Cisco Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM comparison

Cisco and Fortinet are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Cisco is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.6, while Fortinet is ranked #15 with an average rating of 8.5. Cisco holds a 12.1% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to Fortinet’s 2.1% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Fortinet users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

Cisco Wireless and Fortinet FortiWLM compete in the wireless management and deployment category. Cisco Wireless holds the upper hand due to its robust deployment capabilities and advanced security measures.

Features: Cisco Wireless offers robust and scalable deployment, supports seamless roaming, and includes features like Cisco CleanAir and integration with Cisco ISE. Fortinet FortiWLM provides centralized management with integrated controller features and stands out for its security attributes. Both offer ease of setup with Fortinet highlighting its cost-effectiveness.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Wireless is often criticized for high pricing and a complex licensing model. Its integration with non-Cisco solutions is limited, and difficulties are reported with centralized management. Fortinet FortiWLM could improve its heat mapping capabilities, reporting tools, and integration with non-Fortinet devices.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Wireless offers versatile deployment for on-premises and cloud environments with strong technical support, although licensing complexity can pose challenges. Fortinet FortiWLM is praised for straightforward setup and strong customer service, but needs enhancement in user capacity for larger deployments.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Wireless is expensive, especially when adding features and licenses, but offers substantial ROI via stable performance. Fortinet FortiWLM has more attractive pricing with simpler licensing, making it appealing to budget-conscious buyers. Its pricing strategy also provides significant savings and positive ROI, although mandatory contracts for smaller businesses are advised to be eliminated.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Wireless vs. Fortinet FortiWLM Report (Updated: December 2024).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Wireless vs. Fortinet FortiWLM

December 2024

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Categories and Ranking

Juniper Mist Wireless Acces...

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2024, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points is 5.7%, up from 2.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Wireless is 12.1%, down from 16.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Fortinet FortiWLM is 2.1%, down from 2.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Wireless LAN

Q&A Highlights

Suresh Sharma

Sr. Technical Executive at a educational organization with 1,001-5,000 employees

Feb 08, 2021

Which wireless controller has maximum client connectivity and high throughput?

Cisco has maximum client connectivity and high throughput.

See all answers

Featured Reviews

Gyan Sharma

Assistant Programmer at Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha

Offers good performance, good solution and smooth implementation

I do have a suggestion: it would be helpful to have even stronger security features to help protect against interference from other nearby access points that aren't part of our network. If there are access points from other brands installed nearby; they can cause interference and disrupt the range of our Mist access points. So, the security features could be stronger, especially in terms of authentication. The connectivity is excellent, but security needs improvement. In future releases, integrating more AI features would be beneficial. If Mist had stronger AI features, it could provide better security against network threats and cyberattacks. So, this solution still needs to improve its AI capabilities. It would be great if the AI could improve the range of the access points, and auto-protect functionality should be there to avoid interference by other nearby access points and enhance threat detection. In the future, I'd like to see stronger threat detection features integrated with Mist, as well as better detection of nearby access points that might cause interference.

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Michael Lees

Production Director at Whitespider

Affordable, resilient, and performs better than other solutions in the market

Assurance capabilities must be improved. There should be more Assurance features on the Wireless LAN Controller. A lot of it is bundled into the DNA Center. Having a little more Assurance regarding what the RF Spectrum looks like will be good. Juniper Mist has a lot of analytical data on the dashboard. The customers would be compelled to look at DNA Center as a longer-term and more comprehensive solution if Cisco were to give them an insight into some of the Assurance capabilities that might be available in DNA Center. The tool must provide something like RF Neighbor. It must enable organizations to receive signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio and see how clients perform in their wireless network. It must have a cap. If we want additional functionality to see our entire network, that's where DNA Center fits in.

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Zachary Wheeler

President / CEO at Secure Solutions Center LLC

Impressive manufacturing quality, highly durable, and very easy to deploy

They need to do more with their marketing. That's what's wrong with them. Nobody knows they do all this other stuff. I love the product. For an enterprise-level system, you never have to explain why you're recommending Fortinet, whereas you might have to do that if you want to use the Ubiquiti Professional or the new Netgear line, but you don't have to explain Fortinet. It has been remarkable to work with. It would be nice if they had some smaller switches or hubs. They should offer two-port, three-port, or four-port devices so that you don't have to buy an eight-port switch, and you don't have to use an unmanaged element, but their product line is very complete, and I can't say enough about it.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The most valuable feature of Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series) is the ability to troubleshoot ports on the network. Additionally, when there is an update on the APs they are able to reboot quickly reducing downtime. Other solutions have a longer downtime when updates are done."

"The most useful feature of Juniper Wireless AP is the reporting Marvis."

