Fortinet’s New Network Security Appliances Bring Performance Improvements, Enhanced Security Coverage, Integrated Wireless Controllers, PoE and L2Switching
Fortinet announced the addition of ten new security appliances to its FortiGate Unified Threat Management (UTM) product line this week, designed for SMBs, distributed enterprises, retail networks and branch/home offices.
The new products include the FortiGate-200D series, which includes the FortiGate-240D and FortiGate-200D, the FortiGate-100D series, which includes the FortiGate-140D, FortiGate-140D-POE, FortiGate-140D-POE-T1 and FortiGate-100D, FortiGate-90D/FortiWiFi-90D andFortiGate-30D/FortiWiFi-30D, providing SMB customers with a range of security and deployment options to meet various security requirements.
The network security company has added an integrated WiFi controller to its FortiGate-200D series and an integrated WiFi and L2 switch controller to the FortiGate-140D and FortiGate-100D appliances. With the addition of switching functionality and high-density Gigabit Ethernet ports for the FortiGate-240D and FortiGate-140D series, customers now have the opportunity to fully integrate their switching needs with FortiGate platforms and retire their legacy switches, the company said.
The upgraded FortiGate product line also features a Power over Ethernet (POE) option for the FortiGate-140D platform. The PoE option eliminates the need for additional PoE injectors, which improves network performance while allowing multiple devices such as FortiAP wireless access points, FortiFone IP phones and IP cameras to connect directly to the device.
Fortinet offers models to support various deployment requirements, from the desktop FortiGate-20 series for small offices and retail networks to the chassis-based FortiGate-5000 series for large enterprises, service providers, data centers and carriers. FortiGate platforms integrate the purpose-built FortiOS™ operating system with custom FortiASIC™ processors and the latest-generation CPUs to provide broad, high-performance security.
Updated FortiGate Product Family Summary
The FortiGate-200D series delivers up to 42 Gigabit Ethernet (GE) ports and up to 4 Gbps firewall throughput and 1 Gbps of IPSec VPN performance.
With up to 42 GE ports, including two small form-factor pluggable (SFP) slots, the FortiGate-140D also serves as a high-speed, next-generation firewall with advanced threat protection (ATP) capabilities. The appliance provides onboard storage for WAN optimization and visibility along with an integrated WiFi and switch controller. The FortiGate-140D-POE offers a Power-over-Ethernet variant to easily connect network devices such as access points and IP phones. The FortiGate-140D-POE-T1 features a built-in T1 interface.
The FortiGate-100D is a third generation network security appliance that also serves as a high-speed next-generation firewall with ATP security features. Like the FortiGate-140D series, the FortiGate-100D delivers onboard storage for WAN optimization and an integrated WiFi and switch controller. The appliance includes up to 20 GE ports.
Two versions of the FortiGate-90D are now available including a wireless (802.11a/b/g/n)-equipped appliance. Designed using the FortiASIC-SoC2 for firewall, IPSec VPN, SSLand IPS hardware acceleration, the FortiGate-90D provides up to 16 GE ports, reliable storage for local logging, reporting and WAN optimization and easy setup with the help of FortiExplorer via a USB interface.
FortiASIC-SoC2 provides hardware-accelerated network security performance. The SoC architecture combines general purpose processing power with Fortinet’s custom ASIC technology into a single chip, simplifying the overall appliance design while delivering industry-leading performance. The FortiASIC-SoC2 enables enterprise-grade security performance at a breakthrough price point and a simpler appliance design for smaller networks. Architectural advancements of the FortiASIC-SoC2 include 109 million transistors and the use of more advanced semiconductor technologies and design.
Rounding out the FortiGate product line upgrades is the FortiGate-30D, a simple-to-deploy desktop appliance specifically designed for small businesses with limited technical resources. This appliance, which also features the FortiASIC-SoC2 for exceptional price/performance, provides up to five GE ports and enhanced ease of use via FortiOS Lite, a streamlined version of Fortinet’s network security operating system. A wireless equipped version (FortiWiFi-30D) is also available, the company said.
“Fortinet continues to drive the network security industry forward with improved performance and innovative new features for small or highly distributed networks,” said Jeff Wilson, principal analyst at Infonetics. “By integrating Ethernet switching into a security appliance, they’re extending the definition of a UTM and reducing equipment and operational costs.”
All of the new Fortinet UTM appliances mentioned are available now.
