Fortinet launches FortiOS 8.0, featuring new capabilities in AI security, quantum-safe cryptography, and SASE solutions.
With the introduction of FortiOS 8.0, Fortinet is responding to the growing demand for integrated security solutions. Organizations must protect their networks in an era where AI, cloud, and data residency are becoming increasingly important. The new platform provides an answer to increasing complexity and the need for consistent policies across different locations and clouds.
The update expands the existing Fortinet Security Fabric with additional functionality, enabling organizations to securely support modern work styles and technologies. In doing so, Fortinet aims to address not only existing risks but also future threats such as quantum computing.
AI-aware security
FortiOS 8.0 introduces control over the use of AI within organizations. With FortiView, security teams gain real-time insight into AI applications, including shadow AI, and can quickly detect unauthorized tools. AI-aware application management makes it possible to increase productivity via approved GenAI tools while keeping sensitive data protected.
In addition, the Model Context Protocol and A2A traffic monitoring bring more transparency to interactions between AI agents and applications. This prevents blind spots and data misuse. New OCR-based data loss prevention prevents sensitive information from being exfiltrated via images, closing a commonly used bypass for security controls.
Fortinet is also adding AI agents to the Security Fabric, which simplify configuration and troubleshooting. This reduces management overhead and errors, which is particularly important in complex firewall and SD-WAN environments.
Flexible SASE solutions
The new version strengthens SASE capabilities with SASE Outpost, allowing organizations to bring SASE closer to users, for example, in private data centers. This is achieved while maintaining central management and flexibility for data sovereignty, which is increasing due to stricter privacy requirements worldwide.
FortiOS 8.0 offers integrated SD-WAN bundles and multi-path IPsec tunnels for better performance and cyber resilience. In terms of quantum-safe security, Fortinet is introducing quantum-resistant cryptography for all products and protocols. This includes hybrid cryptography and post-quantum certificates to protect management channels and VPNs.