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reviewer1441512 - PeerSpot reviewer
Deputy General Manager Information Technology at a media company with 201-500 employees
Real User
Good filtering, ROI, and technical support
Pros and Cons
  • "We use the filtering feature the most. It has filtering and inbuilt securities. We can create customized rules to define which users can access a particular type of site. We can create policies inside the firewall."
  • "The visibility of the network can be better. The GUI can be improved for better visibility of the network flow. Other solutions have better GUI in terms of network visibility."

What is our primary use case?

We use it for routing and restricting user access.

What is most valuable?

We use the filtering feature the most. It has filtering and inbuilt securities. We can create customized rules to define which users can access a particular type of site. We can create policies inside the firewall.

What needs improvement?

The visibility of the network can be better. The GUI can be improved for better visibility of the network flow. Other solutions have better GUI in terms of network visibility.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for maybe five or six years.

Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiGate
January 2025
Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiGate. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2025.
831,265 professionals have used our research since 2012.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

You can have the availability features. All the traffic goes through this firewall for access to the outside world.

How are customer service and support?

Their technical support is good.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We were using some open-source solutions, and then we directly moved to firewalls.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was straightforward. It was completed in a month or so.

What about the implementation team?

We implemented it on our own. We are a small team, so a person with a few other duties also manages this solution.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

It is not a very costly product if you compare it with other products. The return on investment is also good. If you compare the return of investment and money that you are spending on this product with Palo Alto, Cisco, Check Point, and other solutions, the investment is very less. We are happy with this solution.

The optional licenses are there, and you can choose which one you want and which one to avoid.

What other advice do I have?

It is a fine solution. We have been using this solution for some years, and we are happy with it. We will continue using it unless the FortiGate solution is running itself in some other ways with new features.

I would recommend this solution. It is working fine for us. 

I would rate Fortinet FortiGate an eight out of ten.

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.
PeerSpot user
Assistant Manager IT at Urmi Garments Ltd
Real User
Excellent Bandwith Agility from Webstie to Website
Pros and Cons
  • "We are very happy with the general bandwidth agility we have seen from one website to another website."
  • "I have to say that the initial setup was complex. The deployment took a few days to get set up. Initially, we were using an IPVanish. We switched to this tool since we thought it would be easier. But it turns out it wasn't easier to set up and run."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case is providing cybersecurity applications to internet (IT) clients throughout India. 

How has it helped my organization?

Since we are still in the implementation period we still need more time to evaluate how this solution can add value to our organization.

What is most valuable?

We are very happy with the general bandwidth agility we have seen from one website to another website.

What needs improvement?

Since we are in the initial stages of implementation I can't suggest any additional features for the next release. At this point, I really need more time to evaluate the tool. The only thing I can recommend at this time is to make improvements for the user end when the user website is running slowly; the speed can definitely be improved. There is room to include IP wise and net-wise and bandwidth settings.

For how long have I used the solution?

Still implementing.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Currently, we have more than 600 employees using this product. Our users range from IT staff, management, and senior executives. We are all using it. And we plan on increasing the number of users to more than what we are currently at.

How are customer service and technical support?

My technical support experience has been very poor. I think the technical support personnel isn't experienced in Bangladesh. They have much less technical experience and aren't as able to handle the work, as I am.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Initially, we were using an IPVanish. We switched to this tool because we believed it would be easier to set up and use but it turns out it wasn't easier.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was complex. The deployment took a few days to get set up. Initially, we were using an IPVanish. We switched to this tool since we thought it would be easier. But it turns out it wasn't easier to set up and run.

What about the implementation team?

Our vendor team implemented the tool for us; the vendor team is based here in Bangladesh.    

What other advice do I have?

Maintenance only requires two or three people. At the moment both a Senior Executive and an IT manager are in charge of maintenance.

Besides wanting to see a faster connection speed I would like to see the expanded bandwidth, IP, and proprietary net settings feature included within the tool. 

I rate this product an 8 out of 10.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiGate
January 2025
Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiGate. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2025.
831,265 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Manager systems at HOCL
Real User
Offers good threat protection and stability
Pros and Cons
  • "Fortinet FortiGate is scalable for our users. Right now, we have almost 70 users. We do not have any plan to increase our usage of FortiGate. For maintaining the firewall solution, one staff member is enough."
  • "One issue that I have had is that sometimes I need to monitor the traffic, so I need to filter it according to the user and which user is using it the most. I experience a bottleneck most of the time, particularly at the peak time when the number of contracts and users are at maximum."

What is our primary use case?

We use Fortinet FortiGate as a firewall. On some particular days, when our network traffic is very busy, we use a separate debit line. We need additional monitoring to know whether our production was cut by peak rates or not.

How has it helped my organization?

It satisfies all of our requirements.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature is the threat protection. With many users, I've found an issue where sometimes I need to monitor the traffic that I need to filter.

What needs improvement?

