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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    FortiGate

    Score8.2 out of 10
    N/AFortiNet FortiGate is a firewall option with high integrability. It offers a variety of deployment options and next-gen firewall capabilities, including integration with IaaS cloud platforms and public cloud environments.N/A

    WatchGuard Network Security

    Score8.7 out of 10
    N/AWatchGuard Network Security is a network security and firewall software. WatchGuard includes secure Wi-Fi, multi-factor authentication, and network intelligence products and services designed for SMB’s.N/A
    Pricing
    FortiGateWatchGuard Network Security
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    Support
    Contact sales team
    Contact sales team
    Basic Security
    Contact sales team
    Contact sales team
    Total Security
    Contact sales team
    Contact sales team
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    FortiGateWatchGuard Network Security
    Free Trial
    YesNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional DetailsFortiGate pricing starts at $250 for home office use, up to $300,000 for large enterprise appliances. Must contact sales team for pricing.—
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    FortiGateWatchGuard Network Security
    Considered Both Products
    Fortinet
    Chose FortiGate
    Great subscription services and easy branch office VPN configuration. Also a big plus for 2FA via Forti Token integration.
    Incentivized
    Chose FortiGate
    The UI is great, the features are great, it is reliable, Fortigate awesome for the price.
    Incentivized
    Chose FortiGate
    I know I am repeating myself but Fortigate, for the price, is the most complete and customizable product there is. It might not be the best but we always were able to fix or workaround the problems we encountered with the help of their support.
    Incentivized
    WatchGuard Technologies
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    WatchGuard is slightly less intuitive to configure in comparison to Fortinet FortiGate appliances
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    They are very similar in results but Fortinet is way easier to manage. They are equally complex when it comes to managing multiple devices across the globe but Fortinet has a better monitor solution. Also FortiGate has some firewalls capable of Virtual Firewall that helps when …
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    For some customers, WatchGuard Network Security was the preferable choice. Its price point, compactness, portability, accessibility, ease of design, installation, implementation, configuration, management, monitoring, alerting, user education, technician training, power usage, …
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    As I mentionned before, the WSM tool and Dimension is the main reasons we stock with WatchGuard beside being satisfied with deployement results at our clients infrastructures.
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    Our tech had previous experience with WatchGuard Network Security and the Fortinet devices we were using weren't functioning to the standards we needed them to. As costs have increased with WatchGuard Network Security and across the board, we are looking for a different vendor …
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    WatchGuard Network Security is in league with SonicWall regarding value and features but is not as robust as Sophos or Fortinet. It is also not as simple to configure as Sophos or Fortinet. We selected WatchGuard based solely on the recommendation of an outside party, and that …
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    I find WatchGuard's Network Security interface clunky and outdated. I’ve had to dig in multiple locations to find the answer to a question numerous times. Reviewing and reconfiguring a WatchGuard that has been deployed by someone else is time consuming compared to competitive …
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    WatchGuard Network Security is easier to use than all of the other options.
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    We are moving away from WatchGuard Network Security due to issues with Web interface and more cloud possibilities with the competitors.
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    Implemented WiFi controler
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    In my opinion, it is more difficult to configure and manage, you need more knowledge in that platforms. Nothing intuitive.
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    WatchGuard is cheaper, however, the management is a little easier to manage
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    Better than sophos, lesser than Fortinet
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    I would much prefer utilizing WatchGuard Network Security. When stacked against any Unifi product, WatchGuard Network Security is vastly superior. When compared with Meraki, I have much greater control over WatchGuard Network Security Fireboxes. When compared to fortinet or …
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    WatchGuard was far easier to configure that my Fortinet or Sophos, the D-Link routers are just as easy as the WatchGuard to set up since the DSR series, but do not offer the security of the WatchGuard.
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    We found WatchGuard Network Security to provide the best protection and function combined in one device.
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    Less learning curve, faster implementation, and dependably reliable.
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    I have had Fortinet Security experts try and compare the ease of use and advanced security functionality of their products but have always been left unimpressed. Many people seem to argue that Fortinet is a much better product but there is nothing that I have seen that Fortinet …
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    Watch Guard has a better management portal than Fortinet and Sonic Wall with more features and functionality. Compared with Cisco, Watch Guard is much easier to configure initially and manage. Cisco, with their price points, are obviously laden with more functionality than …
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    Cost
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    vs Fortinet e Cisco, Price and VPN Connections
    vs Palo Alto, Fidability, HA and price
    vs Kerio, Interface, Cloud Server control and VPN
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    Watchguard provides enterprise level security without enterprise level administration. Fortinet and Palo Alto are over complex on the admin side, where education and specific learning is required to administer them. Watchguard provides a fairly straight forward admin side.
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    I have used Fortinet in the past as well but prefer to use WatchGurad Netowrk Security. I like the UI more and it's easier to use.
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    they’re niche players, but it worth to check out their solutions. Best choice for SMB
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    100%
    Would buy again
    48 Answers
    96%
    Would buy again
    356 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    47 Answers
    96%
    Delivers good value for the price
    341 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    100%
    Happy with the feature set
    48 Answers
    98%
    Happy with the feature set
    364 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    43 Answers
    96%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    314 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    98%
    Implementation went as expected
    46 Answers
    97%
    Implementation went as expected
    340 Answers
    TrustRadius Insights
    FortiGateWatchGuard Network Security
    Highlights

