Fortigate Vm Sizing Azure __top__ May 2026
Sizing FortiGate-VM on Microsoft Azure Sizing a FortiGate-VM in Microsoft Azure requires balancing technical resource requirements with licensing models to ensure peak performance for your network security workload. Core System Requirements
5.3 Availability Set / Zone Redundancy
- Sizing must account for active-passive or active-active cluster. In active-active, each unit handles ~50% traffic → each can be smaller.
1. The "Hidden" Bottleneck: Azure Instance Throughput
This is the most critical aspect of sizing that engineers miss. fortigate vm sizing azure
Network Interfaces (NICs): Sizing is often driven by the number of required interfaces rather than just CPU power. For example, the D2v2 instance type only supports 2 NICs, while D4v2 supports up to 8 NICs. Licensing Models: Sizing FortiGate-VM on Microsoft Azure Sizing a FortiGate-VM
4. Throughput Reality Check
Azure VM networking has a cumulative limit – all NICs share the same underlying bandwidth. fortigate vm sizing azure
Part 9: Cost Optimization Strategies
Sizing isn’t just about performance – it’s about spend. Here’s how to save money without breaking throughput.
are required if your architecture demands multiple segmented subnets or a complex Hub-and-Spoke design. 3. Aligning with FortiGate Licensing
| License Model | Sizing Impact | |---------------|----------------| | PAYG (Pay-As-You-Go) | Hourly billing includes FortiGate license. VM size limited to preselected series (e.g., D, E, F-series). Best for testing or low-to-medium throughput. | | BYOL (Bring Your Own License) | You buy FortiGate VM license separately (perpetual or subscription). Unlocked to almost any Azure VM size. Cheaper at scale but requires upfront commitment. |