Cisco DNA Center vs Fortinet FortiGate Cloud comparison

The compared Cisco and Fortinet solutions aren't in the same category. Cisco is ranked #1 in NMA , with an average rating of 8.0, and holds a 26.9% mindshare in the category. Fortinet is ranked #5 in Firewall Security Management , with an average rating of 8.4, and holds a 5.1% mindshare. Additionally, 89% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Fortinet users who would recommend it.

Cisco DNA Center

Read 41 Cisco DNA Center reviews

6,085 Views
3,733 Comparison Views

89% willing to recommend

Fortinet FortiGate Cloud

Read 77 Fortinet FortiGate Cloud reviews

1,186 Views
1,020 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Cisco DNA Center

Fortinet FortiGate Cloud

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Cisco DNA Center and Fortinet FortiGate Cloud based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Network Management Applications solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco DNA Center vs. Fortinet FortiGate Cloud Report (Updated: May 2020).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco DNA Center vs. Fortinet FortiGate Cloud

May 2020

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Helped 842,767 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

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

Categories and Ranking

Cisco DNA Center

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Management Applications (1st), Network Monitoring Software (12th), Network Automation (2nd)

Fortinet FortiGate Cloud

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Firewall Security Management (5th)

Mindshare comparison

Cisco DNA Center and Fortinet FortiGate Cloud aren’t in the same category and serve different purposes. Cisco DNA Center is designed for Network Management Applications and holds a mindshare of 26.9%, down 29.2% compared to last year.
Fortinet FortiGate Cloud, on the other hand, focuses on Firewall Security Management, holds 5.1% mindshare, down 5.2% since last year.

Network Management Applications

Firewall Security Management

Featured Reviews

AvrahamSonenthal

Senior Network Engineer at Inside Global

Efficiently manages our wireless network and provides valuable monitoring features

The platform's biggest benefit has been in managing our wireless network. Having a single pane of glass to control all wireless controllers and access points and to monitor activity has been a significant advantage. We're a small federal agency with around 300 network devices, so automation is a minor focus. It's more relevant for larger networks. The main benefits we've seen are in inventory management and the potential for configuration automation. However, I recommend using the DNA Centre only for larger networks with over a thousand devices; otherwise, it may not be cost-effective. Before proceeding, ensure that your devices are compatible with DNA Center, as not all Cisco devices are supported. Also, investing in proper training is different from plug-and-play. I rate it an eight.

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IgnitiusMolepo

Senior IP Network Defense at MTN

The hub-and-spoke setup is useful because I can manage security from where I am, while the IT engineers in branch offices can handle it on their end.

When we're upgrading, it's sometimes quite challenging, especially firmware. We usually don't upgrade unless we have a bug, and we still feel it's not safe to react instead of being proactive. We often have some delays when updating FortiGuard, too. Nevertheless, I believe that it's okay most of the time with proper management. We also run into some problems using FortiGate as a UTM solution. I feel like maybe they're not giving me a full view of the other components that they have in that box. Their box has some DDoS defense, but I need complete DDoS protection. I must not have light DDoS protection on other UTM boxes because if I'm uncertain about the security posture, it will compromise me. We like having everything in one box because running multiple boxes eats up more resources on the computing level. We need a total solution, not half-half.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The monitoring features are very useful for network engineers."

"The most valuable features of Cisco DNA Center are wireless assurance and visibility."

"It enables monitoring of various components such as access points, switch cards, and other elements within the company's solutions."

"I think that their LAN automation is a very good feature."

"It offers automation, security enforcement, analytics, and integration with other Cisco technologies, making it a key driver for efficient network operations and compliance with security protocols."

"It is very versatile in terms of analytics."

"The most valuable features of the solution are all of its security features...It is a highly scalable solution."

