Palo Alto and Fortinet make our top picks for next-generation firewalls (NGFW). Both vendors score well in independent security tests. They both have impressive feature sets and excellent support. But which one is right for your organization? That depends on your needs and budget. Let’s look at the pros and cons of both vendors.
Performance
Both Fortinet and Palo Alto Networks offer next-generation firewalls. They both consistently earn top scores in independent tests and have impressive security features. But which one is right for you? Both vendors are highly rated by users and in independent testing but differ slightly in performance and cost. Regarding firewall comparison between Fortigate and PAN, Fortinet is more affordable than Palo Alto and has several great security features. Fortinet is the leader in next-generation firewalls, and its security products include an extensive feature set, including application control, granular threat analysis and centralized management. Their products also integrate with the security fabric, providing a holistic security approach. The company is also known for its WildFire sandboxing solution, which can automatically comprehend applications and their flows to mitigate risks before they are allowed to enter the network.
Cost
Fortigate and Palo Alto are both considered industry leaders when it comes to NGFWs. They offer a full range of features to provide total network protection for any environment and budget. They score highly in independent firewall tests and have strong support and service. They both have a robust selection of management tools that make them easy to manage across the entire enterprise network. Fortinet NGFWs feature AI/ML-powered FortiGuard services, allowing advanced malware protection and full visibility. They also can automatically prioritize alerts and stop successful breaches in seconds. Their physical, virtual and cloud firewalls provide scalable security that can be easily deployed and centrally managed. They can perform at high speed with minimal impact on performance and are a powerful tool for managing complex networks with granular control over SaaS applications. The VM-Series is available on-premises, in the cloud or as a Virtual Security Appliance (VSA). It is a true Zero Trust security solution that eliminates security silos to reduce operational expenditures. It stops never-before-seen threats using prevention layers to safeguard against credential phishing and other unauthorized access. It’s a cloud-native technology that can be scaled to meet any size organization’s needs. It also uses a unified licensing system that is platform agnostic.
Feature Sets
Fortinet has many security features to help network administrators protect their networks against advanced threats. Whether URL filtering, intrusion prevention, or application control, Fortinet has the tools to do the job. It’s a top network firewall choice among customers. Palo Alto is another company that offers next-generation firewalls (NGFW). While both are considered full NGFW options, they have different features that set them apart. For example, Fortinet’s IPS has a superior threat intelligence engine and can detect malware attacks that other firewalls cannot. Fortinet also has an EDR solution, which can identify and stop malware infestations on endpoints in real time. Palo Alto’s NGFW is better at stopping zero-day and highly evasive threats, especially with the PAN-OS 10.2 Nebula release. It also has a more comprehensive endpoint protection feature called FortiEDR, which can identify and block suspicious behaviors on host systems and prevent data leaks. The PAN-OS 9.0 release also introduced a new K2 series, a 5 G-ready firewall designed for service provider mobile network deployments with 5G and Internet of Things security requirements. The K2 series firewalls are a great option for businesses needing advanced security at their networks’ edge. They are also great for cloud-delivered security services.
Management
Regarding management, both Palo Alto Networks and Fortinet firewalls are known for their ease of use. Terms like “easy to use,” “user-friendly,” and “intuitive” often appear in reviews of both vendors’ firewall products. Both also score highly in independent firewall testing, though Fortinet is usually ahead of PAN. Both companies are known for their next-generation firewalls or NGFWs. These firewalls can be used to protect any network edge, and they offer advanced features such as application awareness and control, threat protection, intelligent security analytics, sandboxing and cutting-edge malware protection. These NGFWs also feature integration with cloud-delivered security services and automation-driven network administration. Fortinet NGFWs include AI/ML-powered FortiGuard services, full safety and visibility, natively integrated proxy, high-performance SD-WAN support, hyper-scale security, and more. Fortinet NGFWs can be deployed in either physical or virtual environments, and they work with the company’s security fabric to automate network protection and response at scale. Fortinet’s latest security platform, PAN-OS, version 8.1, includes more than 60 new features, including advanced granular control over SaaS applications and extended SSL decryption capabilities. PAN-OS enables users to prioritize alerts, detect threats in seconds and identify successful breaches in minutes or hours. The platform also includes comprehensive visibility across the entire network and centralized management for increased productivity and fewer security risks.