Fortinet FortiGate SWG Reviews

Name: Fortinet FortiGate SWG
Brand: Fortinet
Rating: 4.3 (41 reviews)

4.3 out of 5

41 reviews
100% willing to recommend

What is Fortinet FortiGate SWG?

Fortinet FortiGate SWG is a comprehensive web security solution provided by Fortinet. FortiGate SWG combines web filtering, malware protection, data loss prevention (DLP), and application control capabilities into a single integrated platform. It is designed to protect organizations from web-based threats, enforce compliance policies, and provide secure access to web resources.

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Fortinet FortiGate SWG is the #4 ranked solution in top Web Security Gateways. PeerSpot users give Fortinet FortiGate SWG an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 41 most recent Fortinet FortiGate SWG reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 7.1. Fortinet FortiGate SWG is most commonly compared to Cisco Umbrella: Fortinet FortiGate SWG vs Cisco Umbrella. Fortinet FortiGate SWG is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 51% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 16% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiGate SWG

December 2024

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Featured reviews

David Carlson

CIO at Camco Mfg.

FortiGate is easy to configure. We configured one of the units and sent it to Indiana to be installed. We asked them to give us a call when they got it, so we could help them through the process, but they called us back to tell us it works great. Non-IT people could plug it in, connect it to the fiber, and get it running without IT help. That was fantastic. Fortinet also offers a single pane of glass that we can use to manage our routers with gateways, so that's convenient. We're running a VPN to our remote location, and the performance is good. We're changing all our VPN connectors on our laptops from Cisco's Anywhere to Fortinet's VPN because the performance is just so much better.

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Chee Yuen Yap

Technical Director at Infosyte Sdn Bhd

It's easy to use. The interface and other reports are all user-friendly. The software is a bit expensive to renew. The FortiGate product range is diverse and suitable for different types of enterprises. It is more geared towards meeting the needs of larger enterprises. In the financial services industry in Malaysia, it's often paired with Palo Alto. Most of the projects follow a similar pattern. It's all in one box. You can use it for switching, routing, firewall, VPN - everything you need can be integrated into the FortiGate. Essentially, it's only one device for smaller setups. FortiGate has a very good range, from small businesses to even larger ones. Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

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Gaurav Amar

Deputy Vice present at PVR Ltd

The network load balancing is one of the best features of Fortinet FortiGate SWG. Fortinet FortiGate SWG's SD-WAN compatibility with any of the providers is also one of its good features. The security devices work well with the solution, and it works well for anything pertaining to security, including the HTML files and VPN, which is beneficial for our company.

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Fortinet FortiGate SWG mindshare

As of December 2024, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiGate SWG in the Secure Web Gateways (SWG) category stands at 10.8%, down from 10.9% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Secure Web Gateways (SWG)

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Secure Web Gateways (SWG)	Dec 18, 2024	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Dec 18, 2024	Download
Comparison	Fortinet FortiGate SWG vs Cisco Umbrella	Dec 18, 2024	Download
Comparison	Fortinet FortiGate SWG vs Zscaler Internet Access	Dec 18, 2024	Download
Comparison	Fortinet FortiGate SWG vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks	Dec 18, 2024	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Cisco Umbrella	4.4	N/A	97%	111 interviews Add to research
Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks	4.1	12.3%	92%	62 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

The interface is user-friendly, intuitive and easy to configure, making it accessible even to non-IT personnel. Web filtering, inspection, and integration with vulnerability management are also valuable features. The solution is superior to Cisco in terms of security. The manageability is excellent, and the initial setup is straightforward.

"The solution is easy to use and checks the access control as a firewall."
"The interface and other reports are all user-friendly."
"The product is stable and strong."

Room for Improvement

Improvements needed on Fortinet FortiGate SWG include better IP licensing, enabling soft functionality for VPN use case, identifying users causing challenges, improving network traceability, faster installation process, lower pricing, more user-friendly dashboard/GUI, better reporting capability, additional features such as IBS and better cloud administration, and easier access to hidden features. Some reviewers experienced issues with firmware upgrades and slow log management.

"Fortinet FortiGate SWG can't be used on its own, and you have to get FortiAnalyzer."
"Zero trust could be added. Nowadays, solutions like Zscaler, Netskope, and even SecureWorks combine multiple features into a single product."
"The software is a bit expensive to renew."

ROI

The investment in Fortinet FortiGate SWG has resulted in positive returns. Switching to SD-WAN has allowed for live-live connectivity with the use of multiple internet connections simultaneously, improving traffic flow.

