Fortinet FortiGate Reviews

Name: Fortinet FortiGate
Brand: Fortinet
Rating: 4.2 (318 reviews)

Vendor: Fortinet

4.2 out of 5

318 reviews
90% willing to recommend

16K followers

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What is Fortinet FortiGate?

Fortinet FortiGate offers comprehensive network security and firewall protection across multiple locations. It effectively manages data traffic and secures environments with features like VPN, intrusion prevention, and UTM controls.

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Fortinet FortiGate is the #1 ranked solution in SD-WAN tools, #1 ranked solution in top WAN Edge solutions, and #2 ranked solution in best firewalls. PeerSpot users give Fortinet FortiGate an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Fortinet FortiGate is most commonly compared to Netgate pfSense: Fortinet FortiGate vs Netgate pfSense. Fortinet FortiGate is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 38% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 22% of all views.

Helped 838,640 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

EhabAli

Sr. Cybersecurity Solutions Architect at BMB

In the past, NSS Labs was utilized to test files and verify the numbers and datasheets. It would be beneficial to have an organization or testing lab that can verify the numbers in our datasheets since changes are frequently made, which can be inconvenient for review. For instance, when comparing different competitors such as Forcepoint, Palo Alto, and Check Point, the throughput or numbers in the datasheet may be lower than the actual numbers. Conversely, Fortinet typically reports very high numbers, but they cannot be replicated in the real world. Therefore, it would be advantageous for them to partner with a neutral testing organization such as NSS Labs to validate these numbers, thus providing more credibility and comfort to everyone regarding the accuracy of the datasheets. For the migration, everyone has a firewall in use and I am selling Fortinet. Typically, I am replacing another firewall. Previously, there was a tool available to convert configurations from one firewall, such as Palo Alto, to Fortinet, but this tool is no longer free. If it could be made free again, it would be very beneficial. This tool shows a lot of promise and is very good. Making it free would help many companies deliver their products in a more efficient and integrated way. It would also be more valuable to include the tool with the firewall package or license instead of having to pay extra for it. Paying extra puts more pressure on small companies to deliver the firewall and complete the configuration, especially if they have hundreds or thousands of policies. It's very painful to move through these policies line by line. The stability has room for improvement. When it comes to Secure SD-WAN, everything is fine. They are going the right way. SD-WAN is very promising. They can provide the SD-WAN solution separately, but they will not take this approach because even the smallest firewall can support the features, so there is no need to have a separate service or appliance. They are following the right steps, and there is nothing to be improved. Feature-wise, I'm really satisfied with the new release, and the features they have added. For now, it's fine.

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Saurabh-Pal

Sr. Security Specialist at a tech vendor with 11-50 employees

Palo Alto has a feature called WildFire Analysis that is unavailable in FortiGate. WildFire is better than a sandbox because it can address zero-day threats and vulnerabilities. It can immediately identify zero-day threats from the cloud. Fortinet uses a separate solution called FortiSandbox. It needs to download signatures to identify malware, which takes significantly longer. WildFire is a cloud-based platform that collects threat information from users worldwide.

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Jose Gisbert

Manager Network (IT/OT) at a consumer goods company with 5,001-10,000 employees

Overall, we are satisfied with the product. However, we encounter occasional capacity issues. The FortiAnalyzer, being a hardware appliance, has limited expansion capabilities. As our organization has grown, we've outpaced the FortiAnalyzer's performance. The inability to scale the FortiAnalyzer to match our growth necessitates the purchase of new hardware. This is an area that could be improved. If we anticipate reaching the size of six countries within the next five years, investing in a solution that can accommodate such growth would be more cost-effective than repeatedly purchasing new hardware. The ability to scale the FortiAnalyzer in tandem with our growth would be a significant improvement.

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Fortinet FortiGate mindshare

Product category:

As of February 2025, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiGate in the Firewalls category stands at 20.7%, up from 17.7% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Firewalls	Feb 21, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Feb 21, 2025	Download
Comparison	Fortinet FortiGate vs Netgate pfSense	Feb 21, 2025	Download
Comparison	Fortinet FortiGate vs OPNsense	Feb 21, 2025	Download
Comparison	Fortinet FortiGate vs Sophos XG	Feb 21, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Netgate pfSense	4.3	16.0%	94%	213 interviews Add to research
OPNsense	4.1	13.3%	97%	39 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Fortinet FortiGate's most valuable features include security features like firewalling, IPS, and VPN. Users appreciate SSL VPN, web filtering, application control, and centralized management. High availability, ease of use, integration with FortiGuard, and consolidated security management are favored. Users value FortiGate's flexibility, GUI, load balancing, and scalability. SD-WAN, Active Directory integration, and FortiView for monitoring are also highly regarded. Its user-friendly interface and reliable security performance enhance network protection efficiently.

"The product has been very stable, based on my ten to eleven years of experience."
"FortiGate has led to a reduction in our security budget."
"I'm looking forward to FortiGate's dashboard features, insights, application oversight, and monitoring, which could help us significantly."

Room for Improvement

Fortinet FortiGate needs improvements in areas such as user interface stability, bandwidth management, and reporting capabilities. Users express concerns over the web interface's intuitiveness and the lack of troubleshooting features. Licensing costs are considered high. Performance degrades with more features enabled. Configuration and support processes could be streamlined. Users desire better integration with Active Directory and third-party tools, longer log retention, and a more user-friendly GUI that reduces reliance on CLI.

"The configuration part was challenging, especially converting configurations from another OEM to FortiGate."
"The configuration part was challenging, especially converting configurations from another OEM to FortiGate."
"The anti-malware engine could use an upgrade."

