I use Fortinet FortiGate just for the data center to connect to it. I put Sophos on the internet and FortiGate on the data center.
IT Manager at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Reports are easy to read and understand while offering reliable application filtration
Pros and Cons
- "For application filtration, I really appreciate many features of Fortinet FortiGate because it is more reliable, easy to use, and the reports are easy to read and understand."
- "To improve Fortinet FortiGate, I think they need to improve the software and make updates more quickly, rather than taking a long time to update the software or firmware."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
For application filtration, I really appreciate many features of Fortinet FortiGate because it is more reliable, easy to use, and the reports are easy to read and understand. I have integrated Fortinet FortiGate with the database for reading the reports. I can recommend Fortinet FortiGate for enterprise-level because it has many features and solutions, though I would not recommend it for small companies or individual companies.
What needs improvement?
To improve Fortinet FortiGate, I think they need to improve the software and make updates more quickly, rather than taking a long time to update the software or firmware.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Fortinet FortiGate for approximately four to five years.
Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiGate
June 2026
Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiGate. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2026.
900,747 professionals have used our research since 2012.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate the stability of Fortinet FortiGate a ten out of ten, with ten being the best.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would rate the scalability of Fortinet FortiGate a ten out of ten, as I think it is reliable and very dependable.
How are customer service and support?
I would rate the technical support from Fortinet between eight and nine; it is a very good vendor, but sometimes there is a delay in getting information from us or maybe a delay for us to contact them.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I am using Fortinet FortiGate and Sophos.
How was the initial setup?
In the beginning of my work with Fortinet FortiGate, the setup was difficult, but after many attempts, I became an expert on how to install and modify every command. For a regular user, I think it is very easy to understand and read the product documentation.
What about the implementation team?
I use Sophos for firewall and Fortinet FortiGate for data center.
What other advice do I have?
I really recommend Fortinet FortiGate. My overall rating for Fortinet FortiGate is 9 out of 10.
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.
Presales Consultant at a tech vendor with 1,001-5,000 employees
Offers robust perimeter security and easy configuration
Pros and Cons
- "Fortinet FortiGate serves as the first line of defense, it is robust and easy to configure, and I haven't seen any breaches happening when configured properly based on best practices."
- "The only challenge with Fortinet FortiGate is the pricing model."
What is our primary use case?
The main use cases for the product revolve around perimeter security, and it depends on LAN to WAN traffic, especially in work-from-home scenarios wherein the customer wants to access the local infrastructure remotely. It is also sometimes used in data centers, but many times Palo Alto is used.
How has it helped my organization?
Fortinet FortiGate serves as the first line of defense. It is robust and easy to configure, and I haven't seen any breaches happening when configured properly based on best practices. In the Indian market, clients have a lot of trust in this product.
What is most valuable?
The most useful functions of Fortinet FortiGate are SD-WAN, which is very easy to configure. Its user interface is also very good, making it easy for any engineer to explain configuration changes over the phone without needing to take remote access. Integration of SD-WAN capabilities with Fortinet FortiGate is simple to integrate.
What needs improvement?
They are already making improvements with the integration of AI and machine learning (ML). While I haven't personally used these features yet, I see that the focus is primarily on AI operations that fall under the umbrella of AI and ML. Additionally, they offer FortiManager with a signal dashboard that allows for the monitoring and configuration of multiple FortiGate firewalls, which is quite impressive. Moreover, they now provide a SaaS offering for FortiManager, which I believe is a good development overall.
If they can come up with a feature that allows scalability within the firewall itself, such as 'scale as you grow,' that would be a valuable improvement. Fortinet is already implementing AI and ML, although I haven't used it personally. AI ops are covered under it, and they also have FortiManager, which allows for monitoring and configuring multiple Fortinet FortiGate firewalls through a single dashboard.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Fortinet FortiGate for more than 10 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
When it comes to stability, I would rate Fortinet FortiGate a ten out of ten, as I haven't seen any downtime wherever I proposed it.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would rate Fortinet FortiGate's scalability as an eight out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
I would rate the support from Fortinet a nine out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We also work with Palo Alto solutions. Palo Alto has a distinct advantage because it offers some great features that are already available, such as DNS security, which we have a lot of experience with. Palo Alto is unmatched in a data center environment. This is why many people tend to trust Palo Alto firewalls more compared to FortiGate. As for perimeter security, FortiGate excels in that area.
