How FortiGate Powers the Secure Edge with Fortinet’s SASE Solution

In today’s hyperconnected world, businesses are no longer confined to one office, one network, or even one country. Employees work remotely, applications run in the cloud, and data moves between locations faster than ever. With this growing complexity comes a challenge: how do you keep all these connections secure, seamless, and consistent?

That’s where Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) comes in — and why Fortinet’s FortiGate plays a critical role in making it work.

What is Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)?

SASE (pronounced “sassy”) is a cloud-first architecture that merges networking and security into one unified platform. Instead of securing your network only through physical firewalls, SASE allows organizations to deliver security from the cloud, ensuring users can safely access data and applications anytime, anywhere.

A complete SASE framework typically includes:

• SD-WAN – for efficient, intelligent routing of traffic
• Secure Web Gateway (SWG) – to block malicious content
• Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) – to protect SaaS usage
• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) – to control user access
• Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS) – for consistent protection across the network

FortiGate: The Foundation of the Secure Edge

Fortinet’s FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) is the engine behind the Fortinet Security Fabric and the foundation of its SASE approach.

At its core, FortiGate delivers:

• Enterprise-grade firewalling and intrusion prevention
• Built-in SD-WAN for optimized branch connectivity
• Application control and deep visibility into network traffic
• Secure VPN and web filtering for remote and on-premises users

When deployed across multiple locations, FortiGate creates a “secure edge” — the trusted perimeter that connects users, offices, and cloud environments safely.

Extending to the Cloud with FortiSASE

To meet the needs of distributed teams and hybrid environments, Fortinet introduced FortiSASE, a cloud-based extension of FortiGate.

FortiSASE delivers the same security capabilities of FortiGate — powered by FortiOS — directly from the cloud. This means organizations can provide secure access to remote workers, branch offices, and mobile users without deploying physical hardware everywhere.

Together, FortiGate and FortiSASE offer:

• Unified policy management through FortiManager
• Consistent protection for users on-premises and in the cloud
• Seamless scalability as business needs evolve

Why It Matters

The relationship between FortiGate and FortiSASE exemplifies the future of cybersecurity: a unified security fabric that connects every edge — physical and virtual — under one management system.

With this approach, organizations gain:

• Simplified operations
• Consistent security posture
• Improved user experience
• Lower infrastructure costs

The Future of Secure Networking

Fortinet’s vision for Secure Access Service Edge is simple — connect and protect everything, everywhere. By blending the proven strength of FortiGate hardware with the agility of FortiSASE cloud services, Fortinet enables enterprises to evolve securely in the age of hybrid work, cloud transformation, and digital acceleration.

Whether at the branch, in the data center, or in the cloud, FortiGate serves as the edge, while FortiSASE acts as the cloud security backbone keeping everything connected.