Fortinet FortiGate SWG vs GoodAccess comparison

Fortinet and GoodAccess are both solutions in the Secure Web Gateways (SWG) category. Fortinet is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.7, while GoodAccess is ranked #6 with an average rating of 9.3. Fortinet holds a 6.5% mindshare in WSG, compared to GoodAccess’s 0.1% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Fortinet users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of GoodAccess users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 4, 2024

Fortinet FortiGate SWG and GoodAccess are prominent competitors in the security solutions market. Fortinet FortiGate SWG holds an advantage with its extensive feature offerings and scalability, while GoodAccess is preferred for its straightforward pricing and superior customer support.

Features: Fortinet FortiGate SWG offers robust performance with integrated security features, efficient SD-WAN capabilities, and intuitive firewall policies. It is known for consistent performance across devices and provides a strong VPN service. GoodAccess is celebrated for its strong point-to-point protection, reliable connectivity with global gateways, and user-friendly interface that benefits remote teams.

Room for Improvement: Fortinet FortiGate SWG could enhance its cloud security features, improve its reporting capabilities, and make its pricing more competitive. GoodAccess needs to offer more threat information, refine cloud connection traffic visibility, and adjust pricing models for better scalability.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both solutions support diverse deployment methods, including on-premises and cloud. Fortinet FortiGate SWG is appreciated for easy deployment, whereas GoodAccess offers a centralized management dashboard that simplifies administration. Fortinet's customer service can vary in quality, while GoodAccess provides quick and knowledgeable support.

Pricing and ROI: Fortinet FortiGate SWG appeals to larger enterprises with its comprehensive features, offering long-term ROI but may be too costly for smaller businesses. GoodAccess, however, has a flexible pricing structure well-suited for small to mid-sized organizations, making it a cost-effective choice with competitive rates.

To learn more, read our detailed Fortinet FortiGate SWG vs. GoodAccess Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiGate SWG vs. GoodAccess

April 2025

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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

iboss

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Secure Web Gateways (SWG) category, the mindshare of iboss is 2.0%, up from 1.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Fortinet FortiGate SWG is 6.5%, down from 7.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of GoodAccess is 0.1%, up from 0.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Secure Web Gateways (SWG)

Featured Reviews

Matt Crockford

Head of Cybersecurity at SES Water

It's easy to roll out, and their understanding of our business made it seamless

One aspect we value about iboss is its simplicity. Their customer service is brilliant, and they are super responsive and knowledgeable. It's easy to roll out, and their understanding of our business made it seamless. We were impressed by the solution's mental health function, which can detect if someone needs help. It scans what users are browsing and flags warning signs so we can check to see if they are okay. We've had to use it a couple of times. The user interface is highly intuitive. Our IT team picked it up with minimal training. It's arranged so that it's easy to find where things are. Another advantage is the single pane of glass console, which gives you visibility into what's happening. We're not fully there yet because we haven't implemented zero trust, but we're excited about the possibilities from the demos we've seen. We launched a POC of iboss' ChatGPT Risk Protection feature two weeks ago. AI is a great tool, but you need to be careful what you put into it. My biggest fear is employees inputting sensitive corporate information or customer PII data into one of these chatbots. I was impressed by our trial of the feature. It's exactly what we wanted. Now, when a user goes to ChatGPT, there's a banner warning them not to share information, and we can block conversations containing customer data like bank details and email addresses. I don't want to stop people from using it, but we need visibility. We've only tried it on a test group of 15 people. You can configure it to look for specific keywords or integrate it with your DLP policy if you have that configured

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David Carlson

CIO at Camco Mfg.

Non-IT people could plug it in, connect it to the fiber, and get it running without IT help.

FortiGate is easy to configure. We configured one of the units and sent it to Indiana to be installed. We asked them to give us a call when they got it, so we could help them through the process, but they called us back to tell us it works great. Non-IT people could plug it in, connect it to the fiber, and get it running without IT help. That was fantastic. Fortinet also offers a single pane of glass that we can use to manage our routers with gateways, so that's convenient. We're running a VPN to our remote location, and the performance is good. We're changing all our VPN connectors on our laptops from Cisco's Anywhere to Fortinet's VPN because the performance is just so much better.

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Frank Goldman

Director Of Quality Assurance at PAXAFE

Enables us to easily see users' device compliance as it continuously monitors the devices

Security is much better than the service that we were using before. The dashboard is much more user-friendly. It is easy to add users. I can easily see users' device compliance as it continuously monitors the devices. The speed of the connections is excellent. We have two gateways set up, one for the East Coast US and one for the West Coast. Both have excellent speed and the GoodAccess team allowed us to test several gateways to determine which worked best for us prior to locking in the gateways. With the prior service, the speed was so slow that users could not work while connected.

