Fortinet FortiOS Reviews

Name: Fortinet FortiOS
Brand: Fortinet
Rating: 4 (75 reviews)

4.2 out of 5

75 reviews
98% willing to recommend

265 followers

What is Fortinet FortiOS?

Fortinet FortiOS is a comprehensive security operating system that powers Fortinet's network security solutions. It provides advanced threat protection, network visibility, and centralized management for organizations of all sizes. With its robust features and intuitive interface, FortiOS enables businesses to secure their networks, applications, and data from cyber threats.

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Fortinet FortiOS is the #20 ranked solution in best firewalls. PeerSpot users give Fortinet FortiOS an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Fortinet FortiOS is most commonly compared to Fortinet FortiGate: Fortinet FortiOS vs Fortinet FortiGate. Fortinet FortiOS is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 52% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 18% of all views.

Helped 801,394 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Saleem Ullah Khan

Manager - IT Business Solutions at Kuwait Automotive Imports Company

We are not scaling it right now. We bought it sometime back and we didn't need to scale it. We bought a higher end for our use case, which is still sufficient for another few years. We have 200 or so users of different levels and positions on it. We do not have plans to increase usage. This firewall is quite a capable firewall - even up to 1000 users. Due to that, we didn't find any requirement to expand it or replace it somehow. It has helped us build our software-defined WAN, LAN, et cetera. It is sufficient for us. It gives us Gbps throughput, which is good enough. The firewall itself is 32Gbps capable, which is more than what we need.

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RaynoPowell

Senior System Analyst at EOH

We don't really find a lot of issues on it. If I really have to complain about something, and there's not much, is the free VPN solution is a bit limited. Then again, it is a free solution. That's essentially it. Nothing else on the FortiGate or on the Fortinet OS side is really an issue. That's one of the main reasons why we use them: everything works and works well. For what we use, there isn't really any missing feature. In fact, we actually want to get rid of some of the features that they have due to the fact that, for the security model that we need to implement, having more features actually opens up potential risk. We actually would like to have a device that is more focused specifically on OT environments the operational technologies. We would prefer a device that's stripped down, that doesn't have all the other fluff in the more enterprise system. We actually want a feature where we can remove features that are there that we don't use. That is actually a thing that we find. We use it now in an operational technology environment. We use normal IT equipment. However, it's not a normal IT network. It differs significantly from a normal corporate IT environment. In a normal corporate IT environment, you like the fluff, and the additional features, and you can click, click, click, and you're done. However, all of those features you add to a device open up risk for us. And that is something we do differently in the OT environment in operational technology. We prefer to not have the fluff. We prefer to have only what is needed for the device to do what it needs to do. For example, imagine an additional feature for some sort of additional VPN technology has been added. However, it's not really needed for the OT environment, and it's not configured on the device, yet there's some sort of security threat in there. Now, all of a sudden, somebody can hack your system, and he's in there, and he's switching the lights on and off the entire city. And you don't know about it due to the fact that the additional fluff that we added to the system, we weren't aware of that issue was on there. You can enable and disable certain modules in it. However, with disabling, nobody can really tell us if that module is disabled. Is it really disabled? Is it actually unloaded? Is it uninstalling Word from your laptop, or is it just not running Word?

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SHAMIK GHOSH

IT Director at Khaitan & Co LLP

We are using this device for LB Gateway, so it's indicated as part of my network. So it's helped us to infilter filters and the traffic as well as the Internet and local traffic I find filtering traffic, filtering web traffic, session traffic, and managing the network as valuable features.…

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Fortinet FortiOS mindshare

As of September 2024, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiOS in the Firewalls category stands at 0.9%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls

Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

The most valuable features of Fortinet FortiOS include:

Its ability to efficiently work with large-scale firewall deployments
Custom segmentation for the firewall without additional devices
Constant updates and definitions for threat detection
SD-WAN and site-to-site VPN capabilities
User-friendliness
Ease of management and configuration
Security and authentication capabilities
Built-in SD-WAN functionality
Flexibility
IPS and DNS filtering databases
UTM features
Internet gateway functionality
Comprehensive integrations
Dontrol over inbound and outbound traffic
Next-generation firewall capabilities
Powerful CLI and GUI

"We primarily use Fortinet FortiOS for site-to-site VPNs, reporting features, and wireless capabilities. It is well integrated within the Fortinet ecosystem."
"The firewall options in FortiOS allow us to open up access to our vendors for EDI and all its features."
"The SSL VPN is fee for use is most attractive."

Room for Improvement

The firmware updates have significant bugs and issues that affect the network and firewall. The solution should include an advanced firewall feature to enhance security.

Integration with endpoint protection or EDR is also necessary to strengthen infrastructure and detect threats from user activities on the Internet. Additionally, the solution lacks the ability to monitor the ISP link, requiring the use of third-party applications.

Real-time threat monitoring is missing, and traffic visibility should be improved on the dashboard.

Generating multiple reports and extending log visibility beyond a week is necessary.

The user interface could be more user-friendly and responsive, with notations for changes made.

DDoS protection and managing local DSCP networks need improvement. SD-WAN configuration should be easier, and better support, bandwidth optimization, and traffic prioritization capabilities are desired.

The monitoring function should be more accurate, easy to use, and include more active monitoring of traffic.

The solution would benefit from the ability to create another site on a VPN. Memory and CPU utilization should be managed better, and cloud functionality should be enhanced. The complex initial setup could be simplified, and NMS should be built into the solution.

The features of FortiAnalyzer should be included in Fortinet FortiOS without requiring an additional license and device.

