initial setup?
FortiGate is easy to deploy. The deployment time varies depending on the customer's network topology. How many policies does the customer require, and what kind of license do they have? FortiGate is easier than Palo Alto Networks and Check Point and takes less time.
We typically start by analyzing the customer's topology and understanding their requirements, including policies, routines, etc. We implement the device once we know what the customer needs. One engineer is usually enough to deploy FortiGate in a small or medium-sized environment.
An enterprise project requires a more detailed analysis of the network requirements before implementation. That can take two or three days. Once we understand the network, it may take another two or three days to configure the device and one or two days to implement it.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Fortinet has more device options that are affordable for small businesses than Palo Alto, and its enterprise-level models are also cheaper. Palo Alto also has a separate license for VPN connections and SD-WAN, but FortiGate offers these standard features.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Fortinet FortiGate a seven and a half out of ten. I deducted a few points because of the device's capacity, stability, support, and routing table issues. I strongly recommend FortiGate if a customer wants to use SD-WAN. Before implementing, you should understand the network's topology to minimize unwanted issues.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
CEO at a media company with 1-10 employees
Provides an ease of deploying IoT security and good stability
Pros and Cons
- "The product's most valuable feature is the ease of deploying IoT security with a single click. Additionally, the frequent updates to the online database ensure that our security measures are always up to date, enhancing our protection against emerging threats."
- "One area for improvement is the licensing policy. If support licenses are not renewed, the product's functionality ceases, which can be disruptive."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the product to enhance our network security infrastructure. It monitors and investigates inbound and outbound traffic across our organization, ensuring comprehensive security coverage.
How has it helped my organization?
one interface to manage all our fortinet product
What is most valuable?
The product's most valuable feature is the ease of deploying IoT security with a single click. Additionally, the frequent updates to the online database ensure that our security measures are always up to date, enhancing our protection against emerging threats.
What needs improvement?
One area for improvement is the licensing policy. If support licenses are not renewed, the product's functionality ceases, which can be disruptive.
Integrating more advanced threat detection capabilities utilizing artificial intelligence would be highly beneficial in future releases.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using FortiGate for around 15 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is highly stable, with minimal disruptions. I rate it a ten out of ten for stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Once deployed, the product scalability is constrained, requiring appliance upgrades for increased port capacity.
How are customer service and support?
The customer support team is responsive but relies heavily on external partners for frontline assistance, which can lead to delays in critical situations.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
aruba, cisco
the move was decided for the convinence of the fortinet's management interface
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward for those with a technical background in network security. However, configuring the system requires a good understanding of the product.
What about the implementation team?
We implemented FortiGate with our technical team, which has extensive experience with network security solutions.
What was our ROI?
Since implementing FortiGate IPS, we've seen an approximately ten percent reduction in operational costs, largely due to consolidating security measures onto a single platform.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The platform offers a reasonable price point compared to its competitors.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Before opting for FortiGate, I evaluated several competitors, including Palo Alto, Checkpoint, WatchGuard, Barracuda, SonicWall, and Sophos.
What other advice do I have?
FortiGate is a solid choice for organizations seeking comprehensive network security. Ensure your team has the technical knowledge required for effective deployment and ongoing management.
I rate it an eight.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Last updated: Jan 9, 2026
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Fortinet FortiGate
January 2026
Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiGate. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
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Sr. Network Engineer at a retailer with 51-200 employees
Response time and throughput have improved network efficiency
Pros and Cons
- "The best features of Fortinet FortiGate include good functionality, though the licensing cost is a bit higher; their response time and throughput are very good advantages."
What is our primary use case?
We are currently using Fortinet FortiGate firewall instead of Cisco.
What is most valuable?
The best features of Fortinet FortiGate include good functionality, though the licensing cost is a bit higher. Their response time and throughput are very good advantages.
What needs improvement?
Some websites or proxies are not embedded in the correct category, and we need to update the Fortinet FortiGate database because numerous websites are appearing every day. Some websites are embedded in the wrong category which we can block, resulting in everything being blocked, so this database needs improvement.