"What I found valuable in Cisco DNA Center is the Software-Defined Access Network, so the entire LAN network can be centralized and managed from a single dashboard. Cisco DNA Center is suitable for centralized management and lets you deploy switches in a centralized fashion. You can also do multiple switch port configurations simultaneously and segregate your traffic into multiple fabrics. Another valuable feature of Cisco DNA Center is enhanced security through Scalable Group Tags. Cisco DNA Center can be integrated with your Cisco ISE to enhance the port securities, and this paves the way for Software-Defined Networking in the LAN segment, which is the main advantage of Cisco DNA Center. I also like that you can use Cisco DNA Center for data assurance or correlation. The solution shows your network and client health parameters, which I find convenient for troubleshooting."

More Cisco DNA Center pros

"It's user-friendly."

"It's quite easy to use, and it's easy to find the necessary information from the web."

"The solution is beneficial for managing bandwidth and live configuration."

"We have found the most valuable features of Fortinet FortiGate Cloud are the firewall and the VPN connection manager. I am not worried about any cyber attacks, the solution is secure and I receive daily summary reports."

"The most valuable feature is the inspection. It inspects before we have any traffic stops intrusion."

"I find it particularly helpful for certificate inspection and setting up anti-DDoS, intrusion prevention, antivirus, and file inspection policies."

"I definitely recommend Fortinet FortiGate Cloud as it is a stable, easy-to-use, and economically viable option for customers."

"The most valuable features of Fortinet FortiGate Cloud are ease of use and the simplicity of maintenance and configuration. Additionally, the modularity of the solution is very easy to handle, it is convenient."

More Fortinet FortiGate Cloud pros

Cons

"There is a limitation with the number of VRFs that you can have in your network, and this has caused us problems with some customers."

"The solution's setup process needs enhancement."

"Cisco DNA Center should improve its configuration management. It is better to have a dev version before pushing it."

"Cisco could improve the security side of their solutions."

"I would like is to have a small information pointer available. It could be a plus feature that I want to implement. When I hover my mouse over the user interface, it should provide a brief explanation. It would be helpful to have it incorporated into the UI."

"The cost is very high."

"The product has many features that do not work properly."

"Integration with analytic tools and API integrations would be ideal."

More Cisco DNA Center cons

"There is room for improvement in the analytics reports. Other products in the market offer superior analytics, like a next-generation antivirus, CounterStrike, which provides excellent analytics reports."

"They could improve the product features for telemetry and interoperability with third-party monitoring tools."

"The robustness of the software could be improved."

"We've not seen any areas for improvement."

"I would like to see more reporting from the analysis improved in the future."

"When we fully utilize certain functions, the CPU and memory utilization can reach 100% or more, causing the system to become unresponsive during production hours."

"ACL is an area with shortcomings that needs to be improved."

"The new versions of the tool sometimes have bugs, and so we often have to spend a lot of time fixing issues in the solution. I want the patches offered by the product to be improved."

More Fortinet FortiGate Cloud cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Cisco DNA Center is too expensive."

"The tool is medium-priced."

"I do know that Cisco does offer some really good promotions for DNA Center to bring the costs down."

"The price could be better. It's a very expensive tool."

"The product is very costly."

"We get a yearly license at the time we buy the product."

"The tool's licensing may not come across as something that may be friendly for users."

"Affordability is a problem because it's created for large enterprises only. So, some customers, even if their engineers want the solution, might have problems with budget limitations."

More Cisco DNA Center pricing and cost advice

"Every year, the product's prices go up and it has been continuing since the past three years. I have seen that the feedback related to the product from our department is that there is always a need for new devices without which there would be no security."

"When comparing this solution to others it is less expensive and there is an annual license required."

"Fortinet FortiGate Cloud is cheaper than VMware and Cisco in the Bangladeshi market. Its pricing is reasonable."

"The price of Fortinet FortiGate Cloud is reasonable when compared to Juniper and others, we are happy. We have a three-year subscription."

"The price of the solution is high compare to competitors."

"The solution is neither cheap nor expensive."

