We use the solution for our private cloud.
CEO at Easyteam
A flexible and scalable solution that easily integrates with the network infrastructure
Pros and Cons
- "It’s easy to integrate the solution with our network infrastructure."
- "We face some issues with the IPsec connection during replication."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
We use Fortinet for everything in our organization. Our organization has Fortinet experts. The virtualized network features work fine. The flexibility is fine. It’s easy to integrate the solution with our network infrastructure.
What needs improvement?
We face some issues with the IPsec connection during replication. It must be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for six months.
Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiGate-VM
April 2025

Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiGate-VM. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: April 2025.
848,716 professionals have used our research since 2012.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is fine.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the tool’s scalability an eight out of ten. We have many users in our organization.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is complex because we use CLI. The solution is cloud-based. We have moved our on-premise VM to a private VM.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I have used Netgate. I prefer Fortinet FortiGate-VM.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I rate the product a nine out of ten.
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.

General Manager at Vodafone Idea Ltd.
Highly versatile, suitable for all size companies, and excellent support
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features of Fortinet FortiGate-VM are its flexibility and scalability. This solution is available as a license, which allows us to activate it based on the specific needs of the customer. This gives us and the customer a great deal of versatility and customization options."
- "There is always room for improvement in any solutions, including Fortinet's FortiGate-VM. Although the solution claims to have a superior throughput compared to other OEMs, upon closer examination and comparison, there is potential for significant improvement in this area. In today's rapidly evolving technology world, it is important to continuously strive for enhancement and development, and I believe Fortinet can make significant strides in this direction for the FortiGate-VM."
What is our primary use case?
The use case of FortiGate-VM is primarily for securing the perimeter of private clouds in the dedicated environment created for customers. This can be achieved through a virtual appliance or physical hardware solution. Beyond only perimeter security, some customers also require DDoS services, and FortiGate-VM can provide this through its own solutions that can be combined and offered as a bundle to meet the specific needs of the customer.
The solution can be deployed on-premise and on the cloud too.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features of Fortinet FortiGate-VM are its flexibility and scalability. This solution is available as a license, which allows us to activate it based on the specific needs of the customer. This gives us and the customer a great deal of versatility and customization options.
What needs improvement?
There is always room for improvement in any solutions, including Fortinet's FortiGate-VM. Although the solution claims to have a superior throughput compared to other OEMs, upon closer examination and comparison, there is potential for significant improvement in this area. In today's rapidly evolving technology world, it is important to continuously strive for enhancement and development, and I believe Fortinet can make significant strides in this direction for the FortiGate-VM.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Fortinet FortiGate-VM for approximately 18 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
I rate the stability of Fortinet FortiGate-VM an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable, it can be easily and effectively expanded as the customer's requirements grow and change. This makes it an incredibly agile solution that can be tailored to meet even the most demanding demands. There is some room for improvement in this area.
The solution is suitable for small to enterprise-sized companies.
I rate the scalability of Fortinet FortiGate-VM an eight out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
The support from Fortinet FortiGate-VM is excellent, it is one of their strongest points.
I rate the support from Fortinet FortiGate-VM a nine out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of the solution is simple because everything comes with GUI. The entire infrastructure for the customer is simple to set up with the GUI.
The choice between an on-premise or cloud solution is a decision that ultimately depends on the specific needs and requirements of the customer. Currently, there is a trend towards utilizing cloud-based products as they offer a wider selection and can be easily deployed. On the other hand, some customers may prefer an on-premise setup, which involves deploying physical equipment on the customer's premises or a virtual machine from an OEM. The cloud solution offers greater agility, flexibility, and speed but can also present challenges, especially in the semiconductor industry where delivery times may be longer due to stress in the market. In conclusion, both options have their own advantages and disadvantages, and the decision between them should be based on the specific requirements of the customer.
