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Cisco Catalyst Switches vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Catalyst Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
7th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
8.3
Number of Reviews
173
Ranking in other categories
LAN Switching (1st), Data Center Networking (1st), AV Over IP Switching (1st)
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secu...
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
5th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.6
Number of Reviews
46
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Featured Reviews

SameerBali - PeerSpot reviewer
Feb 2, 2022
Reliable and stable catalyst switch; can be easily installed
I like Cisco Catalyst Switches because most of the time, we can do what we want with the product. Cisco has good guidelines that enable us to implement anything, so we can have a multiple ability product on most of the network equipment worldwide. Cisco has communities or forums that help us implement more complicated areas in terms of network, so in addition, Cisco is not just a network equipment company, because they provide us most of the solutions, development, protocols, and new technologies, more than any other company in the world. I also like the availability of Cisco Catalyst Switches, including scalability and reliability. You can find all these in this product.
SherifAbdelrahman - PeerSpot reviewer
Nov 11, 2024
Efficient integration allows streamlined network management with a straightforward setup
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,…

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"As there are many who are knowledgeable of this technology, this translates into extensive support for it."
"The solution is easy to implement and quick to deploy."
"They are pretty good. They are stable. Cisco has been around in the industry for a long time, so they are reliable, as well."
"One of the main features of this solution is it is easy to manage."
"The pricing is quite good."
"The product is stable, and it performs well."
"They are stable. We haven't had any particular problem with them."
"The solution is very stable."
"Ability to manage FortiAP, FortiClient, and FortiGate all from a single console"
"Deploying the solution is a breeze, even a novice can do it."
"The product is very secure."
"What stands out is the effective management and enhanced security provided by the solution's function as an extension of the firewall."
"The most valuable feature is the security switch."
"The technical support has been very good."
"The most valuable feature would be network management, separating the network management component from security. It can do both but we promote it on its own. It's a good solution to do network management."
"This device is easy to use."
 

Cons

"In terms of additional features or improvements, I would like to see more fiber ports, more security features, and perhaps the integration of wireless features into the switch."
"The vendor must provide mid-level switches."
"One feature that I would like to add is for the following: At times, when I add an access-list for a hostname, it doesn't actually add the hostname, it adds the IP address. So in the back-end, if my server changes the IP address I have to go in manually and change the IP address. If the capability was there in Cisco to add a hostname instead of the IP address that would be really good."
"I can't use older Cisco devices with newer versions of the controller or switches. For example, if a switch was manufactured in 2014, I can't use it with a controller made in 2019. I have to change the switch so that I can upgrade my network or my devices. I don't have the option to update the version I have on the image of the AP or the controller."
"It would be helpful to have the ability to load new IOS software without performing a reboot or to be able to perform the reboot without disrupting end-users."
"Out of the competition, Cisco switches are easily the most expensive."
"We'd like Cisco to integrate with other solutions, including their own."
"We would like the solution to be more stable."
"The pricing is considered high due to the currency exchange changes in our region."
"I don't like the way it's managed."
"One of the main challenges was integrating FortiSwitch with FortiGate, as the switches are managed through FortiGate rather than independently."
"The tool should improve its CLI."
"When we started using the solution, it was quite complex but then it became easier to use. It takes a while to get used to the interface."
"Technical support needs to take a different approach and pricing should appear more competitive."
"If you contact Fortinet, it's a bit difficult. Most of the time, they send you just links and documents to read for troubleshooting. When you contact support, you don't need documents. You want someone that can understand your problem, give a hand, and help you. I'm not impressed by the support really."
"The security of the solution could be a bit better."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Cisco switches are expensive. Their price range is based not only on what the product does but also the name in the industry. They are good at what they do. If you need a better product, there are other lineups available."
"Not one of the cheapest switches in the market. There are a lot of other cheaper switches, but in terms of availability and reliability, Cisco Catalyst Switches meet all requirements."
"I cannot say that the pricing is reasonable because it's a little above our expectations. If we consider the recent price increases, it is not acceptable anymore."
"We pay the licensing fees annually because we have an enterprise license agreement."
"We have a contract for service with this partner, meaning we don't purchase the license or equipment directly."
"The solutions are costly, considering that Cisco provides top-notch support and devices."
"I rate the overall product a six out of ten from a price perspective since it is an expensive tool."
"Pricing could be better."
"The pricing is cheap and only a yearly licensing cost needs to be paid."
"The product's pricing is less compared to other enterprise solutions."
"The product pricing seems to be mid-range."
"The solution has reasonable pricing. The firewall costs around 500$ annually."
"Licensing is easy: FortiCare and that's it."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access requires a license and the price is expensive."
"The solution is expensive but overall the cost makes sense."
"We have to renew and pay for the licenses."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
61%
Computer Software Company
8%
Government
4%
Manufacturing Company
3%
Computer Software Company
16%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Would you recommend replacing a Cisco Catalyst Switch by a D-link one?
Hello Mesfin It depends on the real scenario, the cisco 2960 is a very good device and they usually have routing functions but there are many different models within the same 2960 line, and on the ...
What do you like most about Cisco Catalyst Switches?
We are a vendor for the healthcare sector, especially hospitals, and normally, we use a full Cisco solution for stability, especially for the stability of the Access Points and the security of swit...
Which would you choose - Fortinet Fortiswitch secure access or Cisco Ethernet Switches?
We researched Cisco but ultimately chose Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access, mostly because of the price. Fortinet FortiSwitch is an ethernet switch solution that provides security and performance...
What do you like most about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access?
With FortiSwitch, you can easily identify who is connected to each port, disable ports as needed, and retrieve configurations from FortiGate when required.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access?
The product pricing seems to be mid-range. The licensing structure is not uniform and can be difficult to understand. I rate the pricing around five or six out of ten.
 

Also Known As

Cisco Catalyst, Catalyst
No data available
 

Learn More

 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Afni, Anilana Hotels and Resorts, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Del Papa Distributing, Explorer Pipeline, Mindtree, Omaha World Herald, Radio 538, Sony Corporation, Telecom Italia, Telenor Arena
Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Catalyst Switches vs. Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access and other solutions. Updated: October 2024.
815,854 professionals have used our research since 2012.