Fortinet has rolled out the latest version of its security operating system, adding client reputation capabilities, OS-independent sandboxing, and enhanced device identification as part of 150 new features and capabilities.
The Sunnyvale, California-based company will begin deploying FortiOS 5.0 by the end of the month as an enhanced foundation for its FortiGate security platforms.
"This enables our channel partners to be a lot more consultative in their customer approach," said senior product marketing manager Kevin Flynn. "It provides a lot more flexibility and granularity that can help partners defend against sophisticated threats, as well as produce the kind of validation and reports necessary to satisfy compliance requirements."
[Related: Fortinet Updates SMB Security]
Flynn identifies the new client reputation feature as one of the main aspects of the new revision. Through customizable values, channel partners and IT managers can use this tool to establish a cumulative security ranking for each device accessing the network, based on a range of user behaviors and supported by the vendor’s anti-malware detection system with an on-device behavior-based heuristic engine and cloud-based antivirus services that includes an OS-independent sandbox and botnet IP reputation database.
"This will dramatically upgrade security in BYOD environments," he said. "Different policies can be put into place for different platforms, providing added granularity and control."
The new system can also accommodate a series of role-based policies for users and guests based on location, data and application profile. "The rights can vary based on whether they are employees, partners, or other types of people who might be granted access to your network," explained Flynn. "Not only can the administrator set security levels, they can also makes those network resources available for a pre-designated amount of time."
Among the components included in the upgrade, FortiManager 5.0 can now manage physical and virtual security devices using a single Web-based GUI with drag and drop capabilities, policy object editing, and a new script UI facility.
FortiAnalyzer 5.0, the company's reporting platform, can now consolidate reporting for all FortiOS-based devices and endpoints, providing data on bandwidth consumption, application usage and network utilization. It can manage both physical and virtual appliances, and synchronize multiple FortiAnalyzers for unified configuration and reporting.
FortiClient 5.0 continues to provide endpoint security for Windows and Macintosh OSes. The latest edition now includes enforcement of security policies in off-net situations when the device is not connected to the network.
"The protections and policies remain in place after I shut down my VPN connection, so I won’t be able to go to a phishing site, for example," Flynn added.
FortiOS is provides as a free upgrade. FortiClient is an agent with prices based on volume.
PUBLISHED OCT. 18, 2012