"The artificial intelligence feature is very good."

"In terms of reporting, in terms of all the user reports, it's very rich."

"You can easily monitor, manage, and cover all your IT equipment."

"For the most part, it does what it's supposed to do, and I like it. It's a great product."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is Marvis, the AI-driven network management system."

"The AI capabilities of Mist Wireless are superior to other OEMs."

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points pros

"Cisco Wireless is highly stable."

"The initial setup was quite easy. We have a very good relationship with our integrator and our integrator has a good relationship with Cisco. The integrator that installs Cisco is quite knowledgeable about the technology. They are trained and have a good relationship with their tech. We cannot be experts in each domain and we have to be supported by an integrator."

"Setting up Cisco Wireless is pretty straightforward. It takes about an hour or two, and we can handle it in-house. To deploy one project, it takes two to three for a single controller."

"It helps with the visibility on our network."

"The solution is highly scalable."

"There are a lot of valuable features and functions. One example is CleanAir to detect and troubleshoot interference issues. Another is RX-SOP to optimize roaming."

"Stable and scalable with good technical support."

"This product has a Clean Air Solution, which means it can detect non-WiFi signals. It not only signals but it can also detect that what type of device it is coming from. And if it needs to change the channel in order to avoid that unwanted signal, it can do so and that way the client machine will have better performance."

More Cisco Wireless pros

"This is the only product on the market currently that supports as many access points for wifi users."

"The most valuable features of this solution are its speed, reliability, and integration with the firewall."

"Fortinet FortiWLM is good for tracking assets, monitoring, and overall management."

"Seamless roaming by leveraging Virtual Cell is a major advantage which reduces roam times and issues related to roaming. Code stability has been excellent and the hardware quality is second to none."

"The most valuable feature of Fortinet FortiWLM is the single management pane and integrated controller inside the firewall."

"The security is a valuable feature."

"I found that It's really good when comparing it to any other product or it is much better in terms of features that the customer requires."

"We're using SD-WAN at all of our locations now, which helps increase and aggregate and lower response time and improve application performance."

More Fortinet FortiWLM pros

Cons

"There is room for improvement in terms of support and installation."

"I need a bit more time with it before criticizing the features."

"Though certain security features are integrated into the product, my company has to always look forward to tightening certain security functionalities in the solution."

"The price could be better."

"If you want to do more specific stuff, it's a bit limited."

"Enrolling into the tool is a tedious process."

"Juniper Wireless AP can improve by continually improving its reporting and integration with other systems."

"Improvement is needed in the user-friendliness of Juniper Mist, particularly in enhancing the interaction with AI features."

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points cons

"We use a Cisco product called Room Kit for meetings. It would be nice if Cisco could improve that. I would also like a cloud solution."

"The main disadvantage of Cisco Wireless is its cost - it's expensive. Its interface is not easy. However, I like it since I am an engineer."

"Improvements can be made to the telemetry. The licensing gets in the way here. It makes it impossible to record the different flows across the wireless network."

"Installation is complex."

"In the future, I would like to have Cisco add video documentation on configuring and overall learning of how to use the solutions. For example, in such areas as, security, authentication, and load balancing."

"They are a pretty expensive option."

"The installation is very tiring and painful, the process could be easier."

"Room for improvement wise, the wireless coverage of Cisco's equipment could be better for the price position. That is, I think that the radius for the coverage could be better to make it worth the price that we pay for it."

More Cisco Wireless cons

"Licensing is the only area that I think they are below average. They need enterprise licensing, an all-encompassing license to cover all products for a company."

"Cost is something that could be improved, but you have to pay for what you get."

"Technical support is very poor. We are not satisfied with the technical support because there is not any direct person from Fortinet for any troubleshooting, which we expected."

"Areas for improvement would be the compatibility with Apple products and cross-platform integration."

"The pricing for the solution is expensive and can be improved."

"The solution should improve user capacity."

"The pricing model can be improved to encourage use by small business and individuals and the hardware could stand to be redesigned."

"In the next release, they could improve by adding a controller-less server, or architecture that is provided in other solutions, such as Aruba. This would be a great benefit for customers."

More Fortinet FortiWLM cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I rate the pricing an eight out of ten."

"The pricing is fair."

"Juniper Wireless AP's price is a little more expensive than other solutions, but you get what you pay for."

"If a customer has a budget of around five lakhs in Indian currency, they can afford Juniper products."

"I rate Juniper Mist's pricing a ten out of ten since it is expensive."

"We pay maybe 1000 SEK per year, per access point."

"The solution is expensive."

"I rate the product price as a six on a scale of one to ten, where one is inexpensive, and ten is expensive. It is a reasonably priced tool."

