CISO Tribune

Vendor comparison · 2 companies

Fortinet vs Splunk

Fortinet sells cybersecurity and networking technology to enterprises, service providers, and government organizations. Splunk sells a data platform for security, observability, and AI, and says the platform unifies petabyte-scale machine data wherever it lives. CISO Tribune files both under SIEM. This page sets the two records side by side: what each sells, where it is based, who owns and funds it, the customers it names and its recent news, each fact numbered to its source.

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  • Fortinet
  • Splunk
Fortinet vs Splunk: Products, Customers and Funding Compared
FortinetFortinet sells cybersecurity and networking technology to enterprises, service providers, and government organizations.fortinet.comSplunkSplunk sells a data platform for security, observability, and AI, and says the platform unifies petabyte-scale machine data wherever it lives.splunk.com
What it sells
  • FortiWeb[18]FortiWeb protects web applications and APIs.
  • FortiAP[17]FortiAP provides secure wireless LAN access points.
  • FortiManager[12][19]FortiManager is a NOC-SOC operations tool.
  • FortiSIEM[12][16]FortiSIEM is Fortinet’s SIEM solution.
  • FortiSandbox[16]FortiSandbox provides AI-powered protection against zero-day threats.
  • Unified SASE[1][11]Fortinet Unified SASE combines networking with AI-aware controls.
  • FortiAIGate[11]FortiAIGate secures AI apps and agents.
  • Splunk Cloud Platform[12][22][23][24]A platform to collect, index, and visualize data in the cloud.
  • Splunk Enterprise[1][12][14][17][18][22][24]A platform to collect, index, and visualize data using an on-premises engine.
  • Splunk Enterprise Security[1][14][17][18]A Splunk solution for security operations.
  • Federated Search[15][19]A search layer across the data estate.
  • Splunk AI Assistant[19]A natural-language entry point to the search workflow.
  • Splunk Edge Processor[21]A processor that applies cryptographic functions to data as it flows on-premises.
  • Splunk AI Toolkit[20]Guided workflows to build and deploy models.
  • Splunk Log Observer Connect[22]An integration that links logs to Splunk Observability Cloud.
Categories
Headquarters
Sunnyvale, United StatesSan Jose, United States[4]
Founded
2000[4]2003[3]
Ownership and funding
Public (NASDAQ: FTNT)[2][9][12][13][17][20][22]Owned by Cisco[2][15][16][25]
Named customers
  • IHG Hotels & Resorts[5]
  • Alaska Airlines[6]
  • IndiGo[7]
  • University of Birmingham[8]
Recent news
  • August 17, 2026Fortinet announced it has acquired Virtue AI, a company focused on AI runtime protection, automated AI validation, and security for autonomous AI systems.[20]
  • August 17, 2026Fortinet acquired Virtue AI, a company offering AI runtime protection and automated validation for autonomous AI systems.[9]
  • July 29, 2026Fortinet reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of $2.05 billion, up 26% year over year.[2]
  • June 24, 2026Fortinet appointed Derek Kan to its board of directors.[21]
  • May 6, 2026Fortinet reported first-quarter 2026 revenue of $1.85 billion, up 20% year over year.[10]
  • September 15, 2026Cisco released Cisco AI POD for Splunk, which brings Splunk AI features to on-premises customers on Cisco infrastructure with NVIDIA computing.[10]
  • May 28, 2026Splunk reported that Cisco has completed its acquisition of Galileo, with plans to integrate Galileo technology into Splunk Observability.[25]
  • April 9, 2026Cisco agreed to buy AI observability startup Galileo Technologies to add its agent monitoring tools to the Splunk observability platform.[11]
  • February 18, 2026Splunk announced that its hosted AI models are generally available for Splunk Cloud Platform customers.[23]
  • January 16, 2026Splunk announced the release of Splunk Enterprise 10.2 and Splunk Cloud Platform 10.2.[24]
G2 and Gartner Peer Insights
  • G2: Not stated on its pages
  • Gartner Peer Insights: listed, seen November 3, 2026[22]
  • G2: listed, seen November 3, 2026[16]
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
Who it fits
From its own pages, Fortinet sells mainly to enterprises, service providers, and government organizations. Its firewall pages describe deployments across data centers, branch offices, and multi-cloud environments. Wireless products are described for campuses, remote workers, and large public venues such as stadiums and arenas.From its own pages, Splunk sells mainly to organisations that want security, observability, and AI data on one platform. Splunk describes SOC teams that index authentication and firewall data for real-time detections. Splunk describes a healthcare organization that monitors logs from medical devices. Splunk offers material for CISOs and boards on priorities, budgeting, compliance, and success metrics. Splunk describes deployments on Splunk Enterprise and Splunk Cloud Platform.
Last verified
November 9, 2026October 10, 2026

Where they overlap

  • Fortinet and Splunk are both filed under SIEM.
  • Both are headquartered in the United States.
  • Both publicly name Alaska Airlines as a customer.

