Honda New Zealand deploys FortiGate appliances for broad network security protection

(10/09/2010)

Honda New Zealand has deployed FortiGate-310B appliances as well as Fortinet’s analysis and management appliances, FortiAnalyzer™ and FortiManager™. The FortiGate appliances are being used for broad network security protection including firewall, antivirus, Web content filtering, intrusion prevention and SSL VPN functionality. In addition, franchises can securely connect via SSL VPN tunnels back to headquarters to access eLearning videos rather than using unsecure memory sticks.

After looking at other vendors including Juniper, Cisco and SonicWall, Fortinet was selected for the product line’s ease-of-use, multi-threat approach to network security and easy reporting on network usage.

Using an MPLS network provided by a third party was proving to be extremely costly for Honda New Zealand. As part of a larger network infrastructure overhaul, the company decided to look at best of breed vendors for multiple parts of their network including security.

“Since deploying the Fortinet solution, we’ve reduced communications costs by nine times because we no longer have to pay for an expensive MPLS network,” said Simon Taylor, project manager for Honda New Zealand. “In addition, Fortinet made it extremely easy for us to add new functionalities because we don’t have to buy new appliances.”

Two FortiGate-310B appliances are deployed in high availability active/passive mode and are located at the company’s Auckland headquarters. The appliances are providing firewall, antivirus, Web content filtering, intrusion prevention protection as well as SSL VPN connectivity and all Honda New Zealand corporate data, including information from the used car Website, passes through the FortiGate-310B appliances.

A new aspect of the Fortinet deployment is the portal for eLearning. Previously, employees and franchises would use memory sticks and DVDs in order to access educational videos. Since deploying the FortiGate appliances, these employees and franchises can now create an SSL VPN tunnel back to headquarters to access the videos. Not only is time saved, but the threat of viruses and videos getting into the wrong hands is now diminished.

FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer are reducing management complexity and allow for much more detailed analysis of network usage as well as easily and automatically creating monthly and ad hoc network reports. These reports provide management teams with greater visibility into employee usage on company network infrastructure. Un-monitored computers in public areas are set up for employee personal use during lunch hours or break time.

“The Fortinet appliances have allowed us to deploy one appliance and use it for multiple functionalities,” said Simon Gould-Thorpe, CIO at Honda New Zealand. “As part of a globally ranked company, it was imperative for us to have the best products available on the market. Honda’s network is only as strong as its weakest link and we’re very confident in what Fortinet has provided us.”

“Worldwide enterprises are increasingly turning to Fortinet to protect their most critical assets,” said Kevin Dyson, vice president for Fortinet Australian and New Zealand. “By enabling an enterprise to pick and choose which network security functionality they’d like to deploy, and, all within a single appliance, Fortinet is reducing capital and operational expenditure costs associated with protecting the network infrastructure.”

Honda New Zealand is currently deploying either a FortiGate-51B appliance or FortiGate-110C appliance, depending on the network requirements at each dealership, at all of its 35 nationwide dealerships. The appliances will allow dealerships employees to securely and efficiently connect back to Honda New Zealand’s headquarters as well as to help protect the dealership network from malware and network attacks.

Fortinet’s FortiGate systems are ASIC-accelerated security appliances that integrate essential security and network functionalities such as firewall, VPN, intrusion prevention, Web filtering, antivirus, anti-spam, data leakage protection, application control, traffic shaping and WAN acceleration. All FortiGate systems are kept up-to-date automatically by Fortinet’s FortiGuard® Network, which helps ensure protection against the most damaging, content-based threats from email and Web traffic such as viruses, worms, intrusions, other unwanted network traffic and more - around the clock and around the world.

Related topics:  Internet and Web security   Network Security   VPN 

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