--- title: FortiGate-VM NGFW Reviews meta\_title: 'FortiGate-VM NGFW Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta\_description: Filter 249 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how FortiGate-VM NGFW works for a business like yours. aggregate\_rating: rating\_value: 4.6 review\_count: 249 scale: '5' date\_modified: '2026-08-11' parent\_category: name: Network Security url: https://www.g2.com/categories/network-security --- ### FortiGate-VM NGFW Pros and Cons: Top 5 Advantages and Disadvantages #### Quick AI Summary Based on G2 Reviews Generated from real user reviews Users appreciate the **user-friendly interface** of FortiGate-VM NGFW, making configuration and management straightforward and efficient. [(12 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1089927&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users appreciate the **modern, easy-to-use interface** of FortiGate-VM NGFW, enhancing daily networking tasks efficiently. [(10 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1090198&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users commend FortiGate-VM NGFW for its **robust security capabilities** , ensuring effective protection against various threats. [(8 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1090233&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users value the **all-in-one security** and strong visibility features of FortiGate-VM NGFW for effective threat management. [(7 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1090580&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users value the **efficient all-in-one stack** of FortiGate-VM NGFW, enhancing performance and simplifying security management. [(6 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1091409&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users face a **difficult learning curve** with FortiGate-VM NGFW, finding the interface busy and options confusing initially. [(4 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2123206&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users find the **high cost** of licenses and support for FortiGate-VM NGFW a considerable drawback to its value. [(4 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1091199&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users experience **update issues** with FortiGate-VM, facing challenges with performance and need for improvements on older models. [(4 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1091463&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users face **upgrade issues** with FortiGate-VM, including downtime during firmware updates and limited third-party integrations. [(4 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1091564&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users find the **limited advanced features** in FortiGate-VM NGFW restrict their experience and capabilities. [(3 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1938252&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) ### 5 Pros or Advantages of FortiGate-VM NGFW ##### 1. Ease of Use Users appreciate the **user-friendly interface** of FortiGate-VM NGFW, making configuration and management straightforward and efficient. [ See 12 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1089927&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") A Verified User Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 4.5/5 "Best budget high end next generation Firewall that has all the real world capabilities" What do you like about FortiGate-VM NGFW? The fortigate GUI is the best in class when compared to Firepower or Palo alto. It is speedy, responsive and very user friendly. The cli console is a ![Satish K.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Satish K.") SK Satish K. Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 5.0/5 "Review on Fortigate NGFW" What do you like about FortiGate-VM NGFW? It’s easy to set up and use daily. It has many useful features, connects well with other tools, and support is quick to respond when needed. ##### 2. Features Users appreciate the **modern, easy-to-use interface** of FortiGate-VM NGFW, enhancing daily networking tasks efficiently. [ See 10 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1090198&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Priyanka J.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Priyanka J.") PJ Priyanka J. Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 4.0/5 "Strong Security with Easy Deployment" What do you like about FortiGate-VM NGFW? I really like FortiGate-VM NGFW's capability for exhibit and deployment anywhere, which provides all-in-one security. The strong visibility logging fe ![Eduardo F.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Eduardo F.") EF Eduardo F. Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 5.0/5 "Powerful, Hassle-Free Security That Shines in Cloud and Virtual Deployments" What do you like about FortiGate-VM NGFW? What I like the most is that it does a lot without being a pain. You get Firewall,VPN, IPS, web filtering, app control, etc. It’s also really solid ##### 3. Security Users commend FortiGate-VM NGFW for its **robust security capabilities** , ensuring effective protection against various threats. [ See 8 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1090233&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Luis José Enrique R.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Luis José Enrique R.") LR Luis José Enrique R. Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 4.5/5 "Powerful, Flexible Security for Cloud and Hybrid Deployments" What do you like about FortiGate-VM NGFW? What I like most about FortiGate-VM NGFW from Fortinet is the strong balance it strikes between security capabilities, performance, and flexibility in ![Maynor C.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Maynor C.") MC Maynor C. Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 5.0/5 "Excellent Network Security and Secure VPN Access" What do you like about FortiGate-VM NGFW? An excellent option for keeping our networks secures from external threats and a very good option for allowing secure external connections using a VPN ##### 4. Protection Users value the **all-in-one security** and strong visibility features of FortiGate-VM NGFW for effective threat management. [ See 7 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1090580&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Priyanka J.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Priyanka J.") PJ Priyanka J. Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 4.0/5 "Strong Security with Easy Deployment" What do you like about FortiGate-VM NGFW? I really like FortiGate-VM NGFW's capability for exhibit and deployment anywhere, which provides all-in-one security. The strong visibility logging fe ![naty d.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "naty d.") ND naty d. Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 4.5/5 "All-in-One Security Stack with Strong Performance and Straightforward Policies" What do you like about FortiGate-VM NGFW? There are many reasons, the most relevant ones are having all in one stack like getting IPS, ssl inspection and web filtering in one place and it's be ##### 5. Control Users value the **efficient all-in-one stack** of FortiGate-VM NGFW, enhancing performance and simplifying security management. [ See 6 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1091409&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![naty d.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "naty d.") ND naty d. Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 4.5/5 "All-in-One Security Stack with Strong Performance and Straightforward Policies" What do you like about FortiGate-VM NGFW? There are many reasons, the most relevant ones are having all in one stack like getting IPS, ssl inspection and web filtering in one place and it's be ![Luis José Enrique R.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Luis José Enrique R.") LR Luis José Enrique R. Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 4.5/5 "Powerful, Flexible Security for Cloud and Hybrid Deployments" What do you like about FortiGate-VM NGFW? What I like most about FortiGate-VM NGFW from Fortinet is the strong balance it strikes between security capabilities, performance, and flexibility in ### 5 Cons or Disadvantages of FortiGate-VM NGFW ##### 1. Difficult Learning Curve Users face a **difficult learning curve** with FortiGate-VM NGFW, finding the interface busy and options confusing initially. [ See 4 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2123206&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Luis José Enrique R.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Luis José Enrique R.") LR Luis José Enrique R. Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 4.5/5 "Powerful, Flexible Security for Cloud and Hybrid Deployments" What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? One thing I find challenging about FortiGate-VM NGFW from Fortinet is that the initial setup, as well as configuring more advanced features, can invol ![Eduardo F.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Eduardo F.") EF Eduardo F. Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 5.0/5 "Powerful, Hassle-Free Security That Shines in Cloud and Virtual Deployments" What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? It can feel clunky at first. The interface isn’t bad, but it’s busy. If you’re new to FortiOS, menus and options don’t always feel intuitive, you’ll c ##### 2. Expensive Users find the **high cost** of licenses and support for FortiGate-VM NGFW a considerable drawback to its value. [ See 4 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1091199&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![naty d.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "naty d.") ND naty d. Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 4.5/5 "All-in-One Security Stack with Strong Performance and Straightforward Policies" What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? When we talk about the drawbacks, it has complex licencing model and the security features are resource intensive. and the GUI is functional but a lit ![Mustafa L.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Mustafa L.") ML Mustafa L. Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 5.0/5 "Easy-to-Deploy, Strong Threat Protection with Smooth Active Directory Integration" What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? Some tools require more in-depth check for malware and unwanted traffic. Purchasing license and technical support a bit pricy. Sometime after sudden p ##### 3. Update Issues Users experience **update issues** with FortiGate-VM, facing challenges with performance and need for improvements on older models. [ See 4 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1091463&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Satish K.