Fortinet launches secure wireless LAN solution

The Fortinet Secure WLAN integrates wireless and wired access, security, authentication, switching and management, in an easily managed system that allows system-wide policy enforcement.

With it, administrators gain a broad, unified solution that provides unmatched protection, superior TCO and granular control through user authentication and device visibility across the entire network.

As part of the solution, Fortinet unveiled new wired and wireless products: the FortiSwitch-28C and FortiSwitch-348B Ethernet switches and FortiAP-14C and FortiAP-28C wireless access points.

Rohit Mehra, Vice President, Network Infrastructure, IDC, Fortinet’s new Secure WLAN solution can address “the major pain points that distributed enterprises face today – securely accommodating the exponential growth of BYOD for both employee and guest access; identifying and mitigating security issues; and reducing costs and complexities associated with provisioning and managing overlay wireless networks”.

The Secure WLAN solution uniquely integrates security into the fabric of the network to help organizations effectively address enterprise mobility. With it, Fortinet offers the most comprehensive solution on the market for consistently protecting the enterprise wired and wireless networks. Key features include: 

- Integrated security: No other vendor provides as advanced and integrated threat protection coupled with fully featured wireless access. This gives administrators a streamlined, single-pane-of-glass to manage users and devices as well as unified policy enforcement across wired and wireless networks.

- Low Total Cost of Ownership: With Fortinet, there is no need to purchase separate WLAN controllers, and there are no per AP and cloud management licensing fees, which can quickly add up as wireless is deployed in multiple locations. 

- Device Visibility: This allows organizations to define and enforce policies based on device types. Mobile device access (iPhone, Android, etc.) is configured by on-boarding the device via user and device authentication and applying a per device and user policy to ensure the right destinations are reached. This is the fundamental technology needed for BYOD initiatives in K-12 and offices.

- Authentication: The solution provides integrated authentication with single sign-on and policy enforcementacross access points, security appliances and switched devices.

- Scalability: Fortinet supports centralized, mesh, and distributed controller-less access point deploymentswith a variety of indoor, outdoor and remote APs.  These APs,when combined with FortiGate virtual or appliance-based wireless controllers, are ideal for education, healthcare, retail and distributed enterprise environments.

Available as part of the solution are two new wired and wireless products, which include FortiSwitch-28C and FortiSwitch-348B Ethernet switchesand FortiAP-14C and FortiAP-28C wireless remote access points.

The FortiSwitches provide seamless integration of various Fortinet technologies, while power-over-Ethernet functionality eliminates the need to run additional wires to power wireless access points. Furthermore, this enables power delivery to FortiVoice IP phones, FortiCam IP surveillance cameras, and other devices such as retail PoS devices.  The new FortiAPs are small, plug-and-play 802.11n wireless access points that allow organizations to easily and securely extend wireless access to branch and home offices while retaining centralized management and policy control. 

The FortiSwitch-28C and FortiSwitch-348B secure Ethernet switches and the FortiAP-14C and FortiAP-28C access points are available now from authorized resellers around the world.