Fortinet is a networking company

Fortinet is one of the most premier and well-recognized providers of cybersecurity solutions in the world. Traditionally, security has been thought of as something to add 'on top' of IP networks—deploy (or at least design) the network, and then secure it at the edge (or edges). However, that paradigm started to break down with the first laptop, with the increase of BYOD, public networks, guest networks, cloud applications, public clouds, IoT, and the evolution and expansion of remote work. Network edges are everywhere, and network security needs to be enforced everywhere.

FortiGate NGFW appliances (and VMs) are known primarily as Security Appliances, but they are also Network Appliances. They combine routing, SD-WAN, DHCP and DNS services and more with a Wi-Fi and Switch controller as well as the extensive cybersecurity functions. The convergence of all this functionality enables Security Driven Networking—described in more detail below.

FortiAPs are high performance purpose-built Wi-Fi 6 access points. They are 3 radio models, which means they can service both Wi-Fi bands while the 3rd radio serves as a monitor, tracking RF conditions and scanning for neighbor and rogue APs. When managed by a FortiGate, they become extensions of the FortiGate Network Security Platform. All network access, regardless of where is comes from can have a full security stack applied. We call this the LAN Edge—the border between the LAN and the client devices the LAN serves.

FortiAP U-series are premium APs with 2 additional features. For Bridge Mode SSIDs, where traffic is bridged directly to the network instead of tunneled to the FortiGate, UTP (Unified Threat Protection) enforcement can take place on the AP, such as Web Filtering, Anti-Virus scanning, and others. This is most commonly used with APs deployed remotely for teleworkers. The second important feature is that one of the client-serving radios is band selectable, meaning the AP can have one 2.4 GHz radio and one 5 GHz radio, or both can be tuned to channels in 5 GHz. The advantages of this will be discussed below.

FortiSwitches are feature rich yet cost-effective Ethernet switches. FortiSwitches behave similarly to FortiAPs, in that they form a fabric with a FortiGate and extend NGFW functionality throughout the LAN and to the LAN Edge.

FortiWiFi units are FortiGates for small offices that incorporate an AP directly into the FortiGate hardware. These are similar to many home all-in-one systems, although much more secure and with a higher level of network functionality.