We have many users currently with this solution. One issue that I have had is that sometimes I need to monitor the traffic, so I need to filter it according to the user and which user is using it the most. I experience a bottleneck most of the time, particularly at peak time when the number of contracts and users are at maximum. We feel a kind of bottleneck.

When I first entered the log section, I could not find any results. I did not find any proof, i.e. reporting and analytics on the speed and network availability were not optimized. I could not find any such log from the server, maybe Fortinet could improve this service.

For how long have I used the solution?

Less than one year.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Fortinet FortiGate is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Fortinet FortiGate is scalable for our users. Right now, we have almost 70 users. We do not have any plan to increase our usage of FortiGate. For maintaining the firewall solution, one staff member is enough.

How are customer service and technical support?

We are very well satisfied with the Fortinet technical support.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We had been using another solution for approximately ten years. The product was not up to date, so we were not getting any support for it.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward. The total amount of deployment time required depends upon the number of users. Fortinet FortiGate automatically corrects any mistakes you make in the installation process.

What other advice do I have?

I cannot find anything lacking in Fortinet FortiGate. I would rate it a nine out of ten. We advise other users to go for Fortinet.

There is a back-up service that needs to be included with the firewall support.

I have the requirement to filter what information goes to the user to see which user require the most bandwidth and other resources. When there is a disconnection, that should be shown somewhere in the reports.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Principal Mining Consultant at senhwabio
Consultant
Auto-scans for viruses, worms, and malware
Pros and Cons
  • "The features that prevent internet connections, the filtering are the most valuable because we did not have any internet protection before."
  • "Fortinet could improve the windows opener or the virtual IP solutions for opening windows. The virtual IP settings need improvement as firewalls are trending in new development directions."

What is our primary use case?

We use Fortinet FortiGate out of fear for malware on the internet, to protect our users from malware. We also use FortiGate to prevent connections to the internet.

How has it helped my organization?

We mainly use Fortinet FortiGate to prevent infections of technology on our network devices. We use it to auto-scan for viruses, worms, and malware.

What is most valuable?

The feature that prevents internet connections, the filtering, is the most valuable feature because we did not have any internet protection before.

What needs improvement?

Fortinet could improve the windows opener or the virtual IP solutions for opening windows. The virtual IP settings need improvement as firewalls are trending in new development directions.

For how long have I used the solution?

Three to five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Fortinet FortiGate is very stable. We use it for 20 hours a day only. It is a firewall so it cannot be shut down.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Fortinet FortiGate is scalable, but it is not a requirement for us. We only have 25 users. They are general users, not engineers. I am the only engineer needed to maintain FortiGate.

How are customer service and technical support?

We didn't need Fortinet customer support because FortiGate was already configured.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We started with Fortinet FortiGate. We weren't previously using another solution. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup of Fortinet FortiGate is not so difficult. We got the instructions for the installation from Fortinet online.

The majority of the work was implemented by our vendor. The deployment took about two days to complete.

What about the implementation team?

The installation of Fortinet FortiGate was implemented by our vendor. They are a third-party selling company, not the original manufacturer.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Fortinet is reasonable in pricing and licensing. Overall, FortiGate is affordable. The licensing fee can be a little high, depending on the budget for your project.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Other products are not so popular in Taiwan, but the IBM IPM solution is a major competitor to Fortinet FortiGate for firewalls.

What other advice do I have?

Fortinet FortiGate is a stable and affordable product. I would rate Fortinet FortiGate an 8/10. So far, Fortinet FortiGate has been enough for our business requirements.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
PTLNet3112 - PeerSpot reviewer
PTL Network Administrator at a non-profit with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
A cost-efficient product that is very user friendly
Pros and Cons
  • "It's a firewall that secures our internal network. I have been using it since 2013, and I find that most of the features are advanced, and very user friendly."
  • "The web-cache feature which was previously on the FortiGate device, but was deleted with the recent upgrade should be returned. It was a very valuable feature for us."

What is our primary use case?

It's a firewall that secures our internal network. I have been using it since 2013, and I find that most of the features are advanced, and very user-friendly.

What is most valuable?

It gives priority to certain applications compared to others as well because internally all our applications are web based.  We use FortiGate to prioritize certain applications to be accessed much faster than the others. For end users, it enables access to the applications and web filtering, as well. That's where we block off most of the sites and we can do scheduling, as well as access to certain sites within certain periods of time.

What needs improvement?

The web-cache feature which was previously on the FortiGate device, but was deleted with the recent upgrade, should be returned. It was a very valuable feature for us.

For how long have I used the solution?

More than five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability of the product is consistent with our needs.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

In terms of usage, I have a main branch and then we have smaller branches throughout the country. Connecting to each site through FortiGate is much easier.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

It is cost-effective, and provides a good value for your money. The pricing, and license renewal, is very reasonable for us. The bottom-line is that it all comes down to the pricing of the solution.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I looked at Cisco, and I think that FortiGate is more reliable, consistent and stable.