In most small and medium enterprises and SMBs, we usually propose SonicWall, and for enterprises, we work with Palo Alto or Fortinet FortiGate, depending on the requirement. It makes sense to propose the Fortinet FortiGate firewall, especially if the customer is already using the SD-WAN feature.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup for Fortinet FortiGate is simple.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The only challenge with Fortinet FortiGate is the pricing model.
What other advice do I have?
Currently, we are considering Fortinet FortiGate solely for perimeter security, and for SASE and other approaches, we go with other solutions. I have not used AI and ML FortiGuard services with Fortinet FortiGate yet.
Overall, I would rate Fortinet FortiGate an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiGate
June 2026
Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiGate. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2026.
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UC Solutions Architect at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees
A security-centric solution with excellent customer service
Pros and Cons
- "The main reason customers prefer Fortinet FortiGate is that it's security-centric, allowing them to implement security features such as a next-generation firewall and translate this to the WAN or SD-WAN architectures, or as a base if they want to grow in more security features or other verticals such as ZTNA and SASE."
What is our primary use case?
I am working as a presales engineer or system engineer, designing solutions for other clients.
The clients use this solution for their data centers and perimeter security.
What is most valuable?
The main reason customers prefer Fortinet FortiGate is that it's security-centric, allowing them to implement security features such as a next-generation firewall and translate this to the WAN or SD-WAN architectures, or as a base if they want to grow in more security features or other verticals such as ZTNA and SASE. It's a little baseline for the rest of the verticals or features that can be exploited.
Fortinet FortiGate compares favorably to others in terms of the technology. Second, it's about the relationship they build with their customers. I'm in Colombia, and I can say they have an excellent sales and engineering team that provides a great experience for their clients. They are very attentive and engaged. This company has a rich history; they grow alongside their clients. They take the time to show clients all the benefits and features of the technology they offer. It’s a much more personal experience for everyone involved.
Fortinet Unified SASE is strong for providing consistent security policies across multiple locations. Working with Fortinet in the SASE aspect has been easy. Customers appreciate the features we can offer with Fortinet SASE and ZTNA solutions. They particularly appreciate how they can integrate everything with the baseline of Fortinet FortiGate, and how they can easily apply all the features they need to secure access to different applications from a single console. Some clients use the Fortinet FortiGate data center solution for their data centers as a hub and the perimeter security service.
What needs improvement?
My experience integrating SD-WAN capabilities with Fortinet FortiGate is in the middle ground. Fortinet FortiGate, as a security-centric fabric, can implement an SD-WAN solution. It can be somewhat manual in some cases, but using other tools that Fortinet has, such as FortiManager, makes implementing an SD-WAN network easier with less effort.
The implementation depends more on the engineer's skill when integrating SD-WAN with Fortinet FortiGate. If you don't have extensive skills in implementing Fortinet FortiGate, it can be difficult, but with more experience, it becomes easier.
For how long have I used the solution?
In the presales team, I have been working with Fortinet FortiGate for about five years, and as a customer, I worked with it for about two years between 2016 and 2018.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Fortinet FortiGate is very stable and secure for customers.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's easy with Fortinet FortiGate as they have a very good solution for scalability. If we need to grow in branches or licenses, we can easily do it. The most important aspect of growing this solution is their strong enterprise-level account managers, who always help customers find the best solution and an easy path to grow their architecture with Fortinet.
How are customer service and support?
I would rate their customer service around eight because not everything is perfect, but they have very good customer experience and relationship management.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
It depends on the size of the company or the solution they want to implement with Fortinet FortiGate. Most companies could have another vendor or baseline products, so we need to depend on the scenario.