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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

"Granular setup, which was able to set different levels of filters using the OUs in the AD."

"The solution has massively improved our security posture, giving us full visibility into what our staff does online."

"The iboss system is highly reliable. The false positive rates are small compared to some other systems we've experienced through other partner agencies who use competing solutions."

"iboss is easy to use despite its complexity. Multiple engineers manage it, but it's significantly more straightforward to administer than traditional VPNs and web proxies."

"We were impressed by the solution's mental health function, which can detect if someone needs help. It scans what users are browsing and flags warning signs so we can check to see if they are okay. We've had to use it a couple of times."

"Technical support is pretty sharp and very responsive."

"It was a very easy product to install. It can be deployed very fast."

"The security aspect of the solution, particularly the malware behind it, is excellent. That's something that really helped us out. It's not just a simple proxy that just blocks the insights of potential threats that come on behind it. They do malware detection and that helps us a lot."

More iboss pros

"The solution is superior to Cisco in terms of security."

"It's a flexible solution."

"FortiGate is a great solution, although initially, it faced challenges in the Brazilian market due to lower brand recognition than Cisco. However, explaining and demonstrating its product format and offerings has proven easy. The cost-effectiveness and better features of FortiGate have made some clients skeptical. We set up a trial period, and they eventually opted for it. Many clients were convinced it was great after experiencing the solution's capabilities firsthand."

"FortiGate also makes GRE tunneling possible."

"Web filtering is the most useful feature."

"The most valuable features of Fortinet FortiGate SWG are IPS and scanning."

"The interface and other reports are all user-friendly."

"It is simpler to configure. It is not like Cisco Firepower, where you go crazy trying to follow the Cisco documentation to figure out how to configure one little thing. Unlike Cisco Firepower, where you can't do everything through the web interface and you have got to do some command line stuff, Fortinet FortiGate SWG is simpler. There are four different things in Cisco to get in, which is not the case with Fortinet FortiGate SWG. It is one of my favorite solutions to work with. I would much rather work with it than Cisco Firepower, for example. Even though I've got 20 years of Cisco experience with different firewalls, I would much prefer this solution."

More Fortinet FortiGate SWG pros

"The solution has easy-to-use administration and offers an easy implementation."

"We love the simple interface and speed and reliability of the system."

"It has become an integral part of our remote work toolkit, as it enables us to overcome USA IP restrictions, ensuring our global teams can collaborate effectively."

"GoodAccess was the only hosted VPN solution we found for a reasonable cost that allowed us to establish a site-to-site VPN network for hundreds of locations across the country."

"The task of managing security and auditing for unauthorized entries has been substantially diminished."

"No extra hardware is needed, and it is very easy to set up"

"GoodAccess simplified our infrastructure and how we interact with clients."

"GoodAccess has significantly improved security in our organization."

More GoodAccess pros

Cons

"The reporting feature needs improvement."

"The solution could be stronger on the integration side and offer more cloud applications like G Suite or Oracle."

"The dashboards for local use could be better."

"Fold that in with the risk intelligence they're getting from all of the different subscriptions they are a part of. Now, these security companies subscribe to things like emerging threats, databases, etc. You can fold all this intelligence to decide what's happening on an endpoint. I would love to see them start moving into that space. That would compete directly with Microsoft. Maybe that's why they haven't. Having that ability native within the solution would be great. The other area in which I would love to see improvement is more detailed descriptions of why they block websites."

"SSL decryption: We had issues with learners using apps instead of using web browsers. This type of encryption is tough for any appliance in a BYOD environment."

"Sometimes the agent stops working in iboss, and we have to reinstall the agent."

"I'd like to see them accelerate development on the security side, particularly around data loss prevention."

"The area I would like to see improvement in is the ability with in the reporter to navigate directly to the content the user is traversing. It is kind of there, but it's not perfect. Quite frequently, I receive links that lead me to pages with error messages."

More iboss cons

"The initial setup is medium complex and takes between five days and a week."

"Fortinet FortiGate SWG can't be used on its own, and you have to get FortiAnalyzer."

"Fortinet FortiGate SWG could improve the price, it is expensive."

"The solution could improve by having some additional features, such as IBS and better cloud administration."

"They have not yet extended to the cloud."

"We are providing VoIP and the IP licensing could improve in Fortinet FortiGate SWG."

"Fortinet needs to continue to improve network traceability. Other than that, we haven't run into anything that would give me any concern."

"The solution has many heightened points which we cannot get to without working on CLI."

More Fortinet FortiGate SWG cons

"The interface information could show more information about how threats have occurred. Right now, it only shows basic threat information."

