For small to mid-sized businesses and enterprise branch offices, finding a solution that offers comprehensive protection without breaking the bank or requiring a dedicated IT army can be a challenge. Enter the FortiGate 81F, a compact yet powerful Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) designed to deliver enterprise-grade security with ease of use.

The FortiGate 81F series is a desktop form-factor appliance that packs a serious punch in terms of security and networking capabilities. It’s engineered to protect against today’s sophisticated cyber threats while also enabling secure SD-WAN functionality, making it a versatile choice for organizations looking to optimize their network performance and security simultaneously.

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Key Features at a Glance:

The FortiGate 81F boasts an impressive set of features, including:

• High-Performance Threat Protection: Powered by Fortinet’s custom SPU (Security Processing Unit) SOC4 (System on a Chip), the 81F delivers excellent performance for firewall, VPN, intrusion prevention (IPS), and threat protection.
• Secure SD-WAN: Built-in SD-WAN capabilities allow organizations to optimize application performance and reduce WAN costs by intelligently steering traffic across multiple WAN links.
• Comprehensive Security Services: Leverages FortiGuard Labs’ AI-powered threat intelligence for protection against malware, exploits, malicious websites, and both known and unknown attacks.
• Connectivity: Offers a good range of port options, including multiple GE RJ45 ports and shared media WAN ports (RJ45/SFP).
• Onboard Storage: Includes onboard SSD storage for logging, reporting, and WAN optimization.
• Simplified Management: Can be managed through the intuitive FortiOS operating system and integrates with the Fortinet Security Fabric.
• Compact, Fanless Design: Easy to deploy in various environments with silent operation.

Who is the FortiGate 81F Meant For?

The FortiGate 81F is specifically tailored for a few key segments:

• Small to Mid-Sized Businesses (SMBs): Ideal for organizations requiring robust security without extensive IT resources, typically in the range of 50-250 users/devices.
• Enterprise Branch Offices: Serves as an excellent secure SD-WAN solution for distributed locations, ensuring consistent security policies and optimized application access.
• Retail and Distributed Environments: Suitable for businesses with multiple retail outlets or remote sites needing secure connectivity and centralized management.
• Organizations Seeking Consolidated Security: Benefits companies looking to simplify their security infrastructure by combining multiple point products into a single appliance.

FortiGate 81F: Comprehensive Fact Sheet

Here’s a more detailed look at the FortiGate 81F’s specifications:

Hardware Specifications:

• Processor: Fortinet SOC4 (System on a Chip with SPU – Security Processing Unit)
• GE RJ45/SFP Shared Media Pairs: 2
• GE RJ45 Internal Ports: 6
• GE RJ45 FortiLink Ports (Default): 2
• USB Port: 1 (USB 3.0)
• Console Port: 1 (RJ45)
• Internal Storage: 1x 128 GB SSD
• Trusted Platform Module (TPM): Yes
• Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE): Yes
• Form Factor: Desktop (Wall-mountable, Rack tray optional)
• Dimensions (H x W x L):
  • Inches: 1.6 x 8.5 x 7.0
  • Millimeters: 38.5 x 216 x 178
• Weight: 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg)
• Power Supply: External DC Power Adapter (12V DC, 3A). Dual power supplies optional for redundancy.
• Fanless: Yes

System Performance & Capacity:

• IPS Throughput: 1.4 Gbps
• NGFW Throughput: 1 Gbps
• Threat Protection Throughput: 900 Mbps
• Firewall Throughput (1518 / 512 / 64 byte UDP packets): 10 / 10 / 7 Gbps
• Firewall Latency (64 byte UDP packets): 3.23 μs
• Firewall Throughput (Packets Per Second): 10.5 Mpps
• Concurrent Sessions (TCP): 1.5 Million
• New Sessions/Second (TCP): 45,000
• Firewall Policies: 5,000
• IPsec VPN Throughput (512 byte): 6.5 Gbps
• Gateway-to-Gateway IPsec VPN Tunnels: 200
• Client-to-Gateway IPsec VPN Tunnels: 2,500
• SSL-VPN Throughput: 950 Mbps
• Concurrent SSL-VPN Users (Recommended Maximum, Tunnel Mode): 200
• SSL Inspection Throughput (IPS, avg. HTTPS): 715 Mbps
• SSL Inspection CPS (IPS, avg. HTTPS): 700
• SSL Inspection Concurrent Session (IPS, avg. HTTPS): 100,000
• Application Control Throughput (HTTP 64K): 1.8 Gbps
• CAPWAP Throughput (HTTP 64K): 9 Gbps
• Virtual Domains (Default / Maximum): 10 / 10
• Maximum Number of FortiSwitches Supported: 16
• Maximum Number of FortiAPs (Total / Tunnel Mode): 96 / 48
• Maximum Number of FortiTokens: 500
• High Availability Configurations: Active-Active, Active-Passive, Clustering

Software & Security Services:

• Operating System: FortiOS
• Security Services (Subscription-based via FortiGuard):
  • Antivirus
  • Intrusion Prevention (IPS)
  • Web Filtering
  • Application Control
  • Antispam
  • Advanced Malware Protection (AMP) / Sandboxing (Cloud)
  • Security Rating Service
  • Industrial Security Service
  • Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)
  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
  • And more, depending on the subscribed bundle (e.g., UTP, Enterprise Protection).
• SD-WAN Features:
  • Application-aware routing
  • WAN path control
  • Automated overlay tunnels
  • Simplified management and zero-touch deployment
• Networking:
  • Extensive routing protocols (Static, RIP, OSPF, BGP)
  • Switching capabilities
  • Wireless Controller functionality
  • Scalable IPsec VPN
  • VLAN support
• Management:
  • FortiGate Cloud
  • FortiManager (Centralized Management)
  • FortiAnalyzer (Logging and Reporting)
  • Web-based UI, CLI

Environmental:

• Operating Temperature: 32–104°F (0–40°C)
• Storage Temperature: -31–158°F (-35–70°C)
• Operating Humidity: 10–90% non-condensing
• Heat Dissipation: Approximately 56.30 BTU/h

Certifications:

• ICSA Labs: Firewall, Antivirus, IPS, IPsec VPN, SSL-VPN
• NSS Labs Recommended (varies by test cycle)
• Common Criteria (EAL 4+) (varies by FortiOS version)
• Other relevant industry certifications (e.g., FIPS, USGv6)

(Note: Performance values are “up to” and can vary depending on the system configuration, network conditions, and services enabled. Always refer to the official Fortinet datasheet for the most current and precise specifications.)

Why Consider the FortiGate 81F?

Beyond its technical specifications, the FortiGate 81F offers several key benefits:

• Strong Security Posture: Provides advanced threat protection to safeguard sensitive data and ensure business continuity.
• Improved Network Performance: SD-WAN capabilities enhance application performance and user experience.
• Reduced Complexity: Consolidates networking and security functions into a single, easy-to-manage platform.
• Scalability: While ideal for smaller environments, it can integrate into the larger Fortinet Security Fabric, allowing for scalability as the business grows.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Offers a compelling total cost of ownership (TCO) by combining multiple functionalities and reducing the need for separate security appliances.

In conclusion, the FortiGate 81F is a formidable contender in the NGFW market, offering a well-rounded package of security, performance, and connectivity for small to mid-sized organizations and enterprise branches. If you’re looking for a reliable and feature-rich security appliance that won’t overwhelm your budget or your IT team, the FortiGate 81F is certainly worth a closer look.