Optimize Network Security: Fortinet FortiGate Next Generation Firewalls NGFWs for Branch Campus and Datacenter

In today’s cybersecurity landscape, safeguarding your network across branches, campuses, and data centers demands a firewall that can adapt and deliver. Fortinet FortiGate Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) for branch, campus, and datacenter offer this adaptability, combining cutting-edge threat intelligence and easy management into a singular solution to meet complex security challenges. This article explores the features and capabilities of FortiGate NGFWs that help protect these diverse environments, without inundating you with technical jargon or sales pitches.

SourceIT is a Fortinet Authorised Reseller in Singapore, offering Fortinet full range of services including Network Security, Enterprise Networking, Zero Trust Access, Cloud Security, Security Operations and Cybersecurity Services.

Key Takeaways

• FortiGate NGFWs enhance network security through features like integrated IPS, secure SD-WAN capabilities, and AI-powered threat prevention, offering comprehensive protection especially for branch offices with the ability to inspect SSL/TLS encrypted traffic.

• The advanced network functionalities of FortiGate NGFWs include seamless integrations, advanced routing, and micro-segmentation, significantly improving security, user experience, and management in campus environments and data centers.

• Fortinet’s Professional Services provide tailored technical consulting, deployment, and operational support services, complementing their robust security products to help businesses design, implement, and maintain an effective security infrastructure.

Optimizing Branch Security with FortiGate NGFWs

FortiGate NGFWs are designed to enhance branch security, providing unparalleled control over network traffic and integrated intrusion prevention systems. Their unique features like secure SD-WAN capabilities offer cost-effective and high-performance network connectivity for branch offices, ensuring your remote locations are as secure as your headquarters. In an era where encrypted traffic is becoming the norm, having the ability to inspect SSL/TLS encrypted traffic for hidden threats is crucial, and this is where FortiGate NGFWs shine.

The integration of intrusion prevention systems (IPS) into FortiGate NGFWs adds another layer of protection by:

• Blocking attacks and malicious activities at branch offices

• Ensuring that no stone is left unturned in securing your branch offices

• Providing peace of mind and ensuring business continuity

This multi-layered approach to security ensures the highest level of protection for your branch offices.

Secure Connectivity for Distributed Locations

Distributed locations often pose a unique set of challenges for network security. Secure connectivity, consistent security policies, and comprehensive protection are crucial. FortiGate NGFWs offer secure connectivity options that are designed to ensure consistent security policies across branch locations. These are facilitated by centralized management capabilities, which provide a holistic view of the network and enable quick responses to potential threats.

Moreover, FortiGate NGFWs provide the following features and benefits:

• Converged networking and security capabilities in a single platform

• Addressing the challenges of distributed network environments, such as inconsistency in security measures and difficulty in managing multiple security solutions

• VPN capabilities and a Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) access proxy, enabling secure access for remote employees

• Integration into Fortinet’s Security Fabric, offering comprehensive protection across the entire IT landscape

These features and benefits improve security for distributed sites.

AI-Powered Threat Prevention at the Edge

One of the key features of FortiGate NGFWs is their AI-powered security services, which provide:

• Real-time inspection

• Proactive defense mechanisms

• Industry-leading threat identification and protection

• Unified protection against a variety of threats, including zero-day attacks and sophisticated file-based attacks.

AI-based security services within FortiGate NGFWs facilitate:

• Real-time inspection and scanning to deter potential malware and exploit attacks

• Proactive defense mechanisms like analyzing patterns to detect anomalies

• Comprehensive threat protection and coordination across entire network infrastructures

• Automated risk assessment and management

This ensures that branch offices experience reduced monitoring challenges and maintain up-to-date security protocols.

Simplified Management and Deployment

Managing and deploying network security solutions can often be a daunting task. However, with a deployed network firewall like FortiGate NGFWs, these processes are simplified through their centralized management console and automated workflows.

The benefits of using FortiGate NGFWs include:

• Comprehensive visibility across the security infrastructure

• Automated operations for efficient management

• Integration with the Fortinet Security Fabric for seamless security management

With these features, FortiGate NGFWs provide a streamlined and effective solution for network security management.