    TrustRadius
    Research Team Insight
    Published

    Fortinet FortiGate and WatchGuard Network Security are firewall and web security solutions designed to keep businesses safe from unauthorized access, viruses, zero-day exploits, and other network-based dangers. Both products aim to provide their customers with protection that evolves as the network security landscape changes. FortiGate is available as an on-site integrated product in a physical box or a VM and sees more use by mid-sized companies. WatchGuard Network Security is available in both on-premise and cloud-based form factors, and is used more heavily by small businesses, likely due to its cloud-based option. 

    Features

    Both FortiGate and WatchGuard Network Security help keep business networks and users safe, but they each have their own benefits.

    If you’d prefer more control over your security system infrastructure, FortiGate’s on-site deployment might be appealing compared to a cloud-based product. Its licensing options are granular, offering buyers plenty of control over their software and hardware features. FortiGate’s logging is detailed, and administrators generally find the product’s management options helpful. For users who might be new to network security, its graphical user interface (GUI) is easy to navigate and can help them find their footing.

    WatchGuard Network Security has a wealth of configuration options and protection features available to administrators. The platform’s tools for botnet detection, spam blocking, and geolocation-based permissions are especially appreciated by its users. Administrators report that the Dimension management console is robust and responsive, making it fast to use. The reporting and logging systems are detailed, and administrators report overall satisfaction with the platform’s ability to prevent intrusion and malware.

    Limitations

    However, neither product is one-size-fits-all. You should evaluate the pros and cons of both WatchGuard Network Security and FortiGate before purchasing.

    FortiGate can also be difficult for new users, who feel that there’s not enough available documentation to help them get started. Configuring a new VPN can be cumbersome, requiring manual setup of policies. Some administrators wish for additional features, such as better load-balancing or a live traffic-monitoring tool. Finally, FortiGate’s deployment style means that scaling up can be a bit pricey, requiring you to purchase additional machines from the vendor if your capacity needs grow.

    WatchGuard Network Security’s many configuration options can be a problem for some users. The large array of possibilities can be hard to navigate, making the platform complicated to set up initially and difficult to modify. The reports and logs, while detailed, lack sufficient searching and filtering capabilities for some users, making it hard for them to track down problems and visualize traffic patterns. WatchGuard Network Security VPNs can suffer from occasional stuttering and failure, requiring system reboots that can frustrate end users. Finally, the licensing options aren’t granular enough for some customers, requiring them to pay for features they don’t need.

    Pricing

    WatchGuard Network Security and FortiGate both offer hardware and software customization options that can drastically alter the price of each platform, with potential costs ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars. Price quotes are available from each vendor or their respective partners and resellers.