Where they differ, field by field

  • Fortinet's primary category is Firewalls and NGFW; Splunk's is SIEM.
  • Fortinet is also filed under SASE and SSE and EDR and XDR. Splunk is also filed under SOAR and security automation and Security data lakes and pipelines.
  • Fortinet lists FortiWeb, FortiAP, FortiManager, FortiSIEM, FortiSandbox and 2 more. Splunk lists Splunk Cloud Platform, Splunk Enterprise, Splunk Enterprise Security, Federated Search, Splunk AI Assistant and 3 more.
  • Fortinet is headquartered in Sunnyvale, United States. Splunk is headquartered in San Jose, United States.
  • Fortinet was founded in 2000. Splunk was founded in 2003.
  • Fortinet is a public company listed on NASDAQ as FTNT. Splunk is owned by Cisco.
  • Fortinet publicly names IHG Hotels & Resorts, IndiGo and University of Birmingham. Splunk publicly names Carrefour, Intel, FINRA and Honda of Alabama.

What it sells: Fortinet

What FortiWeb does[18]
FortiWeb protects business-critical web applications and APIs from emerging web-based threats. Its features include anomaly detection, API discovery and protection, bot mitigation, and client-side security. It comes in hardware, virtual machine, and SaaS form factors and is available in public cloud marketplaces.
What FortiAP does[17]
FortiAP integrates with the Fortinet SASE offering to support organizations securing microbranches. FortiAPs are available in models from 2x2 to 4x4, with internal or external antenna. Control can be done with FortiGate, FortiGate VM, FortiSASE, or FortiEdge Cloud.
What FortiManager does[12][19]
FortiManager is the NOC-SOC operations tool that was built with security perspective. It provides a single-pane-of-glass across the entire Fortinet Security Fabric.

What it sells: Splunk

What Splunk Cloud Platform does[12][22][23][24]
Splunk Cloud Platform is described as a way to collect, index, and visualize data in the cloud. Splunk says data can be brought in with agents, Splunk-supported integrations, and developer add-ons.
What Splunk Enterprise Security does[1][14][17][18]
Splunk names Splunk Enterprise Security among its solutions that use pre-written macros. Splunk describes AI Assistant in Security as available to cloud customers of Splunk Enterprise Security.
What Federated Search does[15][19]
Federated Search is described as the unifying search layer across the data estate. It covers Splunk-managed locations and supported customer-managed stores such as Amazon S3 and Snowflake.
What Splunk AI Assistant does[19]
Splunk AI Assistant provides a natural-language entry point to the search workflow. With Agent Mode enabled, an analyst can describe the investigation to perform instead of constructing each search.

Questions about Fortinet and Splunk

What do Fortinet and Splunk sell?
Fortinet sells FortiWeb, FortiAP, FortiManager, FortiSIEM, FortiSandbox and 2 more. Splunk sells Splunk Cloud Platform, Splunk Enterprise, Splunk Enterprise Security, Federated Search, Splunk AI Assistant and 3 more.
Are Fortinet and Splunk in the same category?
They share SIEM. Fortinet's primary category is Firewalls and NGFW and Splunk's is SIEM.
Where are Fortinet and Splunk headquartered?
Fortinet is headquartered in Sunnyvale, United States. Splunk is headquartered in San Jose, United States.
When were Fortinet and Splunk founded?
Fortinet was founded in 2000. Splunk was founded in 2003.
Who owns Fortinet and Splunk?
Fortinet is a public company listed on NASDAQ as FTNT. Splunk is owned by Cisco.
Which customers do Fortinet and Splunk name?
Fortinet publicly names IHG Hotels & Resorts, Alaska Airlines, IndiGo and University of Birmingham. Splunk publicly names Carrefour, Intel, FINRA, Alaska Airlines and Honda of Alabama.
Who are Fortinet and Splunk sold to?
From its own pages, Fortinet sells mainly to enterprises, service providers, and government organizations. From its own pages, Splunk sells mainly to organisations that want security, observability, and AI data on one platform.
What have Fortinet and Splunk announced recently?
August 17, 2026: Fortinet announced it has acquired Virtue AI, a company focused on AI runtime protection, automated AI validation, and security for autonomous AI systems. September 15, 2026: Cisco released Cisco AI POD for Splunk, which brings Splunk AI features to on-premises customers on Cisco infrastructure with NVIDIA computing.