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Satish K.") SK Satish K. Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 5.0/5 "Review on Fortigate NGFW" What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? Some settings are hard to find, and updates can be confusing at times. But overall, it works well once set up. ![Muhammad Irfan Y.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Muhammad Irfan Y.") MY Muhammad Irfan Y. Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 5.0/5 "FortiGate NGFW" What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? Need improvement in webfilers. Face challage on OS updates on some old models. Must add some more features in the base lisence. ##### 4. Upgrade Issues Users face **upgrade issues** with FortiGate-VM, including downtime during firmware updates and limited third-party integrations. [ See 4 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1091564&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Mohammed S.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Mohammed S.") MS Mohammed S. Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 4.5/5 "Firewall solution" What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? The biggest issues is the least firmware version and the integration with FortiManager ![Sumit B.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Sumit B.") SB Sumit B. Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 5.0/5 "FortiGate Next Generation Firewall: Delivers best network and firewall security" What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? 1. Firmware upgrade process needs downtime and its get malfunction sometime. Due to which we need to restart the services of firewall. 2. It should ha ##### 5. Limited Features Users find the **limited advanced features** in FortiGate-VM NGFW restrict their experience and capabilities. [ See 3 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1938252&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![SHRAVAN G.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "SHRAVAN G.") SG SHRAVAN G. Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 5.0/5 "best defensive firewall" What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? Limited Advanced Features in Lower Models ![Sumit B.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Sumit B.") SB Sumit B. Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 5.0/5 "FortiGate Next Generation Firewall: Delivers best network and firewall security" What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? 1. Firmware upgrade process needs downtime and its get malfunction sometime. Due to which we need to restart the services of firewall. 2. It should ha ![Mohamed M.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Mohamed M.") MM Mohamed M. Freelance Software & Cybersecurity Consultant Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 8/6/2026 Business partner of the seller or seller's competitor, not included in G2 scores. "Powerful Virtual Firewall with a Great UI, but Complex Licensing" 4/5 What do you like best about FortiGate-VM NGFW? The biggest advantage of FortiGate-VM is how easy it is to deploy in a virtualized cloud environment, without needing to purchase expensive physical hardware. The FortiOS GUI is very intuitive and feels much cleaner than older Cisco firewalls I’ve worked with. Creating standard IPv4 policies, managing NAT, and setting up SSL VPNs for remote workers can be done in just a few clicks, rather than having to wrestle with complex CLI commands. I also like that routing, SD-WAN features, and deep packet inspection are integrated into a single pane of glass, which makes it easier to monitor threats and investigate logs. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? The licensing model for the VM versions can be confusing and expensive, especially when you’re trying to scale CPU or RAM allocations in a virtualized cluster. Another pain point is that firmware upgrades can be buggy at times. It’s a common rule among network engineers to wait for more mature patch releases, since early firmware updates can sometimes break existing VPN or routing configurations. Finally, while the GUI is excellent for day-to-day tasks, it doesn’t expose all of the advanced diagnostic logs. When you need to do deeper troubleshooting for dropped packets or complex IPSec VPN failures, you’re forced to switch to the CLI, which comes with a fairly steep learning curve. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is FortiGate-VM NGFW solving and how is that benefiting you? Before implementing FortiGate-VM, it was challenging to maintain consistent security policies across our on-premise servers and cloud environments. After deploying the virtual NGFW, we were able to integrate security controls smoothly throughout our hybrid network. The initial setup and onboarding were surprisingly straightforward, largely thanks to the strong Fortinet documentation and the helpful support forums. Now we can manage traffic inspection and SD-WAN routing from a single place, which saves us hours of configuration time each week. In addition, the FortiGuard AI-driven threat intelligence feed automatically blocks malicious IPs and zero-day signatures without manual intervention, which has significantly reduced the day-to-day workload for our SOC team. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Current UserValidated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Kwadwo Yeboah A.