The licensing cost should be more affordable than it is currently. The SD-WAN of Fortinet FortiGate needs improvement; when we create a group address, sometimes the rule doesn't work properly.
Regarding the Fortinet FortiGate database issues, some websites or categories that should be classified as proxy are in different categories. When we open that category due to some other website that needs to be accessed, some proxies are also opened. The FortiGate web filter categories need to improve their database for better control.
For how long have I used the solution?
I joined the current company two and a half years ago, and we have been using Fortinet FortiGate for about three or four years.
How are customer service and support?
I have only required technical support from Fortinet FortiGate once or twice in two and a half years, and I have had a good experience with them. Their technical team is very knowledgeable. Their response time is very good; whenever we open a case, they respond promptly.
One issue I encountered was with FortiToken, which we configured on the admin profile. While managing four firewalls, I discovered that FortiToken was not enabling due to an issue on one firewall. I opened a case, but it has not been resolved yet. Despite this, my overall experience with them has been very good.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
In my previous company, we were using Sophos, which had better licensing costs compared to Fortinet FortiGate.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We are not using enhanced SD-WAN Cisco SD-WAN; we are just using the SD-WAN for load balancing.
What other advice do I have?
We are using Ubiquiti for wireless. One drawback about UniFi is that it lacks BeamFlexing, which is available in Ruckus, and the AP radius or Wi-Fi signals are not as strong as Ruckus. However, UniFi is still a good option, though not as robust as Ruckus.
Fortinet FortiGate is quite expensive, but according to the Gartner report, it ranks second or third. My experience with Fortinet FortiGate firewall has been quite good.
I would rate Fortinet FortiGate 9 out of 10 overall.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Last updated: Jul 9, 2025
Flag as inappropriateGroup Manager, Information Technology at a healthcare company with 501-1,000 employees
Offers good security and ease of use and integration
Pros and Cons
- "It is easy to use and update the software version. It is also useful for integration with other Fortinet products, because my office and company use Fortinet solutions."
- "Fortinet FortiGate is considered the best in the European market for security reasons."
- "At the moment, the main concern is the pricing and the type of licensing."
- "At the moment, the main concern is the pricing and the type of licensing. Fortinet offers different types of licensing, and my idea is that the best approach is to have only one, two, or a maximum of three types of licensing."
What is most valuable?
It is easy to use and update the software version. It is also useful for integration with other Fortinet products, because my office and company use Fortinet solutions. We are also using Fortinet FortiManager and FortiMail.
Fortinet FortiGate is considered the best in the European market for security reasons. I wouldn’t want to change to any other firewall.
What needs improvement?
At the moment, the main concern is the pricing and the type of licensing. Fortinet offers different types of licensing, and my idea is that the best approach is to have only one, two, or a maximum of three types of licensing.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is very easy to use, and I don't have any issues at the moment. I also don't anticipate having any issues in the future.
There has not been any impact on my network performance by implementing SD-WAN.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have only used Fortinet FortiGate.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I have evaluated some options that could be tested in the future, but at this moment, I only use Fortinet FortiGate.
What other advice do I have?
Fortinet is currently one of the five top players for security firewalls.
I would rate Fortinet FortiGate an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Last updated: May 22, 2025
Flag as inappropriateGroup Head of IT at a retailer with 51-200 employees
User-friendly and effective threat identification solution with helpful support
Pros and Cons
- "The ease of use, concise reports, and threat identification are very user-friendly and valuable."
- "There are no areas that need improvement at this point in time."
What is our primary use case?
Overall, we use Fortinet FortiGate IPS for group security, managing several companies across the region via a central location in Trinidad.
How has it helped my organization?
It ensures that we safeguard our environment effectively.
What is most valuable?
The ease of use, concise reports, and threat identification are very user-friendly and valuable.
What needs improvement?