"The main challenge with Fortinet FortiOS is integration with third-party solutions. I don't see any other areas for improvement. Nowadays, all products work well for 50-60 percent of needs. We must only fulfill 60-70 percent of client requirements because they don't use 100 percent of product features. Banks and financial sectors might need more security features. I don't work much in banking, but they often use multiple products for different security layers, not just firewalls. They might use various products or APIs for different purposes. In the end, clients use the products that suit their needs."
"Fortinet could integrate something like a YubiKey for 2FA with their SSL VPN clients."
"A switch should be introduced."

ROI

Users have witnessed a good ROI, rating it highly and considering it one of the best devices for ROI. They highlight the value of FortiGate in terms of protecting against security threats and the cost savings compared to cleaning systems after an attack. Additionally, the scalability and management of FortiOS have been beneficial, and users have found it easy to use without needing extensive training.

Pricing

The pricing of Fortinet FortiOS varies depending on the market segment. It is competitive for the medium and high markets yet can be expensive for the small markets. The cost includes a yearly licensing fee, which can be a bit expensive. However, some licensing options offer affordability, particularly in India where licensing for up to two years is available. Some reviewers mention that pricing could be better or lower, while others find it to be the cheapest option on the market.

The specific costs of licensing vary depending on factors such as modules selected and additional warranties or guarantees. The pricing is affected by factors including the dollar conversion rate.

"Pricing for the tool can vary. Sometimes, aggressive pricing is offered at the start, but later, as subscriptions and expansions are needed, the costs can increase, and customers may have to pay whatever is required."
"The solution is cost effective. I would rate the pricing a five out of ten."
"It is not cheap."

Popular Use Cases

The primary use case of Fortinet FortiOS is for firewall protection and security purposes. It is used for end-point gateway protection, external user connection, and server VPN. It provides portal access and basic access filtering. It is also used for IPsec VPN and UTM (Unified Threat Management).

The product is deployed as a firewall for remote VPN use and to protect companies with a large number of users. It is used to deploy and service virtual firewalls for customers.

FortiOS offers additional features like inbuilt SD-WAN, and integration with third-party software, and is a valuable addition to the OS. It is used for data protection, site-to-site, and SSH. It is the operating system for FortiGate firewall devices, both on-premises and on the public cloud, and is used for firewall segmentation, network authentication, and as a security measure for data centers and LANs.

Fortinet FortiOS provides a full UTM experience, including UTM profiles, firewall rules, remote access, VPN connection, IPSec, and SSL connection. It is used to protect offices and has deployments in production environments.

It is commonly used in small and medium-sized business environments for remote access, site-to-site VPN, and LAN-WAN access and is leveraged for multi-level security and to protect data center infrastructure. It is deployed in conjunction with a firewall for network security.

Service and Support

Customers have varied experiences with the customer service and support of Fortinet FortiOS. Overall, the technical support team is described as good, helpful, and responsive. However, there are also some issues mentioned and some customers find that the first tier of support lacks knowledge and it takes time to explain problems.

Response time could also be improved.

There is also the option for either paid or unpaid support.

Deployment

The initial setup for Fortinet FortiOS is straightforward, and not too complex. Some users mentioned that it can be completed within an hour or a few hours, depending on the client's requirements.

The setup process involves defining access requirements, setting up basic policies, and configuring IPsec VPN.

While some users found the setup process to be user-friendly and self-explanatory, others mentioned that it requires some training and familiarity with firewalls.

The time required for deployment varied from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the complexity of the network and the pre-prep work involved.

Scalability

The scalability of Fortinet FortiOS is generally very good. It is easy to expand and add users to the solution. Some reviewers highlight the ability to have multiple firewalls in different locations for redundancy and failover.

The solution is described as scalable for organizations with varying numbers of users, ranging from 100 to 10,000 or more.

Reviewers also mention the importance of considering the device's capacity and limitations when scaling, as well as the need to procure a new or bigger unit if necessary.

Stability

The stability of Fortinet FortiOS is good. Some users have encountered occasional bugs, however, these are quickly fixed through updates and patches. The solution is reliable, problem-free, and does not crash or freeze. It is described as stable, with good performance and no glitches.

While some users suggest that the stability could be improved, overall, Fortinet FortiOS is considered a reliable product. Users have been using it for several years without any issues or complaints.

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

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

Review data by company size

By reviewers

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Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

18%

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Government

Educational Organization

Comms Service Provider

Insurance Company

Construction Company

University

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Non Profit

Energy/Utilities Company

Media Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Real Estate/Law Firm

Outsourcing Company

Hospitality Company

Transportation Company

Legal Firm

Performing Arts

Logistics Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Consumer Goods Company

Engineering Company

Recruiting/Hr Firm

Pharma/Biotech Company

Marketing Services Firm

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

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Learn more about Fortinet FortiOS

One of the key features of FortiOS is its advanced threat protection capabilities. It incorporates multiple security technologies, including firewall, antivirus, intrusion prevention system (IPS), and web filtering, to detect and block a wide range of threats. This ensures that organizations are protected against malware, ransomware, and other malicious activities. FortiOS also offers extensive network visibility, allowing organizations to monitor and analyze network traffic in real-time. This visibility enables businesses to identify potential security risks, detect anomalies, and take proactive measures to mitigate threats.

Additionally, FortiOS provides detailed reports and analytics, helping organizations gain insights into their network security posture. Centralized management is another crucial aspect of FortiOS. It allows businesses to manage and configure their security policies, devices, and users from a single console. This simplifies the management process and ensures consistent security across the entire network infrastructure.

Moreover, FortiOS supports integration with other Fortinet products, enabling seamless security orchestration and automation. FortiOS is designed to be scalable and flexible, making it suitable for organizations of all sizes. It offers a range of deployment options, including physical appliances, virtual machines, and cloud-based solutions. This flexibility allows businesses to choose the deployment model that best fits their requirements and easily scale their security infrastructure as their needs evolve.