How was the initial setup?
It is very straightforward to set up initially. The duration depends on the size of the company and the solution they want to implement. They might already have another vendor or a different baseline of products, which makes things more complex.
As for deployment models, we typically offer both on-premises and cloud options. We have been working with AWS, and it has been a very positive experience. They provide readily available machines, and everything is easy to find in the marketplace.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I believe it's a fair price for the kind of technology they offer their customers. Sometimes, I think they could apply more discounts to engage customers further. This approach would be beneficial, as it helps us expand the solutions available to clients. As for discounts, they do engage clients with them, particularly in strategic business situations, such as with large accounts in sectors like banking and big retail.
When comparing Fortinet to other vendors, Fortinet generally tends to offer better discounts. However, this does not imply that their solutions are of lower quality; rather, they demonstrate expertise in meeting customer needs.
What other advice do I have?
Some users utilize AI and machine learning enhanced features, such as the FortiGuard services, though not all do as the AI features are relatively new. However, we have successfully positioned some features, particularly in areas such as AI. For example, the threat detection capabilities and the AI assistant available in the FortiAnalyzer service are noteworthy. Fortinet offers a license that can be utilized for AI features, especially in FortiManager. Users appreciate this feature because it helps them achieve better network configuration. If they encounter any issues within the network, they can easily leverage AI to find solutions to those problems.
Overall, I would rate Fortinet FortiGate a nine out of ten because while not everything is perfect, they're really doing their best and demonstrating it through their technology.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Cyber Security Engineer | Network/Security at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Enables seamless SD-WAN deployment and offers robust security features
Pros and Cons
- "Fortinet FortiGate has several valuable features; the configuration and policy setup are easy to implement, and there are embedded features including DLP, WAF, and proxy capabilities with security profiles for various functions."
What is our primary use case?
Majorly, I use Fortinet FortiGate for establishing SD-WAN in different remote locations. I also use it for segmenting wireless from LAN and implementing basic policy routing for departments. The next-gen features on Fortinet FortiGate permit proxy access, where URLs can be specified for specific users or departments to access.
What is most valuable?
Fortinet FortiGate has several valuable features. The configuration and policy setup are easy to implement. There are embedded features in Fortinet FortiGate, including DLP features, WAF presence in the firewall, and proxy capabilities. It has security profiles that can be set for various functions. In terms of security, it is particularly strong.
SD-WAN offers better reach, good reachability, and enhanced performance for network optimization. People implement SD-WAN today because of reachability and network optimization capabilities.
Fortinet FortiGate is effective in protecting against malicious access. It has a robust security architecture, which is something I truly like about FortiGate.
The SD-WAN integration is very simple. I appreciate the simplicity of the FortiGate system. It's one of the things I like most about it. With FortiAI, it's very easy to input your queries, and the system helps you set it up. If you prefer to do it manually, there is excellent documentation and step-by-step guides available to assist you. For me, the experience has been seamless and straightforward.
What needs improvement?
I cannot think of many improvements needed for Fortinet FortiGate. However, the pricing compared to competitors is quite high, though you get value for what you pay with Fortinet FortiGate.
With FortiSIEM, I have experienced some challenges. It has been suspended and is not available for utilization now. They should work on improving FortiSIEM.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have worked with both virtual appliances and physical devices, primarily with hardware devices, for over five years. The models I have used include 60, 100, and 201 series.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Fortinet FortiGate is one of the best firewalls available. There are no crashes or performance issues. It is very stable and reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have worked with Sophos and Check Point firewalls. Fortinet FortiGate leads compared to other solutions. Based on customer requests, we provide different options. I recommend people should consider Fortinet or Sophos, depending on their needs. Fortinet FortiGate performs well against other firewalls in the market.
How was the initial setup?
The hardware is easy to set up. I have only had issues with the activation of the evaluation license.
What was our ROI?
There has definitely been a return on investment with Fortinet FortiGate.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing depends on the capacity required. There are 100 series, 200 series, and 500 series options. The prices are moderate and reasonable for each series.