ROI

Fortinet FortiGate offers significant cost savings, demonstrated by reduced operational costs and efficient management. Many users highlight high returns, citing enhanced performance, security, and user productivity. It provides value with its competitive price/performance ratio, saving on manpower through easy management, and integrating well with existing systems. The initial investment is often offset by savings gained from reduced support calls and lower security budget costs compared to previous vendors.

Pricing

Enterprise buyers report that Fortinet FortiGate's initial deployment costs can be high, yet its yearly license fees are relatively competitive compared to alternatives like Cisco and Palo Alto. Licensing is generally straightforward and flexible, with options tailored to specific needs. FortiGate often provides good value, with a favorable price-performance ratio and integrated features. Users highlight that while the renewal process can be costly, the overall cost-effectiveness and comprehensive support justify the expense, making it a preferred choice for many businesses.

"For the price, I'd rate it a ten because it's very cost-effective."
"The cost of Fortinet FortiGate is competitive and not expensive compared to other enterprise- grade solutions. On average, the license cost per year is around seventy percent of the firewall's purchase price."
"It was worth the money overall. It's good value."

Popular Use Cases

Fortinet FortiGate is primarily used as a firewall to secure networks across various locations, providing features like VPN connectivity, intrusion prevention, and web filtering. Organizations implement it for network security, protecting sensitive data, and managing internet access. It enhances internal security, enables SD-WAN for stable connections, and integrates with external tools for comprehensive protection. Fortinet FortiGate is favored by enterprises and small businesses for its reliable performance and ease of integration into diverse environments.

Service and Support

Fortinet FortiGate's customer service and support receive mixed feedback. Many users rate it highly, praising responsiveness and knowledge, citing rapid resolutions. However, some report frustrations with long response times and inconsistent support quality. The level of satisfaction varies, with scores ranging from excellent to unsatisfactory. While some users appreciate vendor support, others rely on integrator services for better experiences. Despite varied opinions, many find Fortinet FortiGate's support satisfactory, with room for improvement.

Deployment

Fortinet FortiGate's initial setup is generally simple for many users, especially with a background in networking. The interface and guides, like FortiExplorer, facilitate a quick and easy installation. While smaller deployments are straightforward, larger networks may face complexity due to VLANs and specific configurations. A strong understanding and planning ease the deployment process, with some setups completed in hours, while others may extend due to network intricacies. Frequent updates ensure an improved experience.

Scalability

Many users find Fortinet FortiGate scalable, with capabilities to handle diverse deployment needs. While some experiences suggest limitations, particularly in modularity and hardware capacity, others highlight its robust scalability across various demands. Organizations manage scaling through different hardware models, utilizing FortiManager for large installations. Licensing and configuration aspects are noted, with certain adjustments needed as network requirements grow. Overall, Fortinet FortiGate is perceived as practical for small, medium, and some large enterprises.

Stability

Fortinet FortiGate demonstrates strong stability, with most users experiencing no significant issues. While some encountered CPU or memory spikes and rare bugs, updates typically resolve these. High CPU usage and configuration errors were noted, but generally, FortiGate performs reliably. Some customers reported that newer firmware versions require caution due to initial instabilities. FortiGate's stability is highly rated, especially when correctly configured and matched to traffic needs. Most users are satisfied with Fortinet's performance.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Fortinet FortiGate Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

22%

Computer Software Company

14%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Government

University

Retailer

Healthcare Company

Construction Company

Media Company

Hospitality Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Non Profit

Insurance Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Wholesaler/Distributor

Legal Firm

Outsourcing Company

Transportation Company

Performing Arts

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Consumer Goods Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Compare Fortinet FortiGate with alternative products

Learn more about Fortinet FortiGate

Organizations rely on Fortinet FortiGate for its robust integration with advanced security policies, ensuring significant protection for enterprises, cloud environments, and educational sectors. It facilitates network segmentation, application-level security, and authentication management, securing communication within and between locations such as branches and data centers. Its efficient SD-WAN and UTM features enable streamlined data management and enhanced threat protection capabilities. Users appreciate its centralized management, facilitating seamless operations across diverse environments.

What are the key features of Fortinet FortiGate?

VPN Capabilities: Ensure secure remote access for users and seamless site-to-site connections.
Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): Detect and prevent security threats and vulnerabilities.
Advanced Firewall: Offers robust firewalling with application control and web filtering.
SD-WAN: Optimizes application performance and enhances bandwidth management.
SSL VPN: Provides reliable and secure access for remote workers.

What benefits should users expect from Fortinet FortiGate?

High-performance Security: Delivers effective threat mitigation with high availability.
Centralized Management: Simplifies network operations with cloud-based management tools.
Detailed Analytics: Provides comprehensive insights into network activity and security threats.
Load Balancing: Ensures optimal resource distribution and traffic management.

Fortinet FortiGate is crucial in sectors like education, offering robust networks for secure data flow between campuses and facilitating remote learning. In enterprise environments, it allows efficient management of application traffic and security across multiple branches, while in the cloud, it seamlessly integrates with diverse platforms to enhance security infrastructure.

Fortinet FortiGate was previously known as FortiGate 60b, FortiGate 60c, FortiGate 80c, FortiGate 50b, FortiGate 200b, FortiGate 110c, FortiGate, Fortinet Firewall.

Fortinet FortiGate customers

Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, Dell, HP, Oracle, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Vodafone, Orange, BT Group, Telstra, Deutsche Telekom, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, CenturyLink, NTT Communications, Tata Communications, SoftBank, China Mobile, Singtel, Telus, Rogers Communications, Bell Canada, Telkom Indonesia, Telkom South Africa, Telmex, Telia Company, Telkom Kenya