Arista Networks Platform vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Arista Networks Platform and Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Ethernet Switches solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed Arista Networks Platform vs. Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access Report (Updated: May 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
"The best part is the single operating system that they have. Regardless of your model, it's the same operating system functioning across the board, which means you don't have to worry about backward compatibilities between your older switches and the new ones that you deploy.""The most valuable features of the Arista Networks Platform are the EVPN and VXLAN. It has comprehensive features.""They support open standard features.""It is very stable. It has good hardware and very stable code. It provides good value for its price. They are a very lean type of organization, so they are very responsive, and they're able to focus more on their platform versus having multiple products out there.""Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.""Arista Networks Platform has a feature that helps with monitoring and management.""Arista Networks Platform is comfortable, easy to deploy, and easy to manage, with non-blocking technology. Additionally, it has a useful CloudVision platform and automation capabilities.""The most valuable feature is the Linux shell, which is useful for troubleshooting or capturing traffic."

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"I can say that the product is easy to use...The initial setup of the product was easy.""It is easy to set up.""This device is easy to use.""It is a stable solution from the security front.""It is very user-friendly. There is no need to use command lines to configure it or to do anything in it. You hardly use command lines, which makes it different from Cisco. In Cisco, the CLI is your best friend. Fortinet has the lowest TCO, so you can use its integrated components without having to buy additional licenses. They provide centralized management without needing to buy or acquire additional licenses. You have an integral or complete vision through a single pane of glass, and you can see everything from one single console without having to buy additional licenses, which is a plus. It works the same way when you add wireless. You can see everything from FortiGate. It has a security processor, which is another plus. It does not have a standard desktop processor. It has a multi-threat security processor, and it is built by Fortinet. So, all the components that you include in a Fortinet solution are proprietary and work in an integral way. It has one single solution, whereas other brands, such as Palo Alto and Check Point, have been acquiring certain solutions, and they're not fully integrated. With Fortinet, everything is integrated. If you start building on Fortinet, everything that you expand to the local LAN or WAN is integrated. You don't have to pay for professional services and other things to do that. Their technical information is also very good. Most of their information is based on how-to, and it can be found online, which is something my clients like.""What I really love in FortiSwitch: its usability, the graphical user interface, and the ability to be managed by FortiGate.""Deploying the solution is a breeze, even a novice can do it.""The tool provides a firewall and good performance."

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Cons
"Its price can be better.""They need to enhance their code and their EOS. They need to improve some security features, and there are quite a number of bugs in their system. So, they need to work on that piece. In the next release, we need to have a modular feature. Instead of providing an integrated solution, they should go for something modular. They need to come up with modular highly scalable models. Even at the chassis layer, I want to see some improvement.""They should have a more stable code.""Something that you will often hear about Arista products is that the price is a bit too high and, like with Cisco, we sometimes have problems with our customers because of its pricing.""I want the solution to include a unified controller.""The overall price of the Arista Networks Platform is expensive. It should be reduced.""An area for improvement in Arista Networks Platform is its integration, e.g. it needs to have more integration with its new products. Incorporating more security and cloud is also another area for improvement in the platform.""Arista Networks Platform should focus on improving the compatibility or integration with Cisco solutions."

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"I would like Fortinet to make this product easier to configure.""The reporting capabilities should be included.""The installation is not difficult. However, some features have to be activated from the CLI.""Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is confusing with too many add-ons.""I'd like to see more integration with different platforms.""The central management needs improvement. The initial setup could be easier.""The product's pricing needs improvement for small and medium businesses.""The pricing could be improved, and it could be easier to configure."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "It is pretty pricey for a networking platform. It is on par with Cisco."
  • "Cost wise, Arista Networks Platform is more expensive than other networking solutions."
  • "Arista is very expensive. Not everybody is in a position to spend $70,000 to $80,000 for one switch."
  • "The price of the Arista Networks Platform could be less expensive for the hardware and license."
  • "There is an annual license required to use the Arista Networks Platform."
  • "Specific tools definitely require a license for the subscription. But we are not using these tools in our environment. In terms of licensing, you need to spend approximately $10,000 per month."
  • "I remember that when our customers were offered the Arista Networks Platform, they used a checklist to compare the prices between Arista and Cisco for their requirements, and found that the prices were almost the same."
  • "I rate the product price a seven on a scale of one to ten where ten is high price and one is low price."
  • More Arista Networks Platform Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "The cost appears to be high in comparison to other competing products although with this product you are paying for what you get."
  • "It's affordable and there are no additional costs, just regular support, and license fees."
  • "It's affordable compared to other switching products, like Cisco switches."
  • "You can buy this equipment in a multitude of ways. You can buy just the hardware, or you can buy the hardware and the licenses."
  • "Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access requires a license and the price is expensive."
  • "The price is good."
  • "The price of the solution could improve, it is expensive."
  • "Licensing is billed annually and contracts are either one or three years in length."
  • More Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.
    Top Answer:Arista Networks Platform was cheaper than Cisco. I have heard that the product is affordable for enterprise-sized companies.
    Top Answer:The product fails to offer functions related to cloud orchestration, making it in areas where improvements are required.
    Top Answer:We researched Cisco but ultimately chose Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access, mostly because of the price Fortinet FortiSwitch is an ethernet switch solution that provides security and performance… more »
    Top Answer: With FortiSwitch, you can easily identify who is connected to each port, disable ports as needed, and retrieve configurations from FortiGate when required.
    Ranking
    13th
    out of 34 in Ethernet Switches
    Views
    4,866
    Comparisons
    3,693
    Reviews
    11
    Average Words per Review
    478
    Rating
    8.4
    7th
    out of 34 in Ethernet Switches
    Views
    11,797
    Comparisons
    8,904
    Reviews
    22
    Average Words per Review
    424
    Rating
    8.0
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    7000 Series
    Learn More
    Overview

    Arista Networks Platform is a stable and reliable solution for data center features, specifically for non-blocking switches used for spine-leaf connectivity with servers hooked to these switches. It also provides multi-layer switches for client networks, particularly in the banking sector. 

