Considering they’re one of the leading firewall manufacturers, many people find themselves comparing Fortinet 90G vs Fortinet 100F. While there are many other Fortinet FortiGate firewalls available, these two are historically popular due to their target market.
In short, they’re known to be a go-to choice for medium and enterprise-level businesses that still have growth in their pipeline. You can easily find a Fortinet firewall built for any business size, but the 90G and 100F pack a hefty punch in their own right.
This article provides an overview of the most important specifications between these two FortiGate firewalls. Having this information can act as a helpful guide when it comes time to make a decision about your network security.
Fortinet NGFW Cybersecurity at Its Core
With a focus on high performance, regardless of the firewall model, Fortinet is a name people can trust in the realm of cybersecurity. They go far beyond simple network protections, and you’ll be able to see this in both of the firewall models we’re reviewing here.
Although both of these firewalls are primarily built for enterprise-level networks, that isn’t to say medium-sized organizations shouldn’t take some notes. For any successful, growing business, your firewall solutions should evolve with you over time. That means making the necessary jump from the old to the new when the time is right. To do this effectively, you need a good understanding of your own network demands and what hardware capabilities are out there.
What is the Fortinet 90G Firewall?
A popular option among the Fortinet FortiGate G Series, the FortiGate 90G is one of the most robust options you could work with. You also get the added benefit of AI/ML-based FortiGuard security services for automated threat defense.
Regarding the specs, here’s how the 90G holds up:
- Firewall Throughput: 27.9 Gbps
- IPS Throughput: 4.5 Gbps
- NGFW Throughput: 2.5 Gbps
- Threat Protection Throughput: 2.2 Gbps
- Concurrent Sessions: 3,000,000
For some, this information is all the guidance they need; for others, a comparison can help provide a bit more context. The short version is that these specs go far beyond the needs of most small to mid-size organizations. On the enterprise scale, many businesses would look at these specs as a bare minimum.
What is the Fortinet 100F Firewall?
You’ll find a few similarities with the Fortinet 100F, such as AI/ML-driven security features. Other examples include automated security actions, network segmentation, and much more. The 100F is known for providing extremely fast SSL inspection and threat protection measures.
Comparing the specs, this is how the Fortinet FortiGate 100F stands up:
- Firewall Throughput: 20 Gbps
- IPS Throughput: 2.6 Gbps
- NGFW Throughput: 1.6 Gbps
- Threat Protection Throughput: 1 Gbps
- Concurrent Sessions: 1,500,000
It’s important to note that this particular model comes from the F Series from Fortinet. Understandably, this includes some inherent differences, but there’s a reason it’s a firewall Fortinet is known for. Not just due to the specs, but it’s support for businesses aiming for growth.
Comparing the Fortinet 90G vs Fortinet 100F
The surface-level specs above are a good starting point, but Fortinet technology comes with a lot more than that. It’s also important to dig a little deeper for a better understanding of what makes each model different from the next.
| Specifications | Fortinet 90G | Fortinet 100F |
|---|---|---|
| Firewall Throughput (Gbps) | 27.9 | 20 |
| IPS Throughput (Gbps) | 4.5 | 2.6 |
| NGFW Throughput (Gbps) | 2.5 | 1.6 |
| Threat Protection Throughput (Gbps) | 2.2 | 1 |
| Concurrent Sessions | 3,000,000 | 1,500,000 |
| New Sessions per Second | 124,000 | 56,000 |
| Firewall Policies | 5,000 | 10,000 |
| Max Supported FortiSwitches | 24 | 32 |
| Max Supported Total FortiAPs | 128 | 128 |
| Max Supported FortiTokens | 500 | 5,000 |
| Interface | 8 x GE RJ45 Internal Ports 1 x USB Port 1 x Console | 12 x GE RJ45 Ports 4 x GE SFP Slots 2 x 10 GE SFP+ FortiLink Slots 2 x GE RJ45 WAN Ports 4 x GE RJ45 or SFP Shared Ports 1 x USB Port 1 x Console |
You can see where each firewall model takes the lead across certain specs. This is another example of why it’s crucial to understand the needs of your own network. Both of these firewall models are clearly powerhouses for their own target markets. Above all else, it’s important to address your current network demands while saving some hindsight for what’s to come.
The Bottom Line
If you know anything about Fortinet FortiGate products, then you know these are just two of many other options out there. However, this comparison between the Fortinet 90G vs Fortinet 100F is still important, considering how close they are.
If cutting-edge technology and fast network speeds are your top priorities, the FortiGate 90G may be the ideal fit. If you need higher port density and greater user scalability, the FortiGate 100F could be better suited. Want the best of both worlds? Take a look at the new FortiGate 120G, which blends high speed with expanded capacity.
For those who still aren’t sure which is right for their unique business needs, get in touch with our team at Firewalls for actionable answers and insight.
