The History of FortiGate SSL VPN

The Origins: Founding of Fortinet

The story of FortiGate SSL VPN begins with the founding of Fortinet in 2000 by brothers Ken Xie and Michael Xie. The company was established with a vision to revolutionize network security by developing comprehensive solutions that could address multiple security challenges simultaneously. In the early years, Fortinet focused on creating next-generation firewall solutions that would provide small and medium-sized businesses with enterprise-grade protection against the growing threat of cyber attacks.

VPN technology itself has its roots in the 1990s, when companies began seeking ways to provide secure remote access for employees to their internal networks. The first VPN solutions were complex and required expensive dedicated connections. Fortinet recognized the potential of this technology and began early on integrating VPN functionality into their security appliances, laying the groundwork for what would eventually become FortiGate SSL VPN.

In those early years, the development focused on IPSec-based VPN solutions, which offered strong encryption but were often complicated to set up. Fortinet worked to make this technology accessible to businesses of all sizes, establishing the foundation for the SSL-based VPN solution that would follow.

The Development of SSL-Based VPNs

In the early 2000s, Fortinet recognized the growing demand for more user-friendly VPN solutions. Traditional IPSec VPNs, while secure, were often difficult for end users to configure, especially on mobile devices and in network environments with strict firewalls. This challenge led to the development of FortiGate SSL VPN.

The decision to use SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) as the foundation for the VPN solution was revolutionary. SSL/TLS protocols were already widely used for secure web connections, which meant that many firewalls and network devices already allowed these connections. This made FortiGate SSL VPN extremely compatible with various network environments and simplified implementation for businesses.

FortiGate SSL VPN was developed to integrate seamlessly with FortiGate firewall appliances. This integration allowed companies to simplify their network security architecture, as they could use a single management system for both firewall and VPN functions. The solution provided a centralized management point that enabled IT administrators to maintain control over all VPN connections.

Another important aspect of the development was the focus on enterprise applications. FortiGate SSL VPN was specifically designed for accessing corporate resources such as file servers, intranets, and business applications. This focus distinguished the solution from many consumer VPNs that primarily focused on bypassing geo-blocking and internet privacy.

The Era of Mobile Revolution

With the rise of smartphones and tablets in the late 2000s, the way businesses operated changed fundamentally. Employees increasingly began using their own devices for work (Bring Your Own Device or BYOD). Fortinet recognized this trend and optimized FortiGate SSL VPN to support a wide variety of mobile platforms.

Developing cross-platform clients became a priority. FortiGate SSL VPN received native apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, providing users with a consistent experience across all their devices. This cross-platform support was critical as businesses increasingly adopted a heterogeneous device environment with a mix of company-owned and personal devices.

During this period, Fortinet also introduced advanced authentication methods. Beyond traditional username/password combinations, FortiGate SSL VPN supported Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), certificate-based authentication, and integration with enterprise directory services like Active Directory. These additional security layers were important as mobile access increased the risk of security breaches.

The user interface was also redesigned to be more intuitive for mobile users. Easy-to-use connection profiles, automatic reconnection, and performance optimization for mobile data traffic were some of the improvements introduced during this time. These improvements made FortiGate SSL VPN one of the most user-friendly enterprise VPN solutions on the market.

Modernization and Cloud Integration

In the 2010s, companies increasingly began integrating cloud services into their IT infrastructure. Services such as Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspace, and AWS became standard. FortiGate SSL VPN was further developed to meet these evolving requirements and enable secure access to cloud resources.

The VPN solution was optimized to work with cloud-based authentication services and provide seamless integration into hybrid cloud environments. This enabled businesses to implement a consistent security policy for both on-premises and cloud resources without managing separate VPN solutions for each area.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 dramatically accelerated this development. With the sudden transition to remote work for millions of employees, the need for reliable and scalable VPN solutions became critical. FortiGate SSL VPN proved to be a robust solution during this time, enabling businesses to continue operations while ensuring the security of their networks.

During this period, Fortinet also introduced improvements to scalability to handle the increasing number of connections. Load balancing features, optimized server connections, and improved bandwidth management tools helped businesses efficiently meet the massive demand for remote access. This ability to scale quickly was a decisive advantage during the pandemic.

Today's Features and Capabilities

Today, FortiGate SSL VPN is a mature and powerful VPN solution used by businesses worldwide. The solution supports a wide range of encryption standards, including AES-256, and offers advanced features such as split tunneling, allowing users to route selected traffic through the VPN while sending other traffic directly to the internet.

The solution integrates seamlessly into modern security architectures and supports Zero Trust concepts. With granular access controls, administrators can precisely define which users can access which resources based on user identity, device type, location, and other factors. This precise control approach is essential for the security of today's decentralized networks.

Automatic updates and a central management portal make it easy to keep the VPN solution current and secure. Administrators can monitor connections, generate reports, and manage security policies centrally without needing to manually configure each individual client. This centralized management saves time and reduces the risk of configuration errors.

The client applications have been continuously improved with a modern, user-friendly interface that even technically less experienced users can use to connect securely to corporate networks. Automatic connection detection, simple profile configuration, and clear status indicators contribute to a positive user experience that increases the acceptance of the VPN solution in businesses.