What is our primary use case?
We have multiple firewalls linked through a VPN. There is traffic from several branches and multiple points of failure, so you need to analyze this traffic to know what's coming in and going out. When you have more chains, there are more points of failure that can be exploited.
I use FortiAnalyzer on-premise and on the cloud. I update the solution at least once a year. I always update the firewall to the latest edition, so I can have three months or four months to test it in the VM. I use even more products and also AWS and Azure Cloud. About 9 percent of my company is responsible for security and networking. Everybody's on my team works with FortiAnalyzer.
Our department has three security architects and four network engineers. They are beginning to place assistant administrators on the network.
How has it helped my organization?
FortiAnanalyzer ensures you have an accurate view of all your devices, so you don't need to check each one. The analyzer creates a central point of management and control, giving you insight into what is going on.
So you want to move through that traffic that's coming in as the lock the analyzer will like to analyze the traffic in real-time so you can know what is going on. Yeah, so you customize it to be able to analyze what you want it to be able to analyze.
What is most valuable?
One of the most valuable features is the ability to analyze data in real-time using AR features to pull data from the industrial DB. You can know what is going on and see in milliseconds where the network is underperforming.
FortiAnalyzer also has good storage capacity for storing the logs. The notification capabilities are excellent, too. It sends alerts so always know what is going on. For example, if you're on a break and something goes wrong, it lets you know so can immediately go back and fix it. You don't need to be constantly sitting in front of it.
What needs improvement?
The UI could use some improvement. It can be tough for a beginner to navigate because you don't know what to do even if you read the guide. I've talked to some users who said that they couldn't figure out what to do even after looking at the documentation.
They need to update guide so it's more aligned with what the UI shows. The guide has lots of stuff in it, there sometimes you still don't get it. It takes too long for a new version of the documentation to come out. It still works, but the problem is that the UI is completely different, so it's challenging to find things.
Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiAnalyzer
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiAnalyzer. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
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For how long have I used the solution?
I have used FortiAnalyzer for the last three and a half years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
FortiAnalyzer is stable at the time of release. You don't have problems when you install it. There aren't configuration breaks that you have to go fix. When you update, the transition is smooth.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
FortiAnalyzer is scalable.
How are customer service and support?
I have contacted Fortinet support once or twice, but not for FortiAnalyzer. Some of my clients had a problem with FortiGate and the traffic-shaping policy. The traffic-shaping policy in the later version of FortiGate doesn't work like it used to.
Fortinet's technical support was dependable, helpful, and knowledgeable about the product. They were prompt and responsive, so it was good. I rate Fortinet support 10 out of 10.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I was using Cisco ASA before FortiAnalyzer. I started using SonicWall six years ago, and five years I discovered FortiGate. I find FortiAnalyzer easier to use than the other products.
How was the initial setup?
Setting up FortiAnalyzer is a bit complex for a beginner because you have a shallow understanding of what it is. Configuring the advanced features is somewhat challenging, but the basic setup isn't that tough.
Setting up FortiAnalyzer takes around five to 10 minutes. I rate my setup experience 10 out of 10. After deployment, there isn't too much maintenance. It's just the usual updates. That's it.
What about the implementation team?
I do the setup in-house. If I'm setting FortiAnalyzer for a client, I will typically walk them through step by step with the team, so they know how to set it up and what everything does.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I rate FortiAnalyzer six out of 10 for affordability. FortiAnalyzer pricing isn't steady. It changes each quarter or year. That's one of the main problems in West Abaco because most businesses here are small or medium-sized enterprises. It makes budgeting complicated. You always want to pay the same price on the subscription.
At the same time, I think Fortinet pricing is reasonable compared to all the others. The value you get from Fortinet is better because it beats other vendors in terms of performance, functionality, and efficiency. New firewalls like Alexa are trying to compete in pricing, and people are looking into it to see, but Fortinet is good for now. However, they need to work on keeping the price consistent.
What other advice do I have?
I rate FortiAnalyzer nine out of 10. My advice to anyone implementing FortiAnalyzer is to read about a product. If you do your homework, it's easier to set up. The next thing is to understand your environment, especially if you have multiple links over your network that leave you more vulnerable to attacks.
The more links you have, the more exposed you are to attacks. It is possible that one link can be vulnerable, and you won't take notice.FortiAnalyzer is the best choice.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner