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Thabo Molemele - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Administrator at Furnmart
Real User
May 21, 2023
Scalable security solution with well-defined intrusion detection feature
Pros and Cons
  • "Its technical support is excellent."
  • "The solution's web-filtering configuration could be better."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution for securing our network.

What is most valuable?

The solution's intrusion detection feature is excellent.

What needs improvement?

The solution's web-filtering configuration could be more straightforward. It takes a long time to configure.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for eight years.

Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiGate-VM
May 2026
Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiGate-VM. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2026.
896,692 professionals have used our research since 2012.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is primarily stable. Although, some time ago, there were performance drops where it was freezing as the logs were full. We managed to resolve the issue. I rate its stability eight out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is a very scalable product. The solution users in our organization include IT managers, finance officers, accountants, and chief financial officers. I rate its scalability a nine out of ten.

How are customer service and support?

The solution's support team is excellent and efficient.

How was the initial setup?

The solution's initial setup and configuration are straightforward. But if someone is trying to put policies and restrictions in place, then one has to understand many things. It takes one and half hours to configure and requires two executives for maintenance.

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

Initially, the solution's price was high for us. But it decreased on the purchase of more than one license.

What other advice do I have?

I recommend the solution to others and rate it a nine.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Judit Fekete - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Manager at Zipper
Reseller
May 6, 2023
Helps to maintain a secure environment
Pros and Cons
  • "We work in the archiving domain where a secure environment is very important. We have some special requirements regarding the security of infrastructure."
  • "The product has issues with integration. I would like to see better integration in future releases of the product."

What is our primary use case?

We work in the archiving domain where a secure environment is very important. We have some special requirements regarding the security of infrastructure.

What needs improvement?

The product has issues with integration. I would like to see better integration in future releases of the product. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have using the product for five years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I would rate the solution's stability a ten out of ten. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I would rate the product's scalability a ten out of ten. My company's four administrators have access to the solution. 

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

We required a solution that offered maintenance and support. Hence, we chose this product. 

How was the initial setup?

The product's setup is not complex. The tool's deployment gets completed in a couple of hours. 

What about the implementation team?

The solution's deployment was done in-house. 

What was our ROI?

We have seen ROI with the product's use. 

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.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiGate-VM
May 2026
Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiGate-VM. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2026.
896,692 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer1542387 - PeerSpot reviewer
Security Engineer at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
Real User
Apr 27, 2023
An easily deployable solution that can function as a firewall for multiple servers
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution's initial setup process was very easy."
  • "Sizing can be challenging for customers interested in using Fortinet FortiGate-VM."

What is our primary use case?

Fortinet FortiGate-VM is used as a firewall for multiple servers.

What needs improvement?

Price is okay and can be considered in the middle range, provided we compare it with other solutions. So, the solution can be made cheaper.

Fortinet FortiGate-VM should have a public forum where engineers can ask and answer questions. This would make it easy for anyone to search for incidents and find solutions quickly without needing to ask for support. The forum should contain a lot of information to help users troubleshoot issues on their own.

The solution's support can be considered a bit slow since it takes some time to resolve issues. So, support needs to be improved.

Sizing can be challenging for customers interested in using Fortinet FortiGate-VM. They often ask for guidance on how to size the virtual machine for their needs properly.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Fortinet FortiGate-VM for three years. Also, my company is an integrator for the solution, and I am using its first version since we did not have to update it.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I never had any problem with the solution's scalability. The solution's final customer can comment on its scalability.

In general, its scalability is good. Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support is okay. I rate the technical support an eight out of ten. Sometimes we need to find information quickly, and it can take time to open a ticket and go through the procedures of providing logs. But the support team is good. However, if we compare it to open-source solutions, developers can find information quickly over platforms like Slack. Network or site engineers need to open a ticket, and some of these tickets are not open-source. If we compare it to development engineers who can find answers quickly by searching on Google, there is a difference in the speed of finding solutions.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

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

I don't have experience working with solutions deployed on the cloud, but I have experience with products deployed on-premises, like Veeam, which was deployed on the server, and VMware. I have worked with Palo Alto, which is a complicated solution.

How was the initial setup?

The solution's initial setup process was very easy. The solution was deployed on the private cloud. The deployment process can be carried out in two weeks, and only three engineers are required. Maintenance can be carried out efficiently.

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

On a scale of one to ten, where ten is very expensive, I rate the solution around two or three. I think the solution's prices are okay, considering the services and features they offer.

What other advice do I have?

Fortinet FortiGate-VM is easy to test due to the available videos and QuickBooks with a lot of information. The solution is presented simply and is more robust in security compared to Palo Alto, which is complicated. For our team, Fortinet FortiGate-VM is the best choice as information is easily available on the internet, and it is open source. Unlike other solutions, we can find everything on how to deploy, manage, and support it. Moreover, we were provided Fortinet FortiGate-VM for free, which helped us develop our skills quickly.

It is a stable and good solution. Those planning to use the solution should go through Fortinet FortiGate-VM's guide and prepare for the integration while having a good design and good view. Also, it is important to plan deployment steps since step-by-step deployment of the solution is needed to avoid any problems. I rate the overall solution a ten out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Private Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Integrator
PeerSpot user
reviewer1537209 - PeerSpot reviewer
SecOps Lead at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Real User
Mar 16, 2023
User-friendly and effective with an easy setup
Pros and Cons
  • "It is easy to set up the solution."
  • "We'd like to have more customization and easier customization of policies."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use the solution as a virtual machine for firewalling.

What is most valuable?

The solution is very user-friendly. 

We have a next-generation firewall and can lock things in on a parameter level very effectively.

It is easy to set up the solution. 

The solution is stable.

I've found the technical support to be helpful and responsive. 

What needs improvement?

I can't recall any aspects that need improvement.

The pricing could be a bit better.

We'd like to have more customization and easier customization of policies. 

The scaling can be a bit better. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using the solution for the last two years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is okay in terms of stability. We have not had issues. It's not too difficult to work with it. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I'm the only person working directly with the product.

The scalability is limited. If we have to scale, we need to upgrade licenses after the license is up for renewal. Otherwise, we need to buy replacement licenses on top of the licenses we've already purchased instead of just expanding and adding onto what we have.

How are customer service and support?

I've worked with technical support in the past. They are very good. When we open tickets, they respond quickly. I'm happy with the level of support overall. 

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

I have worked with other firewalls. Which is best depends on the requirements. It is also dependent on the budget. We need to consider performance and scalability and take onto consideration how much support will be available as well. 

How was the initial setup?

The solution is easy to set up. There is a lot of documentation provided. For 70% to 80% we can do just fine, and for the rest, we just request documentation and can finish the job. 

We do not need much maintenance. We handle that ourselves, and it's not too difficult. 

What about the implementation team?

The solution is set up and configured in-house. 

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

The pricing is okay. However, it could always be better. When you need to scale, you need to buy bigger, different licenses. 

What other advice do I have?

We are using the latest version of the solution. 

I'd recommend the solution to others, depending on the business requirements. It's a pretty good solution in general. 

I'd rate the product eight out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
MuhammadHaris - PeerSpot reviewer
Technical Lead at Lemon Commuications
Real User
Mar 10, 2023
Very reliable and easy to deploy and manage
Pros and Cons
  • "The setup is simple."
  • "Technical support could be better."

What is our primary use case?

Whenever I need to deploy a Fortigate firewall, I go on Fortinet and do a trial license and work on it.  

The use case depends on the requirements. The requirements change from client to client. 

What is most valuable?

The virtual firewall feature is very good.

The solution is easy to deploy and manage, which makes it easy to test.

The products never disappoint us.

There are a lot of features that overlap and are similar to other products.

The setup is simple.  

What needs improvement?

I haven't had much of a chance to work on the VM environment too much. I don't have any notes for improvement. 

Technical support could be better. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've used the solution for two or three years on and off. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable and reliable. There are no bugs or glitches when handling testing in the lab environment. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable. You can expand it easily. 

How are customer service and support?

I'm not sure if there is a local person in Pakistan. Whenever I try to contact support, there is always a delay and I have not been so happy with the support services on offer. 

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

I also use Sophos. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is pretty straightforward. With the deployment of any type of firewall, you do have to do some workarounds. As long as you know the specifications, you are good to go. I'd state the ease of setup eight out of ten. 

The deployment, so long as it is not a migration, only takes a few hours. 

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

They do offer a one-month free trial. 

They offer affordable pricing. It was not expensive. I'd rate it seven or eight out of ten in terms of affordability. 

What other advice do I have?

We are Fortinet partners. 

The solution is pretty good. 

I would recommend the solution to others. I've had a great experience with the virtual environment. 

I'd rate the solution eight 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
PeerSpot user
CISO at a religious institution with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Sep 19, 2022
A scalable solution that protects our mobile users
Pros and Cons
  • "The thing that I like the most is that they're very willing to work with us to resolve issues that they haven't taken care of before in their product."
  • "The thing that I like the most is that they're very willing to work with us to resolve issues that they haven't taken care of before in their product."
  • "There should be integration with an active directory — with Microsoft."
  • "There should be integration with an active directory — with Microsoft."

What is our primary use case?

We use Fortinet FortiGate-VM as a firewall, for intrusion detection and prevention to protect our Azure data center, principal operation sites, and our mobile users. 

How has it helped my organization?

Together with the FortiAnalizer we have a better grasp of our security position and understand the type of adversary attacks our installations.

What is most valuable?

The thing that I like the most is that they're very willing to work with us to resolve issues that they haven't taken care of before in their product. 

The end-user protection suite is very good, including the log analysis feature that they now have.

What needs improvement?

The Fortinet solution has resolved the issues with Microsoft Azure active directory.  This integration allows us to build rules based on Grupo membership for access to data center assets on individual bases.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have used the Fortigate and Forticlient solutions for three years and they have proven to be very stable solutions.  