    Features
    FortiGateWatchGuard Network Security
    Firewall
    Comparison of Firewall features of Fortinet FortiGate and WatchGuard Network Security
    Feature
    Fortinet FortiGate
    8.9
    40 Ratings
    3% above category average
    WatchGuard Network Security
    9.1
    460 Ratings
    5% above category average
    Identification Technologies8.638 Ratings8.8419 Ratings
    Visualization Tools8.538 Ratings8.5417 Ratings
    Content Inspection9.439 Ratings9.1444 Ratings
    Policy-based Controls9.040 Ratings9.2457 Ratings
    Active Directory and LDAP9.039 Ratings8.8388 Ratings
    Firewall Management Console8.640 Ratings8.5450 Ratings
    Reporting and Logging7.440 Ratings9.1446 Ratings
    VPN8.640 Ratings9.5441 Ratings
    High Availability9.535 Ratings9.5399 Ratings
    Stateful Inspection9.538 Ratings9.4413 Ratings
    Proxy Server10.028 Ratings9.4298 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    FortiGateWatchGuard Network Security
    Small Businesses
    SonicWall NSA Series
    Score8.4 out of 10
    SonicWall NSA Series
    Score8.4 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Barracuda CloudGen Firewall
    Score9.4 out of 10
    Barracuda CloudGen Firewall
    Score9.4 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software
    Score9 out of 10
    Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software
    Score9 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    FortiGateWatchGuard Network Security
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.0
    (67 ratings)
    8.5
    (475 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    9.9
    (4 ratings)
    7.7
    (37 ratings)
    Usability
    9.0
    (8 ratings)
    7.9
    (118 ratings)
    Availability
    10.0
    (2 ratings)
    9.2
    (4 ratings)
    Performance
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    9.1
    (4 ratings)
    Support Rating
    8.6
    (26 ratings)
    9.5
    (29 ratings)
    In-Person Training
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    9.1
    (4 ratings)
    Online Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.2
    (3 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    8.0
    (4 ratings)
    9.1
    (264 ratings)
    Configurability
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    9.1
    (3 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    7.0
    (1 ratings)
    9.1
    (3 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    9.8
    (2 ratings)
    9.1
    (4 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    9.2
    (3 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    9.2
    (3 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    FortiGateWatchGuard Network Security
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Fortinet
    Fortinet FortiGate addressed an immediate security issue we had a few years ago. The device gave us a much clearer picture of the activities on our network and also more importantly, increased our awareness of threats from the internet as a whole. Fortinet FortiGate helps us to mitigate these threats with regular signature updates from Fortiguard labs, identifying certain characteristics which, once recognised by Fortinet FortiGate, can be harnessed to deploy powerful 'playbooks'.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    Watchguard is well suited for small businesses without significantly complex networks and infrastructure. WatchGuard firewalls perform well on IPv4 networks and offer basic security features that match other vendors that target the small business market. WatchGuard firewalls are less appropriate for mid-sized business and larger. There is limited IPv6 support, and the firmware often lacks some or all of more advanced features that businesses that size often need.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Fortinet
    • SD-WAN - Load balancing of Internet traffic is a USP of Fortigate and makes it stand tall in the competition. Be it 3 or more Internet Links, multiple Subnets/segments of users to distribute and bandwidth load balancing for links and users. SLA based monitoring of Internet Links / MPLS links, makes it even better to choose the links on the basis of performance (Latency, packet loss, Jitter etc).
    • SSL VPN configuration - As we all have WFH force (to some extend or all employee) during Covid-19, it is impossible to plan BCP without having a SSL VPN. In Fortigate, the SSL VPN configuration is very easy with the help of wizard. The deep CLI-level debugging is also very helpful in troubleshooting. Type of tunnel can be easily configured - Full Tunnel or Split Tunnel for SSL.
    • Explicit Proxy - This is also a great feature to shape and re-route the traffic, configuring the Proxy on the Firewall itself. We are using this feature in Pilot for now, and planned to rollout in few weeks looking at the success rate of the POC.
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    • Incoming Torrent attempts were blocked, but outgoing (by a user) were permitted. Similarly, other direct attempts were summarily blocked.
    • provides full administrative support for analysis of usage and scope.
    • strong Wi-Fi support and security - area wi-fi maps
    • They think of all the things secure and I don't have to worry about it.
    • I have not identified anything else that needs improvement - I am well satisfied.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Fortinet
    • Documentation is missing a great deal of detail and assumes the customer and just guess and fill in the blanks themselves
    • Fortinet has lots and lots of video guides on topics that only a small percentage of customers would ever need
    • The documentation and video guides do not get updated so most is only relevant to older software versions
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    • Better integration with VoIP services, such as templates for policies handling traffic for Bria or Asterisk endponts and servers.
    • Get webblocker to work without breaking secure websites.
    • Lower cost on endpoint agents for antivirus and include application control and webblocker with the agents.
    • Make the cost per endpoint with TDR and Netowrk access control lower than the cost of Antivirus licensing that is not integrated.
    • Make it easier to set up network access control and VLAN assignment by device, perhaps with templates.
    • Get webblocker and application control working with QUIC.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Fortinet
    Fortinet's products have kept improving with new software releases and they continue to deliver great value. Their support is also very good. I believe that as a small enterprise, their products have given us competitive advantage delivering features and functionality that enable us to innovate and do things better. They also continue to be a leader in the markets they serve.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    I'm giving this note to WatchGuard Network Security due to its ease of daily support (after acquiring necessary knowledge in the solution), which allows agility in configuration changes, its integration of several reliable security features (such as SSL VPN, VPN Virtual Interfaces between companies, and others) and functional and stability in operation, with no downtime in the equipment due to problems or malfunctions