Taking into consideration the magnitude of the entire implementation, the deployment process could potentially take approximately three weeks, assuming all necessary components are readily available for the physical setup. After this stage, the User Acceptance Testing (UAT) phase commences, which may last for an additional week. Subsequently, before the final implementation into production, the customer would conduct a final UAT to ensure all elements have been successfully deployed and functioning as intended.
I rate the initial setup of Fortinet FortiGate-VM an eight out of ten.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price of the solution is competitive. Fortinet FortiGate-VM had a lot of advantages when it came to pricing. However, the competition has also geared up to a larger extent and it has become comparable now to the other solutions.
In terms of security, it is crucial to understand that the cost of security measures should not be the sole determining factor. The security of your overall infrastructure and setup must be a top priority, regardless of the price of security appliances or OEMs. However, when considering the entire solution, including the security infrastructure, the cost will play a crucial role in the final decision-making process.
It is imperative to choose the best available options, but the cost of the entire solution should not be exorbitant and prevent it from gaining approval from clients.
I rate the price of Fortinet FortiGate-VM an eight out of ten.
What other advice do I have?
When evaluating the overall solution, it is important to consider both the benefits and drawbacks. Fortinet FortiGate-VM presents a multitude of advantages that make it a fantastic product choice. It offers exceptional stability, a scalable design, and unparalleled support from the manufacturer. It is with great confidence that I wholeheartedly recommend Fortinet as a reliable and valuable solution.
I would recommend this solution to others as long as it's fulfilling the requirements of the customer.
I rate Fortinet FortiGate-VM an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: MSP
Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiGate-VM
April 2025

Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiGate-VM. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: April 2025.
848,716 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Senior Cyber Security Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
A stable and easy-to-deploy solution that provides excellent security features
Pros and Cons
- "All the security features that are built into the product are valuable."
- "Support could be improved a little."
What is our primary use case?
We deploy the tool for customers who want a firewall in front of their cloud environment. We can use it for anything they want to protect in their data center or private cloud.
How has it helped my organization?
The solution has given us a good revenue stream and a better solution for our customers for network security. The product can take our customer’s basic firewall and take it to the next level and give them much more visibility and control over the traffic.
What is most valuable?
All the security features that are built into the product are valuable. It includes web filtering, DNS filtering, and intrusion prevention. FortiGate is the best firewall in the market. It pretty much does most things.
What needs improvement?
Support could be improved a little.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for four and a half years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the solution’s stability a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the tool’s scalability a ten out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
Sometimes, we get really good, knowledgeable engineers. At other times, it feels like we got somebody who started that day. We have to go through the wringer with them.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was very easy.
What was our ROI?
I have seen an ROI on the product.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price is pretty decent compared to other products. The product’s licensing must be a little cheaper.
What other advice do I have?
If you're looking for an enterprise-level next-generation firewall, go with FortiGate. It’s hands down the best value for what you pay. Overall, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Chief Executive Officer at SST Infotech India Pvt Ltd
It's a solidly stable device with minimal downtime
Pros and Cons
- "We like FortiGate-VM's IPS features and its ability to create multiple virtual firewalls."
- "Fortinet support needs improvement. The response times are lackluster. Fortunately, the product is stable and we seldom have issues. Also, it takes months for them to deliver hardware when we order it."
What is our primary use case?
We have a private cloud environment with two firewalls and a physical host with a total storage capacity of approximately 5 terabytes running on VMware. The private cloud is a payment services gateway processing transactions from 1,500 outlets nationwide. We have around a thousand virtual machines, and all of them use Fortinet.
What is most valuable?
We like FortiGate-VM's IPS features and its ability to create multiple virtual firewalls.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used FortiGate-VM for five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Stability is one area where Fortinet stands out. We don't see dropped sessions or downtime. The hardware is extremely stable, and our utilization stays well below the limits.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
You need to upgrade your box to scale, but it's easy to migrate from one to the other.
How are customer service and support?
Fortinet support needs improvement. The response times are lackluster. Fortunately, the product is stable and we seldom have issues. Also, it takes months for them to deliver hardware when we order it.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
How was the initial setup?