What other advice do I have?
For organizations using Fortinet FortiGate, it is important to utilize the security profiles properly. Make sure anti-spoofing is set up and networks are well-segmented on the Fortinet. Ensure proxy configuration is based on URL access stability.
I would rate this solution 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
IT/DevOps at a legal firm with 11-50 employees
VPN connections get streamlined as connectivity requirements are met
Pros and Cons
- "I would rate FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) as a solution a 10 out of 10."
- "In our case, the deployment options of FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) are not scalable, but in terms of connectivity to other companies, that's exactly what we needed, and that's exactly what it does perfectly, what is needed."
What is our primary use case?
For FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW), I use it primarily to connect with other companies through IPsec VPN. Any other security measures are on AWS itself, not on FortiGate. I'm someone who's familiar with FortiGate from previous jobs, so I use that, but it's how we're using it right now.
The IPsec feature of FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) is valuable to our company because we need to connect quickly VPN connections with other companies in our networks, and there are many connections in some cases. We need to keep it as secure as possible, maybe one-way connections or particular ports. FortiGate is the best option, at least that I'm familiar with, that can answer all of that in one product that is mostly easy to use.
In our case, the deployment options of FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) are not scalable, but in terms of connectivity to other companies, that's exactly what we needed, and that's exactly what it does perfectly, what is needed.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature for our company using FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) is the IPsec feature, but actually FortiGate is known for good UTM products such as application filter and web filtering. We don't use it here, but in previous companies I used it on a daily basis.
One of the benefits I've realized from using FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) is that it's secure and allows functions such as VPN. You can control Wi-Fi and other things from within, if you have FortiNet devices. It's an easy to use product, yet it allows you all that is needed, or at least all that you can do. Whenever there is a security breach, FortiGate is known to patch it very quickly from what I've seen.
Since FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) was implemented, there was a thought in the company about using the VPN that AWS itself provides, but it's far from being as good as FortiGate.
The process can be improved in terms of explaining exactly how the installation should be done step-by-step on AWS, because there are network considerations such as security groups. From what I could find, I didn't do extensive research, but it didn't seem obvious enough in that case.
What needs improvement?
I do not utilize the intrusion prevention and web filtering features of FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW).
The ability of FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) to inspect SSL encrypted traffic is not applicable in the current position, but in previous companies, it was really seamless whenever we used it. It just worked seamlessly.
I don't recall if we use a centralized management console for FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) in maintaining oversight across distributed networks.
In my opinion, FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) could be better by having specific models for home usage. I'd wish to have a FortiGate in my home, but the licensing isn't something that I want to purchase for home usage.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) almost since day one at this company, which I have been with for three years and something.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I experienced the stability and availability of FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) more in the previous company. In terms of stability, mostly it is okay; however, in some cases, there are features, especially the UI, that tend to have issues. In some cases, you need to restart it, but mostly, it's working flawlessly, especially if you have an HA environment, high availability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
In our case, the deployment options of FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) are not scalable, but in terms of connectivity to other companies, that's exactly what we needed, and that's exactly what it does perfectly, what is needed.
I'm certain that what it allows us in terms of connections to other companies is a straightforward solution that you don't have to use something else. It's easy to configure a new connection, and it works in a few minutes if everything works fine.
How are customer service and support?
In this company, I may have worked with FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) support one time, but in my previous company, I actually worked with them extensively. We had multiple FortiGate devices across multiple offices around the world, and we needed to switch them from one account to another sometimes. So I encountered FortiGate support quite frequently.
I would evaluate the level of support for FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) somewhere between seven and eight. My experience might be outdated because lately, I haven't had much experience with that. In some cases, you need to come prepared because the people there work by the book and ask for particular things. If you don't have them, you cannot proceed, but if you know what they need, after some time, it's pretty easy to get support or whatever you need.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I don't have enough information on other products that I can tell the pros and cons of FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) versus its competitors.
How was the initial setup?
