ElectronicsReview hero
Home
Computers & Accessories
Log InJoin Now
ElectronicsReview logo

FORTINET FortiGate-60F with 1-Year FortiGate Cloud Management: Secure SD-WAN for Branch and SMB Networks

FORTINET FortiGate-60F with 1-Year FortiGate Cloud Management: Secure SD-WAN for Branch and SMB Networks

Overview

The FORTINET FortiGate-60F with 1YR FortiGate Cloud Management (FC-10-0060F-131-02-12) bundles Fortinet’s popular FG-60F next-generation firewall appliance with a 1-year subscription to FortiGate Cloud Management. The FG-60F is positioned for:

  • Small to mid-sized businesses
  • Distributed enterprise branch offices
  • Managed service providers (MSPs) standardizing on Fortinet

Powered by Fortinet’s SoC4 ASIC and FortiOS, the 60F series delivers converged NGFW + SD-WAN capabilities in a fanless desktop chassis. It offers up to 10 Gbps firewall throughput and robust threat protection performance suitable for typical branch and SMB traffic mixes, along with hardware-accelerated IPsec VPN for site-to-site and remote connectivity. (avfirewalls.com)

The inclusion of 1-year FortiGate Cloud Management adds multi-site visibility and simplified management through a web-based portal, which is particularly attractive for organizations without dedicated in-house Fortinet expertise.

If you purchase via the Amazon listing, expect pricing in the ballpark of $145.99 depending on current availability and seller.

Standout Features

1. Converged Secure SD-WAN and NGFW

The FortiGate-60F is designed as a converged firewall and SD-WAN edge platform:

  • Identifies thousands of applications for granular policy control and QoS
  • Supports secure SD-WAN path selection based on performance metrics
  • Integrates with Fortinet’s Security Fabric for coordinated threat protection across endpoints, switches, and access points (firewalls.com)

This makes it well-suited for organizations moving away from legacy MPLS toward internet-based WAN with direct-to-cloud traffic.

2. Strong Performance for Its Class

Backed by Fortinet’s proprietary SoC4, the 60F delivers performance that is competitive in the small-branch segment:

  • Firewall throughput: up to 10 Gbps
  • IPsec VPN throughput: up to around 6.5 Gbps
  • NGFW / Threat Protection: approximately 1 Gbps / 700 Mbps
  • Concurrent sessions: up to 700,000, with around 35,000 new sessions per second (avfirewalls.com)

For typical SMB and branch networks (dozens to low hundreds of users), this is more than adequate for full-stack security and VPN use, provided that configuration is properly optimized.

3. FortiGate Cloud Management (1-Year Included)

The specific bundle FC-10-0060F-131-02-12 adds 1 year of FortiGate Cloud Management, which enables:

  • Centralized, cloud-hosted management for the 60F
  • Device and policy management through a browser-based portal
  • Centralized logging, reporting, and alerting (licensing tier determines depth)
  • Simplified deployment for multi-site environments

For organizations that don’t want to maintain on-prem management servers (like FortiManager) or that prefer an easier on-ramp to Fortinet’s ecosystem, this is a practical way to get started with centralized operations.

4. Flexible Port Layout for Branches

The 60F provides a 10-port layout that is tailored to branch environments: (avfirewalls.com)

  • 2 × GE RJ45 WAN ports
  • 1 × GE RJ45 DMZ port
  • 2 × GE RJ45 FortiLink ports (for FortiSwitch integration)
  • 5 × GE RJ45 internal ports
  • 1 × USB port for 3G/4G modem
  • 1 × console (RJ45)

This layout allows for:

  • Dual-WAN setups (e.g., fiber + broadband, or broadband + LTE)
  • Segregation of DMZ resources (public-facing servers, guest Wi-Fi, etc.)
  • Direct FortiSwitch management via FortiLink, extending security to the access layer

5. Compact, Fanless Form Factor

In a small, fanless desktop chassis, the 60F is:

  • Quiet enough for office or branch deployments
  • Suitable for desktop or wall-mount scenarios
  • Designed with high MTBF for long-term reliability (avfirewalls.com)

This is important for branch offices where there may be no dedicated network room.

