Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access Reviews

I use it for retail business. We are using the FortiSwitch solution for our voice switches and access points as well.

It has helped us by providing easy management from a single platform through the firewall interface. It's very easy to manage and provides all the insights and vulnerabilities, which saves a lot of time and manpower in managing our network operations.

Within our company, which operates multiple stores in the area, we recently acquired two firewalls and a large storage facility. To establish our network infrastructure, we require nearly all components, including forty FortiSwitches. Each switch is fully equipped, with the core switches having five hundred ports and the rest featuring forty-eight ports.

FortiSwitch has proven to be most effective in specific network environments or scenarios, particularly those where it complements a Fortinet firewall setup. In such cases, it has demonstrated excellent performance.

The most valuable features for enhancing our organization's security posture include the ability to block any suspicious traffic and to quickly access or isolate any abnormal activity originating from devices connected to the switch or Wi-Fi network.

The integration of FortiSwitch with the Fortinet Security Fabric has significantly improved our network management capabilities. It allows us to easily block and quarantine any suspicious activity.

Since deploying FortiSwitch, I've observed significant improvements in our network's performance and manageability. One standout feature is the ability of FortiSwitch to accurately identify and flag abnormal traffic that doesn't meet predefined standards. For instance, if we require HIPAA compliance within a specific network segment, FortiSwitch conducts audits to ensure compliance. Any non-compliant activity is promptly isolated, preventing further issues from spreading across the network.

The primary use case for Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is for network security. Some of the installations are in remote sites, and the fixed infrastructure, like cameras, needs to be secured. 

Additionally, there are ports for user access where filtering is done by the firewall, not Fortinet.

One of the main features is the integration with FortiGate. Having a single dashboard to manage everything simplifies the process. When you create the interface, the VLAN, and other configurations, they become available across all the switches. This centralization of control is highly beneficial.

We sell a lot of solutions in the educational sector. School boards, universities, colleges, and community colleges are good customers for the Fortinet solution overall and Fortinet switching.

I'm usually working with clients who have between 500 to 1,500 users. That's the average commercial enterprise count. About 50 to 60 customers use the product end to end or in some capacity. We've had significant growth in Fortinet business annually. It seems to go up by 10 to 15 clients every year.

It's easier to deploy and operate in the education space than other solutions. With Cisco, you probably need a full-time employee or two in those environments to manage daily once it's deployed. Fortinet requires maybe a third or a half a person.

We use the FortiSwitch with our Fortinet firewalls. We configured a VPN to enable secure remote access.

It also has a feature for managing policies and controlling traffic flow into and out of the network.

Access Point feature is very good. It's easy to manage and reliable.

It tracks very well.

I would rate the the ease of management and scalability within our network architecture an eight out of ten, with ten being best. 

I mostly use it as distribution or access switches for branch offices.

It's mainly just a distribution switch. I just needed one, whether it's part of the Fortinet suite or not.

What I actually use in this deployment are Forti APs (Fortinet Access Points). So, I can see all my office infrastructure from a single console,  which is handy.

One FortiGate, one FortiSwitch, and five access points, everything under good control. It's really nice to see it all together like this.

The integration report benefits our organization with regard to its security ecosystem. 

FortiSwitch is designed to work seamlessly with FortiGate. While it can operate independently, its true potential lies in integration with FortiGate.

I would rate the ease of management a seven out of ten, with ten being excellent. 

It allows for centralized monitoring and management of all connected appliances, helping to minimize potential internet disruptions. This solution includes features such as IPS, antivirus, and vulnerability scanning. Fortinet is not just a firewall. It is an advanced next-generation firewall that offers comprehensive management capabilities. FortiGate manages the FortiSwitch, and policies created on the FortiGate can be applied across all connected devices. This setup ensures that the internet and internal network environments are monitored effectively. Additionally, FortiGate handles antivirus, EDR, and other security measures to ensure customer protection. It also manages VPN connections.

It is managed. You can create the VLANs and all the VLANs from the FortiGate. The FortiGate manages it, so you don't have to do anything. It also functions as NAC, which is very important. You can manage everything from a single interface.