Executive Overview

CommScope RUCKUS vs. Fortinet

August 2021
What Fortinet is saying
Fortinet makes the following positioning statements: “Fortinet empowers its customers with intelligent, seamless protection across the expanding attack surface and the power
to take on ever-increasing performance requirements of the borderless network”; “Only the Fortinet Security Fabric architecture can deliver security without compromise to
address the most critical security challenges, whether in networked, application, cloud, or mobile environments.”

Fortinet Security Fabric – powered by FortiOS

Fortinet’s messaging on key differentiators of the platform Three Key Pillars

• “Broad visibility and protection of the entire digital attack surface to better
manage risk”
• “Integrated solutions that reduce management complexity and share threat
intelligence”
• “Automated self-healing networks with Al-driven security for fast and efficient Zero Trust Access Adaptive Cloud
Security-Driven Networking
operations”

Fortinet Strengths Fortinet Weaknesses

• Increased spending on cybersecurity globally works well for the Fortinet’s
extensive portfolio of cybersecurity products and solutions for Enterprise, SMB
and Service Provider customers.
• Fortinet was named a leader in the 2020 Garner Magic Quadrant for Network
Firewalls and and WAN Edge Infrastructure.
• FortiGate Next Generation Firewalls (NGFW).
• SD-WAN offerings with WAN and Branch protection for security sensitive
organizations.
• Leading with security Fortinet can upsell wireless APs and network switches
• Fabric Management Center with FortiMonitor and FortiAIOps monitoring and
automation.
• Availability of Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) capabilities within FortiOS.
• Fully integrated cloud-delivered Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution.
• Fortinet security does not come without vulnerabilities in its products, with
multiple Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) logged, this may create
a concern for customers.
• While well known for its network security products, much less so for WLAN.
Global market share for Enterprise Wireless (Indoor and Outdoor) is estimated
at 2.7% by revenue in Q1, 2021.
• Some wireless technology is legacy, based on Meru acquisition in 2015, with
Virtual Cell, also known as channel blanket, having limited success.
• Limited selection of outdoor wireless Access Points.
• FortiAP Wireless APs are not easiest to deploy out of the box.
• Software for wireless is not very user friendly.
• Confusing selection of cloud management product and portal offerings.
• Very small market share world-wide in Campus Ethernet Switching.

Key Ruckus Advantages for End Customers

• Better Wi-Fi, even in the the most challenging environments.
• Better real-world application performance, for every client.
• Wi-Fi that’s simpler to deploy, simpler to optimize and simpler to manage.
• Technology Innovations
o Advanced wireless technologies for better performance and coverage e.g., BeamFlex, ChannelFly, SmartCast, AirtimeDecongestion.
o Unique switching technologies to reduce management touch-points e.g., Advanced Stacking; Campus Fabric.
• Analytics/AI RUCKUS Analytics uses AI to provide insights and recommendations to manage your wired and wireless network.
• Scalability/Flexibility
o Multi-tenancy and scale for MSPs. SmartZone scales to 30,000 APs or 6,000 switches.
o RUCKUS SmartZone, RUCKUS Cloud and RUCKUS Unleashed introduces integrated wired + wireless management from one platform.
o Switches can be used standalone, stacked, or Campus Fabric. Switches are upgradeable and scale to pay-as-you-grow.
o The RUCKUS IoT Controller integrates a large IoT ecosystem into a CommScope RUCKUS wired/wireless network.
• Secure unlimited devices per user easily
o RUCKUS’s patented Dynamic PSK, with bound and unbound DPSK options, offers a powerful BYOD strategy that combines ease of use with device tracking and
accountability.
o RUCKUS Cloudpath allows clients to onboard, and it further strengthens security with usage of certificates.
o With Cloudpath and eDPSK support RUCKUS has robust solution for devices that utilize MAC randomization.
• Reduced downtime and risk
o SmartZone supports new AP hardware without upgrading the entire controller, reducing the need for redundancy and downtime. ICX complements with active :
active redundancy and in-service stack updates (ISSU).

Key Ruckus Advantages for Partners

• Solutions integration: All CommScope RUCKUS products are integrated together, and support APIs for integration with third-vendor solutions.
• RUCKUS Cloud and SmartZone for MSPs: Sell wired and wireless solutions multiple times. Add RUCKUS Analytics, RUCKUS IoT, upgradeable switches, Cloudpath and SPoT
for upsell.
• Less training: You do not need to get trained in a multitude of legacy brands and outdated technology. CommScope RUCKUS provides online training and partners have free
access to CWNA training.
• Partner opportunities: CommScope RUCKUS vertical focus programs, such as Hospitality (HSP) and Large Public Venues (LPV) increase profitability for your hard-won
expertise in specific areas.