It's easy to install and configure FortiGate-VM. One engineer can finish the job in half a day.
What was our ROI?
You will recover your investment if you purchase the right size and use it for six or seven years. However, you'll lose money if you need to replace or upgrade the box after three years. It's critical to buy the correct size from the start.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
FortiGate-VM is a little expensive compared to Sophos. You pay a fixed license for the box, but there are various options if you need to upgrade.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Fortinet FortiGate-VM nine out of 10. It's a solid product overall, but Fortinet support has a lot of room for improvement. I wouldn't recommend it for an enterprise use case. It might work, but you should test it first. They have various options, so you should pick one that meets your business requirements and your environment.
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: Partner
Information Technology Division Director at Ethiopian Roads Administration
Helps segregate the VLANs in the data center, but it needs to improve on the security part
Pros and Cons
- "It is scalable because it is a virtual appliance. You can probably scale it up more."
- "The security offered by the tool has certain shortcomings, making it in area where improvements are required."
What is our primary use case?
I use the solution in my company for the data center's server protection to segregate the data center VLANs and the other VLANs used in the production, testing, and development phases, including the areas consisting of DMZ and VLAN. We are using Fortinet FortiGate-VM as a software-based tool and as a firewall for our data center.
What is most valuable?
It filters out the unnecessary connectivity that I would probably expect to be connected from the end user site or from external to the data center site. It is also used to filter unauthorized access to sites and to mitigate risks if, in cases, because of the asset policy, the remote desktop connectivity or remote connectivity is not allowed to restrict something. It is used to deal with phishing or something that may not pass through the network. The tool serves as an industrial firewall so that we can use it as a filter more efficiently.
What needs improvement?
The security offered by the tool has certain shortcomings, making it in area where improvements are required. Security, by nature, is very dynamic, and continuous improvement is required. Every time, the policy and the configuration need to be checked in that aspect now, so in that aspect, it needs some improvement, especially when it comes to some filtering mechanisms, and protocols.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Fortinet FortiGate-VM for more than three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
In terms of stability, it is stable. Stability-wise, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is scalable because it is a virtual appliance. You can probably scale it up more.
Fortinet FortiGate-VM is a security solution, so users are not expected to access it. It is actually required to protect the network and the environment, so there is no need for actual user access for the solution.
How was the initial setup?
The product's initial setup phase requires some special expertise. The initial setup phase might not be complex, but it requires experts since it is a security solution.
If there is an expertise that is actually doing the implementation or deployment, then it is a straightforward process.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution requires a license. The tool is neither expensive nor cheap, so it is okay.
What other advice do I have?
The product's implementation does affect our compliance with industry regulations, and it is one of the reasons why we prefer using Fortinet FortiGate-VM.
My suggestion to other people related to the tool depends on their requirements because there are other different solutions in terms of cost, efficiency, security, reliability, and security. Depending on the requirements, the tool is recommendable. Fortinet is one of the top security solutions in the market. Anybody can choose from multiple tools in the market, including Palo Alto products and other solutions. Fortinet is usually recommended to others.
I think that Fortinet FortiGate-VM has some solutions that offer AI features. For our use case, we don't actually use the AI functionalities since we want to control everything. In my company, we are the ones who are actually dealing with the product and are just not supported by AI.
I rate the tool a seven out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Last updated: Aug 1, 2024
Flag as inappropriateSenior Network Security at Gofaster
Provides protection from a broad array of network threats
Pros and Cons
- "GitDM, like FortiGate VM, provides similar features to FortiGate appliances or cloud solutions. However, FortiGate VM is more suitable for heavy traffic and inspection compared to GitDM. Unfortunately, FortiGate VM lacks a dedicated SPU for inspection, and all features rely on CPU and RAM."
