Why a Fortinet Partner is Way Better than Buying Direct

When it comes to cybersecurity products, like Fortinet solutions, many businesses are left to make a simple decision: buy from the OEM or work with a Fortinet authorized partner. In this article, we will explain why – by working with a Fortinet reseller – you will experience better value, faster help and other financial benefits, in comparison to buying from Fortinet. If you are serious about investing in cybersecurity wisely, you will want to read this.

Fortinet partner discounts, Price Reductions, Quicker Support—these words matter in your decision making and budgetary concerns. Let’s dive right in.

1. OEM Direct Model

Purchasing directly from the Fortinet OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) looks easy on the surface. You call/write/click into Fortinet, order the product or license, then wait for it to be delivered. Sounds good? There’s much that can be, but with hidden pitfalls.

• Limited customization: When selling to OEMs, it’s largely a one-size-fits-all proposition. I accept that you receive pretty much cookie cutter product packages with not much of an option to tailor.
• Static pricing: Fortinet’s direct pricing is stiff and not very adaptable. Discounts or deals are few and far between.
• Longer support turnaround time: Support is available, however, direct via OEM customers of Fortinet often wait longer and receive less personal support.
• Not as local: The OEM may not have understood your time zone, didn’t get your local/regional compliance nuances.

OEM direct: Speaking of referring to the website directly, this is effective because you get to connect with the manufacturer, but it can sometimes end up feeling more transactional and less consultative. You buy the product, but that’s where the journey ends.

2. Partner Ecosystem Explained

This is where the authorised Fortinet partners come in. Fortinet collaborates with a community of trusted global partners to amplify the power of our cloud-native, software-driven solutions. These business partners deliver much more than just the selling of hardware and licenses – they provide deep expertise and value.

Here’s what a Fortinet partner has in the closet:

• Personalized guidance: Partners evaluate your specific environment and recommend the Fortinet solutions that best meet your business and budget requirements.
• Integration services: Work closely with the onboarding team to develop and deploy the Fortinet solution into your environment.
• Custom pricing and packages: Authorized partners may have unique packages or pricing not accessible through direct channels.
• Local support: Partners are local to regional based and understand your individual compliance, language and business culture.
• Additional services: Training, consulting, monitoring and patch management, can be offered by partners.

Partners need to be seen as your cybersecurity trusted advisors, not just as purveyors.

3. Financial and Technical Assistance

A Fortinet partner does more than just provide better service—it can save you money and tech headaches.

Financial Benefits:

• Discounted: Volume pricing for partners means partners can often give you a discount.
• Packaged solutions: Rather than having to purchase individual hardware, licenses and services, solution providers combine them into bundles for cost savings.
• Flexible financing: A variety of partners offer leasing, subscription options or payment plans.
• No hidden costs: Partners uncover hidden costs in deployments and save you from surprises.
• Better ROI: Partner delivered successful Fortinet deployments will give you a better return on your investment.

Technical Benefits:

• Accelerated rollout: Partners install and configure the software, so there’s no slowdown.
• Pro-active support: A lot of partners provide 24*7 monitoring and fast incident response.
• Knowledge sharing: They are kept informed about Fortinet technologies and compliance issues and pass on this information to you.
• Tailored solutions: Your Fortinet configuration will be tailored to your industry and size, making sure it meets your requirements.
• Less downtime: Being able to count on your partner means every time there is an issue it’s taken care of before it impacts your organization.

4. Case Study: 24×7 Support SLA

And for an example in the wild that exemplifies why your Fortinet partner matters, here is a brief one.

A midsize financial firm bought Fortinet equipment directly. When a cyberattack surged late Friday night, their inhouse team had difficulty obtaining prompt OEM support. The wait times slowed down mitigation, resulting in downtime to the company and eroded customer trust.

Switching to a Fortinet partner that provides a signed 24×7 SLA (Service Level Agreement) made all the difference. The partner provided:

• Around-the-clock monitoring
• Rapid on-demand incident response during mutually agreed SLA timeframes
• Standard vulnerability scans
• Monthly health reporting and patching calendar

Because of that proactive action, there was no downtime, and the security posture of the platform has never been better. The company dodged thousands in potential breach cost and got its employees back to work.

This is just one illustration of how Fortinet Partner’s faster and tailored support trumps OEM’s direct every time.

5. Partner Requirements Checklist

Selecting the correct Fortinet Partner is so important. Here’s a guide to help you make the best choice:

• Authorized status: Ensure they are a certified Fortinet partner.
• Experience: Seek partners who have experience in your industry and at your business size.
• Support services: Check out SLAs, hours of availability, and escalation paths.
• Customer references: Request for success stories or case studies that resemble your needs.
• Technical certifications: Confirm that their engineers are certified in the Fortinet product.
• Value-added services: See if they provide training, consulting or managed security services.
• Local presence: An agency who is located close to you can respond more quickly and knows your market.
• Flexible pricing models: Seek out partners that can offer discounts, bundles, or leases.

Employing this checklist can help avoid surprises and increase the likelihood of success with your Fortinet deployment.

Wrapping Up

There are a lot of benefits to working with a Fortinet partner rather than purchasing direct from the OEM, such as increased value, cost savings, and getting access to support more quickly. The partner ecosystem was created with businesses like yours to ensure that you can take advantage of Fortinet’s premier cybersecurity technology. You’re not just purchasing gear — you’re investing in expertise, responsiveness and long-term protection.

If you’re looking for your Fortinet projects to go smoother, work smarter with an authorized Fortinet partner. You won’t regret it, for sure.

For the best cybersecurity defense, a strategic relationship with the experts who have the experience, adaptability and oversight required to maximize your Fortinet investment, and accelerate and maintain your security posture for the long haul, is key.

Invest wisely. Choose a Fortinet partner.