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PeerSpot user
System Administrator at a media company with 11-50 employees
Real User
Mar 16, 2020
Provides a high standard of security for our clients
Pros and Cons
  • "We are a visual effects company, and there have been a number of high profile security issues in our industry. This has brought us to a higher standard of security, which our clients are very keen on these days."
  • "We are a visual effects company, and there have been a number of high profile security issues in our industry, and this has brought us to a higher standard of security, which our clients are very keen on these days."
  • "We had a minor problem where there was a major system upgrade on the hardware platfrom and the Mac client was not available as soon as it might have been. The PC client was available immediately, but we had to wait a month or so, before there was a mac client. I was slightly irritated that it was not ready on time, but it was eventually resolved."
  • "We had a minor problem where there was a major system upgrade on the hardware platform and the Mac client was not available as soon as it might have been."

What is our primary use case?

I primarily use this solution for external security of our network.

How has it helped my organization?

We are a visual effects company, and there have been a number of high profile security issues in our industry. This has brought us to a higher standard of security, which our clients are very keen on these days. 

What needs improvement?

We had a minor problem where there was a major system upgrade on the hardware platform and the Apple Mac client was not available as soon as it might have been. The PC client was available immediately, but we had to wait a month or so, before there was a Apple Mac client. I was slightly irritated that it was not ready on time, but it was eventually resolved.

For how long have I used the solution?

Almost two years.

Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiGate
May 2026
Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiGate. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2026.
893,244 professionals have used our research since 2012.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Fortigate has more than adequate capability to cope with everything we require for the foreseeable future. 

How are customer service and support?

The support is very good, and we have had no issues. 

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

Previously had a SonicWall. Even allowing for an upgrade discount on the SonicWall, the FortiGate was a more compelling purchase.

How was the initial setup?

It was fairly straightforward. 

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Security Solutions Architect at Verizon Communications
Real User
Mar 10, 2020
Good VPN and DDoS capabilities with a low total cost of ownership
Pros and Cons
  • "Virtual Domains (VDOMs) are a feature that we found valuable."
  • "The low cost of ownership was a benefit with all of the features we wanted."
  • "The low cost of ownership was a benefit with all of the features we wanted."
  • "To the best of my knowledge, Fortinet does not have a CASB solution and Fortinet does not have a Zero trust solution."
  • "To the best of my knowledge, Fortinet does not have a CASB solution and Fortinet does not have a Zero trust solution."
  • "To the best of my knowledge, Fortinet does not have a CASB solution and Fortinet does not have a Zero trust solution."

What is our primary use case?

We are currently using manual router failover that can be configured on the Fortinet security appliance’s second network interface to provide network edge redundancy if the primary managed router fails. If the edge router fails, traffic can be moved to the security appliance with a simple cable swap.

We are looking for a fully redundant solution with automatic failover between both Fortinet Security appliances. I am currently looking at battle card information between Fortinet and Zscaler. I have to do a competitive analysis.

How has it helped my organization?

The low cost of ownership was a benefit with all of the features we wanted.    

Preconfigured images have been developed for quick deployment. However, if we need a custom policy or have to include an existing policy then that can be accommodated as well. 

What is most valuable?

Virtual Domains (VDOMs) are a feature that we found valuable.

We found the Firewall, VPN, Application Control, IPS, Fortiguard Web filtering, anti-botnet, FortiGuard, Anti Spam Wireless LAN controller, WAN optimization, vulnerability assessment, and endpoint control all to be valuable.

Fortinet certifications include NSS Labs for NGFW, firewall, IPS, SSL, antivirus, and antispam.

Fortinet provides a consolidated security platform for the market place and certifications with NSS labs prove their security assurance.

What needs improvement?

To the best of my knowledge, Fortinet does not have a CASB solution and Fortinet does not have a Zero trust solution. Fortinet claims to do everything Zscaler is capable of and I'm looking for a comparison between the supported features.

Fortinet VPN and DDoS capabilities are great, yet we need to provide a solution that enables CASB and integration to the cloud.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using FortiGate for three years.

How was the initial setup?

Fortinet is very easy to service and set up.

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

Fortinet is the least expensive solution.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We are comparing the features of Zscaler vs. Fortinet. We are trying to determine what features Zscaler has over Fortinet and vice versa.

What other advice do I have?

Fortinet was initially scoped as 25 rules for small, 50 for medium, and 100 for large. We need to incorporate more rules but there would be additional professional services or staging services. We are looking to incorporate the cloud access with the Fortinet UTM solution.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Verizon is a reseller of both Zscaler and Fortinet.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiGate
May 2026
Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiGate. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2026.
893,244 professionals have used our research since 2012.
it_user1296954 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Scientist at Ats, iNC.
Real User
Feb 28, 2020
Good SSL-VPN, anti-virus, and anti-malware protection
Pros and Cons
  • "SSL-VPN is very useful for us and has been very reliable."
  • "SSL-VPN is very useful for us and has been very reliable."
  • "The user interface could be improved to make it less confusing and easier to set up."
  • "The user interface could be improved to make it less confusing and easier to set up."

What is our primary use case?

FortiGate is used as the primary firewall and malware detection device for the company.

How has it helped my organization?

This solution allows solid VPN service for access from the field, and the anti-virus/anti-malware detection works well.

What is most valuable?

SSL-VPN is very useful for us and has been very reliable.

What needs improvement?