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points pricing and cost advice

"The product is expensive."

"I think it's affordable. Maybe there are little differences, but it's not very expensive. But with all Cisco products, you have to pay more for the power supply. You'll have to pay for the PoE converter."

"The price of the solution is fair."

"It is an expensive product. I would rate the pricing a nine out of ten, with ten being expensive."

"This product's pricing is good. It's not too expensive."

"It's expensive. The pricing is an obstacle."

"As far as I know Cisco is very competitive, price-wise. Talk to your third-party vendor. It all depends on the company size - how many employees, how big the building is. If it's wireless, and you have only 50 employees but you're using a large building floor, in that case you need many access points. But if you have 50 employees using two or three rooms, then you probably don't need it and it's going to be high density, so there is a different design. So you need to talk to a subject matter expert. Talk to them and design accordingly."

"The price for this product is a little bit high, which is why I am not using the most recent version."

More Cisco Wireless pricing and cost advice

"For indoor access points, there is a one-time cost, upfront, whereas outdoor access points have an annual fee."

"To save yourself from increased setup and maintenance costs, I highly recommend undertaking a proper site survey from the beginning."

"If a customer already is a FortiGate customer, the cost to go to the FortiAP is incredibly affordable, because you already have the controller."

"Fortinet would do something with their pricing model to attract smaller business users and eliminate the mandatory service contracts."

"Fortinet FortiWLM's pricing is regular and competitive."

"The solution is fairly priced."

"Licensing has become easier. There is no longer a per-AP license needed on the controller."

"The solution is expensive. I give the solution a one out of ten for the price."

More Fortinet FortiWLM pricing and cost advice

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Comparison Review

it_user212721

President at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

Mar 24, 2015

Cisco vs. Aruba Wireless Solutions

Cisco or Aruba Networks? If you are considering wireless access solutions, this is a common question that you are probably asking. You probably have sales people knocking at your door. How do you make sense of all the stories that you are presented with. If you have done any research, you are…

Read full review

Answers from the Community

Suresh Sharma

Sr. Technical Executive at a educational organization with 1,001-5,000 employees

Feb 8, 2021

Which wireless controller has maximum client connectivity and high throughput?

All are good selections, and this question is difficult to answer without knowing your throughput requirements, as each vendor has multiple models within there series. Personally I recommend looking at Arista Networks’ cognitive Wifi, where controllers are a thing of the past.

2 out of 7 answers

AlanTran

Director of Technical Services at CTM

Feb 17, 2020

Hi, It is all dependent on the size of the controllers in question. Though I would suggest getting a cloud base technology so you are limited by any controller and have much better redundancy. Take a look at Arista Cognitive Wireless

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Imad Awwad

Group IT Manager at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Feb 17, 2020

Hi, Every one of the mentioned solutions is good but you need to check the needs which are security since the firms you are working with need protection and tracking of data. For this reason, I recommend: - if you have FortiGate installed then go for Fortinet Wireless since they can be integrated with the Fortigate without buying a controller and they work perfectly together and you will get the advantage of applying rules to the client himself whether mobile or computer, easily managed & monitored, more visibility over your network and incident notifications. If the above doesn't apply then you can go with the best one that fits your budget and security needs which for me doesn't fall on the mentioned solution but to go with ARUBA Instant Access Wireless Solution and the reasons are as such: - Cisco is too much expensive and you got to pay smart support with some complexity in configuration and you need to buy a controller - Ruckus is good but when you want to have the security you need to buy a controller with licenses and it won't give you the security needed since it is just a wireless solution - Huawei is not a stable company since it had many ups and downs and they can reach with you to have all the solutions nearly free so that you install their brand. Whereas Aruba you don't need a controller in the Instant access points and you will get the minimum security with radius integration and what is important a lifetime warranty on the access points. In addition, if the number of access points increased and you want more detailed management and more advanced configurations, you can buy a controller either on-premises or on-cloud with Aruba. The above information is based on my experience with all the solutions and their POC. If you need any more details and consultancy, kindly feel free to contact me. Regards.

Read full answer

See all 7 answers

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

17%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Educational Organization

Computer Software Company

15%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Educational Organization

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series)?

The solution is very secure.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series)?

Juniper Mist is cheaper than Meraki, placing it in the middle of the pack.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series)?

Supporting multiple protocols would be beneficial.

See all answers

Which is better - Cisco Wireless or Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?

Cisco Wireless is very robust, very rugged, and can handle indoor and outdoor coverage extremely well. We found it to...

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Which is better - Ruckus Wireless or Cisco Wireless?

Ruckus Wireless offers users the benefit of being both easy to set up and get running as well as being very user frie...

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How does Cisco Wireless compare with Aruba Wireless?

