We use FortiClient for remote users to connect to office resources. It acts as a VPN client, enabling secure access for employees working from home.
Medical Coder at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Enhances security for users working from home.
Pros and Cons
- "Remote users connect to the office using FortiClient, where they can access business URLs through a VPN tunnel configured on the FortiGate firewall."
- "Fortinet frequently releases updates without thorough testing."
- "Fortinet frequently releases updates without thorough testing. We encounter issues due to multiple vulnerabilities, which leads to problems."
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
Currently, the version we are using of FortiClient has all the features required for us to run our business. It serves as a VPN client, allows connections to business URLs, and includes SAML authentication and multifactor authentication.
What is most valuable?
Remote users connect to the office using FortiClient, where they can access business URLs through a VPN tunnel configured on the FortiGate firewall. We use family authentication and multifactor authentication via Office 365 email ID, which enhances security for users working from home.
What needs improvement?
Fortinet frequently releases updates without thorough testing. We encounter issues due to multiple vulnerabilities, which leads to problems. Fortinet should focus on better iOS testing before release to avoid these bugs.
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Fortinet FortiClient
December 2024
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For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Fortinet products for approximately ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of FortiClient is excellent. I would rate its stability as ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We can recommend FortiClient for small organizations with 50 to 60 users as well as for larger enterprises due to its extensive features.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support from Fortinet is good. We have not faced any issues. They initiate the troubleshooting process quickly and resolve issues in a timely manner.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is a straightforward process. It is easy to configure with FortiClient.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Recently, Fortinet has increased prices for its products. It could be made more affordable for end-users.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
The main competitor for FortiClient is Palo Alto Firewall.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate Fortinet overall as nine out of ten. It is a one-stop shop for IT services, offering integration for WiFi, switches, and firewalls in one interface.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Last updated: Nov 24, 2024
Flag as inappropriateGeneral Manager IT at Chase Up
Useful two way authentication, reliable, and secure VPN
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature of Fortinet FortiClient is dual authentication and the VPN is secure."
- "The features of Fortinet FortiClient could be improved."
What is our primary use case?
We use Fortinet FortiClient to secure our connection when our team works in different locations worldwide. We needed dual authentication for our user verification.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of Fortinet FortiClient is dual authentication and the VPN is secure.
What needs improvement?
The features of Fortinet FortiClient could be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Fortinet FortiClient for approximately two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the scalability of Fortinet FortiClient a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have approximately 34 licenses being used in our company.
How are customer service and support?
I have received a high level of support.
I rate the support of Fortinet FortiClient a nine out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Fortinet FortiClient is simple.
What was our ROI?
The solution is set up on many servers and it has been working very well.
I rate the stability of Fortinet FortiClient a nine out of ten.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is not expensive. We need more discounted rates in Pakistan. The price of the solution could be reduced to be more affordable for the solution.
I rate the price of Fortinet FortiClient a nine out of ten.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend this solution to others because it is simple and secure, we depend on it.
I rate Fortinet FortiClient a ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiClient
December 2024
Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiClient. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
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Director at Widya Presisi Solusi
Free to use, user-friendly and offers good stability
Pros and Cons
- "The VPN has proven to be quite useful."
- "We'd like to be able to properly encrypt the data more effectively."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution for the VPN as well as for end protection. Those are the only two use cases for us. We don't use it for anything else.
How has it helped my organization?
The solution has improved our organization as the VPN has allowed us to work from home, which has been quite handy during COVID. We don't need to be at the office to access the VPN. We can work from anywhere. It's made work much more flexible.
What is most valuable?
The anti-virus that the product offers is the most valuable aspect of the solution for us.
The VPN has proven to be quite useful. We access the VPN through FortiClient.
The stability is very good.
Technical support is okay.
The version we have is free to use. It doesn't cost us anything.
We've found the solution to be very user-friendly. It's easy to navigate.
What needs improvement?
I'm now looking for some sort of option that can maybe be centrally located. We want the IP in our office to centralize the settings and so on. The one that we use, hasn't had that kind of capability to push the settings.
We'd like to be able to properly encrypt the data more effectively. We want them to offer encryption of the hard drive.
