Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users
Infrastructure manager at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Nov 24, 2021
Excellent protection for websites, servers and more
Pros and Cons
  • "The feature that I find most valuable is its protection of the websites."
  • "I would like to be able to generate reports about the protections that we have. I would like a report feature."

What is our primary use case?

We have FortiGate with all the licenses - antivirus, IPS, and advanced threat protection. It's a combination of protection in the perimeter. We have configured some rules for IPS protection in the FortiGate perimeter.

We use it as part of a combination of protections because we have the DMT virus, the IPS, and WOFF option. We protect our services like Apache, our website and the internet.

We configure the rules for the Windows server, the Linux server, and Apache and AIS.

What is most valuable?

The feature that I find most valuable is its protection of the websites.

What needs improvement?

I would like to be able to generate reports about the protections that we have. I would like a report feature.

For example, I would like to see that in VPN and FortiGate, that the equipment that connects to the network is evaluated. Right now, FortiGate validates the users in the active directory and the users have the right permissions to connect. I would also add the user and the computers that are allowed in the active directory. It evaluates the actual active directory, and some computers are allowed but not all. Only the computers that are in the active directory. Right now, when you connect to the VPN, FortiGate checks the active directory. They have the check feature but it should be improved.

This solution has records but I would like to see that in IPS you could define your rules - we have almost 10 or 15 rules, and see if these rules provided protections over the month. For example, to track a specific rule across the IPS solution.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Fortinet FortiGate IPS for five years and Cisco for about eight years.

Buyer's Guide
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.
881,114 professionals have used our research since 2012.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Yes, it is stable. The solution protects us from attack. We have heard that other companies are being attacked, but we are not since we installed FortiGate.

The way the configuration was supplied was correct and we don't have any events. But we heard about other, similar companies, that do have events, but we don't.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Fortinet FortiGate IPS is scalable.

In our case, we are a company of 100 employees and we selected a solution for 250, so we didn't have the need to scale because we designed it from the beginning for more people. We are still using it after five years. We have to change the equipment because they don't allow us to migrate to a new version. In the renewable licenses, they offered me a trade-in and I returned the last FortiGate and they gave me the new FortiGate. I have the FortiGate 600D model. After five years we had to change the equipment. With Cisco, for example, you can keep going. I have the same model with Cisco for eight years and I didn't have to change it. But in FortiGate, after five years, I had to trade it in.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support is excellent. I prefer to open a case directly to FortiGate because I can have a session with a technical contact, and we can review the case directly with the support. We also have some protocols, like BGP in the perimeter, and in two cases, I needed the support person to connect me to another person for technical support to help me with our special protocol.

The support is 24 hours.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup us is easy and friendly.

It took almost a month. In a month, we deployed all the FortiGate with the features and the rules.

What other advice do I have?

My advice to anyone considering Fortinet FortiGate IPS is that it is important to set the right rules and set all the configurations to make them preferred for a partner. The partner makes all the rules that the company needs because if you stay the course, although it's easy and friendly in the beginning, some configurations need a common line and require you to design how it works right around the network. So it is important that you take a partner who has experience with designs and can implement the correct solution for your company.

On a scale of one to ten, I would give Fortinet FortiGate IPS 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.
PeerSpot user
System Administrator at a financial services firm with 51-200 employees
Real User
Nov 23, 2021
Provides good data on client usage patterns with great VPN capabilities
Pros and Cons
  • "Provides good VPN capabilities."
  • "Security level could be increased."

What is our primary use case?

This solution is the gateway for protecting our network. We are customers of Fortinet and I'm a system administrator. 

How has it helped my organization?

The solution has allowed us to get more data than we were previously able to and we also employ the FortiGate analyzer to provide more data on the usage patterns of our clients which provides us with security metrics. FortiGate gives us a better picture of what's going on in the network and how best we can approach improving the service or addressing any security issues.

What is most valuable?

