Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller vs. FortiAP

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller
Score 9.7 out of 10
N/A
The Cisco 3504 Wireless (WLAN) Controller provides centralized control, management, and troubleshooting for small to medium-sized enterprises and branch offices.N/A
FortiAP
Score 5.9 out of 10
N/A
Fortinet’s wireless LAN equipment, including FortiAP access points, leverage Secure Networking to provide secure wireless access for the enterprise LAN edge.
$220
one-time fee approx
Pricing
Cisco 3504 WLAN ControllerFortiAP
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Fortinet FortiAP 221E
$220.00
one-time fee approx
Fortinet FortiAP 223E
$240.00
one-time fee approx
Fortinet FortiAP 231F
$390.00
one-time fee approx
Fortinet FortiAP 23JF
$410.00
one-time fee approx
Fortinet FortiAP 233G
$490.00
one-time fee approx
Fortinet FortiAP 231K
$490.00
one-time fee approx
Fortinet FortiAP U431F
$630.00
one-time fee approx
Fortinet FortiAP 431F
$660.00
one-time fee approx
Fortinet FortiAP 433F
$730.00
one-time fee approx
Fortinet FortiAP 241K
$800.00
one-time fee approx
Fortinet FortiAP 234F
$980.00
one-time fee approx
Fortinet FortiAP 831F
$1,030.00
one-time fee approx
Fortinet FortiAP 431G
$1,050.00
one-time fee approx
Fortinet FortiAP 433G
$1,180.00
one-time fee approx
Fortinet FortiAP 234G
$1,200.00
one-time fee approx
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Cisco 3504 WLAN ControllerFortiAP
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Cisco 3504 WLAN ControllerFortiAP
Best Alternatives
Cisco 3504 WLAN ControllerFortiAP
Small Businesses
WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi Cloud
WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi Cloud
Score 9.5 out of 10
WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi Cloud
WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi Cloud
Score 9.5 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Cisco Aironet 1800 Series Access Points (discontinued)
Cisco Aironet 1800 Series Access Points (discontinued)
Score 9.8 out of 10
Cisco Aironet 1800 Series Access Points (discontinued)
Cisco Aironet 1800 Series Access Points (discontinued)
Score 9.8 out of 10
Enterprises
Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points
Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points
Score 8.7 out of 10
Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points
Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points
Score 8.7 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Cisco 3504 WLAN ControllerFortiAP
Likelihood to Recommend
9.8
(0 ratings)
8.3
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
9.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
9.4
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Cisco 3504 WLAN ControllerFortiAP
Likelihood to Recommend
What I
like most about the Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller is that its user interface makes
networking very simple. Shows real-time information about the network which
helps admins watch the traffic flow and client connections using the dashboard.
Since it’s so simple, people find it very easy to start using the system. The complexity in setting it up for the first time could hinder
efficient deployment in fast-paced environments.
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Fortinet has a great portfolio of access points for indoor and outdoor needs, low and high density and even access points for ruggedized needs. So you can find the appropriate access point for pretty much all scenarios, from office to storage or outdoor environments. We can find all you need to roll out small to large deployments.
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Pros
  • [...] One thing which always fascinated me is the user interface because it is very friendly in nature.
  • Also, with this tool, [my team and I] have started feeling more secure and safe because this platform does not require any such implementation. [A]ll the security patches happen on their own.
  • One of the main pros of this app is that because it is so compact, it makes this platform a very good travel option. [I]t is also portable [and] can be easily carried anywhere.
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  • Ease of deployment
  • Ease of mounting with zero tools required
  • Ease of management
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Cons
  • The interface needs improvement, it is still complex to find some functions quickly
  • The price of the product is still a big limiter
  • The fragility of its physical structure, any impact, which is a little stronger, can cause damage to the product
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  • requires manual updates
  • Access points cost vs performance
  • support isnt always efficient
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Likelihood to Renew
We have been using Cisco 3504 Wireless Controller in our network infrastructure for a long time now and it has been a very critical and beneficial addition in our network infrastructure. it has provided us with the tools required to efficiently manage and monitor our wireless network and users. it is a highly reliable and efficient device for any kind of environment.
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This is an excellent product for an SMB - cost isn't outrageous and deploy is simple. I can monitor my network without breaking the bank.
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Usability
I have given it a rating of 10 because of all the efficiencies it brings into our working place. The Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller is a very reliable router. Advanced threat detection, guest access
security and extensive encryption are provided by the controller to safely
protect important data. Focusing on network security increases users trust as
well as helps secure the entire wireless setup.
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I love FortiAP and how easy they are to use. It's very quick to train people to use them at a basic to intermediate level.
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Support Rating
Cisco TAC is well known and SLA levels are great. Cisco support website and Cisco communities are another help for issues resolution. TAC is always supportive over Webex and helps to resolve issues pretty fast. This is another assurance for people to go with Cisco as the TAC capabilities are proven for all product lines.
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Fortinet offers excellent support. They will work with you until the solution is doing what it is designed to do, within its capabilities. They also do an excellent to follow-up with the end-user prior to closing the ticket.
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Alternatives Considered
I have done the comparative analysis of the Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller with other products like the Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller and the Ubiquiti network UniFi Controller. I chose the 3504 because it was within the same network scale, reliable, and offers central management to the whole network.
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as a stand-alone product, the Fortinet wireless LAN solution isn't the most powerful, nor compelling out there. Others, like Cisco Meraki, offer great products, with added wifi features at a similar price point, but where Forti shines, is when integrated into a network with firewall enablement such as FortiGate. Overall, it stacks up well with others and is a solution that needs to be evaluated in a purchasing project.
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Return on Investment
  • The WLAN controller is a great tool for wireless network administration. With the Cisco Wireless Controller, we can quickly configure and manage all Cisco access points. It's also very easy to set up and manage. The Wlan Controller is a must-have for all our wireless network design.
  • The WLAN Controller is a really useful device, it's easy to use and the setup is clear. The 3504 we use has 4 interfaces, we use 2 for data, one for management and one for failover. The wireless controller is very reliable, it will not let your network down. The only downside is that it can be a little bit slow when you need to add a lot of new access points.
  • Cisco 3504 Wireless Controller is a great tool for managing WLANs. The controller allows you to manage a large number of access points and allows you to very quickly manage and configure all devices in the network and have one of the most important components of the system. The controller is easy to use and supports a large number of connections and devices.
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  • The cost of management decreased,
  • End-users connect flawlessly to the solution and are able to be productive when they are mobile.
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ScreenShots