FortiGate vs Palo Alto Firewall – Which Is Better for Businesses in Malaysia?

FortiGate and Palo Alto Networks are both industry-leading Next-Generation Firewalls. This in-depth comparison by SYSIT explains the real-world differences in performance, scalability, cost, and operations to help Malaysian organisations make a confident firewall decision.

Overview

Both FortiGate and Palo Alto deliver strong security and advanced threat prevention. However, they are built with different architectural philosophies that directly impact performance, cost efficiency, and operational complexity—especially in Malaysia.

What Is FortiGate?

FortiGate is Fortinet’s Next-Generation Firewall platform, known for high performance using purpose-built security processors and tight integration of security, networking, and SD-WAN.

  • ASIC-based architecture for high throughput
  • Integrated SD-WAN and Zero Trust capabilities
  • Scales from SME to enterprise

What Is Palo Alto Firewall?

Palo Alto Networks firewalls are recognised for very strong application-layer inspection and advanced threat detection, commonly deployed in large enterprises and regulated industries.

  • Industry-leading App-ID technology
  • Advanced threat prevention (WildFire)
  • Designed for security-mature organisations

Performance & Architecture

Area FortiGate Palo Alto
Architecture ASIC-based (SPU) CPU-based
Firewall Throughput Very high High
Threat Protection Performance Minimal degradation Noticeable impact under load
SSL/TLS Inspection Hardware-accelerated CPU-intensive

SYSIT Insight: For most Malaysian organisations, FortiGate delivers higher real-world throughput per ringgit when full security inspection is enabled.

Security Capabilities

Capability FortiGate Palo Alto
Application Control Strong Industry-leading
Intrusion Prevention Enterprise-grade Enterprise-grade
Ransomware Defence Layered, network-centric Advanced detection

Which Firewall Should You Choose?

Choose FortiGate if:

  • You want enterprise security with better cost control
  • You operate multiple branches
  • You need SD-WAN and firewall in one platform
  • You value performance under full inspection

Choose Palo Alto if:

  • You are a large enterprise
  • Security budget is not a constraint
  • You have a dedicated security operations team
  • Compliance requirements are extremely strict

SYSIT Recommendation (Malaysia)

Based on real deployments in Malaysia, SYSIT primarily recommends FortiGate for SMEs and mid-enterprises due to its scalability, SD-WAN integration, and long-term operational efficiency.

Need a Neutral Firewall Recommendation?

Talk to SYSIT for an independent FortiGate vs Palo Alto assessment tailored to your environment, budget, and growth plans in Malaysia.

Request a Firewall Assessment