The purpose of this blog is to provide a list of managed services providers for Fortinet FortiGate Firewalls. In this article, I will go over some of the critical management services that FortiGate partners should be providing in their MSP offerings. I will also discuss SLA considerations, what you should do about term agreements, how to address change management, and fight automatic price increases. You should read this blog if you are looking at managed firewall services because it will help you select the right vendor and negotiate contracts.
Management Services Offered by FortiGate Partners
The items listed below are commonly included services with managed firewall services.
- Configuration Management: Proficient MSPs should provide seamless configuration and management of FortiGate Firewalls. This includes initial setup, ongoing monitoring, and optimization to ensure maximum security efficacy.
- Continuous Monitoring and Threat Response: A reliable MSP should offer real-time monitoring for potential threats, proactive threat identification, and immediate response protocols to mitigate risks effectively. MSPs will typically leverage Fortinet’s SOCaaS offering and provide their services as remediation to anything SOCaaS brings to them.
- Patch Management and Firmware Updates: Regular patches and firmware updates are crucial to maintaining the security posture of FortiGate Firewalls. A competent MSP should ensure timely updates without compromising network stability.
- Performance Optimization: MSPs should optimize the performance of FortiGate Firewalls to maximize their efficiency without sacrificing security measures.
Common SLAs and Contractual Considerations:
- Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Look for MSPs offering robust SLAs that define service expectations, response times for issues, uptime guarantees, and penalties for service failures.
- Term Agreements: Consider the terms of the contract carefully. Flexible agreements that allow adjustments based on evolving needs are preferable to rigid, long-term commitments. Remember, how the MSP negotiates will set the tone for the rest of the relationship. All managed services providers will want your business and should be flexible with any term agreements. Many Managed Services Providers are seeking three-year deals, but be wary. It can often be tricky and expensive to exit contracts, so those who are more flexible should be more preferred.
Addressing Change Management and Price Increases
- Change Management Protocols: Ensure that your MSP has well-defined change management procedures in place. Transparent communication regarding network changes is crucial for security and operational continuity. If you add a firewall, is it automatically covered? What if a branch office gets shut down? Are you beholden to paying the same price of the contract or do you get to remove it and pay less? These are questions you should seek an answer to.
- Mitigating Automatic Price Increases: Seek clarity on pricing structures and guard against unexpected cost escalations. Clear communication and negotiations about potential price increases are essential to prevent surprises. Is there an annual price increase that is automatically applied to your contract? How are price increases calculated? What if you add FortiManager, does it reduce the cost? Again, these are questions you should seek an answer to.
List of Managed Services Providers for Fortinet FortiGate Firewalls
The following is a list of managed services providers who offer managed services around Fortinet Firewalls:
- 11:11 Systems | Cloud, Connectivity & Security (1111systems.com)
- AHEAD
- Ascend Technologies (teamascend.com)
- BlueAlly
- Capgemini – Get The Future You Want
- Spectrum: Internet, Mobile, Cable TV and Home Phone
- Comcast Business – Masergy | Managed SD-WAN On A Software Defined Network Platform
- Netsync Home | Networking, Collaboration, and Security Solutions
- IT Consulting & Cybersecurity Solutions Provider in Tampa | NTG (ntgit.com)
The best and most current up to date source for finding a partner is going to be Fortinet’s website, as they publish and list several managed services providers they partner with: Fortinet Partner Program | Directory.
Conclusion
Finding the right managed service provider is no easy task. It will take several rounds of interviews of at least three different MSPs. You should be prepared with a matrix of sorts to vet out each one according to your standards and needs.