The initial setup can sometimes be complex.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for a while now. It's likely been about five or so years. I've had some time to get to know it.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is pretty good. there are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. Its performance is reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We use the solution on every PC right now. We use FortiClient, and we are happy with it, however, we do not have plans to increase the usage as our employee count has remained the same and we haven't added anyone to our team.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support is okay. It's been fine. If we need assistance, we simply create a ticket. It's not hard to get a hold of them. I would say that we are satisfied with the level of support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We used McAfee previously. It was the standard one that is already installed in the software. It's pre-installed software that was available on the computer. However, we needed to centralize the system. That's why we use FortiClient now instead.
How was the initial setup?
I haven't handled the initial setup personally. Usually, it's handled by my IT team. They are the ones that install it for me. I don't know whether it's complex, or not. However, from my point of view, sometimes I've heard that it has failed, and therefore it's possible it's quite complex.
Since I didn't handle the initial setup, and can't speak to how much time the deployment actually took.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We are currently using the free version of the solution. We don't pay a licensing fee to use the solution.
What other advice do I have?
We are Fortinet partners.
I would recommend the solution to other users and companies. It's a very useful tool and I have enjoyed working with it. It meets our expectations.
I would rate the solution at a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
A scalable and easy-to-deploy solution, but its visibility of the end-user action should be improved
Pros and Cons
- "Fortinet FortiClient's scalability is very good because it has no limitations."
- "Fortinet FortiClient should improve its visibility of the consumption of traffic and end-user action, which is very low."
What is our primary use case?
We use Fortinet FortiClient based on the end user's firewall structure. If my customer uses a FortiGate firewall, we usually use Fortinet FortiClient for the VPN instead of a WatchGuard.
What is most valuable?
Fortinet FortiClient's scalability is very good because it has no limitations.
What needs improvement?
Fortinet FortiClient should improve its visibility of the consumption of traffic and end-user action, which is very low.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Fortinet FortiClient for two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We didn't face any problems with Fortinet FortiClient's stability.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I previously used a solution called WatchGuard.
How was the initial setup?
Fortinet FortiClient's initial setup is quite simple.
What about the implementation team?
Fortinet FortiClient's deployment took around five to ten minutes. We manually set up the software while configuring the end-user device. We deployed the solution through an in-house team.
What other advice do I have?
I would not recommend Fortinet FortiClient to other users because of its low visibility of end-user actions.
Overall, I rate Fortinet FortiClient a seven out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Network Engineer at Pronet
The solution efficiently blocks noncompliant devices but has some issues with user stability
Pros and Cons
- "The solution's TNA feature blocks devices from entering the network that do not meet compliance protocols."
- "The solution has some issues with stability on the user side."
What is our primary use case?
Our company deploys the solution for twenty customers who need ransomware protection and web application firewalls.
What is most valuable?
The solution's TNA feature blocks devices from entering the network that do not meet compliance protocols such as the absence of antivirus protection.
The TNA security feature allows integration with FortiClient, FortiGate, FortiAnalyzer, and FortiSandbox.
The solution creates a security fabric with all devices connected and sharing the same log so it is easy to automatically quarantine any device.
What needs improvement?
The solution has some issues with stability on the user side.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution has some stability issues on the user side but is improving.
New releases are more stable than past versions.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable based on your license.
Adding users that extend beyond your current license is simple because you just upgrade your license.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support is quite impressive and available 24/7.
Support engages with us and provides relevant resolutions for issues.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup on the server side is very easy.
The setup steps include installing the solution on the server, configuring any ports or IPs, creating an installer to run on user systems, and then deploying the solution on the user side.
Deployment on the user side can be done manually if there are few users. Our clients have thousands of users so we push the installer through ED by creating group profiles that contain specific policies.
Users receive policy updates that administrators want to push to them.
What about the implementation team?
Our company implements the solution for customers.
What other advice do I have?
The solution is moving toward stability so I recommend it.
I rate the solution a six out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Easy to use, straightforward setup and scalable with VeloCloud integration
Pros and Cons
- "The EMS server gives us good control and central management."
- "The reports could be easier to set up."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use FortiClient for our VPN access.