"Fortinet has a good price, and I would give it a four out of five. There are no additional fees."

"We pay around $19,000 a year and do not pay for extra technical support."

More Fortinet FortiGate Cloud pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Government

10%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

20%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco DNA Center?

The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it gives some kind of ease in operations, especially since our company is moving from CLI to GUI-based configuration.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco DNA Center?

The cost is very high.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Cisco DNA Center?

The system is working fine for me currently.

See all answers

What do you like most about Fortinet FortiGate Cloud?

Fortinet FortiGate Cloud has valuable firewall, SSL VPN, and web filtering features.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiGate Cloud?

The pricing of Fortinet FortiGate is very competitive when compared to other industry-leading products such as Palo Alto and Cisco devices.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiGate Cloud?

There are some areas that need improvement regarding customer support. Fortinet could enhance their customer service by offering more direct remote sessions to resolve issues, as relying solely on ...

See all answers

Comparisons

Cisco Catalyst Center vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 10% of the time

Juniper Mist Wired Assurance vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 7% of the time

SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 7% of the time

Fortinet FortiManager vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 7% of the time

Meraki Dashboard vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 6% of the time

More Cisco DNA Center Competitors

Fortinet FortiManager vs Fortinet FortiGate Cloud

Compared 78% of the time

AWS Firewall Manager vs Fortinet FortiGate Cloud

Compared 9% of the time

FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall (FortiGate CNF) vs Fortinet FortiGate Cloud

Compared 4% of the time

Palo Alto Networks Panorama vs Fortinet FortiGate Cloud

Compared 4% of the time

ExtremeCloud IQ vs Fortinet FortiGate Cloud

Compared 2% of the time

More Fortinet FortiGate Cloud Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco DNA Center

March 2025

Download Cisco DNA Center product report

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiGate Cloud

March 2025

Download Fortinet FortiGate Cloud product report

Also Known As

DNA Center

FortiCloud, FortiGate Cloud

Overview

Cisco DNA Center offers a comprehensive platform for network automation and management, providing detailed analytics, enhanced security, and streamlined operations for both wired and wireless networks.

Cisco DNA Center integrates with Cisco infrastructure to deliver efficient network automation and management, helping organizations improve network visibility, security, and control. It supports AI-driven analytics and automated workflows to enhance operational efficiency and reduce errors. Challenges include compatibility with third-party systems, steep learning curve, and complex deployment. Its interface facilitates centralized control, vital for troubleshooting, policy management, and configuration management, with support for zero-touch provisioning and SD-Access.

What are the key features of Cisco DNA Center?

Robust Analytics: Provides detailed insights into network health with AI-driven analytics.
Centralized Security: Integrates with ISE for comprehensive security management.
Automated Device Management: Simplifies device provisioning and configuration transfers.
Wi-Fi Analytics: Offers deep insights into wireless network performance.
Zero-Touch Provisioning: Streamlines new device deployments with minimal human intervention.
Scalable Segmentation: Efficiently segments network traffic ensuring security and performance.

What benefits should users consider?

Operational Efficiency: Automation reduces potential errors and streamlines workflow.
Enhanced Security: Integration with Cisco ISE bolsters security capabilities.
Network Visibility: Comprehensive dashboards and analysis tools enhance monitoring.
Troubleshooting: Real-time monitoring aids in identifying and resolving issues swiftly.

In sectors such as healthcare, finance, and retail, Cisco DNA Center is utilized for its ability to enhance security and compliance, manage large-scale networks, and provide detailed analytics for better operational decision-making. Its support for location tracking and policy automation ensures efficient network management across diverse environments.

Cisco

FortiCloud can help with your wireless and security challenges in a number of ways. Our solution addresses common IT difficulties including time-consuming provisioning, high investment costs, complex management, vulnerability to advanced threats, and the need to easily scale with growth.

Fortinet

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data

Buyer's Guide

Cisco DNA Center vs. Fortinet FortiGate Cloud

May 2020

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