Nowadays, small offices and branch environments need enterprise-grade security, in addition to seamless scalability. Thankfully, there are no shortage of options when comparing Fortinet vs SonicWall, but that can make your end decision increasingly complicated.
For a few comparable options, the SonicWall TZ380 and FortiGate 30G are a few good starting points. This article dives into a technical comparison of these two firewalls to help you sift through their similarities and unique differences in security capabilities.
Key Takeaways:
- Both firewalls target small offices and branch environments needing enterprise-grade security and scalability
- SonicWall TZ380 emphasizes stronger threat inspection and simplified deployment for lean IT teams
- FortiGate 30G prioritizes higher firewall throughput, VPN performance, and traffic optimization
- Key differences include inspection performance, session handling, and interface flexibility
- The best choice depends on whether you value simplified management or performance and scalability
Choosing the Right Physical Firewall for Your Company
It isn’t just about what a firewall is capable of, but how its capabilities translate to your specific network demands. This means considering factors like your business environment, cyber risk level, and existing IT resources.
When looking at the TZ380 and FortiGate 30G, both of these firewalls target the needs of small businesses and remote deployments. However, they come with many specific details that set them apart across several categories in specs and security features alone. The only way you’ll know which path to take is by gaining a better understanding of the finer details.
What is the SonicWall TZ380 Firewall?
One of the newer generation firewalls from the SonicWall TZ series, the 380 is a stellar option for small offices and remote work environments. This comes with the promise of enterprise-grade security and the range of features behind their Gen 8 tech.
Check out a few of the leading specs from this firewall in the list below:
- Firewall Throughput: 3.5 Gbps
- Threat Prevention Throughput: 1.5 Gbps
- App Inspection Throughput: 2 Gbps
- IPS Throughput: 2 Gbps
- Max Connections (SPI): 1,100,000
Of course, this firewall offers a lot more than these specs alone, but it’s a good starting point for your decision-making process. It also acts as a simplified comparison if you’re curious about how the FortiGate 30G stacks up.
What is the FortiGate FG 30G Firewall?
The 30G from Fortinet is also a next-gen firewall designed for the same business demographic. However, part of what makes it unique is the FortiOS and AI-driven FortiGuard services, to name a few.
Here’s a quick look at several comparable specifications:
- Firewall Throughput: 4 Gbps
- Threat Protection Throughput: 500 Mbps
- NGFW Throughput: 570 Mbps
- IPS Throughput: 800 Mbps
- Concurrent Sessions (TCP): 600,000
Capable of inspecting both encrypted and unencrypted traffic, don’t let the specs in Fortinet network security be your final decision-maker. Its capabilities become increasingly impressive the more you read into it. This includes small details like SD-WAN integration, centralized control, advanced security, real-time threat detection, and much more. Of course, this all leads to the question: how do these firewalls compare?
Comparing Fortinet vs SonicWall TZ380 and FG 30G
While both of these firewalls target small to mid-sized networks, it should be clear by now that they stand on their own in more ways than one. SonicWall tends to focus on simplified deployment and unified threat management. For Fortinet, you’re getting an emphasis on performance optimization and advanced traffic control.
Then again, that doesn’t mean both of these firewalls don’t bring all of these benefits to the table. It’s the specifications and features that highlight what gets prioritized, which is how you find alignment here with your own network demands. Check out the table below for a streamlined comparison between these two firewall solutions.
| Specifications | SonicWall TZ380 | FortiGate FG 30G |
|---|---|---|
| Firewall Throughput | 3.5 Gbps | 4 Gbps |
| Threat Prevention / Protection Throughput | 1.5 Gbps | 500 Mbps |
| App Inspection / NGFW Throughput | 2 Gbps (App Inspection) | 570 Mbps (NGFW) |
| IPS Throughput | 2 Gbps | 800 Mbps |
| Max Connections / Sessions | 1,100,000 (SPI) | 600,000 (TCP) |
| Connections per Second | 15,000 | 30,000 |
| IPSec VPN Throughput | 1.6 Gbps | 3.5 Gbps |
| TLS/SSL Inspection and Decryption Throughput | 600 Mbps (TLS/SSL) | 400 Mbps (SSL) |
| Interfaces | 8 x 1GbE Cu 2 x 5G/2.5G/1G SFP+ 1 console (Micro-USB) 1 USB (type-C) | 1 x GE WAN Port 2 x GE RJ45 Ports 1 x GE RJ45 FortiLink Port 1 x Console Port |
Remember, the best choice here will always depend on what your priorities are. This can span across operational simplicities to advanced networking and scalability needs. Of course, for smaller businesses without dedicated IT teams, there’s plenty of help out there.
For many organizations in this position, managed security services can be a massive time and money saver in the long run. Not only can you get help with making the right decision on hardware, but you can also receive backend support for maintenance and upgrades when the time is right.
Let’s Wrap Up
Making your choice between this Fortinet vs SonicWall comparison will always depend on the current and future state of your business priorities. Keep in mind that both firewalls offer strong next-gen security, but their strong-suits vary here and there.
Most of the key differences will be found in aspects like throughput, inspection capabilities, VPN performance, and scalability features. As always, you’re never alone here, as working with our team at Firewalls.com can help eliminate a lot of the IT headaches along the way. Don’t wait to reach out to us, as we can always help you navigate the hurdles of modern business network security decisions.
FAQ
What are the SonicWall TZ380 and FortiGate 30G Designed For?
Both firewalls are next-gen models built for small companies and branch offices, as well as remote environments needing enterprise-level security.
Which Firewall Has Better Overall Throughput?
The FortiGate 30G offers slightly higher firewall throughput at 4 Gbps, compared to the TZ380’s 3.5 Gbps.
Which Device is Better for Threat Prevention Performance?
The SonicWall TZ380 generally delivers stronger threat prevention and inspection throughput in this comparison.
Does Either Firewall Support SD-WAN?
Yes, both firewalls support SD-WAN capabilities.
How Do I Choose Between These Two Firewalls?
It depends on your network and business priorities. In this comparison, SonicWall is great for simplified management and strong inspection, while Fortinet puts an emphasis on performance, scalability, and advanced networking features.
