Fortinet FortiManager vs Fortinet FortiOS comparison

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1,432 views|1,012 comparisons
94% willing to recommend
Fortinet Logo
4,259 views|3,648 comparisons
98% willing to recommend
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Fortinet FortiManager and Fortinet FortiOS based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, Fortinet, Broadcom and others in Network Management Applications.
To learn more, read our detailed Network Management Applications Report (Updated: April 2024).
772,127 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"I like the rapid deployment feature. I also like that it's easy to troubleshoot. FortiManager is amazing because we can have a centralized policy. All our devices are integrated, and we can also engage in troubleshooting. We can use it for different deployments. One fantastic feature is the ability to create a version and deploy it immediately.""The user interface is very easy to navigate.""FortiManager offers a full zero-touch provisioning feature that allows us to create a template of our devices and onboard them remotely without visiting the site.""It would normally take us a handful of days to install one FortiGate instance on one site. But with this technology, zero-touch deployment, we need just one hour or maybe as little as 30 minutes to install one site. It is much more efficient.""The integration is quite good.""The initial setup was straightforward.""Technical support is great. When we have sent urgent tickets and they do reply back within fifteen minutes.""The central management feature is the most valuable to me."

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"I like that the firewall gives me a lot of control in terms of outgoing and inbound traffic, and it scores better in deep packet inspections when compared with the Azure Firewall.""The stability of Fortinet meets our requirements and I'm satisfied with it.""For my organization, it has become much easier to scan the firewalls because the solution is more user-friendly than competitors.""The pricing is excellent.""The most valuable features of Fortinet FortiOS are its constant updates and definitions.""The technical support is very good and the assistance they gave was very good.""I am satisfied with Fortinet FortiOS. It's a cool product and has a lot of UTM features. It has application control, web filtering, antivirus, IPS/IDS, DNS filtering, and many things in that firewall. It also has a web application firewall WAF feature. On the feature side, it's a good firewall.""The solution is very user friendly."

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Cons
"The price is a bit too high.""The dashboard could use some improvement.""When I started, it was a bit difficult, however, now it's okay. It can be a bit complex for basic users.""There is a degradation of performance if we activate logs on FortiManager.""The FortiManager is more complex and they can make it easier to use the VPN manager. All other features are okay. However, the VPN manager is more difficult and can cause some issues in the environment, if you do not have the experience to use it.""The presence of Fortinet in our region (Nigeria) needs to be stronger.""Can be difficult to configure.""FortiManager should improve the integration with third-party platforms."

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"SD-WAN configuration could be easier.""Right now, all the features meet my requirements.""FortiOS's bandwidth and interface could be improved.""Could be improved by supporting an allocation of quota base management regarding user data.""The technical support is good. However, during the holidays they can get a little slow to respond.""The support could be improved, Fortinet's response time is very slow. Setting up the VPN could be made much easier, especially when deployed with Azure.""The solution's graphic interface could be a bit more responsive and include notations when changes are made.""The product needs a feature that allows users to create another site on a VPN."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "Fortinet FortiManager is not expensive at all if you compare it with other vendors like Check Point and Cisco. Fortinet products are the least expensive on the market in the category of firewalls."
  • "The licensing costs depend on how many devices you want to use."
  • "In comparison with other products, the price of FortiManager is reasonable."
  • "Fortinet is a high-end product and the cost is high. They should consider reducing the price, especially for existing customers."
  • "The license model they use depends on the size and is not limited to the users."
  • "This is an affordable solution, and its licensing model is based on the number of devices."
  • "For us, it is a little bit expensive."
  • "For the licensing fee, we paid around 10,000 to 15,000 euros."
  • More Fortinet FortiManager Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "The program is expensive."
  • "We pay an annual license fee. It is rather expensive so I would like to perhaps see a drop in price in the future."
  • "Be sure to choose a licensing plan that leaves a little headroom so performance is not an issue."
  • "We pay $100,000. That covers the cost of the hardware that we run the VN's on. That also includes any SGNA costs for the internal support tech."
  • "Pricing depends on implementation and licensing choices and is usually not a practical budget choice for small businesses."
  • "The support contracts are usually about $100 - $200 a device."
  • "The software costs roughly half what the hardware costs. Overall, the product is expensive."
  • "The price of Fortinet FortiOS has been reasonable."
  • More Fortinet FortiOS Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:The most valuable feature is the centralized management console.
    Top Answer:It can be expensive. Some competing solutions in the market, like Sophos and SonicWALL, offer lower costs of up to 40 percent.
    Top Answer:Configuring Fortinet without internet access is challenging.
    Top Answer:In the best tradition of these questions, Feature-wise both are quite similar, but each has things it's better at, it kind of depends what you value most PA is good at app control, web filtering and… more »
    Top Answer:The SSL VPN is fee for use is most attractive.
    Top Answer:The solution is cost effective. I would rate the pricing a five out of ten.
    Ranking
    Views
    1,432
    Comparisons
    1,012
    Reviews
    35
    Average Words per Review
    410
    Rating
    8.0
    15th
    out of 59 in Firewalls
    Views
    4,259
    Comparisons
    3,648
    Reviews
    35
    Average Words per Review
    408
    Rating
    8.3
    Comparisons
    Learn More
    Overview

