Fortinet + Alkira: Network Infrastructure On-Demand with Unparalleled Security

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Overview

Fortinet and Alkira have partnered to deliver the fastest path to end-to-end cloud networking security. Fortinet FortiGate-VMs are fully integrated with the Alkira Platform, enabling enterprises to connect all users, sites, and clouds with unparalleled speed and security. This joint solution enables organizations to seamlessly deploy and secure multi-cloud networks with the Fortinet Security Fabric, featuring Alkira’s unique auto-scaling capabilities, Fortinet’s superior security, and comprehensive visibility through Alkira’s network infrastructure-as-a-service platform.

The Challenge

Networks are the bloodline of business communications, and the cloud is a major force behind digital transformation. However, solving remote connectivity at a global scale with security assurance is complex, costly, and cumbersome when using traditional networking technologies.

Current challenges include:

  • Complex Implementation: Do-it-yourself networking solutions create hyper-complex environments requiring deep expertise, significant hardware and software investments, and long delivery times
  • Scalability Limitations: Modern businesses can no longer tolerate networks that slow down AI and cloud initiatives
  • Global Distribution: Traditional approaches struggle to keep pace with today’s distributed workforce, where remote users are located globally and mission-critical applications reside in single or multiple clouds

Security Requirements: Securely connecting all components requires unmatched visibility, speed, and control

Benefits

Rapid Deployment
 80% reduction in provisioning time – deploy your entire network with integrated security in minutes, not months.

Cost Optimization
 40% TCO reduction by eliminating hardware costs and reducing operational overhead with no CAPEX hardware investments.

As-a-Service Model
 Everything is delivered as-a-service with cloud-like consumption, eliminating traditional infrastructure investments.

Complete Visibility
 Get comprehensive insights across your entire network and security infrastructure with unified management.

Simplified Operations
 Manage everything through a modern intent-based point-and-click interface with streamlined administration.

Solution

The Alkira and Fortinet joint solution delivers an industry-leading security platform that addresses the challenges of cloud networking connectivity. By seamlessly integrating Fortinet FortiGate NGFWs into the Alkira Platform, organizations can achieve robust, end-to-end security with just a few clicks.

Key Components:

Alkira Platform
 Provides network infrastructure-as-a-service, offering the fastest path to cloud connectivity. It connects users, sites, and clouds at global scale with no hardware to install, no software to deploy, and no colocations to leverage.

Alkira Cloud Exchange Points (CXPs)
 Virtual points of presence with full routing stack and network services capabilities that bring the cloud closer to users, making connecting anything to the cloud simple and fast.

Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewalls
 Secure applications and workloads in public clouds while leveraging cloud benefits of scalability, metering, and time to market. Features include container-aware security, cloud-native protection, secure remote access, and web application security.

Integration Features:

  • Seamless security service insertion for on-premises and cloud networks
  • Full visibility and control of traffic from customer-premise networks to cloud, between virtual networks, and across multi-cloud environments
  • Simple three-step configuration process
  • Support for both pay-as-you-go (PAYG) and bring-your-own-license (BYOL) models
  • Management through existing FortiManager infrastructure

Conclusion

The Fortinet and Alkira partnership enables organizations to transform their network security approach by combining Fortinet’s proven security capabilities with Alkira’s innovative network infrastructure-as-a-service platform. With powerful segmentation and micro-segmentation tools, enterprises can ensure that access to their infrastructure is controlled and managed end-to-end, delivering unparalleled security with unprecedented simplicity and speed.