Fortinet brings breakthrough performance to mid-enterprise segment with introduction of the FortiGate-310B security appliance

By incorporating into the FortiGate-310B purpose-built FortiASIC network processors previously reserved for its high-end product lines, Fortinet is raising the bar on firewall (FW) and virtual private network (VPN) throughput performance to gigabit-per-second (Gbps) speeds, and enabling wire-speed firewall performance.

As a mid-enterprise product, the FortiGate-310B delivers the best price/performance ratio in its class with FW/VPN speeds that rival competitors' entry point high-end enterprise products, yet is priced significantly lower.

Additional benefits provided by the FortiGate-310B appliance include highest-in-class port density of 10 gigabit Ethernet ports, with an additional four gigabit ports made available through an optional Advanced Mezzanine Card (AMC) module.

The increased FW/VPN throughput and high port-density on the FortiGate-310B appliance relieves small- and medium-sized enterprises of the constraints that have historically prevented internal network security segmentation.

The ability to provide security segmentation allows customers greater flexibility in managing their networks with a higher degree of precision, giving network managers increased policy granularity and the ability to isolate and contain security events for faster resolution.

These capabilities were previously reserved for high-end enterprise security products, but are now available to the mid-enterprise segment through the FortiGate-310B security appliance.

"Smaller enterprises, or firms with lean IT and security staffs, want consolidated network security services — from firewall, VPN and AV, to IPS and secure network zoning," says Phil Hochmuth, an analyst with the Yankee Group. "For such organizations, the more roles a single piece of hardware can take on, the better — as long as performance does not suffer".

The FortiGate-310B security appliance offers customers robust multi-threat protection from a single device, which increases security while lowering operational and capital expenditures. New features in the FortiGate-310B bring the following benefits to customers.

Introduction of FortiASIC network processors enables best-in-class FW/IPSec VPN throughput of 8 Gbps and 6 Gbps, respectively, which represents a breakthrough in mid-range enterprise security solutions; Highest port density (10) and lowest price-per-port of any product in its class; AMC expansion slot provides flexibility for additional wire-speed firewall ports or embedded storage (other options will be available as additional modules are released); Advances to the FortiASIC content processor, standard to all FortiGate systems, result in significant improvements to intrusion-prevention-system (IPS) and antivirus performance.

Anthony James, vice president of products for Fortinet said:

"The breakthrough performance of the FortiGate-310B validates Fortinet's strategy of leveraging custom-designed ASICs to maximize the speed at which networks can be secured. As network traffic and bandwidth increases, it becomes ever more important that security appliances keep pace to ensure that greater traffic flows do not result in greater risks to the network. Offering firewall and VPN throughput at gigabit speeds is a revolutionary step in network security for this class of product, and we are proud to be the first to offer this to our customers".

Bashar Bashaireh, Middle East Regional Manager added, "In the Middle East, SMB forms a large portion of the market and we are really pleased with this new addition to our portfolio. The new FortiGate 310B will enable us to offer this growing market segment new security options for their various departments, users and access methods".

As with all FortiGate systems, the FortiGate-310B consolidates critical security technology and services to enhance network protection and reduce total cost of ownership.

The FortiGate-310B delivers network and content protection through the integration of eight essential security functions and services - firewall, VPN, IPS, antivirus, antispam, antispyware, Web filtering and traffic shaping.

The systems are kept up to date automatically by Fortinet's FortiGuard subscription services, which provide updates to help protect against the latest viruses, worms, Trojans and other threats - around the clock and around the world.