The user interface could be improved to make it less confusing and easier to set up. There are too many pull-down menus.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using FortiGate for five years.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
PeerSpot user
Solution Architect at Brillbean Ventures Pvt ltd
Real User
Oct 18, 2019
Good security, performance, and traffic inspection
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature is the VDOM, which allows the customer to have multiple firewalls in a single campus."
  • "Using the FortiGate security solution provides comprehensive visibility and advanced layer 7 security, including threat protection, intrusion prevention, web filtering, and application control."
  • "Improvement is needed in the Web Filter quotas to restrict users with allocated quotas."
  • "Fortinet renewal prices for all models are too high, so they should offer discounts for customers on renewal."

What is our primary use case?

I have deployed FortiGate with multiple organizations such as universities, government institutions, healthcare, and ISP providers. I have worked with FortiGate models 30-500 series and I have deployed the 3200D model for one of the broadband service providers located in India, Namely Sikka Broadband. 

How has it helped my organization?

I have installed the FortiGate 500 and 400D to replace a Sophos firewall in a main corporate office. This implementation provided improved network performance.

This solution made it easier to connect all of the branches together via an IPsec VPN and remote users with SSL VPN.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature is the VDOM, which allows the customer to have multiple firewalls in a single campus.

Using the FortiGate security solution provides comprehensive visibility and advanced layer 7 security, including threat protection, intrusion prevention, web filtering, and application control. They face a major complexity hurdle managing these point products with no integration and lack of visibility.

Thie solution provides a high-performance inspection of clear-text and encrypted traffic.

The FortiOS Operating system is robust, and the WAN load-balancing very much transparent.

What needs improvement?

Improvement is needed in the Web Filter quotas to restrict users with allocated quotas.

It would be an improvement to add a feature for active users to change/reset their own passwords.

Fortinet renewal prices for all models are too high, so they should offer discounts for customers on renewal. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for almost seven years.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Consultant at WorldNet ICT Solutions Limited
Consultant
Aug 28, 2019
Provides good security features, and generating FortiCloud reports is helpful to us
Pros and Cons
  • "The security features are about the best that I've seen anywhere."
  • "The security features are about the best that I've seen anywhere."
  • "Technical support for this solution can be improved."
  • "FortiWAN was supposed to help in doing intersite linking, but we've realized that most of the ISPs use BGP."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution for our company firewall.

What is most valuable?

This solution has many good features. The security features are about the best that I've seen anywhere.

I really like the fact that I am able to generate FortiCloud reports.

What needs improvement?

FortiWAN was supposed to help in doing intersite linking, but we've realized that most of the ISPs use BGP. FortiWAN supports OSPF but does not support the BGP protocol. This is a problem for us because without BGP they are not doing anything, and we've had to pack them up. I would like to see the BGP protocol supported on FortiWAN.

Technical support for this solution can be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using this solution since 2017.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is very good.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability of this solution is fantastic.

How are customer service and technical support?

I've been in contact with technical support a few times and it is good. It might be better, but as far as I'm concerned, it's good.

How was the initial setup?

The challenge for the initial setup was at the ISP level. We have the Fortinet firewall running, but between the various sites, we wanted to implement FortiWAN. It didn't work because of the BGP issue.

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

The pricing for this solution is good.

What other advice do I have?

This is a product that I recommend.

I would rate this solution a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
PeerSpot user
Network & Hardware Administrator at Nile Projects & Trading Co.
Real User
Top 20
Aug 4, 2019
SD-WAN allows me to better manage and load balance our traffic
Pros and Cons
  • "It blocks the vulnerabilities that can negatively impact us."
  • "This solution has helped us by controlling our incoming and outgoing traffic and blocking the vulnerabilities that can negatively impact us."
  • "I would like to have logs, monitoring, and reporting for a month without extra fees."
  • "I would like to have logs, monitoring, and reporting for a month without extra fees."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution for securing and controlling our company, as well as to improve VPN services.

How has it helped my organization?

This solution has helped us by controlling our incoming and outgoing traffic. It blocks the vulnerabilities that can negatively impact us.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature is the SD-WAN because I can manage many lines and load balance them all.

What needs improvement?

I would like to have logs, monitoring, and reporting for a month without extra fees.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using this solution for more than eight years.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Fortigate
PeerSpot user
Network Engineer at Concentus
Real User
Jun 25, 2019
An intuitive user interface for our SOHO edge protection solution
Pros and Cons
  • "This solution has solid UTM features combined with a nice GUI."
  • "This solution has solid UTM features combined with a nice GUI."
  • "The Web-filter in this solution is not very good."
  • "The Web-filter in this solution is not very good."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution for edge protection in SOHO and K-12 environments.

How has it helped my organization?

FortiOS has a very good, intuitive GUI.

What is most valuable?

This solution has solid UTM features combined with a nice GUI.

What needs improvement?

The Web-filter in this solution is not very good. Perhaps because Fortinet does not want to compete with its own dedicated solution.

For how long have I used the solution?

Three years.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1112532 - PeerSpot reviewer
President at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
Reseller
Jun 7, 2019
A solution that impresses our customers and saves them money in the long run
Pros and Cons
  • "This is a quality product with ok support, and it is better than the competition we've tried."
  • "Security Fabric makes VLANs a breeze."
  • "FortiOS is not simple."
  • "FortiOS is not simple."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use for this solution is as an SMB boundary firewall, and we now use their Security Fabric.

How has it helped my organization?

This is a quality product with ok support, and it is better than the competition we've tried.

What is most valuable?

Security Fabric makes VLANs a breeze. It impresses customers, as well as saves them money over the long run when comparing apples to apples.

What needs improvement?

FortiOS is not simple. Too many people think it should be simple to use, but the complexity of the product makes that impossible.

For how long have I used the solution?

Seventeen years.

How are customer service and technical support?

The support for this solution is ok.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Fortinet FortiGate Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: May 2026
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Fortinet FortiGate Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.