FortiGate NGFWs enable:

• Consistent management across appliances, virtual firewalls, and cloud-native firewalls through a single FortiOS operating system

• Simplified security policy enforcement across multiple locations

• Streamlined control and efficient management of network security policies with the integration of FortiManager

This makes the deployment of FortiGate NGFWs even easier.

The deployment process is further simplified through:

• Automated workflows

• Zero-touch deployment

• An intuitive user interface for policy configuration

• A clear end-to-end topology view for network troubleshooting.

Campus Security Reinvented with FortiGate NGFWs

Campus networks are a focal point for a variety of network and security challenges. With their myriad of connected devices and services, these networks require a comprehensive security solution that can adapt to their complexity and diversity. Enter FortiGate NGFWs, which not only rise to this challenge but also take campus security to the next level. They allow IT administrators to implement micro-segmentation in campus environments, isolating secure zones for granular control over applications and workloads.

This level of control enhances network security and private cloud protections by:

• Creating individual security services for each segment, suitable for a zero-trust architecture

• Isolating workloads for individual applications to prevent the lateral movement of threats, effectively trapping them within their initial segment

• Facilitating granular control and isolation of potential threats through micro-segmentation capabilities

These features contribute to a robust security posture in campus settings.

Unparalleled Visibility and Access Control

With micro-segmentation, IT administrators gain the following benefits:

• Superior visibility into the network, allowing them to monitor isolated segments

• Customizable alert systems on a segment-by-segment basis

• The ability to identify and mitigate potential threats before they can cause significant damage

This level of visibility is paramount in ensuring network security.

FortiGate NGFWs further enhance this visibility by enabling administrators to apply micro-segmentation to specific devices or sets of devices. This offers granular control over network activity, ensuring fine-grained access control.

Moreover, the integration of FortiGate NGFWs with Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) promotes the convergence of networking and security services, thereby streamlining the management of enterprise security infrastructure.

Advanced Networking and User Experience

In addition to enhanced security, FortiGate next generation firewall also offers advanced networking capabilities that enhance network performance and user experience. These network firewalls Fortinet, known as enterprise firewalls, feature advanced routing capabilities that enhance network connection performance across distributed locations.

In campus networks, FortiGate NGFWs handle large volumes of data seamlessly, ensuring users have a smooth and uninterrupted experience. The FortiGate 600F series NGFWs provide the following features:

• Over 10 Gbps of threat protection throughput, preserving the user experience during high load and security threat scenarios

• Application control

• User and device identification

• Efficient issue resolution

These capabilities collectively ensure a superior user experience with a single operating system.

Integration with Hybrid Mesh Firewall

FortiGate NGFWs offer more than just standalone security solutions. They also integrate seamlessly with other security components, including:

• Hybrid mesh firewalls

• Intrusion prevention systems

• Web application firewalls

• Secure email gateways

• Endpoint protection

• Secure SD-WAN

This integration provides unified management by unifying security across corporate sites, public and private clouds, and remote workers, offering a comprehensive security solution with centralized control.

The benefits of this integration are manifold. For instance, FortiGate NGFWs can:

• Enact zero-trust security policies that scan traffic and prevent malware from moving laterally through a network, aligning with hybrid mesh firewall architectures.

• Scale security functions without causing network performance bottlenecks by using ASIC-based FortiGate appliances in hybrid mesh firewall deployments.

• Provide dynamic segmentation and AI/ML-powered FortiGuard services, making FortiGate NGFWs an ideal solution for protecting hybrid data centers.

Data Center Defense with FortiGate Next Generation Firewalls

Data centers are the backbone of many organizations, storing and managing vast amounts of critical data. As such, they require robust and advanced security solutions to protect against potential threats. FortiGate NGFWs, with their advanced processors and high-performance capabilities, provide a formidable defense for these data centers.

Capable of threat protection up to 520 Gbps and firewall throughput up to 1.9 Tbps, FortiGate NGFWs enable data centers to handle growth in user demand without compromising performance. Additionally, with SSL inspection throughput ranging from 4 Gbps to 540 Gbps depending on the model, FortiGate NGFWs support secure, scalable operations in diverse data center environments.

