Fortinet bolsters unified threat management tools

Fortinet has announced the release of FortiOS 4.0

Fortinet today announced a major overhaul of its FortiOS operating system, designed to provide application control, data leakage protection, wide area network optimisation and Secure Sockets Layer traffic inspection to all Fortinet appliances.

FortiOS 4.0 (PDF) combats the growing threat in the current downturn from e-crime, and the evolving nature of user behaviour, according to the firm.

The new operating system will provide Fortinet's FortiGate appliance customers with improved security, and greater control over local users who are communicating with an increasing number of web-based applications.

"We are finding ourselves in a perfect storm as we launch the latest operating system for the FortiGate product line. We have a product that has cost efficiency as part of its DNA, and an environment that's looking for more ways to maximise every dollar spent without sacrificing security," said Ken Xie, founder and president of Fortinet.

"The confluence of these factors points to the need for a powerful yet fiscally prudent security solution for customers who are, more than ever, pressured to do more with less."

The wide area network optimisation feature will give network managers the ability to achieve optimal network performance, and to integrate this capability with their overall network security infrastructure, said Fortinet.