SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 17, 2004 – Fortinet – the only provider of ASIC-powered, network-based antivirus firewall systems for real-time network protection – today announced the FortiGate-60 antivirus firewall solution for telecommuters, small offices/home offices and small to medium-sized businesses, received Network Computing’s “Editor’s Choice” award in a recent comparative review of integrated security devices.

The FortiGate-60 antivirus firewall was recognized for its full feature set, including unmatched antivirus capabilities and intuitive user interface that enables simplified configuration and easy deployment. The FortiGate-60 device was selected over competitive offerings from Astaro, ServGate Technologies, SonicWALL and Symantec Corp. to receive the “Editor’s Choice.”

“ight out of the box, the Fortinet FortiGate-60 won us over,” noted the reviewer’s from Network Computing’s partner labs at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. “The FortiGate-60's antivirus implementation is solid; in fact, it's the only device to support antivirus on all the protocols on our wish list. This device has an impressive array of features and an intuitive user interface. We're confident that even with minimal IT support, an organization can install and configure the device to provide the protection it needs. For a device aimed at small business, the FortiGate-60 has enough muscle to get the job done.”

Network Computing’s all-in-one security device review compared products that offered at least four of the following functions: Stateful firewalling, on-device antivirus scanning, intrusion detection/prevention, virtual private networking and content filtering. All five competing products were judged on their management and usability, overall performance and price. In the end, Fortinet’s FortiGate-60 device came out on top.

The FortiGate-60 device was the only to support virus scanning on all protocols tested, including FTP, HTTP, IMAP, POP3 and SMTP. Additionally, it effectively defeated all 80 real-world viruses sent its way, including the MyDoom virus, which it caught within 24 hours of its release. Fortinet’s device was also one of only two products tested that included intrusion detection and prevention services.

“To be singled out as the ‘leader of the pack’ among our competitors is testament to the superiority of Fortinet’s products and our commitment to providing customers of all sizes with the best security solutions,” said ichard Kagan, vice president of marketing for Fortinet. “Small businesses have a unique set of challenges -- among them being the need for cost-effective security that is easy to deploy and manage and provides a breath of functionality to protect against content and network-based attacks. As this Editor’s Choice award validates, Fortinet’s FortiGate-60 device does this better than any other.”

The FortiGate 60 system is an ideal solution for small offices. In addition to providing network-based antivirus, firewall, VPN, intrusion detection/prevention, email and Web content filtering and traffic shaping functionality, it features dual WAN link support for redundant internet connections, and an integrated 4-port switch that eliminates the need for an external hub or switch, giving networked devices a direct connection to the system. Two USB ports offer support for connections to external devices such as dial-up modems for back-up in the case of WAN link failure. Ideally suited for small businesses, remote offices, retail stores, broadband telecommuter sites, the FortiGate 60 is unmatched in capabilities, speed, and price/ performance. The FortiGate 60 is kept up to date automatically by Fortinet’s FortiProtect Network, which provides continuous updates that ensure protection against the latest viruses, worms, Trojans, and other threats — around the clock, and around the world.

For more information or to view the integrated security device comparative review in the March 18, 2004 issue of Network Computing, please visit http://www.nwc.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=18312008.