Fortinet Secure SD-WAN is a platform that converges networking and security into a single solution, managed from one console and running on one operating system. Instead of deploying separate SD-WAN appliances, firewalls, routers, and remote access tools, Fortinet Secure SD-WAN consolidates: - SD-WAN - Next-generation firewall (NGFW) - Advanced routing - Zero-trust network access (ZTNA) application gateway This approach helps organizations: - Steer traffic intelligently and securely from branches directly to cloud applications, without backhauling everything to a central data center. - Support cloud-first and security-sensitive environments, including global enterprises and hybrid workforces. - Manage LAN, WLAN, and WWAN in a tightly integrated way from a single management console. Industry analysis backs up the economic impact of this model. A Forrester Total Economic Impact study found that Fortinet Secure SD-WAN delivered: - 300% ROI - Payback in about eight months - 65% reduction in network disruptions - 50% increase in productivity for security and network teams In practice, this means IT teams can simplify their infrastructure, gain better visibility, and move toward a zero-trust architecture while preparing for a smooth transition to Fortinet’s Unified SASE and Universal SASE platforms.

Organizations are choosing Fortinet Secure SD-WAN because traditional WAN architectures and fragmented point products struggle to support digital transformation, cloud adoption, and hybrid work. Common challenges they face include: - High MPLS and WAN costs - Frequent outages and resiliency gaps - Limited visibility into branch and remote-site traffic - Complex, manual operations across multiple vendors and consoles - Weak or inconsistent security at the edge Fortinet Secure SD-WAN addresses these issues by consolidating networking and security functions on one platform and one management plane. This helps organizations rethink how they design and operate their WAN. Real customer results from the ebook include: Cost and efficiency gains - 55% reduction in operating costs for a global oil and gas company, largely from lower MPLS usage and simpler administration. - 40% savings on communications costs for a global packaging provider. - 20% reduction in WAN expenses and 25% lower branch operations costs for Europe’s second-largest software company. - $1 million in annual savings on WAN hardware and support for a global insurance brokerage. - $1 million in savings over three years for a global consulting and engineering provider. Performance and user experience improvements - 38x performance improvement for North America’s largest trash collection and recycling provider. - 10x performance increase for one of North America’s largest dental services organizations. - 3x improvement in WAN performance for a large European software company. - 8x increase in available bandwidth and 50% reduction in application response times for a Romanian bank. - 18x reduction in point-of-sale transaction time and 4x increase in network speed for a global oil and gas company. Operational and security benefits - 60% improvement in network and security team efficiency for a global hospitality company. - 30–40% reduction in calls to the in-house service desk for a large Finnish retail chain. - Centralized visibility, analytics, and reporting across WAN, LAN, and WLAN for multiple customers. - Easier compliance with industry regulations for a global insurance brokerage. These outcomes are enabled by Fortinet’s integrated design, including purpose-built ASICs to accelerate network and security functions, and tight integration across LAN, WLAN, and WWAN. This helps organizations reimagine their WAN edge as a unified, secure, and cloud-ready platform rather than a collection of separate devices.

Fortinet Secure SD-WAN is positioned as the foundation for a transition to Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and, ultimately, Fortinet Universal SASE. Here’s how it supports that journey and a hybrid-work strategy: 1. Unified WAN edge for branches and users Fortinet Secure SD-WAN consolidates SD-WAN, NGFW, advanced routing, and ZTNA gateway capabilities on a single platform. This unified WAN edge makes it easier to: - Apply consistent security policies across branches, remote users, and cloud access. - Segment traffic and enforce zero-trust principles closer to users and digital assets. 2. Cloud-delivered security for hybrid workers Through FortiSASE points of presence (PoPs) on the Fortinet Universal SASE platform, organizations can: - Deliver cloud-based SD-WAN and security services to users working from anywhere. - Provide secure, optimized access to SaaS and cloud applications without forcing traffic back through a central data center. 3. Simplified SD-Branch and multi-cloud connectivity Fortinet Secure SD-WAN helps organizations: - Simplify SD-Branch by tightly integrating LAN, WLAN, and WWAN at the hardware, software, and management levels. - Use a single virtual machine (VM) to enable secure, seamless connectivity to, within, and across multiple clouds, reducing footprint and complexity. 4. Real-world proof points Customer stories in the ebook show how this approach plays out in practice: - A global hospitality company used Fortinet Secure SD-WAN to accelerate network and security convergence across 4,000 locations, improving team efficiency by 60% and user satisfaction by 30%. - A Romanian bank leveraged centralized management and analytics to support cloud and hybrid services while cutting application response times by 50%. - A global consulting and engineering provider replaced disparate networking and security systems with a unified FortiGate WAN edge, reducing vendor sprawl and saving $1 million in three years. By converging networking and security and providing both on-premises and cloud-delivered options, Fortinet Secure SD-WAN helps organizations reshape their network architecture for SASE, while maintaining control over performance, security, and cost as their workforce becomes more distributed.