Fortinet launches cloud SASE for small branch offices

Fortinet has launched the FortiLink SASE Service, extending its unified SASE platform to small branch offices and other distributed sites.

The service is designed for organisations that need to secure local networks in small branches, remote facilities and temporary locations without installing a dedicated on-site firewall. It connects local area networks to FortiSASE through supported Fortinet Wi-Fi access points and Ethernet switches.

This allows companies to apply cloud-delivered security controls to wired and wireless devices from a central management console. The model is aimed at environments with limited on-site IT resources and devices that cannot run endpoint security agents.

Distributed locations often include a mix of employee laptops, printers, cameras and IoT equipment. In many cases, businesses have relied on separate hardware at each site or accepted lower visibility over unmanaged devices.

The new service is intended to address those gaps by moving traffic inspection, policy enforcement and management into Fortinet's SASE environment. Fortinet is positioning the product for what it describes as microbranch and thin-edge deployments, where a full firewall installation may be too costly or difficult to maintain.

Thin-edge focus

The launch broadens Fortinet's push to combine networking and security tools within one platform. In this case, it links branch networking hardware with its cloud security service so entire local networks, rather than just individual users or managed endpoints, can be brought under the same policy framework.

Fortinet says customers will be able to protect devices that cannot use FortiClient, connect LAN environments to FortiSASE without deploying agents on every endpoint, and manage supported networking devices and security policies through one console.

The move reflects a wider shift in enterprise security as organisations spread users, devices and workloads across smaller sites beyond traditional corporate offices. Businesses in retail, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing and field operations have all faced pressure to secure remote and temporary locations without building full IT infrastructure in each one.

Small sites can present a difficult balance for technology teams. They often support operational equipment and connected devices that still need network protection, but may not justify the cost or administrative burden of a dedicated security appliance on site.

Anthony James, Executive Vice President of Marketing at Fortinet, said the launch responds to the need for flexibility across distributed environments.

"Organisations need flexibility in how they secure distributed locations, particularly where dedicated security infrastructure or agents may not be practical," said James.

"By extending FortiSASE to local networks, we're giving organizations a simpler way to protect users and devices while maintaining consistent security and centralized control," he said.

Single console

Fortinet has been expanding its SASE portfolio as demand grows for cloud-based controls that can follow users and devices across offices, branches and remote settings. The latest product adds local network coverage through Fortinet switching and wireless hardware, giving customers another deployment option within that portfolio.

The service is built on Fortinet's unified networking and security architecture and is intended to provide consistent protection across microbranch environments while keeping administration centralised.

For customers already using Fortinet infrastructure, the product may offer a way to extend policy controls to smaller locations without adding another on-site firewall layer. More broadly, it highlights continued competition among cybersecurity suppliers to address branch and edge security through cloud-managed services rather than appliance-heavy designs.

Fortinet says the FortiLink SASE Service enables organisations to secure wired and wireless devices, including equipment that cannot run endpoint software, through a cloud-delivered service managed from a single console.