ESET vs Fortinet

About Fortinet

Fortinet sells cybersecurity and networking technology to enterprises, service providers, and government organizations. Fortinet describes itself as a global US-based company securing over 700,000 enterprises, service providers, and government organizations worldwide.^[11]

Fortinet’s firewall line is built around FortiGate. FortiGate Next Generation Firewall uses purpose-built security processors and threat intelligence security services from FortiGuard labs. Fortinet says FortiGate provides automated visibility into applications, users, and network, and provides security ratings. Fortinet’s hybrid mesh firewall approach unifies FortiGate Next-Generation Firewalls across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments with centralized management and analytics. Fortinet says its firewall solutions include appliances, VMs, and FWaaS, so they can be deployed anywhere in the network, including cloud resources. Fortinet says its hybrid mesh firewalls (HMFs) offer unified management and consistent security enabled via a single operating system. For branch offices, Fortinet describes unified firewalling, SD-WAN, and a LAN/WLAN controller in one NGFW. FortiGate 1200G with FortiSASE Outpost delivers ASIC-powered local enforcement and cloud-delivered security where businesses need it most.^[11][14][15]

Fortinet sells Secure SD-WAN, which combines networking with security. Fortinet says FortiAPs used with Fortinet Secure SD-WAN create a Secure SD-Branch. Fortinet’s wireless LAN solution integrates with the Fortinet Security Fabric to offer built-in security, end-to-end network visibility, and automated threat response. FortiAP integrates with the Fortinet SASE offering to support organizations securing microbranches and related devices. FortiAPs are available in models from 2x2 to 4x4, and configuration and control can be done with a FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall appliance, FortiGate VM, FortiSASE, or FortiEdge Cloud. Fortinet also describes deploying FortiAPs as remote APs to extend corporate network access securely to remote workers.^[16]

Fortinet Unified SASE is described as helping secure the AI era with integrated networking, AI-aware controls, sovereign options, and digital experience visibility. In security operations, FortiSIEM is Fortinet’s SIEM solution. FortiSandbox delivers AI-powered protection against emerging, sophisticated, and zero-day threats. Fortinet offers FortiAIGate to secure AI apps and agents, enforce usage policy, and control AI spend. Virtue AI will enhance the Fortinet AI-Native Security Fabric with continuous agentic AI validation and runtime protection across the AI lifecycle, according to Fortinet.^[11][16]

Fortinet also sells application security. FortiWeb protects business-critical web applications and APIs from emerging web-based threats that target known and unknown vulnerabilities. FortiWeb features anomaly detection, API discovery and protection, bot mitigation, and client-side security. FortiWeb comes in many form factors including hardware, virtual machines, and SaaS, and is available in public cloud marketplaces. FortiGuard security services used with FortiWeb are annual subscriptions that can be purchased a la carte or as part of a bundle with FortiWeb. Fortinet Email Security provides protection for your critical business information. Fortinet offers FortiProxy for protection against internet-borne threats and Advanced Web Content Caching. FortiADC brings the power of the Fortinet Security Fabric to your application layer. FortiDeceptor is based on deception-based technology that complements an organization’s existing breach protection strategy.^[16][18]

Fortinet sells management and endpoint tools alongside its security products. FortiManager is the NOC-SOC operations tool that was built with security perspective, and it provides a single-pane-of-glass across the entire Fortinet Security Fabric. FortiAIOps uses artificial intelligence with machine learning to collect data and identify pattern anomalies. FortiClient Fabric Agent integrates endpoints into the Security Fabric and provides endpoint telemetry, including user identity. FortiExtender WWAN appliance uses LTE connectivity with the cellular infrastructure to provide broadband speeds.^[16][19]

Fortinet names customers in several sectors. Global hospitality company IHG Hotels & Resorts is replacing its legacy hub-and-spoke network with a managed SD-WAN solution from Fortinet. IHG Hotels & Resorts is deploying Fortinet Secure SD-WAN to 4,000 sites. Jersey Mike’s says moving to FortiSwitches is greatly enhancing its help desk support of franchisees.^{[1][3][11][15]}