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Fortinet (News - Alert), a provider of network security solutions and unified threat management, or “UTM,” solutions, has reportedly launched a new FortiGate Voice-80C multi-threat security appliance specifically aimed at medium and large enterprises with remote and branch offices.

 

The new appliance, as stated, comes with IP-PBX (News - Alert) functionality, consolidating data and VoIP security management into a single device.

 

The company also clarified that its new FortiGate Voice-80C is capable of enabling organizations easier management of UTM security and PBX functionality by consolidating the two traditionally separate devices into one platform. Additionally, it also supports SIP, which lowers costs by enabling organizations to use VoIP inside and outside of the LAN.

 

Additionally, as a compliment to the new FortiGate Voice solution, Fortinet will be offering a SIP-compatible handset. The FortiGate Voice-80C is also compatible with most VoIP SIP handsets on the market.

 

"Organizations of all sizes have been migrating to a Voice over IP architecture for years and while the benefits of both voice and data transmitting over IP have been proven in the reduction of cost as compared to legacy systems, the management of VoIP and security has historically been approached separately, leading to unnecessary expenses and unwanted security surprises," said

 

Michael Xie, chief technology officer and co-founder, Fortinet, said that organizations of all sizes have been migrating to a VoIP architecture for years.

 

“And, while the benefits of both voice and data transmitting over IP have been proven in the reduction of cost as compared to legacy systems, the management of VoIP and security has historically been approached separately, leading to unnecessary expenses and unwanted security surprises,” Xie said.

 

By combining data and voice protection into one device, Fortinet is further extending the value of its consolidated security approach, by enabling greater protection across multiple clients -- voice and data -- and at the best price for customers, Xie added.

 

With Fortinet's new FortiGate Voice-80C, remote and branch offices that are utilizing an analog PBX phone system can well tackle network and VoIP security management simultaneously without the additional investments required for individual hardware devices. For large enterprises that are supporting a growing mobile workforce with multiple voice and data clients, Fortinet's integrated UTM and SIP-compatible IP-PBX solution offers multiple points of protection, and also enables a reduction in the OPEX (News - Alert) and CAPEX associated with managing multiple devices and maintaining separate voice and data services.

 

“A product like Fortinet's FortiGate Voice is important to us because of the benefit of combining PBX with UTM security and being able to manage both technologies from a single appliance,” Dayton Turner, chief technology officer at Voxter, a VoIP provider in Canada and a Fortinet partner, said.

 

The new FortiGate Voice-80C also reportedly opens up new opportunities for Fortinet reseller partners and Internet telephony service providers with more competitive solutions and an integrated approach to network security, broadband security and SIP trunking.