October 30, 2009 12:00 ET

Fortinet Announces Integrated Network and VoIP Security Platform

FortiGate Voice-80C Combines UTM Security and PBX Functionality; Increases Ease-of-Manageability and Reduces Operating Costs for Mid-Market Customers

SUNNYVALE, CA--(Marketwire - October 30, 2009) - Fortinet® -- a market-leading network security provider and worldwide leader of unified threat management (UTM) solutions -- today announced a new FortiGate® multi-threat security appliance with integrated internet protocol private branch exchange (IP-PBX) functionality, consolidating data and voice over IP (VoIP) security management into a single device. Aimed at medium and large enterprises with remote and branch offices, the new FortiGate Voice-80C offers organizations easier management of UTM security and PBX functionality by consolidating the two traditionally separate devices into one platform. The FortiGate Voice-80C supports Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), which lowers costs by enabling organizations to use VoIP inside and outside of the local area network (LAN). Additionally, as a complement to the new FortiGate Voice solution, Fortinet will be offering a SIP-compatible handset. The FortiGate Voice-80C is also compatible with most VoIP SIP handsets on the market.

With Fortinet's new FortiGate Voice-80C, remote and branch offices that are utilizing an analog PBX phone system can now tackle network and VoIP security management simultaneously without the additional investments required for individual hardware devices. For large enterprises that are supporting a growing mobile workforce with multiple voice and data clients, Fortinet's integrated UTM and SIP-compatible IP-PBX solution offers multiple points of protection, while also offering a reduction in the overall operating expenses (OPEX) and capital expenditures (CAPEX) associated with managing multiple devices and maintaining separate voice and data services. SIP permits businesses that have a PBX installed to use VoIP also outside the enterprise network by using the same connection as the Internet connection. It also enables remote offices to communicate with headquarters via VoIP, thus reducing costs by eliminating the need for separate voice and data lines.

Voxter Communications is a Vancouver, Canada VoIP provider and Fortinet partner.

"A product like Fortinet's FortiGate Voice is important to us because of the benefit of combining PBX with UTM security and being able to manage both technologies from a single appliance," said Dayton Turner, CTO at Voxter Communications. "Our customers can also benefit from a product like FortiGate Voice-80C because it offers an extra layer of VoIP and network security without having to overhaul their network."

"Organizations of all sizes have been migrating to a Voice over IP architecture for years and while the benefits of both voice and data transmitting over IP have been proven in the reduction of cost as compared to legacy systems, the management of VoIP and security has historically been approached separately, leading to unnecessary expenses and unwanted security surprises," said Michael Xie, CTO and co-founder, Fortinet. "By combining data and voice protection into one device, Fortinet is further extending the value of its consolidated security approach, by enabling greater protection across multiple clients -- voice and data -- and at the best price for customers."

Partner Opportunities

The FortiGate Voice-80C also opens up new opportunities for Fortinet reseller partners and Internet telephony service providers (ITSP) with more competitive solutions and an integrated approach to network security, broadband security and SIP trunking. By offering a single platform for data and voice security, resellers and ITSPs can provide a one-stop solution for network security and VoIP. Additionally, for service providers offering SIP trunking as a way to extend the value of IP-PBX systems, Fortinet eliminates the need for two separate devices -- IP PBX and SIP-enabled edge device or border element -- and integrates voice and data security into one service offering, providing a significant cost savings for service providers and enterprises.

Based on the successful FortiGate-80C platform, Fortinet's new integrated voice solution delivers the same broad security for branch offices, small offices and home offices, as well as for service provider and mobile point-of-sale applications, as its antecedent, but with the added functionality of PBX security management and support. With Fortinet's security-hardened operating system, FortiOS, the FortiGate Voice-80C provides the full suite of Fortinet's UTM security and network services, including: a stateful firewall, IPSec/SSL VPN, Intrusion Prevention System, antivirus/antispyware/antimalware, Web content filtering, antispam, application control, data leakage protection, SSL inspection and WAN optimization.

Availability

The FortiGate Voice-80C is available now. Additional information on FortiGate-80C and FortiGate Voice-80C can be found at: http://www.fortinet.com/products/fortigate/80C.html

About Fortinet (www.fortinet.com)

Fortinet is a leading provider of network security appliances and the market leader in Unified Threat Management or UTM. Fortinet solutions were built from the ground up to integrate multiple levels of security protection -- including firewall, VPN, antivirus, intrusion prevention, Web filtering, spyware prevention and antispam -- designed to help customers protect against network and content level threats. Leveraging a custom ASIC and unified interface, Fortinet solutions offer advanced security functionality that scales from remote office to chassis-based solutions with integrated management and reporting. Fortinet solutions have won multiple awards around the world and are the only security products that are certified in five programs by ICSA Labs: Firewall, Antivirus, IPSec VPN, Network IPS and Antispam. Fortinet is based in Sunnyvale, California.