Fortinet has announced the unveiling of its new appliance, the FortiGate 200G series, designed to enhance the networking performance and security of modern campuses. The FortiGate 200G series is a next-generation firewall (NGFW) built on the Fortinet operating system, FortiOS, and the company's latest fifth-generation security processing unit (SP5).

The announced NGFW will cater to the ever-increasing demand for data-rich traffic and cloud-based applications within campus environments. The FortiGate 200G series comes equipped with FortiGuard AI-Powered Security Services and 5GE ports for the new Wi-Fi 7 wireless standard, ensuring that organisations can effectively support and secure the increasing volume of data traffic.

John Maddison, Chief Marketing Officer at Fortinet, spoke about the complexities of the increasing scope and intricacy of networks, saying, "Networks are growing in complexity and scope, and they require high performance and advanced security at the edge." He added, "We designed the FortiGate 200G series to serve as a new approach for perimeter security with the computing power and artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced protections enterprises need within the campus."

The use of decentralised network models has increased among organisations, enabling processing and decision-making to occur nearer to where data is generated. This shift necessitates infrastructure capable of managing more data and supporting bandwidth-heavy applications and IoT devices outside the central hub. This is particularly vital for the modern campus that manages multiple departments, relying on seamless connectivity and cloud-based applications to operate efficiently.

The FortiGate 200G series was developed to meet these needs, offering the performance and AI-powered features required to strengthen the security posture of modern campuses. Using the proprietary Fortinet ASIC, SP5, it delivers remarkable throughput and enhances operational efficiency.

Key features of the FortiGate 200G series include 5GE ports that support high-speed connectivity and boost access point performance, optimising bandwidth utilisation, enhancing data throughput, and ensuring high network availability. The NGFW delivers security performance seven times greater than the industry average, including 16x greater IPsec VPN throughput and 2x greater threat protection. It also offers Industry-leading, AI-powered security through FortiGuard AI-Powered Security Services, providing comprehensive protection against evolving threats.

Fortinet's Secure Networking solution encompasses NGFW, Ethernet switches, and access points, all constructed on the same operating system, FortiOS, and integrated into the Fortinet Security Fabric. This strategy enables organisations to merge networking devices with advanced security. The FortiGate NGFWs, including the new FortiGate 200G series, can also function as wireless controllers within edge environments, providing visibility and end-to-end security throughout the entire campus network.