Computerworld

Fortinet drives SDN security portfolio with Equinix alliance

"As more and more enterprise customers incorporate cloud deployments into their overall infrastructure, there is a fundamental effect on how network security is designed and deployed."

Fortinet has formed an alliance with Equinix, joining the Equinix Cloud Exchange to provide enterprises and service providers with security solutions across multiple cloud architectures.

"As more and more enterprise customers incorporate cloud deployments into their overall infrastructure, there is a fundamental effect on how network security is designed and deployed,” says Chris Sharp, vice president of cloud innovation, Equinix.

“As businesses move more and more sensitive data to cloud infrastructures, the addition of Fortinet’s proven, carrier-class solutions to our Cloud Exchange will enable large global customers to deploy a robust virtualised security infrastructure without compromising performance.”

Fortinet’s high capacity firewall technologies are designed to deliver security functionality, throughput and ultra-low latency, while leveraging the benefits of Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV).

The Equinix Cloud Exchange meanwhile is an advanced interconnection solution enabling on-demand and direct access to multiple clouds and networks inside Equinix IBX data centres.

By bringing together cloud service providers with enterprises, Sharp believes the Equinix Cloud Exchange gives cloud users “direct access” to the services required to build hybrid cloud solutions.

"Our FortiPrivate Cloud and FortiGate and cloud/SaaS management solutions offer the unique ability to integrate seamlessly into the Equinix Cloud Exchange,” adds Matthew Pley, vice president, carriers and service providers, Fortinet.

“Combined, they offer a significant opportunity for customers to pick cloud services best suited for their respective applications, workloads and business needs.

“Security is top of mind for anyone moving to more efficient -- yet more complex -- cloud environments.

“We are excited to offer Equinix Cloud Exchange customers the peace of mind in knowing in that their critical assets are continually being protected, regardless of their cloud environments.”