    Networks are constantly evolving due to threats, organizational growth, or new regulatory/business requirements. Traditional management products focus on mitigating company-wide threats through firewall policies, firmware updates, and keeping content security current. FortiManager offers the features to contain threats as well as providing flexibility to evolve along with your ever-changing network.

    Fortinet FortiOS is a comprehensive security operating system that powers Fortinet's network security solutions. It provides advanced threat protection, network visibility, and centralized management for organizations of all sizes. With its robust features and intuitive interface, FortiOS enables businesses to secure their networks, applications, and data from cyber threats. 

    One of the key features of FortiOS is its advanced threat protection capabilities. It incorporates multiple security technologies, including firewall, antivirus, intrusion prevention system (IPS), and web filtering, to detect and block a wide range of threats. This ensures that organizations are protected against malware, ransomware, and other malicious activities. FortiOS also offers extensive network visibility, allowing organizations to monitor and analyze network traffic in real-time. This visibility enables businesses to identify potential security risks, detect anomalies, and take proactive measures to mitigate threats. 

    Additionally, FortiOS provides detailed reports and analytics, helping organizations gain insights into their network security posture. Centralized management is another crucial aspect of FortiOS. It allows businesses to manage and configure their security policies, devices, and users from a single console. This simplifies the management process and ensures consistent security across the entire network infrastructure. 

    Moreover, FortiOS supports integration with other Fortinet products, enabling seamless security orchestration and automation. FortiOS is designed to be scalable and flexible, making it suitable for organizations of all sizes. It offers a range of deployment options, including physical appliances, virtual machines, and cloud-based solutions. This flexibility allows businesses to choose the deployment model that best fits their requirements and easily scale their security infrastructure as their needs evolve. 

    Sample Customers
    Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
    Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company31%
    Comms Service Provider25%
    Manufacturing Company16%
    Transportation Company6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company20%
    Financial Services Firm8%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    Comms Service Provider7%
    REVIEWERS
    Comms Service Provider15%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Manufacturing Company10%
    Computer Software Company10%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company17%
    Financial Services Firm8%
    Comms Service Provider8%
    Government8%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business47%
    Midsize Enterprise26%
    Large Enterprise28%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business27%
    Midsize Enterprise19%
    Large Enterprise54%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business54%
    Midsize Enterprise13%
    Large Enterprise33%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business27%
    Midsize Enterprise18%
    Large Enterprise54%
    Buyer's Guide
    Network Management Applications
    April 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, Fortinet, Broadcom and others in Network Management Applications. Updated: April 2024.
    772,127 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Fortinet FortiManager is ranked 3rd in Network Management Applications with 61 reviews while Fortinet FortiOS is ranked 15th in Firewalls with 73 reviews. Fortinet FortiManager is rated 8.0, while Fortinet FortiOS is rated 8.4. The top reviewer of Fortinet FortiManager writes "Easy to set up with good integration capabilities but we've had troubles when moving devices". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Fortinet FortiOS writes "Provides effective filtering features, good stability but initial setup is moderately challenging". Fortinet FortiManager is most compared with Fortinet FortiGate Cloud, Cisco DNA Center, Zabbix, AlgoSec and Fortinet FortiWeb, whereas Fortinet FortiOS is most compared with Fortinet FortiGate, Fortinet FortiWeb, Fortinet FortiGate-VM, Infoblox Advanced DNS Protection and Darktrace.

    We monitor all Network Management Applications reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.