SUNNYVALE, Calif., Mar 30, 2010 - Fortinet® (NASDAQ: FTNT) - a leading network security provider and worldwide leader of unified threat management (UTM) solutions - today announced it has been recognized by Everything Channel as one of North Americas top information technology (IT) vendors for its FortiPartner™ program. Additionally, the FortiPartner program was recognized with a five-star rating representative of an exceptional program.

Fortinets partner program was awarded a Five-Star recognition in the mid-sized category in Everything Channels 16th annual 2010 Partner Program Guide (PPG), acknowledging its commitment and strength of its programs for reseller partners, which include IT integrators, technology solution providers and consultants.

In 2009, Fortinet enhanced its valued FortiPartner program by creating new and tailored tools for all partner levels and segments designed to improve partner sales potential and ease of doing business.

esearch for the 2010 Everything Channel Partner Program Guide and the Five-Star Partner Program rating was conducted by Everything Channels research department. Everything Channel analyzed 130 vendor programs rating vendors responses to in-depth questions about their partner programs in the five elements of sales support, partner profitability, partner ecosystem development/management, partner communication/marketing, and demand generation. To ensure fair comparisons, companies were placed in one of four categories based on company size (Enterprise, Midsize, Small and Emerging). Questions from each section were scored individually and weighted appropriately. The 5-Star Partner Program rating recognizes the elite subset of Partner Program Guide vendors who give solution providers the best partnering elements in their channel programs. The 5-Star rating is bestowed on programs whose overall rating is among the elite based on company size.

ÏWe are pleased to deliver to the Channel an exclusive list of the leading vendor channel programs with details about key technologies, program opportunities, and information on the hottest new program offerings, said Kelley Damore, VP, Editorial Director, Everything Channel. ÏThe quality of a technology vendors partner program determines how profitable its partners will be. For their commitment to their business partners and their efforts to build quality programs, we congratulate those recognized as this years Five-Star Partner Program winners for helping to drive greater revenue in the channel.

ÏFortinet continues to drive commitment to our channel through training, support, high margins, and deal registration, said Kendra Krause, vice president of channel sales for Fortinet. ÏOur channel partners are very important to us and this award is verification that we have put together the best tools to support our partner-base.

The PPG list and those companies recognized as five-star appeared in the March 29 issue of CN magazine and online at www.Channelweb.com.