Fortinet launches industry’s most secure cloud-managed enterprise Wi-Fi solution

Fortinet − a global leader in high-performance cybersecurity solutions – yesterday announced enhancements to its cloud-based FortiCloud management system and a new line of cloud-managed wireless access points (APs), continuing the company’s strategic investments and momentum in the secure wireless networking market. 

Fortinet’s “FortiAP-S series” wireless LAN (WLAN) APs are the most secure cloud-managed enterprise Wi-Fi products on the market, featuring Fortinet’s cybersecurity technology running directly on the AP and the latest security updates from Fortinet’s industry-leading FortiGuard Labs Threat Intelligence team. Now organisations no longer need to sacrifice security when opting to manage their enterprise wireless LAN from the cloud.

Next generation cloud-managed wireless access points

Distributed organisations face many challenges as they deploy and manage a wireless LAN solution for their customers and employees. Current enterprise WLAN solutions often require complex architectures to segment guest and internal networks, while demanding extra hardware like separate WLAN controllers and security appliances. 

While emerging cloud-managed Wi-Fi vendors have helped to reduce the complexity and management issues associated with deploying wireless networks, moving WLAN control into the cloud has introduced security challenges that have yet to be addressed until now.

Fortinet’s new FortiAP-S series of wireless access points empower organisations to forego separate WLAN controllers without exposing the network to cyber-threats. Every FortiAP-S series access point is centrally managed through the cloud-based FortiCloud management system, enabling effortless Wi-Fi network deployment and management, increasing security, visibility and control, and reducing overall infrastructure complexity. This makes it easy for organisations to implement and manage a secure Wi-Fi network, while the scalability of cloud management makes the solution ideal for distributed enterprises that may have thousands of sites. 

The most secure wireless LAN solution on the market

The FortiAP-S series APs are loaded with advanced security features like intrusion prevention, web filtering, rouge AP detection, antivirus security protection, granular application controls and more, all running directly on the access point. 

These features are all backed by FortiGuard Labs’ industry-leading threat intelligence to ensure each FortiAP-S is protected against the very latest advanced threats, in real-time. This sophisticated level of hardware and software integration is only made possible by Fortinet’s expertise and dedication to high-performance security engineering and research.

“Fortinet’s new FortiAP-S series combines the flexibility of cloud management, the latest generation of wireless access point technology and the proven security of FortiGuard, all forming a secure wireless architecture for enterprise access networks,” said Rajesh Maurya, Country Manager, India & SAARC at Fortinet. “We can now apply mobile-specific security policies and updates such as application control and virus scanning directly to the wireless access points, giving the customer a layer of perimeter defense for BYOD devices.”

“With the explosion of BYOD in the enterprise, and the subsequent mission-criticality of mobile devices and applications, organisations have struggled to balance the concerns around providing pervasive, easily managed WiFi coverage with WLAN security and compliance,” said Nolan Greene, research analyst, IDC Network Infrastructure Group. “Fortinet’s new FortiAP-S series of access points integrates the simplicity of cloud-based WLAN management with the cybersecurity protection that Fortinet is known for.” 

“We’ve worked closely with Fortinet to deliver best-in-class, business enabling wireless solutions that are tailored to meet the unique needs of each of our customers,” said Scott Fuhriman, Vice President of Sales and Product Development at TierPoint, a national provider of managed services in the US. “We’re excited for the launch of the FortiAP-S series of wireless access points and the prospect of providing our customers with secure wireless solutions, managed completely in the cloud.”

The FortiAP-S series of wireless access points and FortiCloud wireless security enhancements are available now. Pricing and details can be obtained from authorised Fortinet channel partners.