I use this solution to manage my VDOMs and FortiGate policies.
Network & Security Team Head at Amiral
Good support, stable, and easy to install and manage
Pros and Cons
- "It's very easy to install, and it's easy to discover and communicate with your device."
- "It requires a lot of resources. This is the main challenge."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
It's very easy to install, and it's easy to discover and communicate with your device.
We can manage VDOM, backup and restore configurations, and FortiGate. We have ten FortiGate firewalls.
What needs improvement?
It requires a lot of resources. This is the main challenge.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using this solution for more than ten years.
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Fortinet FortiManager
April 2025

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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's stable. I didn't have any issues with its stability or availability. It's good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's scalable. I'd rate it a nine out of ten in terms of scalability.
How are customer service and support?
Fortinet's support is very good. Sometimes, Fortinet's support is better than Cisco's support. They are more talented. I'd rate their support a nine out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We had Panorama from Palo Alto. We switched because most of our devices are from Fortinet. FortiManager is also easy to install and set up.
How was the initial setup?
It's very easy to install. This is the main reason why we are using it. It's easy to set up and manage. The only thing I am not happy with is the sizing of the RAM and hardware. The implementation took about two months because we have a big network.
What about the implementation team?
It was implemented in-house. We have a team of three engineers dedicated to installation and maintenance.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
If you compare Fortinet and Palo Alto, Fortinet is cheaper, but if you compare Cisco and Fortinet, sometimes Cisco is cheaper because Cisco gives us more discounts because of the size. Cisco isn't cheap, but sometimes, we get a big discount from them.
Its licensing is monthly. I'd rate it a seven out of ten in terms of pricing.
What other advice do I have?
I'd recommend having a demo of FortiManager before deciding on it. I had a demo to understand how this device will match my profile and my requirements. The demo answered all my questions.
Overall, I'd rate Fortinet FortiManager a nine 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.

ICT Project Management Office Manager at PINS
Streamlines network security management with its centralized approach while offering features such as robust security policies and automated workflows
Pros and Cons
- "The user interface, along with user-friendly planning features, makes it straightforward to configure desired settings."
- "Issues arise when customers experience unstable electricity or poor grounding conditions."
What is our primary use case?
Amid a surge in malware threats, including ransomware, heightened awareness about security vulnerabilities has prompted organizations to prioritize robust cybersecurity measures. Fortinet's SD-WAN solutions provide a comprehensive approach to secure and efficient wide-area networking for our customers.
What is most valuable?
The user interface, along with user-friendly planning features, makes it straightforward to configure desired settings.
What needs improvement?
Issues arise when customers experience unstable electricity or poor grounding conditions. In such cases, their CPE or other devices on-site may become unreliable, leading to occasional configuration discrepancies. To address this, site visits are necessary, and sometimes manual configuration adjustments are required. In extreme cases, device replacement may be necessary, particularly when inadequate electricity grounding poses a persistent challenge, creating specific conditions for intervention.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Presently, our customers have a limited number of remote sites, numbering in the hundreds, with none exceeding a thousand or more. Fortunately, there haven't been any issues reported with this scale of deployment.
How are customer service and support?
Fortinet's support has proven to be reliable, particularly as we've been engaged with them since the project's initiation. This long-standing collaboration has facilitated effective communication, allowing us to seek advice or receive the correct configurations when encountering issues. Their assistance has been instrumental in problem-solving and troubleshooting. I would rate it eight out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Previously, we employed Cisco Catalyst switches, specifically the Catalyst 1100 series. However, during that time, the stability of these switches was not satisfactory, and there were noticeable issues. We transitioned to FortiManager because our customers expressed a preference for enhanced security features in the form of superior Customer Premises Equipment. The local certification standards in Indonesia have played a crucial role in raising awareness among our customers regarding the need for robust security measures.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
The installation is very simple, thanks to its use of zero-touch provisioning. With another engineer on hand and static alerts in place, the installation process is hassle-free. Completing the setup typically takes around fifteen minutes.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
While I find the pricing somewhat higher compared to other options, it remains acceptable for now. I anticipate a growing demand for SD-WAN security in the future, particularly with Fortinet gaining popularity. I hope that the prices will become more competitive in subsequent releases, as the current pricing is perceived as somewhat elevated.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate it nine out of ten.
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?
Other
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiManager
April 2025

Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiManager. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: April 2025.
848,716 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Network Specialist at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
We can set unified policies from a central dashboard, reducing human error
Pros and Cons
- "FortiManager enables us to set unified firewall policies from one centralized dashboard, reducing human error. If you do not have a central dashboard, there's a chance you might set a policy on one firewall and forget to do it for another."
- "The SD-WAN solution is difficult to manage on FortiManager because you need to share some configurations on the firewall side. Sometimes you lose all connectivity with the firewall, so it is challenging to apply the default configuration to the SD-WAN solution."
What is our primary use case?
