The security-driven network platform — NGFW, SD-WAN, and SASE in a single FortiOS stack
Fortinet is the firewall vendor that invented the ASIC-accelerated security chip and has used that hardware advantage to deliver the most cost-effective security throughput per dollar in the industry. Their FortiGate NGFW with built-in SD-WAN means you get network optimization and security enforcement from a single device — eliminating the separate SD-WAN appliance that Cisco and Palo Alto require. For mid-market organizations that need enterprise-grade network security at a price point they can actually afford, Fortinet's Security Fabric is the competitive benchmark.
Fortinet is the world's largest cybersecurity company by appliance shipments, with the FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall as its flagship product. FortiGate runs on FortiOS — Fortinet's proprietary operating system — with custom-built FortiASIC security processing chips that deliver 10–100x better security throughput per watt than software-based competitors. The Fortinet Security Fabric integrates FortiGate (NGFW + SD-WAN), FortiClient (endpoint), FortiSASE (cloud SSE), FortiAnalyzer (logging), FortiManager (central management), and FortiEDR — all sharing threat intelligence through FortiGuard Labs. Fortinet holds the #1 position in firewall appliance market share globally.
Deployment model: Hardware NGFWs (FortiGate), cloud-delivered FortiSASE, and hybrid deployments. Pricing model: Hardware purchase + FortiGuard subscription; FortiSASE per-user subscription. Typical price range: $500–$50,000+ (FortiGate hardware); FortiSASE $25–$75/user/month. Pricing is negotiable at volume — Compare Select benchmarks quotes against real transacted deals before you sign.
Custom ASIC chips deliver SSL inspection, threat prevention, and SD-WAN processing at 10–100x the throughput of software-based competitors — without sacrificing security depth.
Integrated SD-WAN capability built directly into FortiOS — application-aware traffic steering, WAN optimization, and quality of service managed from the same firewall policy engine.
Unified security ecosystem integrating FortiGate, FortiClient, FortiSASE, FortiAnalyzer, and FortiManager — shared threat intelligence and single-pane management across all security controls.
FortiGuard Labs threat intelligence feeds — updated in real time from 7+ million sensors globally — powering IPS signatures, web filtering, DNS security, and antivirus across all FortiGate devices.
Cloud-delivered SSE platform extending FortiGate policy to remote users and branch offices via the Fortinet global SASE Points of Presence — consistent security for the distributed enterprise.
Centralized management platform for thousands of FortiGate devices — policy deployment, firmware updates, configuration management, and compliance reporting from a single console.
| Alternative | How it compares |
|---|---|
| Palo Alto Networks | Palo Alto has superior threat detection and SASE maturity; Fortinet delivers better price/performance with integrated SD-WAN |
| Check Point | Check Point has stronger centralized management for large firewall estates; Fortinet leads on hardware throughput and mid-market value |
| Cisco Meraki/Firepower | Cisco has better network ecosystem integration; Fortinet delivers more security depth and integrated SD-WAN at lower cost |
Compare Fortinet FortiGate against every alternative in our Cybersecurity & SASE comparison, or browse the full vendor directory. Ready for pricing? Talk to a Compare Select advisor — our guidance is free and vendor-neutral.