On the most basic level, Cisco Wireless can offer a rather straightforward initial setup. In the span of about three ...

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What do you like most about Fortinet FortiWLM?

The security is a valuable feature.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiWLM?

The product is highly expensive. I rate the pricing a ten.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiWLM?

The platform's pricing needs improvement.

See all answers

Comparisons

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 44% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 18% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 15% of the time

Fortinet FortiAP vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 4% of the time

Ubiquiti WLAN vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 4% of the time

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points Competitors

Aruba Wireless vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 37% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 25% of the time

Huawei Wireless vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 7% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 6% of the time

Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 1% of the time

More Cisco Wireless Competitors

Aruba Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 26% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 15% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 12% of the time

Omada Access Points vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 8% of the time

Ubiquiti Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 5% of the time

More Fortinet FortiWLM Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

December 2024

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points report

Download Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points product report

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Wireless

December 2024

Download Cisco Wireless product report

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiWLM

December 2024

Download Fortinet FortiWLM product report

Also Known As

Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series), Mist Access Points

Cisco WLAN Controller

FortiWLM, FortiAP, Fortinet AP/OAP, Meru Wireless LAN

Learn More

Juniper

Cisco

Fortinet

Overview

Juniper Wireless Access Points work in conjunction with Juniper Mist Cloud Services and Mist AI to deliver premier wireless access capabilities. The Juniper Mist Edge extends microservices to the campus to bring agility and scale while enabling new applications at the edge.

Cisco Wireless is a comprehensive suite of wireless solutions designed to deliver secure, high-performance connectivity for enterprises of all sizes. Offering a range of access points, controllers, and advanced management tools, Cisco Wireless ensures seamless and reliable network access, enhancing mobility and productivity.

Cisco Wireless solutions provide robust, scalable wireless networks capable of supporting high-density environments and diverse applications. With features such as seamless roaming, advanced security protocols, and detailed analytics, Cisco Wireless addresses the needs of modern businesses. The solutions include the Cisco Catalyst and Aironet series access points, wireless LAN controllers, and the Cisco DNA Center for centralized management and automation.

What are the key features of Cisco Wireless?

High-Density Performance: Optimized for environments with a high number of devices, ensuring reliable connectivity and performance.
Advanced Security: Incorporates robust security measures such as WPA3, Secure Boot, and segmentation to protect data and devices.
Seamless Roaming: Enables uninterrupted connectivity as users move across different areas within the network.
Centralized Management: Cisco DNA Center provides a single pane of glass for managing and automating wireless networks, enhancing operational efficiency.
Flexible Deployment Options: Supports various deployment models, including on-premises, cloud-managed, and hybrid solutions.

What benefits should users look for in reviews when evaluating Cisco Wireless?

Improved Mobility and Productivity: Users often highlight how Cisco Wireless enhances user mobility and productivity through reliable and consistent connectivity.
Scalability: Reviews frequently mention the scalability of Cisco Wireless, making it suitable for growing businesses.
Ease of Management: Many users appreciate the centralized management capabilities, which simplify network administration and troubleshooting.
Enhanced Security: The advanced security features are often noted for providing peace of mind and compliance with industry standards.
User Experience: The overall user experience, including ease of use and seamless integration with other Cisco products, is a common point of praise.

Cisco Wireless solutions are implemented across various industries, including healthcare, education, retail, and manufacturing. In healthcare, they support critical applications like patient monitoring and electronic health records. Educational institutions use Cisco Wireless to provide reliable internet access for students and staff. Retailers benefit from enhanced customer experiences through in-store connectivity, while manufacturers use wireless networks to improve operational efficiency and automation.

Pricing and licensing for Cisco Wireless solutions are typically based on the scale of deployment and specific product selections. Cisco offers various support plans, including 24/7 customer service, technical support, and access to software updates and patches.

In summary, Cisco Wireless provides robust, scalable wireless networking solutions that enhance connectivity, security, and management for diverse enterprise environments.

Consolidate security and wireless LAN management with our integrated wireless solutions. Single-pane-of-glass management for security and access without the need to add point products simplifies deployment and reduces management complexity. These solutions are highly scalable to support even the largest organizations and distributed enterprises.

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Aegean Motorway, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Brunel University London, Bucks County Intermediate Unit , Chartwell School, Children's Hospital Colorado, Cisco Live Milan, City of Biel, City of Mississauga, Dundee Precious Metals, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Erickson Living, Goldcorp, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS)

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

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Wireless vs. Fortinet FortiWLM

December 2024

Free Report: Cisco Wireless vs. Fortinet FortiWLM

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Wireless vs. Fortinet FortiWLM and other solutions. Updated: December 2024.

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