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    Fortinet
    The firewall runs very well, firmware updates are fairly quick but you must follow the upgrade path. Neglecting this step will cause a lot of pain. If you decide to go with Fortinet FortiGate switches and/or access points, they can be managed within the firewall which is great. We're also using the FortiAnalyzer which easily plugs into the firewall for any reporting you may require.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    Although it might take some time to figure out, we have been able to use WatchGuard's online reference library and tech support to create/implement/modify all of our filtering rules and exceptions needed. There really has not been a shortcoming other than perhaps a learning curve.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Reliability and Availability
    Fortinet
    We had didn't any hardware failures at our two main office locations and upgraded our units last year after using them for about 5-6 years
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    Availability has always been a strong point of this product, it is rare that watchguard does not have a solution for customers' network monitoring needs.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Performance
    Fortinet
    Good performance and really good integration. We have integration with Microsoft AD.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    The performance of WatchGuard Network Security is very good, in the years that we have used the solution we have only had a single error and Watchguard itself was able to solve it. Furthermore, when purchasing any product, the partner always evaluates the capacity of the solution to recommend the most appropriate product for our needs.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Fortinet
    The Support team at Fortinet is excellent. They can not only help you configure the device for what you are trying to do, they offer suggestions on improving rules, and troubleshooting issues. Their response time is fast, ensuring you are up and running immediately with no questions asked. We had a hard drive failure in one of our Fortinet Fortigate appliances. The tech answered immediately, and started rebuilding the drive after some preliminary investigations. After rebuilding, there were still errors and issues, so they dispatched a brand new Fortinet Fortigate appliance. The tech then backed up the configurations for when the new device came in, which showed up in a few hours. A restore of the configuration took less than a minute, and there were no more errors or issues.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    We have only had to contact them once during the initial set up to help bring the internet back on line. After that for the most part our systems have been automated, and could easily be checked form their online FAQ and Knowledge base that they provide. Everything else is easily handled from their browser based interface
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    In-Person Training
    Fortinet
    I received it a couple years afters use it and it was just to confirm my knowledge about the tool.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    We participate to a in person training and the three days of learning was really useful and complete to gain skill to solve the major part of the problem we encounter during our life. And more the in person training give us the opportunity to create a network with other WatchGuard partner.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Online Training
    Fortinet
    No answers on this topic
    WatchGuard Technologies
    Online training is good for learning how to use the product. It does not teach security strategy because that is not its intent.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    Fortinet
    Make sure that you have the most current version of FortiOS. Make sure all Fortigates are on the same version
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    I had my key information for setting up the firewall, and they assisted me in finding the settings and appropriate places to enter data. They also helped troubleshoot when I didn't understand some of their feature concepts, and we got it running.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    Fortinet
    [Fortinet] FortiGate is not only cost effective but it gives the comprehensive security against the APT attacks and gives the complete traffic visibility and granular control. You can easily create the VDOMs (Virtual firewall) within a Fortigate firewall and customize the dashboard as per your requirement if you have multiple VDOMs within a single firewall.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    I think the solutions are comparable, but the cloud management piece is critical for MSPs these days. We need to be able to schedule and push out updates as soon as they are stable and ready. Insurance companies and government regulations mandate this.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Contract Terms and Pricing Model
    Fortinet
    No changes needed to terms and conditions.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    No answers on this topic
    Scalability
    Fortinet
    My environments are pretty small (less than 100 users per location) so no issues here.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    This product is very scalable since previously everything related to Watchguard was on premises but that has now changed with the inclusion of watchguard cloud. Now the product has evolved to have full control of firewalls at the cloud level.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Fortinet
    • The pricing given to us for our firewall was well within what we were already spending for other vendors solutions and had the added value of eliminating a separate expense for a dedicated web filtering appliance.
    • We have also adopted Fortinet's security fabric approach and thus changed vendors for our switch and AP devices. These devices have come at reduced prices as compared to another previous vendor we were using, particularly in relation to ongoing annual maintenance costs.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    • at least 3-5X a year (that I know of), this device has single-handedly prevented members of our staff from inadvertently connecting to services they did not intend and could have resulted in security disruption
    • although you can never rule out human-behaviour-engineered threat, it's helpful to know that our network has a higher level, enterprise-class control and monitoring behind it
    • any time our network might be showing signs of abnormal performance, the WatchGuard control panel is the first place I turn to help identify the level of concern. It can quickly set my mind at ease and help to identify the specific device that might be out of compliance
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    WatchGuard Network Security Screenshots

    Screenshot of WatchGuard Cloud Customizable DashboardScreenshot of Threat Monitoring SummaryScreenshot of Device Security SummaryScreenshot of Automated ReportingScreenshot of User Authentication SummaryScreenshot of Endpoint Protection Summary