1 PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL © 2020 CommScope, Inc.

 Executive Overview
CommScope RUCKUS vs. Fortinet

August 2021

Fortinet Products and Solutions by Segment

Cloud based management Security for Cloud Applications Zero Trust Access Network Security Mobile Provider
and Email
• ZTNA solution • FortiGate NGFW and Secure SD-WAN • SD-WAN
• FortiCloud™
• FortiCASB • FortiNAC • FortiGuard Security Services • Cloud Security
Suite of Cloud Portals
Cloud Access Security Broker • FortiAuthneticator • FortiSwitch • Network Security
• FortiGate Cloud
• FortiMail • FortiAP
FortiGate
• FortiSASE
SD-WAN
FortiSwitch Cloud Security
FortiAP
Communications SP
• FortiCloud Premium • FortiGate-VM
• FortiLAN™ Cloud Security Operations • HQ Network Security
• Fortinet Products on as BYOL or PAYG
End point security on all leading cloud providers
• FortiAnalyzer
• Application security products
Office networking infrastructure • Forti SIEM
• FortiClient™ suite Event Management Managed Service for MSSP
• FortiClient Cloud User and Entity Behavior
• FortiGate NGFW Entry-Level Agent for Security Fabric Security as a Service Analytics • Managed SD-WAN for SP
• FortiAP wireless Access Points Secure Remote Access • Managed SOC Service
• FortiSwitch Ethernet switches Endpoint security module • FortiGuard subscriptions • Managed Cloud Security

SMB Enterprise Service Provider

Wired, Wireless and Cloud Product Positioning*

Fortinet
With the FortiSwitch Ethernet switch family, Fortinet targets threat-conscious
enterprise customers, as it offers integration with Fortinet Security Fabric. The
product line includes Entry level, Mid-range, Premium and Aggregation switches.
FortiSwitch products have very small market share in Ethernet campus switch market.
Ruckus Solution
RUCKUS offers complete range of ICX7000-series switches that include Access,
Aggregation and Core models. These provide the building blocks for enterprise
campus networks. RUCKUS ICX switches support proven solutions e.g., stacking - all
ICX switches can stack up up to 12 units; Campus fabric; Multi-Chassis Trunking.

The FortiAP Wireless Access Points product portfolio includes a selection of WiFi 6,
WiFi 5, indoor and outdoor APs. The WiFi 6 FortiAP APs include a radio dedicated for
scanning and a BLE radio. All APs are divided into two types - “Standard” and
“Universal” APs. Standard APs can be managed by integrated wireless controller that
runs in FortiGate and by FortiAP Cloud. Universal APs can be also managed by
FortiWLC. The FortiWLC (ex Meru platform) is available as a virtual appliance, and it
can provide a capability for “Virtual Cell” deployment i.e. all APs operate on same
channel and appear as single radio to clients. Fortinet also offers FortiWLM product,
which is a wireless manager that comes as either physical or virtual appliance, it can
manage FortiGate connected APs.
Fortinet cloud management options include a variety of offerings (portals) with
unique product names. There is FortiCloud™, the account is free, but a license is
required for each solution. FortiCloud Premium requires annual licensing. For
FortiGate, SD-WAN, FortiAP and FortiSwitch management, analytics and reporting the
FortiGate Cloud can be used. It is offered with subscription or as a free version with
fewer features. Additionally, there is FortiLAN Cloud that can manage APs with and
without subscription, and switches with subscription. For management of standalone
APs only there is FortiAP Cloud management.
There is a lot of flexibility for Wi-Fi architecture selection i.e., RUCKUS SmartZone
controllers either as physical or virtual appliances, with high scalability, active / active
clustering and distributed data plane options, RUCKUS Unleashed, RUCKUS Cloud. All
provide a unified management for wired and wireless. The Wi-Fi AP portfolio is
extensive, with wide selection of Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 indoor and outdoor Access
Points. These APs offer industry leading performance. Most RUCKUS APs either
include BLE/Zigbee radios or support pluggable modules for creating converged
network solution for IoT.
RUCKUS Cloud provides converged management for RUCKUS ICX switches, RUCKUS
Access Points. It comes with premium network analytics option that uses AI and
patented ML techniques. RUCKUS Cloud is a subscription-based management-as-
service platform. With a lot of focus on ease-of-use, Zero-Touch AP and switch
provisioning, RUCKUS Cloud makes rollout of new networks and ongoing network
administration simple. There is pre-integration with several WISPr partners, MSP/VAR
dashboard for multi-customer management. To automate tasks RUCKUS Cloud
supports REST API and Open API.

Product Mapping*
FortiAP with FortiAP Cloud, FortiWLC, FortiGate with integrated controller RUCKUS APs with RUCKUS Cloud, RUCKUS SZ or RUCKUS Unleashed

FortiAP Cloud (FortiLAN Cloud) RUCKUS Cloud

FortiSwitch with FortiLAN Cloud, FortiGate or FortiGate Cloud RUCKUS ICX switches with RUCKUS Cloud, RUCKUS SZ, Ruckus Unleashed

FortiWLC Wireless Controller RUCKUS virtual SmartZone controller

FortiGate with integrated wireless controller** RUCKUS SZ, RUCKUS Virtual SmartZone, RUCKUS Unleashed

Note: For the Fortinet Next Generation Firewalls, products for Security of cloud applications, Email, SD-WAN, RUCKUS does not offer directly competing products
*Wired, Wireless and Cloud management product lines only
** Wireless controller and switch management functions only. FortiGate Cloud can be used for FortiGate management.

2 PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL © 2020 CommScope, Inc.