We use FortiManager to manage the roles and policies for all of our edge firewalls.
How has it helped my organization?
FortiManager enables us to set unified firewall policies from one centralized dashboard, reducing human error. If you do not have a central dashboard, there's a chance you might set a policy on one firewall and forget to do it for another.
What needs improvement?
The SD-WAN solution is difficult to manage on FortiManager because you need to share some configurations on the firewall side. Sometimes you lose all connectivity with the firewall, so it is challenging to apply the default configuration to the SD-WAN solution.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used FortiManager for around two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate FortiManager nine out of 10 for stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate FortiManager eight out of 10 for scalability. It's easy to scale, but you may run into some issues. We have around 4,000 users at my company.
How are customer service and support?
I rate Fortinet support six out of 10. The response time could be better.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
How was the initial setup?
Deploying FortiManager is easy, but you may need to reconfigure and restart the appliance during the setup if it loses the connection. This happened once, but it has been working fine since then.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I rate FortiManager eight out of 10 for affordability. All of the features are included with the basic license. It isn't like other solutions where you need to pay for SD-WAN or additional bandwidth.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Fortinet FortiManager eight out of 10.
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.
IT Manager at TiThink
Simple to use with easy management and good reliability
Pros and Cons
- "It can scale well."
- "The price is a bit too high."
What is our primary use case?
We have two branches and find that this solution makes it easy to implement the same configuration in different firewalls. You don't have to log onto any of the equipment with the VPN of the customer. It is the easiest way to manage a network.
What is most valuable?
This tool is simple to use. It makes management very easy.
It helps with the underly IT. Things go more smoothly since everything is managed in one place.
The solution is stable.
It can scale well.
The product does help save a lot of time thanks to its efficient management capabilities.
What needs improvement?
The price is a bit too high. Aside from the price, I do not have any complaints about the product.
It would be ideal if they could bundle the product with others. Right now, you have all of these Forti products and you have to pay for a license for FortiGate and then have other licenses for the Analyzer and Cloud, for example. Instead of paying separately and having all of these licenses, it would be nice to centralize everything and maybe reduce the price for a bundle.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used the solution for around seven months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It has good stability. The product is reliable. I'd rate it nine out of ten in terms of reliability. There are no bugs or glitches and it doesn't crash or freeze.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is great. I would rate it nine out of ten. It expands easily.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We did not previously use any different products.
How was the initial setup?
The implementation is simple. It doesn't require an installation. All the products work on the same cloud. You just have to add it to the equation.
We have seven engineers working on it to support it. They are available for any maintenance requirements.
What was our ROI?
We have seen a bit of ROI in that we save time providing the service to clients.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing is pretty high.
What other advice do I have?
I'm using the latest version of the solution.
It's a good solution. I'd suggest others to go ahead and try it without any hesitation.
I'd rate the product nine out of ten.
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 has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
Manager IP Network Security Planning at MTN
Easy to use with good management capabilities and good reliability
Pros and Cons
- "It makes management very easy."
- "The presence of Fortinet in our region (Nigeria) needs to be stronger."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution for management purposes. It makes management very convenient. We use it for managing Fortinet firewalls in our network.
What is most valuable?
The ease of use is great.
It makes management very easy.
The solution is stable.
It likely is scalable. However, I have not attempted to expand the offering.
What needs improvement?
The presence of Fortinet in our region (Nigeria) needs to be stronger. They need to have a local footprint and local support.
I cannot recall any missing features.
The pricing could always be lower.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable. I'd rate the stability eight out of ten. We haven't had issues. There are no bugs or glitches.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I'm not too sure how scalable the solution is. My understanding is that it would be. However, I haven't tested its capabilities in that way.
I'd rate the scalability seven out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
We would like to have more local presence in the future. However, we can get support when we need it.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We previously used Check Point. However, it was hard to manage Check Point devices. We moved over to Fortinet.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was quite simple to set up. We bought professional services with the product, and that made it very easy.
I do not recall the deployment taking too long. It's pretty fast.
What about the implementation team?
We had a Fortinet engineer assist with the setup. That service came with the professional services we bought.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We'd like the pricing to be a bit lower.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We did not really look at other options. We did do a POC with Fortinet before purchasing it.
What other advice do I have?
I'm an end-user.
We are using the latest version of the solution.
I'd recommend the solution to other users.
I would rate the product 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.
Senior Associate at City Union Bank Ltd
Offers centralized management and automation but false positives affect threat intelligence
Pros and Cons
- "The initial setup of Fortinet FortiManager was easy."
What is our primary use case?
I use Fortinet FortiManager for checking anomaly traffic, monitoring traffic inflow and outflow, and managing firewall traffic. It offers a centralized console to manage all Forti appliances and provides visibility of logs from multiple Forti consoles.
What is most valuable?