How has it helped my organization?
We were on the free version before, then transitioned to the EMS server. Now that we transitioned to that, it's been extremely helpful.
What is most valuable?
The EMS server gives us good control and central management. The product is easy to use. Integration with VeloCloud allows immediate deployment, rather than having to wait six months for a piece of hardware.
What needs improvement?
The reports could be easier to set up.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've used it for five or six years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution has been stable. It's been good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Yes, it's scalable.
How are customer service and support?
I had to call them to figure out how I was going to transition from the old unmanaged client, and we had to push out the new managed client. I reached out to them about how we were going to attack that, and they were good. Their engineers really know their product well.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
We have a network engineer, so he's the one who deals with Fortinet.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate Fortinet FortiClient an eight out of ten. It's so easy to use. I just wish the reports were a little easier to use.
We are going through a growth spurt, buying up many little offices. FortiClient integrated with VeloCloud allows us to convert them fast, and that's our end game.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Senior Director, Technical Support and Product Development at Exclusive Networks
Non-disruptive with a great interface
Pros and Cons
- "Fortinet FortiClient is not disruptive, and its interface is great. It has an in-built VPN, which is very useful."
- "There isn't much to improve in terms of features and comparison with other vendors. It just needs to stay more up to date in catching the malware. The user interface may be improved, which would be a minor enhancement. Unlike central management, in endpoint security, the end users don't need to keep looking at the endpoint user interface. The technology is the most important thing in endpoint security."
What is most valuable?
Fortinet FortiClient is not disruptive, and its interface is great. It has an in-built VPN, which is very useful.
What needs improvement?
There isn't much to improve in terms of features and comparison with other vendors. It just needs to stay more up to date in catching the malware.
The user interface may be improved, which would be a minor enhancement. Unlike central management, in endpoint security, the end users don't need to keep looking at the endpoint user interface. The technology is the most important thing in endpoint security.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for over ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Fortinet FortiClient is very good in terms of stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I don't find any problem at all. I can have one user or ten users. Scalability pretty much remains the same.
How are customer service and technical support?
I never had to call their support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I used to use Trend Micro, and it is pretty good. I have also used McAfee and a few different ones. McAfee is probably the worst in my opinion. It is very disruptive.
Both Trend Micro and Fortinet FortiClient are non-disruptive. They are pretty much like Microsoft Essential. Once you set them up, you never bother with the user interface. The interface stays in the background and does not interrupt the daily work.
What other advice do I have?
Fortinet has acquired a company called enSilo, which is into EDR. As a result, Fortinet basically has EPP as well as EDR. Generally, a lot of EPPs cannot coexist, but Fortinet EPP and EDR can coexist, so that's a plus.
I would rate Fortinet FortiClient a nine out of ten. It's very popular and easy to use. That's why I have stayed with Fortinet FortiClient for ten years.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Lead Engineer - Work Modernization at Searce Inc
Provides a stable and secure VPN connection for remote access
Pros and Cons
- "From my perspective as an end user, it's consistently stable, and I would rate the stability as a nine out of ten."
- "More integration would be beneficial."
What is our primary use case?
Our main use case is when I need to work from home. For instance, if I'm not going to the office today and I need to access files hosted on our local servers, I use FortiClient to connect to the network. This also helps me avoid using virtual machines that are located on-premises. So, my primary use case is accessing the network remotely via VPN to work with VMs. However, I'm not responsible for the overall management; that's handled by our IT team.
What is most valuable?
Almost every VPN solution offers similar features. You input your credentials, log in, and gain access to a virtual IT environment assigned to you. This is the core functionality of a VPN, and we have that with FortiClient. Personally, it's fine for me.
What needs improvement?
While it's been excellent, I suppose even faster connectivity would be great.
More integration would be beneficial. Faster connectivity is always welcome.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for three years. We use the latest version.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
From my perspective as an end user, it's consistently stable, and I would rate the stability as a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's not designed for scalability; it's a VPN solution meant for individual users.
How was the initial setup?
FortiClient was pre-installed on my machine. It is deployed both on-premises and cloud environments.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate the solution a nine out of ten because it has been very stable for me.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Updated: December 2024
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