The setup was already done, but from what I read, we considered putting it in another environment that we have, yet we didn't because we didn't actually need the environment at all.
What was our ROI?
I don't know if my company has seen return on the investment from FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW), but I'm certain that what it allows us in terms of connections to other companies is a straightforward solution that you don't have to use something else. It's easy to configure a new connection, and it works in a few minutes if everything works fine.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Pricing isn't something applicable for me regarding FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) because it was already set up once I came to this company.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Since FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) was implemented, there was a thought that crossed in the company about using the VPN that AWS itself provides, but it's far from being as good as FortiGate.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) as a solution a 10 out of 10. I do love FortiGate.
I give it a 10 because, in my experience, FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) is a product that allows you to do many things very easily. If you don't appreciate something about the way it works, you have enough playground to change it to suit your needs.
For someone considering FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) for their company, there was a demo online version that they have on their website that is easy to access. You can play with it and see almost all the features in action. That's an easy thing to actually test. Obviously, you cannot connect it to your network and see things live in your case, but it is still a good example of how things work.
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?
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Comprehensive traffic management and explore improve initial setup processes
Pros and Cons
- "Fortinet FortiGate is among the best options in the market."
- "Fortinet FortiGate provides superior protection compared to other firewalls, with high processing capabilities."
- "They could simplify their deployment process, especially when customers have existing devices."
What is our primary use case?
I'm using Fortinet FortiGate for consultancy, implementation, and troubleshooting after device implementation. We serve as both reseller and consultant, providing search support and consultancy support. I usually recommend Fortinet FortiGate for small and small-sized businesses.
How has it helped my organization?
I have experience with Fortinet FortiGate SD-WAN, as it is a method for routing traffic. We can assign profiles with specific conditions to create best practices or optimal experiences for customers. These profiles can manage traffic balance or link balancing. We can detect users or specific links for particular services, including load balancing.
What is most valuable?
Fortinet FortiGate provides superior protection compared to other firewalls, with high processing capabilities. In comparison to Sophos devices, Fortinet FortiGate offers enhanced protection through network protection, IPS, and application protection.
What needs improvement?
They could simplify their deployment process, especially when customers have existing devices. The configuration approach depends on whether customers need to start from scratch or can utilize existing backups and rules.
I would seek to improve Fortinet FortiGate by exploring additional features, such as SASE solutions that we are currently studying and implementing. The configuration could be made easier, particularly during initial setup. We need to ensure comprehensive utilization of all device features and learn best practices from other cases.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Fortinet FortiGate for approximately one year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Fortinet FortiGate is overall stable. When compared with Sophos, particularly regarding remote access and SSL VPN, Fortinet FortiGate proves much easier to use. While Sophos presented port-related challenges in Egypt, Fortinet FortiGate operates more smoothly.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Fortinet FortiGate is scalable, with capacity depending on firewall sizing. We determine sizing based on multiple factors: number of users, available links, traffic types, server count, services in use, and whether services will be published. We consider parameters such as VPN requirements, remote access needs, side-to-side VPN configuration, and overall traffic volume to determine device capacity.
How are customer service and support?
We tend to handle support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have experience with Fortinet products and limited experience with Cisco.
I provide other firewalls, such as Sophos, and I have worked with endpoint protection solutions. I have experience with backup solutions such as Veeam, and endpoint security solutions including Kaspersky and ESET.
How was the initial setup?
I have created many profiles for SD-WAN capabilities while integrating with Fortinet FortiGate. We assess customer needs and make recommendations accordingly. If customers aren't using SD-WAN, I suggest implementing it due to its effective load balancing capabilities and additional firewall features.
What was our ROI?
Regarding the evaluation of changes in return on investment after implementing the Fortinet solution for SD-WAN hybrid workforce, we work on a case-by-case basis. ROI is monitored by management, and we do not directly track ROI in the systems.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Fortinet FortiGate is among the best options in the market, though alternatives exist, including Sophos. Fortinet FortiGate demonstrates stronger performance and protection compared to Sophos, though its device and license costs are higher.