Fortinet FortiManager offers a centralized console for managing multiple Fortinet appliances, eliminating the need to log into different consoles at various locations. It provides a unified platform where logs from multiple Fortinet consoles are forwarded to Fortinet FortiManager, making it easier to manage network operations. Furthermore, it simplifies patch updates and OS updates by allowing direct deployment from Fortinet FortiManager. It has enhanced automation capabilities such as IP and URL blocking integrated with incident ticketing tools.
What needs improvement?
Currently, I do not have suggestions for immediate improvement, but as the technology landscape evolves, I would recommend exploring and implementing AI features. Additionally, Fortinet FortiManager could benefit from integrations with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solutions.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used Fortinet FortiManager for the past two years before migrating.
What was my experience with deployment of the solution?
The deployment of Fortinet FortiManager took around one week. The setup in our data center needed to be confirmed to be working fine before arranging for disaster recovery setup, due to compliance issues and management approvals.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I have not faced any stability issues or downtime with Fortinet FortiManager.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability is not an issue for me since we purchased high-scale, high-bandwidth appliances that support 30 to 40 percent more than our actual current traffic.
How are customer service and support?
The Fortinet support team has assisted me significantly. They are responsive and resolve issues quickly when I raise a ticket.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I was using Fortinet FortiManager but have migrated to Palo Alto due to a management decision.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Fortinet FortiManager was easy. I can rate it ten out of ten for ease of setup.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend obtaining a bit of free training before using Fortinet FortiManager. Overall, I rate Fortinet FortiManager between eight to nine. My rating is not perfect due to the threat intelligence of Fortinet FortiManager, which has a lot of false positives.
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: Apr 18, 2025
Flag as inappropriatePre-Sales Engineer at Cable & Wireless Communications
Great pricing, good support, and very customizable
Pros and Cons
- "Setup, setting policies, and reporting were all very easy. We had no issues whatsoever getting the solution up and running."
- "Their EDR products could be better. They need to dedicate more R&D to that area."
What is our primary use case?
We had a customer that had about five locations and at each location, they needed a management device. We installed FortiManager at the head office and all locations report back to it.
What is most valuable?
Setup, setting policies, and reporting were all very easy. We had no issues whatsoever getting the solution up and running.
The ability to manage multiple devices is great. We have one set up and one pane of glass for management. The reporting features are customizable for the customer. We would normally just show them some default reports and they would customize them. So far, there are no problems customizing your reports.
What needs improvement?
I haven't had any issues with the product.
Their EDR products could be better. They need to dedicate more R&D to that area.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used the solution for a while. The company I work with now exclusively uses Fortinet products.
How are customer service and support?
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?
For network monitoring, I've previously used SolarWinds. The major differences are the ease of use of Fortinet and its single pane of glass. It's also easier to get reports. SolarWinds can require a little more technical knowledge.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is very simple. I'd rate the process eight out of ten in terms of ease of setup. The deployment takes, on a complex install, about two days. On a simpler install, it would take less than a day.
Usually, we have one solution implementation engineer managing the deployment.
Once we have implemented it, it goes over to our support center and they handle it under a managed service.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Fortinet has the best pricing currently on the market. They are very competitive, especially if you are a preferred partner (which we are).
What other advice do I have?
I'd advise others to use it. It's a powerful tool. It makes managing multiple Fortinet products very easy. You can tie in FortiSwitches, Fortigates, et cetera, and gain one central point of management with great reporting functionality.
I'd rate the solution an eight out of ten. It's best of breed and always on the cutting edge of security technologies. they keep abreast of upcoming trends and emerging technologies.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
CSO at Nologin
Good centralization and management with great reliabilty
Pros and Cons
- "It is stable."
- "The solution should be more open to other products."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution for managing firewalls.
What is most valuable?
We enjoy the centralization of all roles and objects and so on.
As a manager, you can manage 50 or 40 firewalls with only one product.
The initial setup is easy.
It is stable.
What needs improvement?
The solution should be more open to other products. FortiManager must be able to manage other products from other vendors. While it's perfect for other Forti products, it's not ideal for everything.
This is not available to work with many other vendors in the cloud. In the end, you want only one view of your own security view of everything, which is impossible with FortiManager.
Of course, this is the case with Palo Alto as well.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for seven or eight years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable, reliable product. The solution has good performance. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The product is likely scalable, however, we haven't pushed it.
We have no experience with many numbers, such as 200 or 600 devices. We scale up to 60 firewalls.
How are customer service and support?
Forti support is quite good.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We work with Fortinet and Palo Alto.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was not complex. However, we did the initial setup seven years ago.
What other advice do I have?
We are Fortinet partners at this moment.
I'm not sure of the exact version we are on. I'm more on the sales side.
We manage from Spain many firewalls around the world, and at this moment, it's very necessary to have FortiManager. It's just too bad we can't manage other vendors.
I'd rate the solution at an eight out of ten. I'd rate it higher if it offered more outside-brand integrations.
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:

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