- "I don't have any specific improvements to suggest, but perhaps the pricing could be enhanced. Regarding updates, more frequent updates would be appreciated. FortiGate-VM is currently focused on providing very good firmware updates, automation, and top-notch features. It stands as a great product for now. Based on our needs and the vulnerabilities we've encountered due to various downloads, I suggest integrating with Kaspersky Gateway. This integration would involve scanning and inspecting both official emails and spam emails. Our customer has successfully worked with Kaspersky Gateway, and overall, the integration has been effective."
What is our primary use case?
All firewalls, including Fortinet FortiGate-VM, provide similar features under the sync capability. The differences between them are minimal, with FortiGate-VM offering simplicity in use. It covers aspects such as intrusion prevention, web filtering, application control, routing, virtual domains, policy-based routing, and SSL.
How has it helped my organization?
For our customer, this product holds paramount importance. It is critical for them as we collaborate with government agencies, financial institutions, and oil and gas companies. Inspecting and controlling traffic, especially pertaining to credit cards, is crucial for their operations.
What is most valuable?
GitDM, like FortiGate VM, provides similar features to FortiGate appliances or cloud solutions. However, FortiGate VM is more suitable for heavy traffic and inspection compared to GitDM. Unfortunately, FortiGate VM lacks a dedicated SPU for inspection, and all features rely on CPU and RAM.
What needs improvement?
I don't have any specific improvements to suggest, but perhaps the pricing could be enhanced. Regarding updates, more frequent updates would be appreciated. FortiGate-VM is currently focused on providing very good firmware updates, automation, and top-notch features. It stands as a great product for now.
Based on our needs and the vulnerabilities we've encountered due to various downloads, I suggest integrating with Kaspersky Gateway. This integration would involve scanning and inspecting both official emails and spam emails. Our customer has successfully worked with Kaspersky Gateway, and overall, the integration has been effective.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Fortinet FortiGate-VM for 3 years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
In conjunction with the switch and based on the sizing, it indicates a suitable box or VM for the customer. If the level of mailbox is low, the stability will be good, and the box will not be in conserve mode. Regarding impressions of scalability, I would rate it eight out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
The support team is excellent, providing assistance and resolving issues effectively.
How was the initial setup?
The setup is straightforward for me, but our customers might find it a bit challenging. Overall, following the provided steps and consulting the official materials or documentation makes the FortiGate-VM setup relatively easy.Firstly, we establish a console connection to the firewall and access its default IP. In the second step, we create rules to enable the firewall to access the internet. Following these two steps, we register a rule with Fortinet Broadcom, download the necessary licenses, and upload them. After uploading the license, we set up an interface rule, check the license, and configure interfaces such as LAN, WAN, and VPN. Subsequently, we create profiles, including web filter, application, antivirus, and IPS profiles. The last steps involve configuring interfaces like LAN, WAN, and VPN, as well as attaching profiles to outbound policies. We also consider additional configurations, like server publishing, destination netting, or integrating with PBM for Alibaba Cloud. The final three configurations are optional and depend on the customer's requirements.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We can tailor the suitable license for the customer, whether they require UTB or enterprise features. The options are flexible based on their needs.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend Fortinet for large-scale companies and Sophos for medium or small enterprises. I would rate it 8 out of 10.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Cloud Consultant at Tata Consultancy
Easy to scale up and integrate
Pros and Cons
- "It is highly scalable because it has a mesh architecture that allows consistent policies."
- "The pricing is expensive."
What is our primary use case?
Our primary requirement is security. We are using it as part of our enterprise deployment with Fortinet. Currently, we are doing the firewalls using these appliances.
How has it helped my organization?
We are a services company that provides IT solutions for many other customers. As an IT service provider, we have different requirements from different customers and support them.
What needs improvement?
There is room for improvement in the pricing model. The pricing is expensive, but pricing should be competitive, and it should be unit-based pricing.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have a decade of experience with Fortinet FortiGate-VM. We have different versions.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is good. I would rate it a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate scalability a ten out of ten because its mesh architecture allows consistent policies. Additionally, we can keep adding points and integrate them into the same dish, making it easy to scale up as needed.
How are customer service and support?
