Fortinet FG-3700D vs FG-1101E: Enterprise Firewall Performance Comparison

When evaluating enterprise-grade firewalls from Fortinet, the FG-3700D and FG-1101E represent two distinct performance tiers within the same product family. This in-depth comparison examines their technical specifications, operational capabilities, and ideal deployment scenarios to help network architects select the optimal security solution.

Technical Specifications Comparison

The FG-1101E delivers 50-100% better performance in key metrics, establishing it as the superior choice for demanding enterprise environments.

Functional Capabilities Analysis

1. Security Performance

Shared Capabilities:

• Unified threat management

• SSL/TLS inspection

• Advanced malware protection

• SD-WAN with security

• Zero Trust Network Access

FG-1101E Advantages:

• 2x threat inspection capacity

• Better encrypted traffic handling

• More concurrent security scans

• Higher VPN tunnel capacity

2. Network Performance

• FG-3700D handles:

• 20 Gbps firewall traffic

• 10 Gbps threat inspection

• Suitable for 1,500-3,000 users

• FG-1101E manages:

• 30 Gbps firewall traffic

• 20 Gbps threat inspection

• Ideal for 3,000-6,000 users

Physical Design Comparison

Chassis Architecture:

• FG-3700D:

• 1U rack-mountable

• Front-accessible ports

• Standard cooling system

• 14 lbs weight

• FG-1101E:

• 1U rack-mountable

• Enhanced thermal design

• Tool-less service panels

• 16 lbs weight

Environmental Specifications:

• Operating temperature:

• Both: 0°C to 40°C

• Noise level:

• FG-3700D: 50 dBA

• FG-1101E: 55 dBA

• Power input:

• Both: 100-240V AC

User Experience Evaluation

Management Interfaces:

• Both use FortiOS 7.4+

• Identical web UI and CLI

• REST API support

• Centralized management via FortiManager

Operational Differences:

• FG-1101E handles:

• More complex security policies

• Higher connection volumes

• Multiple VPN tunnels simultaneously

• FG-3700D optimized for:

• Standard enterprise deployments

• Medium-density networks

• Typical security requirements

Pricing & Total Cost Analysis

Acquisition Costs:

• FG-3700D: 9,000−12,000

• FG-1101E: 18,000−22,000

Operational Costs:

• Power consumption difference: ~$50/year

• Support contracts:

• FG-3700D: ~$2,500/year

• FG-1101E: ~$4,500/year

Five-Year TCO Considerations:

• FG-3700D justified for:

• Medium enterprises

• Distributed offices

• Cost-sensitive deployments

• FG-1101E economical for:

• Large campuses

• Data center edge

• High-security environments

Power Efficiency Metrics

Energy Consumption:

• FG-3700D:

• Idle: 60W

• Peak: 100W

• FG-1101E:

• Idle: 80W

• Peak: 150W

Efficiency Comparison:

• Performance per watt:

• FG-3700D: 200 Mbps/W

• FG-1101E: 200 Mbps/W

Compatibility & Ecosystem

Third-Party Integration:
Both support:

• SIEM solutions (Splunk, IBM QRadar)

• Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)

• Automation tools (Ansible, Terraform)

FG-1101E Advantages:

• 25G interface support

• Better SD-WAN scalability

• Enhanced cloud security features

Software Support & Roadmap

Current Software Features:

• Both run FortiOS 7.4+

• Same security services

• Identical management features

Future Development:

• FG-1101E prioritized for:

• Advanced threat analytics

• Cloud-native security

• AI-driven operations

• FG-3700D receives:

• Core security updates

• Performance enhancements

Final Recommendation

Choose FG-3700D When:
✔ Medium-sized enterprise network
✔ Budget under $15,000
✔ Need 20G throughput
✔ Standard security requirements

Select FG-1101E When:
✔ Large enterprise deployment
✔ Need 30G+ throughput
✔ Advanced threat protection
✔ Future scalability required

Key Selection Criteria:

1. Network size and user count

2. Performance requirements

3. Security needs

4. Budget constraints

Implementation Strategy:
For organizations with distributed networks, consider deploying FG-1101E at core locations and FG-3700D at branch offices to balance performance and cost efficiency.

Performance Note: While both firewalls deliver enterprise-grade security, the FG-1101E's superior throughput and connection handling make it the clear choice for organizations anticipating growth or handling sensitive data traffic. The FG-3700D remains an excellent solution for standard enterprise deployments with more modest performance requirements.