Supporting Features

Beyond the headline capabilities, the FortiGate-60F bundle includes a range of supporting features that increase its value:

  • Advanced security services support (with appropriate FortiGuard subscriptions, not included by default with every hardware-only SKU): IPS, antivirus, web filtering, application control, and more
  • SSL VPN and IPsec VPN for secure remote access and site-to-site connectivity
  • Fortinet Security Fabric integration for end-to-end visibility when paired with FortiSwitch, FortiAP, FortiAnalyzer, FortiClient, and other components (firewalls.com)
  • Compliance-focused templates and checks in FortiOS to help align with best practices
  • Role-based access control for management, useful for MSPs or organizations with multiple admins

The included FortiGate Cloud Management enhances these capabilities by providing:

  • A single pane of glass for multiple FortiGate appliances
  • Cloud-hosted configuration backup
  • Cloud-based dashboards for performance and security events

Usability

Deployment and Initial Setup

Deployment is generally straightforward for administrators familiar with enterprise firewalls, but there is a learning curve for newcomers to Fortinet:

  • Zero-touch deployment options are supported when leveraging FortiGate Cloud or FortiManager, simplifying rollout to remote sites. (firewalls.com)
  • Wizards in the GUI help set up WAN connections, firewall policies, and basic SD-WAN settings.

For less-experienced teams, the documentation is detailed, but the FortiOS interface can initially feel complex because of its depth.

Management Experience

With the 1-year FortiGate Cloud Management license, administrators can:

  • Access the device securely from anywhere for monitoring and configuration
  • View historical data and logs centrally
  • Standardize policies across multiple branch devices

The local FortiGate GUI remains fully available, so you can manage the 60F on-box if preferred, or use a hybrid approach.

Everyday Operations

In daily use, the 60F tends to be:

  • Stable and reliable in branch and SMB deployments
  • Comfortable handling mixed workloads including web traffic, SaaS, VoIP, and VPN

However, optimal usability depends heavily on having clear policies and sensible logging levels. Overly aggressive logging and complex policies can consume resources faster and raise operational overhead.

Performance

Real-World Throughput

The FortiGate-60F’s published specifications provide a good indication of expected performance under realistic loads: (avfirewalls.com)

  • Firewall throughput: up to 10 Gbps (ideal lab conditions)
  • Threat Protection throughput: around 700 Mbps
  • IPsec VPN throughput: around 6.5 Gbps
  • SSL VPN throughput: roughly 900 Mbps

Real-world results will vary depending on:

  • Number and complexity of security profiles (IPS, SSL inspection, etc.)
  • Mix of traffic types and packet sizes
  • Number of concurrent users and sessions

For typical branch offices with 100–200 users and a moderate security profile stack, the 60F is generally sufficient. Heavier environments or dense SSL inspection may warrant considering a higher-tier model, particularly for organizations planning to grow.

Latency and Session Handling

The 60F’s low firewall latency (around 3.3 μs) and support for up to 700,000 concurrent sessions make it capable of handling bursty traffic and multiple VPNs without significant degradation in user experience. (avfirewalls.com)

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Strong value for branch and SMB: Converged NGFW and SD-WAN in a compact, fanless chassis.
  • Solid performance for its class: Appropriately sized for typical branch workloads with security services enabled.
  • FortiGate Cloud Management included for 1 year: Simplifies centralized management and remote deployment.
  • Flexible port layout: Dual WAN, DMZ, FortiLink, and multiple internal ports support diverse topologies.
  • Deep integration with Fortinet Security Fabric: Easily extends security to switches, APs, and endpoints.
  • Mature FortiOS platform: Rich feature set and ongoing updates.

Cons

  • Licensing complexity: Hardware plus multiple possible security and management subscriptions can be confusing, especially when purchased through third-party marketplaces.
  • Learning curve: FortiOS and Security Fabric concepts can be intimidating for teams without prior Fortinet experience.
  • Potential support limitations for gray-market units: Devices purchased outside authorized channels may not be eligible for Fortinet support contracts or license transfers.
  • Growth ceiling: While robust for SMBs and branches, rapidly growing or high-throughput environments might outgrow the 60F and need to step up to higher models.

Summary

The FORTINET FortiGate-60F with 1YR FortiGate Cloud Management (FC-10-0060F-131-02-12) is a capable and well-balanced solution for small to mid-sized businesses and distributed enterprise branches seeking converged NGFW + SD-WAN capabilities with centralized, cloud-based management.

Its combination of solid performance, flexible port design, and integration into the Fortinet Security Fabric make it a strong candidate for organizations standardizing on Fortinet or modernizing aging perimeter infrastructure. The included 1-year FortiGate Cloud Management is a practical addition that reduces the barrier to entry for centralized operations.

Prospective buyers should size the appliance carefully against expected traffic, security profile usage, and future growth. For many branch and SMB scenarios, however, the FortiGate-60F bundle offers a compelling mix of performance, features, and manageability at a price point around $145.99, making it an attractive option for secure, SD-WAN-enabled edge deployments.