    Arista products are preferred for their stability, good hardware, ease of adoption and configuration, responsive and helpful support, and high throughput ratings. The solution has helped prevent screen loss and business outages in the media industry and is designed for next-generation data centers.

    Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access is a secure, high-performance, and easy-to-manage switch. Fortinet FortiSwitch is the best solution for threat-conscious enterprises of all sizes because it is secure, simple, and scalable. Secure Access, which is tightly integrated into the Fortinet Security Fabric via FortiLink, may be handled directly from the FortiGate interface.

    Regardless of how people and devices connect to the network, this single-pane-of-glass administration provides total visibility and control. This makes the Fortinet FortiSwitch perfect for SD-Branch and campus deployments, allowing enterprises to combine their security and network access with applications ranging from desktop to data center aggregation. Fortinet FortiSwitch's Secure Access is the most adaptable security platform with end-to-end protection in the industry.

    Switches for Secure Access: Small to medium-sized businesses, scattered organizations, branch offices, and industrial control systems can all benefit.

    Switches for Data Centers: Ideal for users requiring high-performance 10 GE or 40 GE.

    Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access Features

    Fortinet FortiSwitch has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

    • Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access is designed for various installations, including desktops and wiring closets.
    • Deploy and manage switches using the FortiGate interface, with FortiGate Cloud as a cloud administration option, or manage as a standalone switch using CLI, API, GUI, or the cloud with FortiSwitch Cloud.
    • Switch configuration, management, and troubleshooting are all simplified with a single-pane-of-glass dashboard.
    • Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access is ideal for SD-Branch deployments.
    • Secure Access uses FortiGate interfaces to connect with FortiLink. This provides centralized security and access control.
    • Integration of the Security Fabric: Fortinet FortiSwitch's FortiGate management brings Security Fabric features to the Ethernet access layer.
    • Voice, data, and wireless traffic can all be carried over a single network, making it ideal for converged network environments.
    • Non-FortiLink deployments can be supported via the onboard GUI, API, or command line settings.
    • Up to 48 ports in a compact and 1 RU form factor.
    • Depending on the model, up to 300 switches can be stacked per FortiGate.
    • Supports wire-speed switching, as well as store and forward mode.

    Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access Benefits

    There are many benefits to implementing Fortinet FortiSwitch. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

    • You can easily manage all deployments in one interface if your company scales and opens a new office or location.
    • You can ensure that users are authenticated before giving network access.
    • Power over Ethernet makes it simple to set up wireless access points and IP phones.
    • With network segmentation, you can help satisfy data separation compliance.

    Reviews from Real Users

    Fortinet FortiSwitch stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are its stability and its VLAN setup. PeerSpot users take note of the advantages of these features in their reviews:

    Rutul S., CXO at Aariha Enterprise Private Limited, writes of the product, “The most valuable feature is the SD-WAN support. This device is easy to use.” He adds, “Stability-wise, this product is better than others that are on the market.”

    Emil V., System Consultant at I team, notes, “I like the VLAN setup of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access. Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access has very good scalability.” He adds, “Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is easy to set up. It only takes minutes to deploy this product, because it is mostly boxes.”

    Sample Customers
    American Internet Services
    Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Healthcare Company20%
    Consumer Goods Company20%
    Comms Service Provider20%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company18%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Manufacturing Company9%
    University7%
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company27%
    Marketing Services Firm9%
    Manufacturing Company9%
    Comms Service Provider9%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company15%
    Government8%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    Comms Service Provider7%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business43%
    Midsize Enterprise10%
    Large Enterprise48%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business21%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise64%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business72%
    Midsize Enterprise14%
    Large Enterprise14%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business33%
    Midsize Enterprise21%
    Large Enterprise46%
    Buyer's Guide
    Arista Networks Platform vs. Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access
    May 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Arista Networks Platform vs. Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access and other solutions. Updated: May 2024.
    772,127 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Arista Networks Platform is ranked 13th in Ethernet Switches with 21 reviews while Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is ranked 7th in Ethernet Switches with 41 reviews. Arista Networks Platform is rated 8.6, while Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is rated 8.2. The top reviewer of Arista Networks Platform writes "Affordable for enterprise-sized companies". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access writes "It's a strong product that's easy to manage and costs significantly less than competing solutions ". Arista Networks Platform is most compared with Cisco Catalyst Switches, Cisco Nexus, Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches, Aruba Switches and Cisco Ethernet Switches, whereas Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is most compared with Cisco Ethernet Switches, Aruba Switches, Meraki MS Switches, Ubiquiti UniFi Switches and NETGEAR Switches. See our Arista Networks Platform vs. Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access report.

    See our list of best Ethernet Switches vendors.

    We monitor all Ethernet Switches 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.