We're currently relying heavily on the VPN capabilities, given that a lot of users are working remotely and that's been particularly useful for us. FortiGate has an extensive library for support so you rarely need to reach out to them, it's all easily accessible. 

What needs improvement?

The solution is quite expensive and I'd like to see the cost reduced. I think Fortinet could raise their level of security. Their VPN service for users gives them the ability to direct remote users to exactly where they're supposed to go. It's good but some other solutions don't give access for remote users to come on to the network. Rather the cloud platform relays or reflects the application that the remote user would've wanted to get access to on the network. It means that remote users don't get to the physical network of the company and that's good for security. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

As long as you know what you're doing, it's a pretty stable solution - they push out firmware updates pretty regularly and I haven't noticed any update that breaks anything.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable and adaptable depending on network activity or clients having a network. There's a solution for everything and it's pretty granular for each individual appliance. It gives you leeway and room to work. We have around 100 users in the company, everybody is connected; our staff are security administrators, systems administrators and database admins. We're planning to increase usage. I think FortiGate has a ZTNA service as well and we're in talks to determine the best solution.

How are customer service and support?

We haven't had much contact with support but they're pretty good. You do need to schedule a time for them to get back to you so the solution isn't immediate. The support is quite comprehensive. 

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

We used SonicWall before moving to Fortinet. It was a good product but it was pretty complex and complicated when it came to implementing certain things. We needed a solution where anyone could come in and get the job done without having to research deeply. 

How was the initial setup?

We used a Fortinet partner for implementation because we were busy with other projects at the time. They did a great job for us. Deployment took about a week but it could have been done in less time if we hadn't had some scheduling issues. We have three people involved with maintenance.

What was our ROI?

We used to have issues with data, internet usage, and controlling our users' access to the internet. It impacted other areas of the company. With Fortinet, we're able to control how users utilize resources and pull back on certain things while allowing more access in others. It would include things like online calls, IP calling or use of Teams for legitimate business. Having control over that means there are fewer break ups, and fewer dropped calls because we have more control.

People with BYOD's can hog the network but with that level of granular control, we can decide where the priority is. In terms of ROI, there are fewer expenses, less time wasted addressing issues related to reporting, whereas before it was quite chaotic. Fortinet provides the ability to create more order and the ability to better analyze exactly what it is that is going on in the network.

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

The solution is expensive although I'm not sure of the cost. It does include support and updates.

What other advice do I have?

This is a good solution, it provides an extensive library for any issues or for when you're building out a new solution. It has different appliances for different tiers. Planning is important, knowing what's in the environment, where you expect it to go, and then ensuring that you develop or acquire a solution necessary to address that situation.

I rate this solution eight out of 10. 

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.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
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.
881,114 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer981903 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Management at a government with 201-500 employees
Real User
Nov 21, 2021
A good solution for a mid-sized company and not too expensive
Pros and Cons
  • "FortiGate is easy to use, and I also like its VPN."
  • "FortiGate's reporting features could provide a better picture of what is happening in the box."

What is our primary use case?

FortiGate SWG is primarily an antivirus but it also features application control and intrusion prevention.

How has it helped my organization?

FortiGate SWG has helped us control what employees do on the internet because people waste a lot of time using social networks, watching videos, etc. 

What is most valuable?

FortiGate is easy to use, and I also like its VPN.

What needs improvement?

FortiGate's reporting features could provide a better picture of what is happening in the box.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using FortiGate for a few years, and I think it's a good solution for a medium-sized company.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

FortiGate is highly stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

FortiGate is scalable. They have a new few solutions to solve some reports in the cloud and send the information. And I believe FortiGate can integrate with different products to make it stronger. The product has about a hundred end-users. However, we're considering switching to other options because we're looking for stronger routing capabilities to be more secure.

How are customer service and support?

I've never used technical support directly from Fortinet. The last time I needed support, I contacted our partner. He knows the configuration very well and resolved the problems.

