Fortinet Secure SD-WAN - Short Review

Networking Tools



Product Overview: Fortinet Secure SD-WAN

Fortinet Secure SD-WAN is a comprehensive solution designed to transform and secure wide-area networks (WANs) for modern, cloud-first, and security-sensitive enterprises. This solution integrates advanced networking and security capabilities, making it a pivotal component for organizations transitioning to a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architecture and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA).



Key Functionality

  • Unified Security and Networking: Fortinet Secure SD-WAN converges software-defined wide-area networking (SD-WAN) with next-generation firewall (NGFW) capabilities, advanced routing, and ZTNA application gateway functions, all managed through a single operating system, FortiOS. This unified approach ensures consistent security across both on-premises and cloud environments.


Key Features

  • Application Resilience: The solution ensures the highest level of application availability and performance over any WAN transport, leveraging automated path intelligence to prioritize routing based on specific applications and user needs. It references an extensive application control database of over 5,000 applications, enabling well-informed decisions on SD-WAN policies.
  • Integrated Advanced Security: Fortinet Secure SD-WAN includes built-in NGFW security, threat protection, threat detection, intrusion prevention (IPS), web filtering, sandboxing, and SSL inspection. These features provide robust security against various threats, ensuring deep SSL packet inspection and DNS/URL/Video filtering, among other security services.
  • Scalable, High Performance: Powered by Fortinet’s WAN ASIC, the solution transforms and secures SD-WAN at scale without impacting performance. It supports a range of form factors, from the FortiGate/FortiWiFi 30E to the high-end FortiGate 300E, as well as virtual appliances.
  • Multi-Cloud On-Ramp: The solution enables secure, fast, and high-performance connectivity to, in, and between cloud applications. This is crucial for organizations with multiple cloud services, ensuring seamless and secure access to business-critical cloud-based applications.
  • Zero-Touch Provisioning: Fortinet Secure SD-WAN allows for large-scale, faster deployment through zero-touch provisioning, simplifying the rollout of new sites and reducing the need for manual configuration.
  • Centralized Orchestration: The solution is managed through a single-pane-of-glass interface using FortiManager, FortiAnalyzer, and FortiDeploy. This centralized management provides visibility, analytics, and reporting, simplifying operations and enhancing security and networking analytics.
  • Cost Savings and Operational Efficiency: By consolidating multiple network and security functions into a single solution, Fortinet Secure SD-WAN helps organizations achieve significant cost savings. It also simplifies the design, security, and management of the network, allowing for a shift to an OPEX business model with user-based tiered licensing.


Benefits

  • Enhanced Security Posture: Combines advanced NGFW and routing capabilities to deliver consistent security both on and off the network.
  • Improved User Experience: Ensures high-speed application performance and unified communication services through WAN remediation and optimization.
  • Simplified Operations: Centralized management and zero-touch provisioning simplify network and security operations.
  • Cost Efficiency: Offers cost savings by freeing up budget for other critical areas and providing a scalable, high-performance solution.

In summary, Fortinet Secure SD-WAN is a powerful, integrated solution that addresses the complex networking and security needs of modern enterprises, providing a seamless transition to SASE and Zero Trust architectures while ensuring high performance, security, and operational efficiency.

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