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Fortinet

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Fortinet, Inc.
Company typePublic
IndustryNetwork security & Computer security
Founded2000
FounderCEO: Ken Xie
CTO: Michael Xie
Headquarters,
ProductsFortiGate UTM, Next Generation Firewall, Firewalls, Antivirus, Intrusion-prevention system, Antispyware, Antispam, VPN, Wireless security, Application Control, Web Filtering
RevenueIncrease US$ 615.3 million (2013)[1]
Decrease US$ 72.09 million (2013)[1]
Decrease US$ 44.27 million (2013) [1]
Total assetsIncrease US$ 1.16 billion (2013)[1]
Total equityIncrease US$ 585.76 million (2013)[1]
Number of employees
2,308 (2013)[1]
Websitewww.fortinet.com
File:Fortinet-us-headquarters.jpg
Fortinet's global headquarters. Sunnyvale, California

Fortinet, Inc. is an American multinational corporation founded in 2000 by brothers Ken and Michael Xie. The company sells high performance network security products and services including their flagship integrated network security solution, the FortiGate firewall. Fortinet distributes its systems and subscription-based services using the channel partner sales method via more than 20,000 partners worldwide.[2] Fortinet is positioned as the revenue leader in Unified Threat Management (UTM).[3]

History

In 1993, 29 year old Ken Xie started Stanford Information Systems (SIS) with classmates and friends to develop and sell software-based firewalls. The part-time venture led Xie to realize the limitations of software-based firewalls and in 1997 he founded NetScreen with Yan Ke and Feng Deng. NetScreen developed ASIC-based Internet security systems and appliances and paved the way for what would become one of Fortinet's key technologies. In 2004 NetScreen was sold to Juniper Networks for $4 billion.[4]


In 1999, Ken Xie left NetScreen and founded Fortinet with his brother Michael Xie. With $1 million in angel funds and a personal investment of $50,000, Fortinet quickly grew, gaining recognition for their growth in Forbes Magazine, Entrepreneur, and on the Deloitte Fast 500.[5][6]

In 2009 the company filed for its initial public offering, opening at $12.50 per share and closing the same day $16.62, a 33% increase.[2]

In April 2011, Fortinet acquired TalkSwitch, a VoIP (Voice over IP) manufacturer [7]

In March 2013, Fortinet acquired Coyote Point Systems, an application delivery controller (ADC) manufacturer.[8]

Products

Network Security

FortiGate Firewall Platform

The FortiGate firewall is Fortinet's flagship integrated network security solution. The platform is available as a physical appliance as well as a virtual appliance. The FortiGate offers Data Center Firewall (DCFW), Unified Threat Management (UTM), and Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) technologies including:

File:FG-1000C.png
FortiGate 1000C

All FortiGate physical appliances are based on Fortinet's proprietary technology platform which includes FortiASICs[9] technology, FortiOS[10], and a FortiGuard[citation needed] security subscription. The FortiASIC, an Application-specific integrated circuit, is specifically designed for accelerated processing of security and networking functions.

Advanced Threat Protection

Fortinet's premiere Advanced Threat Protection appliance, the FortiSandBox, is designed to identify and mitigate against advanced persistent threats. The system utilizes a dual-level Sandbox for run-time analysis of activity, antimalware technology, a real-time query of all FortiSandbox intelligence across customers and partners, and proprietary callback detection.[citation needed] The FortiSandbox earned a recommended rating from NSS Labs as part of a 2013 Breach Detection Report.[11][12]

Network Access

Wireless LAN

Switches

Endpoint & Mobility

User Identity Management

2-Factor Authentication Token

Application Security

Application Delivery Controllers

Cloud-based Server Load Balancing

Database Security

DDoS Protection

Secure Mail Gateway

Web Application Firewall

Web Caching

Management

Centralized Device Management

Centralized Log and Reporting

Configuration Migration Tool

Hosted Security Management

IP Video and Surveillance Systems

Phone Systems and Phones

Criticism and Controversy

US government sanctions violation

According to the OpenNet Initiative,[13] FortiGuard is used by the dictatorship of Myanmar to block communications critical of the regime carried over the Internet, a system known as the Myanmar Wide Web.[14] Fortinet has promised to investigate the allegations, and the implied violation of US government sanctions against the regime, noting that the software may have been sold to the regime by a third party;[15] meanwhile, the Myanmar government features its adoption of the Fortinet firewall on its official website[16] with other photos showing a Fortinet sales director presenting a gift to the Myanmar Prime Minister during a ceremony.[16] In 2005, after becoming aware that its product may have reached Myanmar, Fortinet conducted an exhaustive review of channel partners and their compliance with import/export controls. The company implemented additional back-end controls which now render a product useless if it is diverted without appropriate authorizations to a party located in a U.S. sanctioned country.

GPL violations

In 2005, the gpl-violations.org project uncovered evidence that Fortinet had used GPL code in its products against the terms of the license, and used cryptographic tools to conceal the violation. The violation was alleged to have occurred in the FortiOS system, which the gpl-violations.org project said contained elements of the Linux kernel. In response, a Munich court granted a temporary injunction against the company, preventing it from selling products until they were in compliance with the necessary license terms;[17] Fortinet was required to make the source code of GPL portions of their FortiOS freely available in compliance with GPL licensing.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "FORTINET, INC. ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2013". Fortinet. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b Jin, Hao (March 21, 2010). "Fortinet IPO: Joining the Hot Network Security Sector". Seeking Alpha. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  3. ^ "Fortinet Named Leader of Worldwide Unified Threat Management Market for 23rd Consecutive Quarter by Leading Market Research Firm". 2012-01-11.
  4. ^ "Ken Xie Builds Second Network Security Star". 2011-05-16.
  5. ^ "Smokin'". 2005-05-30.
  6. ^ "2008 Technology Fast 500" (PDF). 2008.
  7. ^ "Fortinet Acquires TalkSwitch to Further Expand into Multi-Service Business Gateway Market". 2011-04-27.
  8. ^ Kontzer, Tony (2013-03-27). "Fortinet Acquires ADC Vendor Coyote Point". networkcomputing.com. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
  9. ^ "Fortinet beefs up security ASIC". 2007-06-13.
  10. ^ "Fortinet overhauls operating system". 2012-10-18.
  11. ^ "FireEye, AhnLab score low in lab test of breach detection systems". Network World. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  12. ^ "Breach Detection System Product Analysis: Fortinet FortiSandbox 3000Dv1.2" (PDF). NSS Labs. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  13. ^ "Internet Filtering in Burma in 2005: A Country Study". October 2005. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
  14. ^ Zeller, Tom, Jr (2005-10-12). "Study Says Software Makers Supply Tools to Censor Web". The New York Times.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Thomson, Iain (2005-10-19). "Fortinet investigates sanctions busting claim". Archived from the original on 2007-11-25. Retrieved 2013-08-06. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ a b "Prime Minister attends ceremony to introduce Fortinet Antivirus Firewall". 2004-05-16. Archived from the original on 2010-01-25. Retrieved 2013-08-06. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "gpl-violations.org project was granted a preliminary injunction against Fortinet UK Ltd". gpl-violations.org. 2005-04-14.
  18. ^ "Index of /pub/vendors/Fortinet/20050514". gpl-devices.org. 2005-05-22.