How was the initial setup?

I'd say that setting up FortiGate is moderately complex. It isn't too easy and took about four days to deploy. We had to set up the box and start making the configurations. One engineer is enough to handle it. 

What about the implementation team?

We used a partner to deploy. The experience was good.

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

We pay about $4,000 for a yearly license, and there aren't any additional fees.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We evaluated something called Planet Solutions, but its administration wasn't strong like Fortinet's.

What other advice do I have?

I rate FortiGate SWG nine out of 10. It's a good solution and not too expensive. FortiGate is an all-in-one solution, unlike Cisco's, where you have to pay extra for web filtering. The traffic control is included, so it's a good solution for a medium-sized company.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Khushru_Mistry - PeerSpot reviewer
Chief Technology Officer at a manufacturing company with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Top 5
Nov 20, 2021
Effective logging method, easy to understand, implement, and maintain.
Pros and Cons
  • "It's simple to operate and use."
  • "The most important feature to have is zero trust, which is lacking in Fortinet FortiGate IPS."

What is our primary use case?

Fortinet FortiGate IPS utilizes the main firewalls.

What is most valuable?

Fortinet FortiGate IPS is a very good firewall. We don't have any complaints, it is doing its job correctly.

The functionality is good.

It's simple to operate and use.

There are various firewalls on the market, but we found Fortinet to be the most appropriate for the structures we have in place for our company. It is simple to comprehend, run, and maintain. The logging method is effective; it provides us with a clear picture of how threats are deflected or avoided.

What needs improvement?

When everything is taken into account, the migration is quite painless. I believe that improvements will continue to come from the fact that as threat vectors get more complex around the world, advanced threat protection and deep packet inspection will become increasingly vital. That is where technology needs to advance much more quickly.

The most important feature to have is zero trust, which is lacking in Fortinet FortiGate IPS.

Zero trust is something that has to be embedded and I would still like to see how Fortinet approaches it.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Fortinet FortiGate IPS for a couple of years.

This solution is updated on a regular basis.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The Fortinet FortiGate IPS is an extremely stable product.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I can't speak to scalability because we are getting started with virtual machine-based firewalls. We are transitioning to FortiGate VM.

In our organization, we have 3,000 users.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support is good. They are made up of experienced professionals.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is very straightforward.

This solution is maintained by one person. We are using AMC services, which includes multiple people, but we have only chosen one.

What about the implementation team?

During the deployment phase, we always utilize the assistance of an integrator. Working with them was a good experience for us.

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

The licensing costs are very competitive.

There are no fees in addition to the licensing costs.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

When evaluating the solution, we wanted to make sure that it was simple to use, operate, and simple to maintain.

We have done a lot of research because we're bringing in the cloud version. We considered other vendors, but because we already had an on-premises Fortinet with a robust backend monitoring system, we decided that extending Fortinet into the Cloud was the best solution.

Gaining a good understanding of the simplicity of cloud migration will take about two months. It's not so much the implementation as it is the services that support it.

Before proposing a solution, it was critical that they have a progressive awareness of what we have and that they comprehend our requirements.

Because Fortinet was involved, we were reassured that they were acting in our best interests.

We also utilize the VPN with Fortinet, but we intend to go to zero trust in the future, eliminating the need for this dependency.

What other advice do I have?

We are expanding our Fortinet for our cloud security. The VM will be implemented in our public cloud, which is where we operate.

I wouldn't say it's specific to FortiGate; it applies to all firewalls. You should consider the simplicity of the task at hand, as well as the convenience of deployment, maintenance, and, most crucially, the availability of qualified personnel to carry it out. These are the reasons we chose Fortinet.

