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FortiGate 81E End of Life

Understand when support ends and how to future-proof your FortiGate 81E End of Life deployment.

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The FortiGate-81E has been used widely in small branches and distributed locations to deliver reliable perimeter security. As the model has reached end of life, stakeholders should evaluate modernization options to address current performance needs, manageability, and integration with cloud and SD‑WAN initiatives.

What this means for your organization

  • A chance to modernize your security posture and prepare for future growth.
  • Opportunity to benefit from improved performance, efficiency, and protection.
  • Align IT infrastructure with compliance, scalability, and long-term ROI.
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FortiGate-81E Date & Status

Here’s what you need to know about FortiGate-81E lifecycle status.

  • End of Life (EOL): 11/14/26
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FortiGate-81E Replacement

Replacing the FortiGate-81E allows branch environments to keep pace with modern SaaS traffic, encrypted flows, and SD-WAN adoption.

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Role of the FortiGate-81E:

A small branch firewall with VPN, UTM, and basic connectivity features.

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Evolving Traffic Patterns:

More SaaS and encrypted traffic strain older inspection engines.

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Modern Demands:

Centralized orchestration, automated policy, advanced threat intelligence, and line-rate TLS.

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Strategic Upgrade:

Use replacements with cloud management, increased throughput, and SD-WAN integration; migrate in phases.

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Understanding Fortinet's EOL Policy | End of Life Risks

Every Fortinet product follows a defined lifecycle, moving through the following stages:

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  • General Availability (GA): The product is released and actively sold and supported.
  • End of Sale (EOS): The device is no longer available for purchase from Fortinet or authorized partners.
  • End of Life (EOL): Feature development and most firmware updates stop.
  • End of Support (EOSL): Fortinet ends all official support, security patches, and RMA services.

Why This Matters for Your Business

Understanding where your hardware sits in this lifecycle helps you:

  • Plan timely upgrades before critical support ends.
  • Ensure security compliance and avoid audit failures.
  • Maintain operational continuity with fully supported hardware.
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Risks of Continuing to Use EOL Hardware

When a firewall or security appliance reaches End of Life, the risks of keeping it in production increase dramatically

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No Security Patches

Outdated devices won’t receive updates, leaving your network exposed to new vulnerabilities.

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Lack of Vendor Support

Once support ends, there’s no access to Fortinet’s technical resources or RMA services.

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Compliance Failures

Auditors may flag unsupported hardware as a violation of security and industry standards.

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Operational Instability

Legacy devices may struggle with modern workloads, encrypted traffic, and cloud integrations.

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How Aseva Helps with Fortinet EOL

Here’s how Aseva ensures a smooth and secure FortiGate lifecycle transition.

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Lifecycle Planning:

Track Fortinet GA → EOS → EOL → EOSL.

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Seamless Migration:

Dedicated engineers ensure minimal downtime.

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Future-Proof Security:

Replace with next-gen models aligned to your needs.

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Why Choose Aseva for Fortinet End of Life Support?

Choosing the right partner is critical. With Aseva, you gain a trusted advisor with deep expertise in Fortinet and broader cybersecurity lifecycle management. We help reduce risk, ensure compliance, and maximize ROI on your IT investments.

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