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]

Fortinet on the record

Sources

Fortinet full record

  1. [1]fortinet.comFortinet · fortinet.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Fortinet reports strong second quarter 2026 financial resultsFortinet · fortinet.com · published July 29, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]Ftnt 20241231Fortinet, Inc. via SEC EDGAR · sec.gov · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]Press kitFortinet · fortinet.com · undated page, accessed October 10, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]IHG Hotels & Resorts | Fortinet Case StudyFortinet · undated page, accessed October 10, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Alaska airlinesFortinet · fortinet.com · undated page, accessed October 10, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Indigo airlinesFortinet · fortinet.com · undated page, accessed October 10, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]University of birminghamFortinet · fortinet.com · undated page, accessed October 10, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Fortinet advances continuous ai protection with the acquisition of virtue aiFortinet · fortinet.com · published August 17, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Fortinet reports first quarter 2026 financial resultsFortinet · fortinet.com · published May 6, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]Global Leader of Cybersecurity Solutions and Services | FortinetFortinet · undated page, accessed October 25, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]FortiDLP Agent Hardware | Fortinet Document LibraryFortinet · undated page, accessed October 25, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]Fortinet Reviews, Ratings & Features 2026 | Gartner Peer InsightsGartner Peer Insights · undated page, accessed October 25, 2026 · Tier C
  14. [14]FortiGate / FortiOS | Fortinet Document LibraryFortinet Document Library · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  15. [15]Hybrid Mesh FirewallFortinet · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  16. [16]Products | Fortinet Products | Fortinet Product InformationFortinet · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  17. [17]Secure Wireless Access Points | FortinetFortinet · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  18. [18]Web Application Firewall (WAF) & API Protection | FortinetFortinet · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  19. [19]FortiManager | Fortinet Document LibraryFortinet Document Library · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  20. [20]Fortinet Advances Continuous AI Protection with the Acquisition of Virtue AIFortinet, Inc. · published August 17, 2026 · Tier A
  21. [21]Fortinet Appoints Public Sector Leader and Tech Executive Derek Kan to Its Board of DirectorsFortinet · published June 24, 2026 · Tier A
  22. [22]Fortinet Reviews, Ratings & Features 2026 | Gartner Peer InsightsGartner Peer Insights · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier C

Splunk full record

  1. [1]ProductsSplunk · splunk.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Cisco completes acquisition of splunkCisco · newsroom.cisco.com · published March 18, 2024 · Tier A
  3. [3]Get the most out of splunk infrastructure monitoring and splunk itsiSplunk · splunk.com · published November 17, 2020 · Tier A
  4. [4]Contact usSplunk · splunk.com · undated page, accessed October 10, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]CarrefourSplunk · splunk.com · undated page, accessed October 10, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]IntelSplunk · splunk.com · undated page, accessed October 10, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]FinraSplunk · splunk.com · undated page, accessed October 10, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Alaska airlinesSplunk · splunk.com · undated page, accessed October 10, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]HondaSplunk · splunk.com · undated page, accessed October 10, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Cisco delivers trusted ai at scale through new splunk advancementsCisco · newsroom.cisco.com · published September 15, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]Cisco buys galileo strengthen splunks agentic monitoring capabilitiesSiliconANGLE · siliconangle.com · published April 9, 2026 · Tier B
  12. [12]Get Data In | Platform (last updated lastModifiedISO)Splunk · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]Analytics Story: Warzone RAT | Splunk Security ContentSplunk · published May 13, 2026 · Tier A
  14. [14]Analytics Story: Trickbot | Splunk Security ContentSplunk · published May 13, 2026 · Tier A
  15. [15]Splunk | Data Platform for Security, Observability & AISplunk · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  16. [16]Splunk Enterprise Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & FeaturesG2 · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier C
  17. [17]Using advanced macros - Splunk LanternSplunk Lantern · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  18. [18]L’IA au service de la sécurité | SplunkSplunk · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  19. [19]Investigating and searching across your data estate with Cisco Data Fabric powered by the Splunk platform - Splunk LanternSplunk Lantern · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  20. [20]Preparing data for use with the Splunk AI Toolkit - Splunk LanternSplunk Lantern · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  21. [21]De-identifying PII consistently with hashing in Edge Processor - Splunk LanternSplunk Lantern · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  22. [22]Using Log Observer Connect with Cloud Platform - Splunk LanternSplunk Lantern · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  23. [23]Splunk Launches Hosted Generative AI Models: Native-AI Insights, Zero Setup, Maximum SecuritySplunk · published February 18, 2026 · Tier A
  24. [24]Announcing Splunk Enterprise 10.2 & Splunk Cloud Platform 10.2 – Next Generation Querying & AnalyticsSplunk · published January 16, 2026 · Tier A
  25. [25]Splunk Observability + Galileo: Bridging the AI Trust GapSplunk · published May 28, 2026 · Tier A

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