The customer service and support team is of high quality. The reason is that we are a preferred partner and vendor for Fortinet. So, they are available whenever we call them, and we have no problems. We have a specialized team that is deployed only for our organization.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
I would rate the initial setup a nine out of ten, where one is difficult, and ten is easy. You need to deploy it on a virtual appliance. Deploying the appliance itself is usually straightforward, but designing the architecture and arranging the solution can be challenging for many customers.
What about the implementation team?
We deploy it on both on-prem and cloud, depending on the customer's preference. Our architecture is a mesh architecture. It depends on the customer's requirements. We choose the type of appliances and the capacity required to run. For instance, for a customer with a thousand workloads utilizing a Fortinet gateway, we would select the physical appliances that best suit their needs for on-prem deployment.
Conversely, we would use a mesh configuration with consistent policies across cloud engines for a data interface in the cloud. So, we've used both ways. We use a virtual version on-premises, physical appliances on-premises, and virtual appliances inside the cloud.
The whole deployment takes around four weeks to three months, depending on the architecture. It is quite a broad process, but if I summarize, we typically start with a high-level solution design and then move into the low-level details, such as port configuration and traffic flow. Finally, we move on to the actual deployment phase.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I would rate it a five, where one is low, and ten is high. We usually do monthly licensing costs as we don't invest capital and do more OpEx-based pricing.
What other advice do I have?
My advice is if you have to go with the complete stack, go with the complete stack, not the replacement-only product. Don't look at it as a replacement. Choose a platform.
Overall, I would rate it a nine out of ten. The reason is that I have a next-generation firewall. Fortinet FortiGate-VM provides various deployment options, such as physical or virtual devices, and it can be easily integrated with public clouds. Additionally, I can integrate it with other Fortinet products like network access control or zero trust network access in a single step, which is very convenient. Their security stack portfolio works well with my hybrid mesh firewall, and I am satisfied with its integration capabilities.
We have had a very good experience with Fortinet FortiGate-VM. They are usually the first choice for us when it comes to designing. We have certain products for certain purposes, and this one is our preferred choice for firewall purposes.
Moreover, They have hardware appliances that can be deployed on-premise, virtual appliances deployed on the cloud, and a mesh that can form a cluster. It's very good.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partner
Network Architect at Bouygues telecom
Provides robust web filtering capabilities and has an easy setup process
Pros and Cons
- "It offers the same robust features and functionality in virtual, on-premise, and traditional data center environments."
- "They could simplify the troubleshooting process."
What needs improvement?
They could simplify the troubleshooting process. Troubleshooting requires expertise, often necessitating the command-line interface (CLI). It could be more advanced and easier to use than other products.
Additionally, they could enhance support capabilities and a facility to communicate efficiently with the team.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Fortinet FortiGate-VM for seven years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product is stable. However, there are a few areas of improvement. I rate the stability an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is best in terms of pricing for small and medium-sized companies, where it stands out as a cost-effective and feature-rich solution. For larger enterprises, we emphasize the potential benefits of complementing FortiGate-VM with additional firewalls, such as Palo Alto, to enhance security and address potential vulnerabilities.
I rate the scalability a nine out of ten.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup process is easy. It can deployed on the cloud and premises based on the client's requirements.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There are products like Cisco Meraki that are more inexpensive than Fortinet FortiGate-VM. However, it provides better security features. Palo Alto's pricing is similar to that of the FortiGate-VM regarding quality for security features. It is reasonable.
What other advice do I have?
FortiGate VM in a cloud infrastructure provides security benefits. It offers the same robust features and functionality in virtual, on-premise, and traditional data center environments. It protects against external attacks and internal threats through features such as web filtering, secure application filtering, and antivirus capabilities. These functionalities collectively enhance security measures, safeguarding against various potential risks.
It is extensible, as we can add as much functionality as we require. It is simple to add more resources. It has a flexible pay-as-you-go pricing model.
I rate it an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner

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Updated: April 2025
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