There are no areas that need improvement at this point in time.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used FortiGate IPS for about two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
So far, we have had no issues with stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
FortiGate IPS seems to grow with us as we grow. We are on the latest edition, and it is fairly easy to maintain going forward.
How are customer service and support?
I do not normally interact with customer service, yet I had a very good conversation with them the other day. I would rate the experience a ten out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
What about the implementation team?
The setup was done by the infrastructure team, including four network admins and one infrastructure security person. The initial setup appears to have been straightforward based on indications.
What was our ROI?
We haven't implemented it for ROI benefits but rather for intrusion detection. It's just to make sure that we safeguard our environment.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
FortiGate is slightly more expensive. CrowdStrike is offering better rates, which is something you need to look at.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
CrowdStrike and other vendors have more competitive pricing, and CrowdStrike is currently number one in the quadrant while FortiGate is ranked lower.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to others because it is a good product. Overall, I would rate it nine out of ten. It ensures security and is easy to use.
I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Director of Finance at a real estate/law firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Ensuring network protection with robust IPS solution and good training
Pros and Cons
- "Having IPS helps in ensuring that our network is protected from potential threats, which is crucial as we implement our payment gateway."
- "Maybe they can offer a smaller scope for a cheaper price for smaller organizations."
What is our primary use case?
Since we are going to implement a payment gateway, digitalizing our payment to the vendors, where they can upload their invoice, we think it is really necessary to upgrade our network from the potential threat. So, we use Fortinet FortiGate IPS to address this.
How has it helped my organization?
Having IPS helps in ensuring that our network is protected from potential threats, which is crucial as we implement our payment gateway.
What is most valuable?
My IT team has not had any complaints and finds Fortinet FortiGate IPS quite smooth. We also get yearly updates and training from the vendors.
What needs improvement?
Pricing is one of the factors that need improvement. Maybe they can offer a smaller scope for a cheaper price for smaller organizations.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Fortinet FortiGate IPS for about three to four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the stability of the solution as nine out of ten. We have not experienced any bugs, glitches, or downtime. It is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the scalability of the solution as nine out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
I rate the customer service and support as nine out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup took about two to three weeks, with everything completed within one and a half to two months, considering we have multiple locations.
What about the implementation team?
My IT team, which is small (about three to five people), handled this.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Pricing is expensive compared to other solutions. I would rate it as nine out of ten in terms of expense.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend Fortinet FortiGate IPS to others due to its stability and effectiveness.
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.
Senior Manager at a computer software company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Handles high traffic loads and maintains performance but lacks zero trust
Pros and Cons
- "Zero trust could be added. Nowadays, solutions like Zscaler, Netskope, and even SecureWorks combine multiple features into a single product."
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution for internet restrictions, application control, and enterprise protection.
What needs improvement?
Zero trust could be added. Nowadays, solutions like Zscaler, Netskope, and even SecureWorks combine multiple features into a single product.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Fortinet FortiGate SWG for ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We have not encountered any breaches or incidents using the FortiGate Firewalls. The integrated prevention services are effective.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
This solution is used by two thousand to three thousand users. I rate its scalability a six to seven out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
Support takes time to respond.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is easy. We need to validate the difference between the existing and the new version. Some new categories may be added when we upgrade the versions; we have to recouple that whether it's like it or not.
It takes seven days to deploy because some products require a long installation and configuration. We perform during non-production hours and validate data releases using a different process that will continue when we are updating.
We have six members to handle the deployment.
What was our ROI?
FortiGate is a software solution that encompasses firewall capabilities with multiple built-in, readily usable features at one monthly pricing point.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The product pricing is moderate and competitive to Palo Alto.
I rate the product’s pricing a six out of ten, where one is expensive, and ten is cheap.
What other advice do I have?
Issues with integration and other features that don't function as expected could occur. We aren't aware of these changes until we encounter problems and submit a ticket. This process is incomplete for configuring upgrades correctly.