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Fortinet FortiGate-VM is very stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution has proven to be scalable to all our requirements. In the years using Fortinet, we have had no cases of scalability due to Fortinet. We have had to increase the firewall resources to deal with a large increase in Forticlient connections.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support is very good.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

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

We previously used Check Point. Though it is a good solution, the license costs became too high for our organization and obliged us to look for another option.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was a little complicated due to our engineers working on knowledge of Checkpoint and trying to replicate the same configurations.  Hindsight finds it may have been less complicated to build the rules from the ground up rather than importing them.

What about the implementation team?

Mostly through a vendor team at first, however, the process was plagued by miscommunications and inadequate scope definitions.

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

Be very clear with your security consultant who is proposing Fortinet as a solution regarding all the features and integrations you expect to achieve with the solution.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We reviewed Palo Alto, Barracuda, and Sophos.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, on a scale from one to ten, I would give this solution a rating of eight.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Microsoft Azure
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1764255 - PeerSpot reviewer
Systems Engineer at a tech vendor with 5,001-10,000 employees
Real User
Jan 25, 2022
Straightforward and easy to manage
Pros and Cons
  • "I've found the UTM features and the SD-WAN to be most valuable."
  • "We switched to FortiGate because it's straightforward and easy to manage and also has co-costing for customers."
  • "The operating system isn't stable, so it goes to memory counters every night."
  • "The operating system isn't stable, so it goes to memory counters every night."

What is our primary use case?

The majority of my use cases are firewalls and SD-WAN.

How has it helped my organization?

Most customers are moving to SD-WAN, so with FortiGate-VM, when solutions are traditional WAN, limitations have been addressed by the SD-WAN.

What is most valuable?

I've found the UTM features and the SD-WAN to be most valuable.

What needs improvement?

The operating system isn't stable, so it goes to memory counters every night.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using this solution for around ten years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

This solution isn't very stable with the new operating systems compared to the old ones.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

FortiGate is scalable.

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

I've previously used Sophos, Palo Alto, and Check Point. We switched to FortiGate because it's straightforward and easy to manage and also has co-costing for customers.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was straightforward, and I'd rate my experience as four out of five. Depending on the environment, deployment takes between two to three months.

What was our ROI?

I would rate the ROI as four out of five.

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

Licensing is usually on an annual, two-year, or three-year basis. I would rate the product's pricing as four out of five.

What other advice do I have?

I'd give this solution a rating of nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1055319 - PeerSpot reviewer
Chief of Security and Research at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
Real User
Jan 24, 2022
Easy to configure and manage with good pricing
Pros and Cons
  • "It's a very simple solution to manage."
  • "I'm very happy with this product and would rate it at a ten out of ten."
  • "Right now, we have two data centers that are a thousand kilometers apart. It would be nice to be able to string them together."
  • "I'd like for it to be possible to cluster together data centers."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use it to protect edge devices. We use it as a firewall.

What is most valuable?

It's a very simple solution to manage.

It's quite stable.

The scalability potential is good.

It's an easy solution to configure.  

The pricing is pretty good.

What needs improvement?

I'd like for it to be possible to cluster together data centers. Right now, we have two data centers that are a thousand kilometers apart. It would be nice to be able to string them together.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using the solution since 2005.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is quite stable and reliable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The product is very scalable. If a company needs to expand it, it can do so.

The entire company ends up using the solution, and we have between 25,000 and 50,000 employees. We have about five offices and in each data center, we use Fortigate.

How are customer service and support?

Occasionally, if the partner cannot resolve the problem, you do have to work with some Fortigate techs. They are excellent and quite helpful. 

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

I am working with Fortinet, Cisco, Palo Alto, and Forcepoint. I am using ASA from Cisco. It's very difficult to manage. Palo Alto is excellent, and the best in the market. Fortigate is right behind them. The central management is great.

How was the initial setup?

While the product is easy to configure, I cannot get into specifics in regards to the initial setup. It's handled by a partner. We pay them to do the setup.

The actual installation process is pretty quick. It might take about half a day or so. 

I'd rate the experience of setting up the solution at a five out of five. 

There are bout five people that can handle the maintenance of the product across our different data centers. They are all administrators. 

What about the implementation team?

Our partner sets up the solution for us. 

What was our ROI?

We've seen a decent ROI as it has helped us maintain a good level of security. I'd rate the ROI we've seen at a five out of five. 

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

We tend to have a three-year contract with Fortigate. While I don't know the exact costs, my understanding is that it is less expensive than some other options. 

What other advice do I have?

I'm a customer and an end-user.

We use the on-premises version due to the fact that, in Algeria, we do not use cloud deployments. 

I'd advise potential new users that it's a good edge solution, and not necessarily the best for data centers.

I'm very happy with this product and would rate it at a ten out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Fortinet FortiGate-VM Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: May 2026
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Buyer's Guide
Download our free Fortinet FortiGate-VM Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.