In 2022, Fortinet became the first vendor to converge next-generation firewall (NGFW) and secure software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) capabilities into a single offering, FortiGate virtual firewall (FortiGate VM), that could be deployed and run natively inside Microsoft Azure Virtual WAN (vWAN).

Today, we're deepening cloud security for our joint Azure customers with a new FortiGate VM solution that protects traffic to and from their vWAN within the service.

Customers can purchase this new solution through the Azure Marketplace as well as through the channel.

Combining the Simplicity of Azure vWAN with Fortinet's Industry-Leading Security

Azure vWAN is a cloud service that brings together networking, security, and routing under a single operational interface, and customers typically use it to provide connectivity between their on-premises data centers, branch offices, and Azure vWANs.

Fortinet was the first to provide NGFW capabilities with FortiGate VM as an Azure network virtual appliance (NVA) to securely on-ramp into the Azure vWAN as well as SD-WAN features to securely connect between virtual networks, branches, and the internet.

Recently, Microsoft released a new capability that allowed Fortinet to extend FortiGate VM SD-WAN capabilities to protect traffic inside the vWAN environment. With this added functionality, customers can use a single solution, the new FortiGate VM for Azure vWAN offering, to secure traffic throughout an entire Azure vWAN environment.

Key Use Cases

Key Benefits of FortiGate in Azure vWAN

FortiGate VM delivers Fortinet's industry-leading NGFW capabilities, including cutting-edge, AI-powered security, deep packet inspection, Secure SD-WAN, and a zero-trust network access (ZTNA) application gateway to virtual networks like Azure vWAN.

This unique blend of advanced security and connectivity benefits allows customers to utilize FortiGate VM in many ways. For instance, the offering empowers organizations to use Azure vWAN as a global SD-WAN backbone, apply consistent security policies, and enforce zero-trust policies.

FortiGate VM, like all Fortinet NGFWs, leverages FortiManager, our unified management console. This enables organizations to seamlessly integrate their existing on-premises firewall infrastructure with the Azure cloud environment, providing a unified security posture across hybrid deployments.

Because of the visibility and control FortiManager provides across all firewalls, FortiGate VM allows users to extend their hybrid mesh firewall (HMF) architecture into the Azure cloud. Hybrid mesh firewall is an architecture that delivers coordinated security across various areas of IT, including campus, branch, and data center, by connecting firewalls throughout an environment.

With FortiGate VM, organizations can use Microsoft Azure vWAN to meet their cloud needs while leveraging Fortinet's NGFW and SD-WAN capabilities to streamline and secure their connectivity.

Advancing Secure Connectivity in the Cloud

As organizations embrace the cloud and seek to enhance their network infrastructure on Azure, these powerful integrations make FortiGate a compelling choice for those looking for a consolidated and powerful solution that converges networking and security.

With our commitment to innovation and long-standing partnership with Microsoft, Fortinet will continue to deliver secure networking solutions that empower customers to build secure, scalable, and high-performing networks in the cloud.

Ready to get started? Purchase Azure vWAN Secured by FortiGate from Azure Marketplace today. You can also learn more about deploying FortiGate NVAs in Azure VWAN Hubs here.