Fortinet reinforces OT network security platform

The company also added ruggedized switches for customers looking to utilize 5G connectivity to industrial sites. The FortiExtender Rugged 511G features embedded Wi-Fi 6 and new eSIM capabilities, removing the need for physical SIM cards.

“When connected to a FortiGate NGFW, a FortiSwitch essentially becomes a secure switch, with firewall protections and security policies implemented at each port and deep visibility provided for each asset, traffic, user, and activity enabled through the switch,” Shah wrote.

The company built out its NGFW offerings as well, adding the FortiGate Rugged 70G and FortiGate Rugged 50G-5G to provide advanced security and networking performance thanks to proprietary security and networking ASICs, according to Shah. “These devices also have an advanced digital I/O port. This feature allows the firewall to automate and secure digital and physical processes on site,” Shah wrote.

On the software side, Fortinet has enhanced the FortiGuard OT Security Service to deepen visibility and asset discovery capabilities.

“OT asset owners can now add known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs) information to Internet-of-Things and OT vulnerabilities in the user and device store. They can also display KEV counts and warnings on the GUI Asset Identity Center page and see OT protocol bandwidth traffic and inbound connections. These enhancements to the OT Security Service can help OT security teams better understand the assets, traffic, and users on their OT networks,” Shah wrote.

Other enhancements let customers garner information about security threats and simplify compliance reporting for OT security teams, according to Shah.