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Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs MikroTik Routers and Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024
 

Categories and Ranking

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
MikroTik Routers and Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
6th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.5
Number of Reviews
65
Ranking in other categories
Routers (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2024, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is 6.1%, down from 6.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of MikroTik Routers and Switches is 4.1%, down from 5.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

SherifAbdelrahman - PeerSpot reviewer
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,…
AnikIslam - PeerSpot reviewer
Cost-effective protocol support and a straightforward setup with room for login enhancements
In the network operations center, I manage our client's bandwidth. We connect with our clients through BGP and OSPF based on client demands. We also manage routing protocols, policies, internal firewalls, and other details like QE bandwidth, client manage bandwidth management, PoE, PPPoE, and DNS…

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"I would rate the the ease of management and scalability within our network architecture an eight out of ten, with ten being best."
"The most valuable feature is the breakability after integration with the FortiGate firewall."
"It is very user-friendly. There is no need to use command lines to configure it or to do anything in it. You hardly use command lines, which makes it different from Cisco. In Cisco, the CLI is your best friend. Fortinet has the lowest TCO, so you can use its integrated components without having to buy additional licenses. They provide centralized management without needing to buy or acquire additional licenses. You have an integral or complete vision through a single pane of glass, and you can see everything from one single console without having to buy additional licenses, which is a plus. It works the same way when you add wireless. You can see everything from FortiGate. It has a security processor, which is another plus. It does not have a standard desktop processor. It has a multi-threat security processor, and it is built by Fortinet. So, all the components that you include in a Fortinet solution are proprietary and work in an integral way. It has one single solution, whereas other brands, such as Palo Alto and Check Point, have been acquiring certain solutions, and they're not fully integrated. With Fortinet, everything is integrated. If you start building on Fortinet, everything that you expand to the local LAN or WAN is integrated. You don't have to pay for professional services and other things to do that. Their technical information is also very good. Most of their information is based on how-to, and it can be found online, which is something my clients like."
"It is a cheap and secure solution. The job switching and security features are better than other solutions."
"With FortiSwitch, you can easily identify who is connected to each port, disable ports as needed, and retrieve configurations from FortiGate when required."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access has essential features for managing switches."
"It's easy to be configured and powerful in terms of performance."
"The most valuable feature is that I can completely isolate devices that are compromising the network."
"The routing is nice and straightforward."
"The most valuable feature is the price because it's highly cost-effective concerning the functionalities provided within the box. The solution is stable. The solution is scalable. The initial setup is straightforward. I would recommend the solution because it provides value for money."
"We have found this solution is quite robust and there are a lot of features in a small device."
"The tool is simple and reliable. The most valuable function for us is filtering. We can manage which connections users can and cannot make. This is important as our office has about 2,200 employees using the Internet. It provides benefits because it's available and simple. Our IT staff is familiar with it, making it easy to operate and manage."
"I have seen a return on investment since we didn't have to pay a licensing fee."
"MikroTik routers are very user-friendly and easy to manage"
"I've never had any issues with the solution."
"The flexible IP firewall and IP network address translation make it very easy to give access to internal services."
 

Cons

"Its cloud features could be better."
"I feel that the product's stability is an area where improvements are required."
"The scalability and technical support can be improved."
"We've had some issues with Layer 3 FortiSwitch. We can deploy the device in the cloud. However, we can't deploy this solution in complex environments easily."
"Currently issues with some of the switches and problems with the firmware."
"The central management needs improvement. The initial setup could be easier."
"The initial setup is pretty easy; we have built a knowledge base. But there's a learning curve for beginners."
"It would also help if they lowered the cost of their service."
"There needs to be better support for this solution in India. We have no local support."
"It would be nice if the interface was easier to use."
"The biggest thing that needs improvement is the support."
"The solution should improve the features of Wi-Fi 6 a little bit."
"It is slow, old and unfriendly."
"The CPU load is too high. This causes the Internet to lag."
"The queuing functionality needs improvement. The initial setup could be simplified."
"The initial setup can be a bit difficult. The configuration can take a lot of time."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price is good."
"The solution is cheaper than Cisco but more expensive than Huawei."
"We have to renew and pay for the licenses."
"It's affordable and there are no additional costs, just regular support, and license fees."
"You can buy this equipment in a multitude of ways. You can buy just the hardware, or you can buy the hardware and the licenses."
"The product's pricing is good."
"We signed up for a three-year license for support and replacement."
"The pricing is cheap and only a yearly licensing cost needs to be paid."
"In terms of the economic side, we're completely satisfied. The price is affordable for both SMEs and enterprises."
"The pricing is very reasonable and is one of the main selling points for MikroTik devices."
"Here in Bangladesh, MikroTik Routers and Switches cost 90,000 Taka, or converting that figure to dollars is $1,000."
"The price is affordable."
"It's reasonably priced. It's not the most cheap solution, but also, it's not the most expensive one."
"It's definitely worth the investment."
"Pricing is not an issue."
"There are not any external or hidden costs."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
16%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
9%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Computer Software Company
17%
Comms Service Provider
11%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Government
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

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 pricing is considered high due to the currency exchange changes in our region. It has increased by about two hundred percent over the past three years.
How do Cisco Enterprise routers compare with Mikrotik routers and switches?
Cisco Enterprise Routers are very stable and easy to use. They offer a very solid performance and are very secure. They also have a very good, long lifespan. We feel the command configuration is ve...
Which are better - Ubiquiti UniFi switches or MikroTik routers and switches?
Ubiquiti Unifi is a great solution. For starters, it is easy to configure and implement, and doesn’t require a learning curve because it is easy to use. It is also simple to reconfigure an AP or ga...
What do you like most about MikroTik Routers and Switches?
The price is a big factor. They are very affordable, and the quality is high.
 

Learn More

 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
ABB, Boingo Wireless, JPL, HP, Allied Telesis, iPass, Mips Technologies, MicroAge, Matsushita, Telia, undp, WFP, NASA
Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs. MikroTik Routers and Switches and other solutions. Updated: December 2024.
823,795 professionals have used our research since 2012.