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Kwadwo Yeboah A.") KA Kwadwo Yeboah A. QA Automation Tester Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 7/21/2026 "Powerful Automation with Cost Concerns" 4/5 What do you like best about FortiGate-VM NGFW? I like FortiGate-VM NGFW for its robust REST API and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) support, which integrate perfectly with automation tools like Terraform and Ansible. This allows me to fully automate network configuration without touching a manual dashboard. The REST API and IaC support are incredibly valuable because they let me treat network security just like software code. Using Terraform, I can automate the deployment and setup of the firewall directly inside our CI/CD pipelines, removing all manual configuration. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? Running multiple firewall instances simultaneously across parallel CI/CD pipelines demands a high amount of CPU and RAM, which quickly inflates our cloud infrastructure cost. I think this can be looked at and improved. Additionally, the REST API documentation sometimes lags behind major FortiOS firmware updates, forcing me to spend extra time troubleshooting broken API endpoints in my test scripts. The initial setup has a steep learning curve due to complex enterprise routing and licensing. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is FortiGate-VM NGFW solving and how is that benefiting you? I use FortiGate-VM NGFW to spin up secure, isolated environments for testing pipelines, solving environment instability by keeping test traffic isolated. It helps simulate network issues and validate app security with deep packet inspection and security alerts. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Sifaat Q.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Sifaat Q.") SQ Sifaat Q. Cloud Consultant Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 7/16/2026 "Comprehensive Cloud Security in One: FortiGate-Reliable NGFW for Azure and Hybrid Cloud Security ⭐" 4.5/5 What do you like best about FortiGate-VM NGFW? What I like best about FortiGate-VM NGFW is its comprehensive security capabilities combined with ease of deployment in cloud environments like Microsoft Azure. It provides advanced features such as IPS, application control, web filtering, SSL inspection, and IPsec/SSL VPN within a single platform, reducing the need for multiple security solutions. I also appreciate its intuitive management interface, detailed logging, and seamless integration with Azure networking. The firewall has been reliable in securing virtual workloads while maintaining good performance, and creating or modifying firewall policies is straightforward once the initial setup is complete. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? While FortiGate-VM NGFW is feature-rich, the initial deployment and advanced configuration can be complex for users who are new to Fortinet products. Features such as SSL inspection, advanced routing, and policy-based NAT require a solid understanding of networking concepts. The licensing model can also be confusing, as some security services require separate subscriptions. Additionally, the management interface, although powerful, could be more intuitive for navigating advanced settings. Troubleshooting in large deployments may sometimes require deeper CLI knowledge alongside the GUI. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is FortiGate-VM NGFW solving and how is that benefiting you? ortiGate-VM NGFW helped us secure our Azure-based workloads and hybrid network by providing centralized firewall management, intrusion prevention, application control, web filtering, and secure VPN connectivity. Before implementing it, managing network security across cloud resources was more complex and required multiple tools. With FortiGate-VM, we were able to enforce consistent security policies, improve visibility into network traffic, and quickly identify potential threats through detailed logging and monitoring. It also enabled secure site-to-site VPN connectivity between cloud and on-premises environments while maintaining stable performance. Overall, it reduced operational overhead, strengthened our security posture, and gave us greater confidence in protecting business-critical applications and infrastructure. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More 7/17/2026 Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Osamah A.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Osamah A.") OA Osamah A. Computer Technician Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 7/14/2026 "Robust Security with Complex Setup" 4/5 What do you like best about FortiGate-VM NGFW? I like FortiGate-VM NGFW for its strong security and easy management. It combines firewall protection, IPS, web filtering, application control, VPN, and network segmentation all in one platform. The user-friendly interface makes configuring security policies straightforward, and the monitoring tools offer clear visibility into network traffic and potential threats. I also appreciate its flexibility and scalability in virtual and cloud environments. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? I find the initial setup and advanced configuration complex for new users. Some advanced features require additional licenses, which can be pricey. Additionally, troubleshooting can be time-consuming, and I think Fortinet could improve by simplifying advanced configurations, providing clearer error messages and documentation, and offering more flexible licensing options. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is FortiGate-VM NGFW solving and how is that benefiting you? I use FortiGate-VM NGFW to secure enterprise networks, protect against cyber threats, and manage virtual environments. It centralizes visibility and management, controls traffic between segments, and its firewall and filtering features block threats. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Musa A.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Musa A.") MA Musa A. Full Stack Engineer Computer Software Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 7/20/2026 "Ideal for Learning Network Security in a Cost-Effective Way" 4.5/5 What do you like best about FortiGate-VM NGFW? I like FortiGate-VM NGFW's easy deployment as a VM and the user-friendly interface. The clear firewall policy management is something I appreciate, and I really love the VPN setup wizard, which makes configurations straightforward. These features make FortiGate-VM NGFW very valuable for use in a lab environment. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? For me in the lab, the initial setup can be a bit confusing if you are new. I think the documentation could include step-by-step lab examples for beginners. Some advanced features require additional licenses, which can be expensive for personal learning. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is FortiGate-VM NGFW solving and how is that benefiting you? It helps me practice real security problems safely and block unauthorized traffic without costly hardware. The easy-to-deploy VM, user interface, firewall policy management, and VPN setup wizard make it very valuable in my lab. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Verified User in Telecommunications](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Telecommunications") IT Verified User in Telecommunications Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 8/6/2026 "Powerful, Scalable NGFW—But Initial Setup and Licensing Can Be Complex" 3.5/5 What do you like best about FortiGate-VM NGFW? What I like most about FortiGate-VM NGFW is its strong combination of security features and ease of deployment in virtual environments. It provides reliable firewalling, IPS, VPN, application control, and web filtering through a centralized interface. The policy management is straightforward, performance is consistent, and integration with cloud platforms and the broader Fortinet ecosystem simplifies network security management. Overall, it is a scalable and dependable NGFW solution for securing enterprise and hybrid cloud environments. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? One drawback of FortiGate-VM NGFW is that the initial configuration and policy tuning can be complex, especially for organizations with large or segmented networks. Some advanced features require additional licensing, which can increase overall costs. The management interface, while functional, can feel overwhelming due to the number of available options, and troubleshooting complex policy or VPN issues may require a solid understanding of Fortinet-specific concepts. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is FortiGate-VM NGFW solving and how is that benefiting you? FortiGate-VM NGFW helps secure virtual and hybrid cloud environments by consolidating firewalling, intrusion prevention, VPN, application control, and web filtering into a single platform. This reduces the complexity of managing multiple security solutions while improving network visibility and policy enforcement. It has helped simplify security administration, strengthen threat protection, and provide consistent security across virtual workloads. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Verified User in Computer & Network Security](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Computer & Network Security") AC Verified User in Computer & Network Security Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 7/17/2026 "Reliable NGFW in a VM: Stable Protection with Minimal Downtime" 4/5 What do you like best about FortiGate-VM NGFW? it a vm so it wont go down unless the server is down so no component failure for the firewall if its in a VM so its a good thing to have a firewall in a vm rather then putting inside an actual component or a device Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? to be honest i dont have any issues with NGFW so i dont think i have downsides to talk about concernaning this VM FW so if im pleased with the product so no downsides hahaha Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is FortiGate-VM NGFW solving and how is that benefiting you? it benefits me in trying to find another firewall better than this one i actually looked for one that works in a vm and iwas looking for one that tested and proved i used it in a server with a network card that have 4 portsd and after that the fw enabled me to do ip fail over from diffeent ISP and also create networks and implement ddos prevention system Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Fakher R.