Fortinet Unveils Pioneering Wi-Fi 7 Security

Fortinet®, among global leaders in cybersecurity driving the convergence of networking and security, has unveiled its groundbreaking secure networking solution seamlessly integrated with Wi-Fi 7. Introducing FortiAP 441K, Fortinet’s inaugural Wi-Fi 7 access point, delivering heightened speed and capacity, alongside the innovative FortiSwitch T1024, purpose-built with 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GE) access and 90W Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology to meet Wi-Fi 7 bandwidth requirements. These cutting-edge devices provide the advanced wireless performance demanded by today’s enterprises and seamlessly integrate with AIOps and FortiGuard AI-Powered Security Services as part of the Fortinet Secure Networking solution, offering unparalleled security, visibility, and control.

John Maddison, Chief Marketing Officer and EVP, Product Strategy at Fortinet, emphasized, “Fortinet is the sole vendor converging networking technology and AI-powered security into a unified, holistic solution for wired and wireless LAN connectivity and protection. With this announcement, we are empowering customers with the latest wireless technology breakthrough, enabling them to leverage Wi-Fi 7’s enhanced throughput while ensuring the security and efficiency of their wireless traffic.”

Empowering Customers with Wi-Fi 7
Enterprises are keen to embrace the increased speed and bandwidth of Wi-Fi 7 to support data-intensive applications and wireless devices in their networks. However, the expansion of the attack surface with new technologies like Wi-Fi 7 raises security concerns, and traditional security solutions may struggle to inspect and secure the surge in data-rich traffic. In response to this challenge, Fortinet’s comprehensive Secure Networking solution supports Wi-Fi 7, providing enterprise-grade protection, AI-powered security, and AIOps automation capabilities to safeguard wireless traffic effectively.

New FortiAP 441K and FortiSwitch T1024
The FortiAP 441K and FortiSwitch T1024 represent the latest innovations within the Fortinet Secure Networking solution, converging networking technologies with AI-powered security across all edges. Leveraging the Wi-Fi 7 Qualcomm® Networking Pro 1220 Platform, the FortiAP 441K offers benefits such as up to 2x faster connection speeds, accelerated data transfer with 4096 QAM support, lower latency through 320MHz channels, and enhanced load balancing and reduced interference for resilient and reliable connections.

Optimizing Wi-Fi 7 Benefits
To fully capitalize on Wi-Fi 7 benefits, organizations need to ensure their underlying network infrastructure can accommodate the increased speed and capacity demands. The new FortiSwitch T1024, a 10 GE access switch with 90W PoE, is specifically designed to support Wi-Fi 7–enabled APs. When used together, the new AP and switch enable organizations to harness the superior speed, power, and performance of Wi-Fi 7, ensuring an exceptional experience for all users and devices.

Fortinet Secure Networking Solution
The Fortinet Secure Networking solution, an integral part of Fortinet’s cybersecurity platform—the Fortinet Security Fabric—provides seamless convergence of networking devices with advanced security. This integration allows customers to utilize FortiGate Next-Generation Firewalls as wireless controllers, benefiting from FortiGuard AI-Powered Security Services, including advanced malware protection, sandboxing, and web filtering. Additionally, customers can leverage FortiAIOps for real-time insights into potential network issues and automation of manual tasks across WAN and LAN. With the introduction of Wi-Fi 7, the solution delivers these capabilities with industry-leading wireless speed and capacity.