Ensuring High Availability and Performance

Ensuring high availability and performance in data centers is crucial to maintain business continuity and meet customer expectations. FortiGate NGFWs, including the FortiGate 3200F and 900G models, provide high-performance capabilities and comprehensive threat protection tailored for data center infrastructures.

The FortiGate 3200F series is specifically engineered for hyperscale data centers and offers the following features:

• Superior throughput and IPsec VPN performance

• Reduced energy footprint compared to competitors

• Advanced proprietary security processing units (SPUs) that offload demanding tasks from the main CPU

• Ultra-low latency and a consistent network experience, even during periods of high traffic demand

Protecting Virtual Environments

As more businesses adopt virtualization, the need for robust security solutions for virtual environments becomes paramount. FortiGate NGFWs can be deployed as virtual machines, offering consistent security features with their physical counterparts for the protection of virtualized environments.

The FortiGate-VM is specifically designed as a virtual appliance to deliver next-generation firewall capabilities suitable for various virtualized data centers, including private and public cloud deployments. It encompasses a comprehensive range of security features, including:

• Intrusion prevention

• Antivirus

• Web filtering

• Application control

• VPN

• Data loss prevention

Furthermore, automation capabilities within FortiGate NGFWs streamline processes in virtual environments, improving response times to user experience issues and security events.

Comprehensive Data Security Measures

In a world where data is the new oil, protecting this valuable resource is crucial. FortiGate NGFWs provide comprehensive data security measures that ensure a secure and consistent network experience. This is achieved by consolidating protection capabilities such as SSL inspection, web filtering, and intrusion prevention, providing full visibility and protection for any edge.

Moreover, FortiGate NGFWs have been awarded a ‘AAA’ rating in Routing & Access Control, reinforcing their adeptness at enforcing complex policies in campus networks. This rating underscores their ability to provide comprehensive security measures that protect data and ensure high availability and performance.

Unified Security Across Branch, Campus, and Data Center

FortiGate NGFWs offer more than just security for separate environments; they provide unified security across branch, campus, and data center environments. This is achieved through the integration of various security components into a single platform, facilitating coordinated policy enforcement. Furthermore, Fortinet’s Security Fabric delivers:

• Near-real-time protection

• Automated protection

• Coordinated protection

• Self-healing security posture from users to applications

In addition, FortiGate NGFWs can be integrated with Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions, extending security capabilities beyond traditional boundaries. This integration allows FortiGate NGFWs to provide businesses with the flexibility to adapt their security infrastructure to match the evolving landscape of network configurations and threat scenarios. The effectiveness of this approach has gained industry recognition, as evidenced by mentions in Gartner’s research, including the Magic Quadrant for Security Service Edge.

Coordinated Policy Enforcement

Coordinated policy enforcement is a key feature of FortiGate NGFWs. By integrating various security components into a single platform, FortiGate NGFWs facilitate coordinated policy enforcement, enabling businesses to address multi-module attacks more effectively through coordinated responses.

Real-time threat detection and security policy enforcement are enabled across endpoints, networks, and clouds with Fortinet Security Fabric’s coordinated policy enforcement. Moreover, consolidated protection capabilities within FortiGate NGFWs, such as SSL inspection, web filtering, and intrusion prevention, provide full visibility and protection for any edge.

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Integration

SASE is a security model that combines network security and wide area networking capabilities into a single cloud-based service. FortiGate NGFWs can be integrated with SASE solutions, extending security capabilities beyond traditional firewall boundaries.

By integrating with SASE, FortiGate NGFWs provide businesses with the following benefits:

• Flexibility to adapt their security infrastructure to match the evolving landscape of network configurations and threat scenarios

• Ability to seamlessly integrate with cloud-based services

• Enhanced security for remote working arrangements

This integration is particularly important as businesses increasingly adopt cloud-based services and remote working arrangements.

This approach to security infrastructure has gained industry recognition, as evidenced by mentions in Gartner’s research, including the Magic Quadrant for Security Service Edge.