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Fakher R.") FR Fakher R. Solar Technician Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 7/20/2026 "Flexible FortiGate-VM Hybrid Management, but Firmware Updates Can Be Buggy" 3.5/5 What do you like best about FortiGate-VM NGFW? As a network administrator and engineer, I’ve found that FortiGate-VM runs the exact same FortiOS as the physical hardware. Users appreciate the seamless hybrid management, the flexible licensing options, and the low RAM footprint, which makes it easy to fit into different environments. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? Buggy firmware updates: Fortinet frequently releases firmware updates that include frustrating bugs. Because of this, engineers often steer clear of the newest “Feature” releases and instead stick with older “Mature” software tracks to keep things stable. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is FortiGate-VM NGFW solving and how is that benefiting you? FortiGate-VM stops advanced cloud malware via deep packet inspection, unifies hybrid security under one OS, and scales instantly to cut costs.and this is very helpful Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Verified User in Media Production](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Media Production") AM Verified User in Media Production Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 8/7/2026 "Easy to Deploy and Test, but Support Can Be Slow" 3.5/5 What do you like best about FortiGate-VM NGFW? The solution is easy to deploy and fast to spin up a test system. A great community to get help from if you run into a problem. The price is ok compared to other solutions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? Getting help from support can be a bit bureaucratic. You have to be careful when upgrading to a new release, as it can sometimes affect the existing setup. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is FortiGate-VM NGFW solving and how is that benefiting you? One of the leaders in NGFW. The AI is being implemented more and more in the product, and that is, of course, important for staying safe in today's AI threats. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Current UserValidated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Verified User in Automotive](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Automotive") CA Verified User in Automotive Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 8/1/2026 "Cybersecurity uses of FortiGate's newest firewall solution" 4.5/5 What do you like best about FortiGate-VM NGFW? The application control feature is the most useful for me. As a cybersecurity specialist I want to be able to set as much specific rules as possible. This allows me to filter traffic not only by IPs or port numbers, but also by software. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about FortiGate-VM NGFW? It is not easy to get to know how to use this firewall. Newcomers might skip it because of that even though it is one of the most useful firewalls at the moment. Another thing is the high pricing. It is a little bit over the top in terms of expenses. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is FortiGate-VM NGFW solving and how is that benefiting you? As a cybersecurity specialist my goal is to defend organizations to the best of my abilities. FortiGate's NGFW allows me to be prepared for the current threats. As the name implies - it is next-generation. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ## Top-Rated Alternatives [ ![Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)") Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) 4.5/5(595) ](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews) [ ![WatchGuard Network Security](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "WatchGuard Network Security") WatchGuard Network Security 4.7/5(268) ](https://www.g2.com/products/watchguard-network-security/reviews) [ ![SonicWall Next Generation Firewall](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "SonicWall Next Generation Firewall") SonicWall Next Generation Firewall 4.1/5(154) ](https://www.g2.com/products/sonicwall-next-generation-firewall/reviews) [ View All Alternatives ](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/competitors/alternatives) ##### Categories on G2 [Firewall Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/firewall-software)[Unified Threat Management (UTM)](https://www.g2.com/categories/unified-threat-management-utm)[Data Center Security Solutions](https://www.g2.com/categories/data-center-security-solutions) ##### Explore More [Google Cloud BigQuery reviews](https://www.g2.com/products/google-cloud-bigquery/reviews)[What is the best academic scheduling software for managing courses across multiple departments and campus locations?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-best-academic-scheduling-software-for-managing-courses-across-multiple-departments-and-campus-locations)[Which rebate management platforms are best for distributors that need detailed accrual tracking so rebates are correctly accrued before the vendor statement arrives?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/which-rebate-management-platforms-are-best-for-distributors-that-need-detailed-accrual-tracking-so-rebates-are-correctly-accrued-before-the-vendor-statement-arrives) [Best cloud-based billing solutions for small businesses](https://www.g2.com/discussions/best-cloud-based-billing-solutions-for-small-businesses)[best customer success software](https://www.g2.com/discussions/i-need-help-finding-the-best-customer-success-software-advice-needed)[Pros and Cons Details](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) [Show MoreShow Less](javascript:void(0);)