"They need to provide a more comprehensive app that shows more data that appears on the GoodAccess site."

"The latest upgrade to the Windows version of the app (unconfirmed on the Mac client) adds some unnecessary stylized animation to the GUI."

"Adding one user at a time to the package as compared to blocks of five would be helpful. Currently, we end up with empty seats on our plans."

"This past year, I did not like having to purchase an upgrade to a plan with a minimum number of seats to get the features we needed. We do not use all of the seats."

"It is worth mentioning that we do experience disconnects on rare occasions."

"The interface could provide more extensive information regarding the occurrence of threats. Currently, it only displays rudimentary threat data."

"There is one minor drawback to mention: occasionally, the Internet connection tends to slow down noticeably while using the VPN."

More GoodAccess cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is probably in line with other solutions, but I do not deal with the financial side."

"It is not expensive, and it is also not cheap. iboss is priced right in the sweet spot for the number of features it offers."

"It is expensive compared to one of its competitors."

"We had the cost of purchasing a new appliance along with the implementation and licensing costs. However, the following year, the cost of just licensing was similar to what was paid the previous year for a new appliance along with the implementation and licensing costs."

"We have not priced the solution recently, but they were competitive with other vendors in the past."

"The overall pricing for iboss is very competitive and transparent."

"Pricing for Fortinet FortiGate SWG is more suitable for enterprise or large-sized organizations because they are the ones who can afford it versus small and medium-sized organizations."

"FortiGate SWG is a cost-effective solution well-suited for organisations of all sizes."

"The pricing for this solution is reasonable."

"It is around $50,000 per month."

"It is less expensive than a Cisco solution."

"I rate the product's pricing a seven out of ten. The additional cost depends on the extra feature requirements."

"We pay about $4,000 for a yearly license, and there aren't any additional fees."

"I would rate the pricing a six out of ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive."

More Fortinet FortiGate SWG pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Computer Software Company

15%

Government

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about iboss?

Content filtering is the most useful feature of iboss.

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What needs improvement with iboss?

I have the same complaint about them that I have about other software companies. Sometimes when you call in support, ...

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What is your primary use case for iboss?

We are a PreK-12 public school district, and we use iboss to filter internet content for our students at home and sta...

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What do you like most about Fortinet FortiGate SWG?

The interface and other reports are all user-friendly.

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

On a scale from one to ten, I would rate the pricing for FortiGate AWG as nine, which is perfect.

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What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiGate SWG?

I would rate the technical support of Fortinet a six or seven out of ten. It is not very helpful. I would like to see...

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What do you like most about GoodAccess?

GoodAccess offers a very available professional support service - it can be via chat service, email, or phone.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for GoodAccess?

Test multiple providers' solutions for speed and connection before signing up for service. Also, test the help desk r...

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What needs improvement with GoodAccess?

We are having a problem with accessing Microsoft Copilot while connected. GoodAccess is working on the issue, but fix...

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Compared 5% of the time

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Compared 21% of the time

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Compared 7% of the time

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs Fortinet FortiGate SWG

Compared 4% of the time

Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway vs Fortinet FortiGate SWG

Compared 2% of the time

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No data available

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

iboss

April 2025

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Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiGate SWG

April 2025

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Buyer's Guide

GoodAccess

April 2025

Download GoodAccess product report

Also Known As

iBoss Cloud Platform

FortiGate SWG, FortiGate Secure Web Gateway

No data available

Overview

iboss offers a comprehensive security platform designed for diverse use cases such as web filtering, data loss protection, corporate proxy services, and URL filtering.

iboss integrates advanced features to address dynamic security needs, leveraging its strength in SASE, ZTNA, AI initiatives, and cloud integration, while ensuring seamless operations for remote work. It excels in historical forensics, malware protection, and flexible cloud deployments. Users benefit from comprehensive traffic scanning, robust malware detection, and PaaS capabilities that reduce hardware management. An intuitive admin console ensures efficient management with content filtering and low false positives. SSL decryption enhances security, while DLP protects data in AI conversations. Deployment is rapid and scalable, allowing effortless integration with emerging technologies.

What features does iboss offer?

Granular Web Filtering: Provides precise control over web content access.
Traffic Scanning: Monitors data through multiple ports for security breaches.
Malware Detection: Ensures superior protection against malware threats.
PaaS Capabilities: Eliminates need for hardware management.
SSL Decryption: Enhances data protection by decrypting secure connections.
DLP Capabilities: Safeguards data during AI interactions.

What benefits and ROI should users consider?