FortiGate handles high traffic loads and maintains performance, but we need to size it based on our business, Internet bandwidth load, or connectivity requirements when deploying multiple Fortinet FortiGate firewalls. The firewall size should match the bandwidth needs; for example, a small firewall with 300-400 Mbps central bandwidth won't suffice for 48 panels.
Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.
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.
Information Security and Compliance Officer at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
Offers WAF and DDoS attack prevention systems and is outstandingly stable
Pros and Cons
- "FortiGate Next Generation Firewall has IBS/IPS systems"
- "More SD-WAN features can be integrated into the FortiGate Next Generation Firewall"
What is our primary use case?
The solution is used to monitor daily network activities. FortiGate Next Generation Firewall acts as a security layer between public and private networks in our organization.
The solution successfully mitigates all types of advanced attacks by putting our company's production servers behind the firewall using a DDoS attack prevention system and WAF. FortiGate Next Generation Firewall handles our organization's internal network security. The solution is used mainly in IT companies, just like our organization.
What is most valuable?
The WAF and DDoS attack prevention system are the solution's most valuable features. FortiGate Next Generation Firewall has IBS/IPS systems, which are vital for handling cyberattacks.
What needs improvement?
More SD-WAN features can be integrated into the FortiGate Next Generation Firewall. The vendor can make efforts to make the solution more budget-friendly.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using FortiGate Next Generation Firewall for seven years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate the stability a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would rate the scalability an eight out of ten. For each purpose, there are different products used in our company from the same vendor. For instance, our company has a dedicated subscription plan for log analytics. Fortinet should host bundle pack subscriptions for its products and add-ons.
There are more than 150 users of the product in our company. Our company is functional on a hybrid model for employees, and thus, there are not more than a hundred users of the solution in the office at any given time.
Due to the aforementioned work setup, our company is exploring more scalable solutions with end-to-end security features, as many employees are working from remote locations. At our company, for end point protection we use Microsoft Defender.
How are customer service and support?
At our company, we have Fortinet certified experts in-house, so most of the issues are solved without tech support from vendor. But whenever, an issue was escalated to the support team of FortiGate Next Generation Firewall, our company has received a response on time.
How was the initial setup?
FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall integrates perfectly with our organization's infrastructure. Our organization is using the solution for more than six years without any integration obstacles, even while integrating to Fortinet Access Points.
The initial setup process is easy for the solution. There are some configurations and policies that will facilitate routing among the varying traffic, dictating what to allow or block. I would rate the initial setup a nine out of ten. The setup duration depends upon the expertise of the deployment engineer, but on average it can be finished within a day.
What was our ROI?
Our investment in security through FortiGate Next Generation Firewall is worth it as there are zero complains regarding the effectiveness of it.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It's an expensive solution. At our company, we updated the license every three years. I would rate the pricing a nine out of ten. Presently we are upgrading the hardware in our organization before the next license renewal date.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
In our company, we have used Sophos about six years ago. Compared to other solutions like Sophos, we found FortiGate Next Generation Firewall to be much more expensive for our organization.
But FortiGate Next Generation Firewall has a more robust hardware and stable configuration, so our company prefers the solution over others. But as the license of the the solution is expiring soon in our company, we might explore some other firewall products from Fortinet as well.
What other advice do I have?
Our company found that in comparison to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, FortiGate Next Generation Firewall has a limited number of features and requires an ideal Fortinet environment or infrastructure to function. FortiGate Next Generation Firewall should enhance its endpoint capabilities and be less dependent on Fortinet infrastructure. The product should have cloud solution integration capabilities.
Since implementing FortiGate Next Generation Firewall, we have not experienced any attack or cyber threat on our company's network. With the solution, we have been able to proactively monitor the network and take preventive measures on time. Our company finds the product reliable in mitigating all kinds of threats.
Our company expects some AI capabilities from Fortinet solutions. I would advise FortiGate Next Generation Firewall to others as a reliable solution. I would also advise other professionals to run tests with the product as per their requirements before adopting it. The solution has excellent security policies. I would overall rate the product a nine out of ten.
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.
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Updated: January 2026
Product Categories
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