I would rate Fortinet FortiGate IPS an eight 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.
PeerSpot user
Information Security Principal at a venture capital & private equity firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Top 5
Aug 18, 2021
Easy to manage, improves visibility, and lowered our TCO
Pros and Cons
  • "FortiGate Secure SD-WAN includes best-of-breed next-generation firewall (NGFW) security, SD-WAN, advanced routing, and WAN optimization capabilities, delivering a security-driven networking WAN edge transformation in a unified offering."
  • "There is a lot of improvement needed with SSL-VPN."

What is our primary use case?

We are using the FortiGate firewall for multiple purposes including network antivirus, Application Control, Web Filtering, IPSec Tunnels, and SSL-VPN using soft FortiTokens.

For the past year, we have also been using this technology for Secure SD-WAN. This added a lot of value in terms of technology, such as datacenter connectivity using IPSec tunnel-added security filters, with less cost by canceling MPLS.

How has it helped my organization?

We have implemented secure SD-WAN using FortiGate firewalls in 15 locations and it is working extremely well. 

Since implementing, the total cost of ownership (TCO) has been lowered and the day-to-day security operations have been simplified through our FortiOps services. These provide cloud-based management, visibility, and automation across your Fortinet Security Fabric. It also helps to realize the operational benefits of a Fortinet-enabled Secure SD-WAN.

At the same time, cybersecurity threats have become more sophisticated and fast-moving. Fortinet offers a full range of services and subscriptions to help us simplify and make the most of your SD-WAN deployment with the lowest TCO possible.

What is most valuable?

FortiGate Secure SD-WAN includes best-of-breed next-generation firewall (NGFW) security, SD-WAN, advanced routing, and WAN optimization capabilities, delivering a security-driven networking WAN edge transformation in a unified offering. 

Fortinet Secure SD-WAN delivered the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) per Mbps among all other vendors.

Antivirus, Application Control, Web Filtering, IPSec, and SSL-VPN are great features with the next-generation Fortinet firewall. They are all very easy to manage.

What needs improvement?

We are managing FortiGate using a FortiManager and it needs improvement with respect to the ease of administration tasks.

There is a lot of improvement needed with SSL-VPN.

Technical support could be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using FortiGate technology for more than five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

FortiGate is a very stable firewall.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

With respect to scalability, it's an excellent product.

How are customer service and technical support?

The customer service is good, although there is room for improvement with technical support.

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

We did not use another solution prior to this one.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was straightforward.

What about the implementation team?

We implemented this solution with this assistance of a partner.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We did evaluate other products, including solutions by Cisco.

What other advice do I have?

There is always a need for improvement with any vendor.

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.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1392531 - PeerSpot reviewer
Dy General Manager at a real estate/law firm with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Feb 12, 2021
Rich in features, good support, and setup and deployment straightforward
Pros and Cons
  • "Some of the valuable features are the firewall, IPS, web filter, and gateway capabilities. Additionally, it is easy to use and flexible."
  • "It would be a benefit if Fortinet would release a one-stop solution that is better integrated with other products and an automated emergency response system."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution for network security protection.

What is most valuable?

Some of the valuable features are the firewall, IPS, web filter, and gateway capabilities. Additionally, it is easy to use and flexible.

What needs improvement?

It would be a benefit if Fortinet would release a one-stop solution that is better integrated with other products and has an automated emergency response system.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using the solution for 12 years.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution's scalability is a problem because when you use a LAN, you use hardware and hardware wastes resources. However, it is more scalable than some of its competitors, such as Check Point. We have 620 users using the product.

How are customer service and technical support?

The solution is designed in a way to help you, the support is good. 

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

We have used many solutions previously such as Check Point and Stone software. We changed to this solution because we wanted something more stable.

How was the initial setup?

The setup was easy.

What about the implementation team?

You will need one or two integrators for the deployment and it was very easy. The maintenance is simple too.

What other advice do I have?

We are going to continue using this solution.

