Charges start at $500 each year for a firewall solution.
Charges start at $500 each year for a firewall solution.
It’s unusual to be charged over $500 USD annually for firewall support. Three years ago, our church received a Fortinet FortiGate 60E with three years of manufacturer support included. Now we’re being asked $550 per year or $1,680 for three years. I wasn’t aware firewalls operate on a subscription basis. With our usage of about 350 devices weekly and no servers or NAS, the cost seems higher than typical. Our IT is managed by Powernet, who bills us directly. Are there more affordable options worth exploring? Thanks! -David
It seems you've just joined a platform that exceeds your expectations. As you move into business-level operations, the hardware expenses compared to support agreements can become significant. I know of a firewall provider (I won’t reveal their name) where the hardware is included free with a support contract—though it’s not just basic gear; it’s high-performance equipment. Still, if everything functions well and your IT partner meets your needs, you could keep things as they are. When upgrading, you might want to note your interest in more cost-effective options. If you’re dissatisfied with your current partner, consider testing the waters, but remember that switching to a different provider will likely take years before the investment pays off. Overall, if the annual fee of $550 covers all their firewall support, it’s a reasonable deal—something I’ve seen others work at charging around €80 per month for similar critical network device support.