Professional Services: Fortinet Expertise at Your Fingertips

Fortinet’s expertise extends beyond advanced security products. They also offer Professional Services that deliver technical consulting aimed at designing, deploying, operating, and maintaining security infrastructure vital for enterprise success. These services provide expert advice, high and low-level design assistance, product-neutral workshops, and thorough site surveys that provide the groundwork for a powerful security posture.

Deployment services provided by Fortinet cover all angles of implementation needs, including system migrations, configurations, thorough validation, and ensuring knowledge is transferred to the client’s team. Moreover, operational support extends beyond deployment, with Fortinet offering resident engineers and targeted training sessions, helping to alleviate project burdens and boost team productivity.

To support the ongoing evolution of security systems, Fortinet offers personalized services for upgrades, migrations, and ensuring readiness for future transformations, with various service models like Designated Engineer Services and QuickStart Services.

Customized Security Solutions

Every business has unique security needs and objectives. Understanding this, Fortinet Professional Services tailors its designs to align with a business’s specific objectives and security needs. Their services expedite the deployment process and ensure efficient design and migration assistance, ensuring that the transition to FortiGate NGFWs is smooth and seamless.

An example of this is the FortiConverter Service, which leverages proven migration methodologies to streamline the transformation to FortiGate NGFWs. By significantly reducing complex manual migration efforts, businesses can fast-track their return on investment and ensure a smooth transition to a more secure network.

Technical Support Services

Technical support is crucial to ensure the smooth operation of any security solution. Fortinet provides access to over 1,800 experts around the clock, with extensive support coverage through 3 Regional Centers of Expertise, 23 Support Centers, and 40 Regional Depots worldwide.

FortiCare Services include options like Essential, Premium, and Elite, with the Elite tier featuring rapid 15-minute response times for critical issues alongside 24x7 technical support and various priority hardware replacement services, such as 4-hour RMA. The portfolio of advanced support includes specialized services such as Security Hardening, FortiGate Health Checks for operational performance, Configuration Verification, and Dedicated Resource Service. These services ensure global technical support for all Fortinet products to facilitate efficient and effective operations and ongoing maintenance.

Summary

In today’s interconnected world, robust network security is not just a luxury, but a necessity. Fortinet’s FortiGate Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) provide comprehensive, integrated, and automated security solutions that enhance network security across branch offices, campus networks, and data centers. With features such as AI-powered threat prevention, secure connectivity, and micro-segmentation, they offer robust protection against a wide array of cyber threats.

In addition to their advanced security features, FortiGate NGFWs also provide unified security management, facilitated by the integration of various security components into a single platform and coordination with Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions. With Fortinet’s Professional Services offering expert advice, design assistance, and ongoing operational support, businesses can rest assured knowing their network security is in capable hands.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall capability?

The FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall capability includes consolidating multiple security functions like SSL inspection, web filtering, and intrusion prevention, reducing costs and complexity. It provides unparalleled visibility and protection for enterprise sites, allowing management of applications, users, devices, and access in a single dashboard.

What is the main difference between a next-generation firewall NGFW and a traditional firewall?

The main difference between a next-generation firewall and a traditional firewall is that NGFWs have more advanced capabilities, such as application awareness, integrated intrusion prevention, and cloud-delivered threat intelligence, providing greater security against sophisticated threats. Traditional firewalls rely on static inspection and administrator-defined rules to control traffic.

What are the two modes of FortiGate firewall?

The two modes of a FortiGate firewall are transparent mode and NAT/Route mode, with transparent mode installing the firewall between the internal network and the router.

Which set of features would be considered to be next-generation firewall NGFW features?

A next-generation firewall includes features such as application awareness and control, integrated intrusion prevention, and cloud-delivered threat intelligence, in addition to traditional stateful inspection of network traffic. Gartner's definition further includes intelligence-based access control and standard firewall capabilities.

What is the benefit of using FortiGate NGFWs for branch security?

The benefit of using FortiGate NGFWs for branch security is enhanced security through secure SD-WAN capabilities, granular control of encrypted traffic, and integrated intrusion prevention systems.