What other advice do I have?

When choosing a new solution, I suggest seriously researching the pricing and the features. It must be a solution that fits your particular requirements and specifications. 

I think FortiGate is more reliable, consistent, and easy to learn. It is robust and more secure than other solutions on the market.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
PeerSpot user
Senior Security Consultant with 501-1,000 employees
Vendor
They added a valuable WAF feature to the latest version.

What is most valuable?

  • Complete and cost-effective next-generation firewall features with app identification, and IPS and URL filtering with SSL inspection.

How has it helped my organization?

  • Better manageability
  • Straightforward deployments
  • Streamlined and reliable upgrades

Customers have more time to focus on security because maintaining the firewalls is completely hassle-free.

What needs improvement?

Grouping/tabbing (not only by interface) in the policy table of the web GUI would be a great addition.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have used it for two years.

What was my experience with deployment of the solution?

We have not encountered any deployment issues.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We have not encountered any stability issues. Stability has dramatically improved over the previous main version branch of FortiOS; 5.2.x and 5.4.x are stable enough for critical environments.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have not encountered any scalability issues; proven that you properly sized the FortiGate model that fits your environment.

How are customer service and technical support?

Customer Service:

Customer service is sufficient.

Technical Support:

The tech support is not excellent; this is where Fortinet saves money compared to others... But plenty of free, clear and public documentation is available and this compensates for the most part the tech support shortcomings.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We previously used Cisco ASA. We switched because the old ASA has no next-generation features.

How was the initial setup?

IMHO It is the most straightforward enterprise-level next generation firewall.

What about the implementation team?

All implementations were done in-house.

What was our ROI?

ROI is very high, it has hands-down the best price/performance/features ratio in the market...

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The licensing model is straightforward, easy to understand and purchase; prices are fairly low compared to other vendors.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Before choosing this product, we also evaluated Check Point and Palo Alto Networks.

What other advice do I have?

In version 5.4, they added a WAF feature that is absolutely unique for this kind of product; no other NGFW product can also be a WAF and this is a great added value...

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Infrastructure Engineer at a hospitality company with 51-200 employees
Real User
Simple to use, has less complications and is very straightforward
Pros and Cons
  • "Their interface is very easy to use, it is without bugs."
  • "Fortinet Fortigate could benefit by simplifying some of their processes."

What is our primary use case?

Fortinet FortiGate is a firewall that protects your assets and data. We have 15 people using this solution. I am an infrastructure engineer. We require 3 people to maintain the solution.

What is most valuable?

What I like about this solution is that it is simple to use, has less complications and is very straightforward. Their interface is very easy to use, it is without bugs. 

What needs improvement?

Fortinet Fortigate could benefit by simplifying some of their processes. For example, if you are using Cisco, and you want to find a source and a destination, you type the IP of the source and then the IP of the destination. Cisco will find any denied packet by highlighting it in yellow.  To access it with Cisco, all you need to do is right click. FortiGate is not that simple.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Fortinet FortiGate for approximately 4 months. I am taking a course regarding this solution.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We had been using Cisco and Firepower prior to FortiGate. FortiGate is easier to use. We encountered a lot of problems when we integrated Firepower on Cisco devices.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup of Fortinet FortiGate is very straightforward. I would give it a 5 out 5 on ease of setup.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Currently, we have not added licenses for all the features we want. For example, we do not have intrusion prevention and detection.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend Fortinet FortiGate, it is a good firewall, especially for beginners because of its ease of use.

I would rate the solution an 8 out 10.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Private Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Tamer Baher - PeerSpot reviewer
Professional Services Manager at Insight Technology
Real User
Unique and very efficient product for a security firewall
Pros and Cons
  • "From the firewall perspective, the rules and policies are very sufficient and easy to use."
  • "The solution is very expensive."

What is our primary use case?

The major function of this solution is traffic shaping for end-users. You can use a specific appendix for the specific manager.

We are using the latest version of the solution: 100D.

The solution is deployed on-premises.

What is most valuable?

From the firewall perspective, the rules and policies are very sufficient and easy to use.

What needs improvement?

The solution is very expensive.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It's very stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is scalable.

How are customer service and support?

The support is very good. They respond on time and are professional. From a technical perspective, they're good.

How was the initial setup?

It's easy to set up.

For maintenance, if you want to add a mesh configuration, you can restore your configuration from the backup.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Most people prefer the functions and capabilities in FortiGate, but compared to other solutions, it's expensive.

The price depends on the size of the company. From the beginning, you just want to know the internet bandwidths, speed, and the number of users to be able to offer the right product and model. They have a lot of products in FortiGate according to the size of the company, like 200D and 300D.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate this solution 10 out of 10. 

It's a very unique and efficient product for a security firewall. The only comment I have is that the price is expensive for small companies or startup companies.

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
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Fortinet FortiGate Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: January 2025
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Fortinet FortiGate Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.