What other advice do I have?
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
System Administrator - IT Manager at a retailer with 51-200 employees
A robust, secure, and reasonably priced firewall
Pros and Cons
- "Fortinet FortiGate is one of the most solid and secure firewalls as long as you keep it up to date. The price is right; it's not very expensive."
- "I would advise others considering or evaluating the Fortinet FortiGate to buy it."
- "We are pretty happy with it. If anything, I believe the web interface could be simpler, especially for someone who has limited networking experience."
- "I mostly do administration, and I found Cisco to be the hardest major firewall manufacturer to deal with, with Fortinet FortiGate being the second hardest for me."
What is our primary use case?
We use Fortinet FortiGate 100F, which is one of two firewalls that we have, one at the entrance of the DMZ and one just outside. One is facing the internet, and the other is at the entrance of the DMZ. We use the one outside to essentially work as a VPN.
How has it helped my organization?
As compared to our previous firewall, WatchGuard, which is a good firewall, the successful hacking attempts were far fewer and further with the Fortinet FortiGate, but at the same time, I don't know if the credit goes to only FortiGate, as we have two firewalls versus one in the second implementation. Overall, it is more secure. The VPN is also more stable than the offering from WatchGuard at that time.
What is most valuable?
Fortinet FortiGate is one of the most solid and secure firewalls as long as you keep it up to date. The price is right; it's not very expensive.
It's quite feature-rich. While we've mostly used the VPN, we've also utilized it to create high availability.
What needs improvement?
We are pretty happy with it. If anything, I believe the web interface could be simpler, especially for someone who has limited networking experience. I mostly do administration, and I found Cisco to be the hardest major firewall manufacturer to deal with, with Fortinet FortiGate being the second hardest for me. In comparison, there's a bit of an easier and more user-friendly interface with WatchGuard.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have about three years of experience with the Fortinet FortiGate firewall. We also use FortiClient VPN.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The VPN was more stable than the offering from WatchGuard at that time.
How are customer service and support?
I would evaluate the service and technical support of Fortinet FortiGate as pretty good. Whenever we needed them, they would be there for us. I would rate them a nine out of ten. We had no complaints, although they were sometimes extremely busy.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Before using Fortinet FortiGate, we were using WatchGuard, which is another good firewall.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup process was efficient, as it took us less than an hour to set up both firewalls.
What about the implementation team?
I was involved in the deployment of the Fortinet FortiGate, handling the physical deployment myself while our vendor managed the initial setup.
We got the Fortinet FortiGate from Telus, which is a Canadian phone company. Our experience was excellent. They're a major phone company, so the services are never less than stellar.
The maintenance for Fortinet FortiGate involves just the occasional patch update. We have software that informs us whenever there's a new patch, and if it's critical, we run the patch update immediately; if not, we usually run it at the end of the month after it's released.
What was our ROI?
We had uninterrupted service. If one firewall failed, we still had a secure infrastructure. I believe we essentially had a great VPN compared to the alternative offerings, so that's a good return on investment.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It's good. I would rate the price of the Fortinet FortiGate as an eight out of ten. It's not the cheapest, but it's value for money. Given everything we've got out of it: the DMZ port, the VPN, and the high availability, it's a pretty reasonable price.
What other advice do I have?
I would advise others considering or evaluating the Fortinet FortiGate to buy it. It's one of the best products for the price.
I would rate Fortinet FortiGate 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.
Information Technology Infrastructure Section Head at a consumer goods company with 11-50 employees
Does its job effectively and protects our environment
Pros and Cons
- "The best features of Fortinet FortiGate are that it does the job effectively and protects our environment."
- "We faced difficulties with the configuration because there are many features we could optimize using Fortinet FortiGate, but our reseller didn't have a good understanding of it. So, we just use it on a basic level, not with the best practice for using FortiGate."
- "In my case, the 101F is not scalable. I faced problems with scalability related to memory. When we hit 100% memory usage, it stops the internet connection, so we need to control the traffic. We cannot increase the memory."
