Finding your FortiGate firewall on an End of Life (EOL) or End of Support (EOS) list can be stressful for IT managers. The immediate concern is whether your network security will collapse or if you’re being forced into an expensive, premature hardware refresh. This guide helps you interpret Fortinet's lifecycle milestones, assess the actual risks for models like the 60E, 100E, and 200E, and choose a “Plan B” that protects both your network and your budget.
Table of Contents
- Part 1: Understanding the Milestones
- Part 2: Fortinet EOL/EOSL Cheat Sheet
- Part 3: Risk Assessment
- Part 4: Smart Lifecycle Management
- FAQ: People Also Ask
Part 1: Understanding the Milestones
To make rational decisions, you must understand the four key dates Fortinet uses to define a product's life:
- End of Life Notification (EOLN): Formal public notice that a product’s end-of-sale is approaching.
- End of Order Date (EOO): The last day to purchase a specific model from Fortinet. After this, the unit is officially “End of Life.”
- Last Service Extension Date (LSED): The final date to renew support or security subscriptions, usually 12 months before EOS.
- End of Support Date (EOS/EOSL): After this date, Fortinet stops providing technical support, firmware updates, and replacement parts. EOS typically occurs 60 months (5 years) after the EOO date.
Part 2: Fortinet EOL/EOSL Cheat Sheet – Priority Models
Below is the status of high-traffic models that many organizations are evaluating:
| Model | End of Order (EOO) | End of Support (EOS) | Strategy Recommendation |
| FortiGate 60E | 12/29/2021 | 12/29/2026 | Plan for refresh in late 2025. |
| FortiGate 100E | 08/17/2021 | 08/17/2026 | Critical for core networks; start migration now. |
| FortiGate 200D | 05/22/2018 | 05/22/2023 | Past EOS. Move to 200F or use TPM support. |
| FortiGate 800D | 04/16/2023 | 04/16/2028 | Stable for 3+ years; monitor firmware updates. |
Note: Models like the FortiGate 200F are currently shipping and projected to have support through 2031.
Part 3: Risk Assessment – Is “End of Support” a Ticking Time Bomb?
The severity of an EOS date depends entirely on your deployment scenario:
- The Security Risk (High): The main danger is unpatched vulnerabilities. Once a product hits EOS, Fortinet will not fix even "Critical" vulnerabilities. Some cyber insurers drop coverage for unsupported VPNs because risk increases 3x.
- The Operational Risk (Medium): If an EOS device fails, you cannot open an RMA ticket or get official replacement parts. For a mission-critical data center firewall, this is high-risk. For a testing lab or isolated branch, TPM solutions may manage this risk effectively.
- The Real Danger: Lack of a recovery plan is riskier than the hardware itself. A failed unit without a backup or TPM plan can cause downtime and operational disruption.
Part 4: Smart Lifecycle Management – Your Alternatives
You don’t have to follow the OEM's 3-year refresh cycle. Consider these options:
- The Trade-Up Path: Use Fortinet’s Trade-Up Program to modernize hardware with discounts up to 55%. