Duo Security vs Fortinet: What are the differences?

Introduction

Duo Security and Fortinet are both cybersecurity companies that offer various solutions to protect organizations from threats. However, there are key differences between these two providers that set them apart in terms of their offerings and capabilities.

1. Multi-factor Authentication (MFA): Duo Security specializes in MFA solutions, which provide an additional layer of security by requiring users to verify their identities through multiple factors such as passwords, biometrics, or hardware tokens. This helps prevent unauthorized access even if one factor, such as a password, is compromised. Fortinet, on the other hand, offers a broader range of cybersecurity solutions, including MFA, but it is not their primary focus.

2. Unified Security Fabric: Fortinet is known for its Unified Security Fabric, an integrated and comprehensive security architecture that provides end-to-end protection across various devices, networks, and applications. This approach allows organizations to have a centralized view and control over their security infrastructure. Duo Security offers a more focused range of solutions and does not provide the same level of integration across multiple security components.

3. Network Security vs. Identity Security: Fortinet primarily focuses on network security, providing solutions to protect networks from threats such as malware, viruses, and intrusions. They offer firewalls, VPNs, and other network security tools. Duo Security, on the other hand, specializes in identity security, emphasizing secure access and authentication solutions. Their offerings include MFA, single sign-on (SSO), and identity management tools.

4. Vendor Ecosystem: Fortinet has a wide range of partnerships and integrations with other technology vendors, allowing their customers to enhance their security infrastructure with various third-party products. Duo Security also has a partner network, but the ecosystem is not as extensive as Fortinet's. This difference in vendor partnerships can affect the availability of integration options and flexibility in selecting additional security solutions.

5. Deployment Options: Duo Security offers both cloud-based and on-premises deployment options, giving organizations flexibility in choosing the deployment model that best suits their needs and security requirements. Fortinet, on the other hand, primarily focuses on on-premises deployments, although they also offer cloud-based solutions. This difference in deployment options can impact organizations that prefer or require a specific deployment model.

6. Market Position and Customers: Fortinet is a larger and more established cybersecurity company with a wide range of customers across different industries and sizes. They have a significant presence in the enterprise market and cater to the needs of both small businesses and large enterprises. Duo Security, on the other hand, has a strong foothold in the small and medium-sized business (SMB) market and is known for its user-friendly and easy-to-implement solutions.

In Summary, Duo Security differentiates itself by specializing in MFA and identity security solutions, while Fortinet offers a broader range of security solutions with a focus on network security and an integrated Unified Security Fabric.