FortiGate 98D POE End of Life
Understand when support ends and how to future-proof your FortiGate 98D POE End of Life deployment.

The FortiGate-98D-POE was built to deliver secure connectivity and PoE support for small to mid‑sized branch environments. With the platform now at end of life, organizations should evaluate replacements that continue to provide edge security while supporting modern access and powered device needs. This overview outlines what to consider during modernization planning.
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.
FortiGate-98D-POE Date & Status
Here’s what you need to know about FortiGate-98D-POE lifecycle status.
- End of Life (EOL): 4/15/25

FortiGate-98D-POE Replacement
Replacing the FortiGate-98D-POE ensures branch sites can support modern IoT, collaboration workloads, and heavier encrypted flows while managing power distribution efficiently.
Role of the FortiGate-98D-POE:
A NGFW with integrated PoE for powering IP phones, WAPs, and edge switches, simplifying branch deployments.
Evolving Traffic Patterns:
Encrypted traffic, cloud apps, IoT, and real-time collaboration now exceed the capacity of legacy PoE-focused appliances.
Modern Demands:
High-performance SSL inspection, IoT segmentation, integrated SD-WAN, flexible PoE, and easier lifecycle management are now expected.
Strategic Upgrade:
Replace with solutions offering scalable inspection, SD-WAN improvements, centralized management, and where needed, separate PoE switching for flexible growth.
Understanding Fortinet's EOL Policy | End of Life Risks
Every Fortinet product follows a defined lifecycle, moving through the following stages:

- 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.
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
No Security Patches
Outdated devices won’t receive updates, leaving your network exposed to new vulnerabilities.
Lack of Vendor Support
Once support ends, there’s no access to Fortinet’s technical resources or RMA services.
Compliance Failures
Auditors may flag unsupported hardware as a violation of security and industry standards.
Operational Instability
Legacy devices may struggle with modern workloads, encrypted traffic, and cloud integrations.
How Aseva Helps with Fortinet EOL
Here’s how Aseva ensures a smooth and secure FortiGate lifecycle transition.
Lifecycle Planning:
Track Fortinet GA → EOS → EOL → EOSL.
Seamless Migration:
Dedicated engineers ensure minimal downtime.
Future-Proof Security:
Replace with next-gen models aligned to your needs.
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.