cisco-adaptive-security-appliance-asa-software-vs-fortinet-fortigate

Cisco ASA and FortiGate are products that provide security for network applications, including firewall, SSL, web filtering and VPN. Both Cisco ASA and FortiGate are well liked among medium to enterprise sized businesses, but large established businesses tend to choose ASA, especially if their server environment is already Cisco. FortiGate is more popular among medium-sized businesses, which are more likely to be price sensitive.

Features

Cisco ASA and FortiGate provide many of the same services, but there are standout features of each.

Cisco ASA is easy to deploy and works well in most environments. It adapts well to small and medium scale servers, especially servers that use Cisco products already. Users like the VPN for connecting remote users to the network or connecting one site to another, and businesses appreciate the web filtering component. The hardware is reliable, as is Cisco technical support. 

FortiGate is a newer up-and-comer to the world of network security. It handles traffic spikes and larger server loads with ease, and is more affordable than its comparable competitors. The interface is simple to use, and the firewall is easy to configure. Simplified pricing allows businesses to pay only for the services they use.

Limitations

Each of these firewall products has its own limitations that may affect which one potential customers will choose.

Though many users appreciate Cisco ASA and its reliable system and support, it can become expensive for smaller businesses, especially when factoring in support contracts. The interface is clunky and can be difficult to use. ASA is not as fully-featured as an NGFW (it’s missing the reliable multi-WAN support FortiGate has), and several users reported switching to an NGFW for a more robust solution. 

The downside of FortiGate’s simplified pricing is that it affects scalability. If a user wants to increase server performance, they must buy additional products. Various versions of the software can be buggy, and frequent patches are released. While the user interface is good, the command line prompt can be confusing to use.

Pricing

FortiGate pricing is available by quote from Fortinet or 3rd party providers. ASA pricing can be found by contacting Cisco or a certified Cisco Partner.