I rate Fortinet FortiGate an eight 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.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1485723 - PeerSpot reviewer
Compliance Officer at a venture capital & private equity firm with 11-50 employees
Real User
Feb 7, 2021
Good UI, easy to use, and offers reasonable pricing
Pros and Cons
  • "Overall, the pricing of the solution is very good. The product offers good value."
  • "There aren't really any negative aspects to discuss."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use this solution for our network, as virtual security of the network. It helps protect us and keeps us safe.

What is most valuable?

The overall experience has been very good. It fully meets our requirements. We find the solution to be pretty user-friendly.

The solution has a lot of features. I'm not sure if there is one that stands out as the most valuable for us.

The stability of the solution is very good.

The vendor has been very good at providing us with everything we need.

Overall, the pricing of the solution is very good. The product offers good value.

The product is quite flexible.

We've found the scalability to be very good.

The dashboards and UI are very nice.

What needs improvement?

We aren't really missing any features. 

The solution isn't lacking anything. We've been overall very please with the experience we've had. There aren't really any negative aspects to discuss.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have used the solution for a while. It's been more than five years at this point.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

So far, we have found the stability of the product to be quite good. It doesn't crash or freeze on us. We haven't experienced bugs or glitches. The performance is reliable. It's good.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

You can scale the solution if you need to. It's not a difficult thing to do.

We do plan to continue using this solution.

How are customer service and technical support?

We don't have any experience with technical support. No problems have really presented themselves, and therefore there hasn't been a need to reach out at all. Therefore, we can't really speak to the helpfulness of technical support.

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

We didn't previously use a different solution.

How was the initial setup?

This is a cloud-based solution. Therefore, there really isn't an installation process per se. It's very easy to get started. 

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

The solution offers good value for your money. It isn't too expensive.

What other advice do I have?

It is my understanding that we are using the latest version of the solution. However, I am not 100% positive. I don't know which version number we are currently on.

I'm not sure if I would recommend the product. It would depend on each individual company's needs.

I would rate this solution at an eight out of ten. It's been a pretty positive experience overall.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1483797 - PeerSpot reviewer
Service Delivery Engineer - Network Security Lead at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Reseller
Jan 29, 2021
Integrates smoothly, scales well, and high-quality features
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is highly scalable because they have devices that can handle a large amount of traffic."
  • "The solution could have licensing fees reduced in the future."

What is most valuable?

When trying to move from MPLS to SD-WAN they have a very good SD-WAN offering. 

The solution integrates well.

It has high-quality security features.

It provides a full end-to-end security suite.

The security of the solution is good.

What needs improvement?

The solution could have licensing fees reduced in the future.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for 5 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is not common for the solution to become unstable, but it does happen. The good thing is, they constantly release updates. If the version you are using has a bug, in the next version it definitely will be fixed.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is highly scalable because they have devices that can handle a large amount of traffic. The VM version with the hardware appliances is widely scalable. It can handle small businesses to large scale enterprises. In terms of mode of deployment, you have VM, hardware appliance, and cloud. There is cloud management as well that is scalable. It can suit a number of deployment scenarios.

We currently have 50 employees using the solution, some of our clients that have deployed it has 1000 users and it has not given a problem.

How are customer service and technical support?

The customer service was very fast to respond to our needs.

How was the initial setup?

The installation is not difficult but there is a learning curve, it becomes easy over time. 

The basic installation took approximately two days. A more complicated scenario can take even up to two weeks. Depending on the options that you are looking for, there are many things you can consider. If you are looking at a complex design then you are going to take more time.

What about the implementation team?

I did the deployments myself with one other technician.

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

The pricing of the solution is very competitive. The license price can vary depending on the product you have and the different types of licenses you need. For example, they have an enterprise and UTM license. It depends on the type of license and the size of the company.

What other advice do I have?

Fortinet has a product that can cater to any area of the security market. For example, application firewall and authentication products.

I would recommend this solution to others.

I rate Fortinet FortiGate a nine out of ten.

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
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Fortinet FortiGate Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: January 2026
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Fortinet FortiGate Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.