Pricing

Some users find Fortinet FortiGate SWG reasonably priced and affordable, while others think it's expensive when compared to other solutions. The setup cost seems to vary depending on the user's organization size and needs. Licensing is required and can be paid yearly or have a multi-year agreement.

"The cost has increased since the update so I would rate it eight out of ten."
"FortiGate SWG is a cost-effective solution well-suited for organisations of all sizes."
"While slightly more affordable than competitors, it remains relatively expensive due to its inclusive subscription."

Popular Use Cases

Fortinet FortiGate SWG is primarily used as a firewall for protecting on-prem traffic and controlling user's web access to certain places. It is also used for threat detection and response, as well as establishing VPN with other locations. It is a Secure Web Gateway that protects against various web attacks and features application control and intrusion prevention. It is useful for IPS web application and is being employed for basic features related to next-generation firewall.

Service and Support

Those who have used the technical support find it to be very good and helpful, though some note that there could be room for improvement in terms of ETA for resolution. Some prefer to contact their dedicated support team instead of Fortinet for faster resolution. Overall, customers seem to be satisfied with the technical support provided by Fortinet FortiGate SWG.

Deployment

Some users found it simple and quick, while others found it moderately complex and took up to a week to deploy. Some users were able to easily migrate their security policies from their previous Fortinet firewalls, while others encountered difficulties with configuration during migration. One user reported the implementation process as easy and only requiring one technical person, while another reported it taking months to deploy across six sites.

Scalability

Users have rated its scalability between eight and ten out of ten, with an ability to expand well and accommodate up to 200 people. Some users have also noted that the solution performs extremely well even with mid-range and entry-level devices, and that it can integrate with other products to make it stronger.

Stability

Fortinet FortiGate SWG has good performance, no bugs or glitches, and doesn't crash or freeze. Customers have reported using it for years without any periods of downtime, and it is reliable. Although some new releases may have bugs and be memory and CPU-reliant, the solution is still scalable.

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

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

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Government

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

Real Estate/Law Firm

Healthcare Company

Non Profit

Construction Company

University

Insurance Company

Legal Firm

Energy/Utilities Company

Hospitality Company

Retailer

Wholesaler/Distributor

Media Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Performing Arts

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Outsourcing Company

Transportation Company

Logistics Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Marketing Services Firm

Compare Fortinet FortiGate SWG with alternative products

Learn more about Fortinet FortiGate SWG

FortiGate SWG Benefits:

Comprehensive web filtering and security features
Ease of use and management
Integration with other Fortinet products
Strong threat detection capabilities
Scalability and flexibility
Granular control over user access and activity

FortiGate SWG Features:

Web Filtering: FortiGate SWG employs URL filtering and content categorization to control and enforce web access policies.
Malware Protection: The solution provides real-time protection against web-borne threats, such as malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP): FortiGate SWG helps prevent sensitive data from being leaked or exfiltrated through web channels.
SSL Inspection: The solution supports SSL/TLS decryption and inspection, allowing organizations to examine encrypted web traffic for threats and enforce security policies.
Application Control: FortiGate SWG enables granular control over web applications and protocols.
Advanced Threat Intelligence: FortiGate SWG leverages Fortinet's threat intelligence services to provide up-to-date information about emerging threats and zero-day vulnerabilities.
User Authentication and Access Control: The solution supports various authentication methods, including single sign-on (SSO) and integration with identity providers, to ensure secure user authentication and access control for web resources.
Reporting and Analytics: FortiGate SWG provides comprehensive reporting and analytics capabilities.

FortiGate SWG is typically deployed as a hardware appliance or as a virtual appliance in on-premises environments, but it may also be available as a cloud-based service. It is part of Fortinet's broader security fabric ecosystem, allowing integration with other Fortinet products to provide a unified and coordinated security infrastructure.

Reviews from Real Users

Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by FortiGate SWG users.

David Carlson, CIO at Camco Mfg., says that "Non-IT people could plug it in, connect it to the fiber, and get it running without IT help".

Suresh Vijayen, Product Manager at IX Telecom, writes that FortiGate SWG "Provides helpful technical support, but its dashboard needs to be more user-friendly".

Chandan Munshi, Chief Technical Officer at Provision Technologies LLP, states that "The user interface is intuitive. Anyone can configure the firewall with little knowledge of the product. The back-end is robust with good security."

Fortinet FortiGate SWG was previously known as FortiGate SWG, FortiGate Secure Web Gateway.