Scalability: Adapts quickly to growing demands and emerging tech integration.
Rapid Deployment: Reduces time to implement security measures.
User-Friendly Admin Console: Facilitates efficient operations management.
Low False Positives: Increases accuracy of threat detection systems.

iboss finds significant application in sectors such as education, where web filtering for K-12 is crucial, and in corporate environments requiring robust proxy services and URL filtering for network security. Its adaptability is essential in scenarios demanding flexible, decentralized security frameworks, particularly for remote work setups.

iboss

Fortinet FortiGate SWG is a comprehensive web security solution provided by Fortinet. FortiGate SWG combines web filtering, malware protection, data loss prevention (DLP), and application control capabilities into a single integrated platform. It is designed to protect organizations from web-based threats, enforce compliance policies, and provide secure access to web resources.

FortiGate SWG Benefits:

Comprehensive web filtering and security features
Ease of use and management
Integration with other Fortinet products
Strong threat detection capabilities
Scalability and flexibility
Granular control over user access and activity

FortiGate SWG Features:

Web Filtering: FortiGate SWG employs URL filtering and content categorization to control and enforce web access policies.
Malware Protection: The solution provides real-time protection against web-borne threats, such as malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP): FortiGate SWG helps prevent sensitive data from being leaked or exfiltrated through web channels.
SSL Inspection: The solution supports SSL/TLS decryption and inspection, allowing organizations to examine encrypted web traffic for threats and enforce security policies.
Application Control: FortiGate SWG enables granular control over web applications and protocols.
Advanced Threat Intelligence: FortiGate SWG leverages Fortinet's threat intelligence services to provide up-to-date information about emerging threats and zero-day vulnerabilities.
User Authentication and Access Control: The solution supports various authentication methods, including single sign-on (SSO) and integration with identity providers, to ensure secure user authentication and access control for web resources.
Reporting and Analytics: FortiGate SWG provides comprehensive reporting and analytics capabilities.

FortiGate SWG is typically deployed as a hardware appliance or as a virtual appliance in on-premises environments, but it may also be available as a cloud-based service. It is part of Fortinet's broader security fabric ecosystem, allowing integration with other Fortinet products to provide a unified and coordinated security infrastructure.

Reviews from Real Users

Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by FortiGate SWG users.

David Carlson, CIO at Camco Mfg., says that "Non-IT people could plug it in, connect it to the fiber, and get it running without IT help".

Suresh Vijayen, Product Manager at IX Telecom, writes that FortiGate SWG "Provides helpful technical support, but its dashboard needs to be more user-friendly".

Chandan Munshi, Chief Technical Officer at Provision Technologies LLP, states that "The user interface is intuitive. Anyone can configure the firewall with little knowledge of the product. The back-end is robust with good security."

Fortinet

GoodAccess is a cybersecurity platform designed for medium-sized enterprises to implement Zero Trust Architecture efficiently, offering a rapid, hardware-free deployment that integrates smoothly with existing infrastructures.

GoodAccess provides organizations a powerful means to secure their networks through a scalable zero-trust cybersecurity platform. It supports remote and hybrid work environments by protecting critical assets and enabling seamless connectivity. This platform ensures robust security, facilitating compliance with the latest standards while integrating with SaaS and legacy systems. Businesses with 50 to 5000 employees across several industries benefit from its advanced capabilities, which include device security, multi-factor authentication, and identity-based access control.

What are the key features of GoodAccess?

Remote Access and BYOD: Ensures device security through inventory checks.
Multi-factor Authentication: Provides unified MFA for all critical systems.
Identity-Based Access Control: Enables zero-trust access control by identity.
Network Encryption and Segmentation: Reduces attack surface via granular segmentation.
Full Control and Visibility: Integrates with SIEM for comprehensive security logs.

What benefits and ROI should users look for?

Easy Integration: Seamless with existing systems, enhancing operational efficiency.
Rapid Deployment: Quickly deploys, improving time to protection.
Improved Security: Superior security with high-speed, flexible remote access.
Cost-Effectiveness: Provides robust protection at a manageable cost.
Comprehensive Support: Reliable service supporting diverse environments.

GoodAccess is widely implemented across industries needing secure, adaptable connectivity. It is ideal for sectors prioritizing remote and hybrid workforces, like tech and professional services, ensuring seamless access and compliance with complex regulatory requirements. Companies benefit from its application in controlling geolocation requirements, facilitating secure video conferencing, and ensuring high-speed access regardless of location.

GoodAccess

Sample Customers

More than 4,000 global enterprises trust the iboss Cloud Platform to support their modern workforces, including a large number of Fortune 50 companies.

Salt Lake County, Catholic College Bendigo, Azienda Unita Sanitaria

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Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiGate SWG vs. GoodAccess

April 2025

Free Report: Fortinet FortiGate SWG vs. GoodAccess

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