Fortinet, a global leader in broad, integrated and automated cybersecurity solutions, announced at its global partner and user conference, Accelerate 18, the evolution of its Security Fabric architecture with the release of FortiOS 6.0, the world's most deployed network security operating system. With more than 200 new features and capabilities, enterprises will benefit from new levels of security operations automation and advanced protections for their expanding digital attack surfaces.

Michael Xie, founder, president and chief technology officer at Fortinet says, "Digital transformation is creating new operating and service delivery models that provide undeniable value to users through technologies such as IoT, mobile computing and cloud-based services, generating a vast digital attack surface. As the speed and scale of cyber threats expands, security must take on its own transformation by integrating into all areas of digital technology and be able to translate user intent into automated business response. FortiOS 6.0 delivers hundreds of new features and capabilities that were designed to provide the broad visibility, integrated threat intelligence and automated response required for digital business."

The Fortinet Security Fabric is an integrated and automated security framework designed to protect today's dynamic networks. It provides the broad visibility, integrated detection of advanced threats, and automated response, combined with the continuous trust assessment required to secure today's digital business.

Jonathan Merrell, chief information officer at Alorica said that, "We chose Fortinet in our move to an SD-WAN based network because of their combination of cutting-edge networking capabilities and world-class security, all through one management interface for both LAN access and SD-WAN. And most importantly, with Fortinet's Security Fabric, we know we'll stay protected against evolving security risks from the local area network to the cloud, thanks to proactive threat detection and mitigation. With Fortinet as our partner and its commitment to security innovation as demonstrated with its FortiOS 6.0 release, we know we'll have secure power for today and be powerful enough for tomorrow."

Available in Q1 2018, the FortiOS 6.0 release provides critical capabilities required to secure the growing attack surface spurred by digital transformation. Some key new features and capabilities across the Security Fabric solution areas include:

Network Security:

• Enhanced SD-WAN path controller measures application transactions for business-critical applications. These granular transactions are key in achieving better performance for SaaS, VoIP and other business applications with built-in automated fail-over capabilities. New one-touch VPN and zero-touch deployment further reduce complexity and rapidly enable enterprise branches.

Multi-Cloud Security:

• Expanded Cloud Connectors within the Security Fabric now include visibility of multiple clouds, spanning private cloud connectors (support for VMware NSX, Cisco ACI and Nokia Nuage), public cloud connectors (support for AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and Oracle Cloud), and SaaS clouds with CASB connectors (support for Salesforce.com, Office 365, Dropbox, Box, AWS and more). 
• FortiCASB 1.2 delivers Fabric integration with AV and ForitCloud Sandbox, extended protection and detection capabilities, as well as shadow IT discovery reporting. Additionally, FortiCASB offers expanded support for AWS to provide advanced compliance, reporting and analysis tools for enhanced visibility and control for AWS users.

IoT Endpoint Security:

• FortiClient 6.0 will include expanded operating system support for Linux, sharing actionable insight about these systems with the Security Fabric. FortiClient will also provide richer intelligence about all types of endpoints, including the application inventory on each device. 
• A new Fabric Agent can send telemetry data from the endpoint to the Security Fabric for deeper insight on what is running on a network's endpoint devices and quickly identify vulnerabilities. It is also certified compatible to work with a range of Fabric-Ready endpoint security partners. 

Advanced Threat Protection (ATP):

• New FortiGuard Virus Outbreak Service (VOS) closes the gap between antivirus updates with FortiCloud Sandbox analysis to detect and stop malware threats discovered between signature updates before they can spread throughout an organization.
• New FortiGuard Content Disarm and Reconstruction Service (CDR) proactively strips potentially malicious content embedded in Microsoft Office and Adobe files to sanitize the most common file formats used to spread malware and help close the opportunity for infection from social engineering or human error.
• New FortiGuard Indicators of Compromise (IOC) Service uses a continuously updated list of known bad elements and scans devices connected to the Security Fabric to identify compromised devices for immediate action.
• FortiSandbox ATP for Amazon Web Services, available as on-demand and BYOL, allows organizations to defend against advanced threats natively in the cloud, working alongside network, email, endpoint and other security, or as an extension to their on-premises secure architecture.

Security Management & Analytics:

• New Incident Response (IR) lifecycle capabilities across the Security Fabric allow users to automate responses based either on predefined triggers (system events, threat alerts, user and device status) or through direct ITSM integration. Response methods such as quarantine, notifications, configuration adjustments, and custom reports provide organizations with real-time control of their workflow environments.

Unified Access:

• With FortiOS 6.0, integrated security in Fortinet switches and wireless access points enables automation of security response to events, such as quarantine, segment or block, when an infected switch or access point is in violation of a configured policy.

Fortinet introduces business precise segmentation through tagging, delivering the building blocks enterprises need to move towards intent-based network security. This level of tagging is foundational to intent-based network security architecture as it enables business precise segmentation, automated management and control of all network elements.

Fortinet also announced today at its annual global partner and user conference, Accelerate 18, its FortiGuard Artificial Intelligence (AI) advanced threat detection system.