How has it helped my organization?
We don't have any issues regarding security, and our web server is running fine with protection from all threats.
What is most valuable?
The best features of Fortinet FortiGate are that it does the job effectively and protects our environment. It has a VPN and can create a virtual IP for a web server and functions as a standard firewall.
What needs improvement?
We faced difficulties with the configuration because there are many features we could optimize using Fortinet FortiGate, but our reseller didn't have a good understanding of it. So, we just use it on a basic level, not with the best practice for using FortiGate.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Fortinet FortiGate for around five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Overall, I find Fortinet FortiGate to be very stable. Fortinet FortiGate demonstrates consistent stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
In my case, the 101F is not scalable. I faced problems with scalability related to memory. When we hit 100% memory usage, it stops the internet connection, so we need to control the traffic. We cannot increase the memory.
We have about 350 users and only one admin.
How are customer service and support?
My experience with Fortinet's technical support is good and helpful. The response time and overall competence meet our expectations. I would rate their support a seven out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We used Juniper before Fortinet FortiGate. We switched because it was an old one and reached the end of support. We had to change.
How was the initial setup?
We were supported by a third party and the reseller. During deployment, it was not a good experience because of the reseller. We had challenges with the optimized configuration.
The deployment took around three months.
What about the implementation team?
The reseller helped us with the implementation. It has been a long time since the implementation, so I don't remember the name of the company that helped us.
Our IT has six people for deployment, and we used two staff members.
What was our ROI?
We have seen a return on investment with Fortinet FortiGate. The ROI calculation is based on potential loss prevention rather than traditional ROI metrics.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Its pricing is good. The advantages of Fortinet FortiGate over its competitors include good pricing and meeting our requirements at a lower cost. Palo Alto's features are superior, but too expensive.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I compared other brands, such as Palo Alto and Sophos, and chose Fortinet FortiGate. Palo Alto is the best, but it is significantly more expensive. Palo Alto has better capabilities than Fortinet FortiGate. Their protection is much more secure, and they excel in detecting intrusion and reading information.
What other advice do I have?
I would 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.
Network Security Engineer at TD SYNNEX
FSSO and Run Script are useful, and its price is also good
Pros and Cons
- "There is a tool called FSSO, which is a single sign-on user ID agent that works perfectly."
- "Run Script is the best tool to use in Fortinet FortiGate with multiple environments."
- "I prefer Palo Alto over Fortinet FortiGate. Its IPS engine is not better than the Palo Alto version. The monitoring tool needs improvement, and the syslog configuration needs enhancement."
- "In most cases, the IPS engine uses too many resources, which makes Fortinet FortiGate devices unstable."
What is most valuable?
There is a tool called FSSO, which is a single sign-on user ID agent that works perfectly. You can configure anything on it, and it is better than Palo Alto's version.
The GUI is written in JavaScript, so when you move any object or policy to another one, it becomes easy to use. It is user-friendly and not complex for network configuration.
Run Script is the best tool to use in Fortinet FortiGate with multiple environments. You can perform multiple tasks at once with the script functionality. It is available through the GUI, whereas in Palo Alto, you need to run it in a separate tool, such as Python.
What needs improvement?
I prefer Palo Alto over Fortinet FortiGate. Its IPS engine is not better than the Palo Alto version. The monitoring tool needs improvement, and the syslog configuration needs enhancement.
The management plane and control plane are not separated as they are in the same hardware devices, whereas in Palo Alto, everything is separated. So, if the CPU and GPU usage gets higher in the data plane, the admin also becomes unreachable.
The web filter in Fortinet FortiGate is not very useful. While you can add web filters in security policies, it is difficult to understand and not flexible to use.
Fortinet FortiGate frequently experiences IPS engine problems.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with it for four to five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
In most cases, the IPS engine uses too many resources, which makes Fortinet FortiGate devices unstable. When clients encounter different issues, the IPS engine is usually the problem because it consumes excessive resources.
How are customer service and support?
I have not worked directly with technical support, but I am familiar with the distributor, partner, and vendor. People who work with Fortinet provide adequate service.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
I mostly migrate from Fortinet FortiGate, Check Point, and other solutions to Palo Alto. For migrations from various solutions to Fortinet FortiGate, it takes a few days, depending on the environment.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Fortinet FortiGate is cheaper than Palo Alto. It is about 20% cheaper.
What other advice do I have?
I prefer Palo Alto over Fortinet FortiGate. Fortinet FortiGate is not the best firewall, but it is acceptable. If you have a budget to buy a firewall and Palo Alto is too expensive, then Fortinet FortiGate can be usable. As an instructor in Palo Alto Networks who knows all the techniques, I naturally prefer Palo Alto.
For a small company or branch, I would choose Fortinet FortiGate because it is cheaper and the features are sufficient. However, for more critical environments, such as government institutions or banks, where privacy and security are paramount, I would opt for Palo Alto.
In a hamburger topology setup with the internet side and internal side, I prefer using Palo Alto Networks on the internet side and Fortinet FortiGate on the internal side. This creates a multi-vendor environment, avoiding dependency on a single vendor. The internet side requires more security, hence I would go for Palo Alto, whereas the internal side would benefit from Fortinet FortiGate's flexibility and ease of use.
I would 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.
Cheif cloud architect at a government with 51-200 employees
Secure connectivity has improved branch-to-cloud protection and supports future-ready defenses
Pros and Cons
- "Fortinet FortiGate has reasonable pricing and is easy to operate; it is efficient and represents the future for security, including cloud security and branch-to-cloud security."
- "One point against them is that their solution lacks a unified approach."
What is our primary use case?
I have experience working with Cisco, Catalyst SD-WAN, Fortinet FortiGate, and Juniper technologies. We have a multi-range of vendors including Cisco, Juniper, VMware, and Palo Alto. We use Palo Alto firewall and Fortinet FortiGate firewall for wireless security and network security, including proxy and next-generation capabilities.
Most vendors are providing almost the same functionalities in terms of firewalls. Palo Alto, Fortinet, and Juniper are all offering similar capabilities, but they have a wide range of services or products such as SD-WAN and SASE. Currently, we are a big enterprise and one of our products is Fortinet FortiGate.
What is most valuable?
Fortinet FortiGate has reasonable pricing and is easy to operate. It is efficient and represents the future for security, including cloud security and branch-to-cloud security.
We have threat intelligence detection, response, and action capabilities. Fortinet FortiGate products are stable, and they offer a wide range of security capabilities.
What needs improvement?
We did not use Fortinet SASE, and I do not remember if our data center team utilizes it. Currently, I think Fortinet should enable more cloud, virtual, or unified solutions. One point against them is that their solution lacks a unified approach. Sometimes the licensing is not clear, and when you purchase a product, you find that you need certain licenses or additional products. There is not one comprehensive solution.
For how long have I used the solution?
Three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Fortinet FortiGate is stable. We have been using it for three years and did not face any stability issues.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have been using Fortinet FortiGate for three years and did not face any scalability issues.
How are customer service and support?
I do not have good visibility about Fortinet FortiGate's tech support because it is similar to other vendors. There is tech support available, and if there is an operational issue, the operations team opens a ticket with tech support.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We work with local companies and local partners. Both the vendor and official channels work with local partners for implementation.
How was the initial setup?
I do not remember there being challenges or complexity in the deployment of Fortinet FortiGate.
What about the implementation team?
We work with local companies and local partners. Both the vendor and official channels coordinate with local partners.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Fortinet FortiGate's price is reasonable compared with other vendors.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Fortinet FortiGate is in a good position. In Gartner, they are leaders, but they may come after Palo Alto and are better than Cisco in the firewall field.
What other advice do I have?
We are deploying micro-segmentation technology and methodology in our cloud and private cloud deployment. I can assess that Fortinet FortiGate is good overall. My review rating for this product is eight out of ten.
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 does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Last updated: Dec 1, 2025
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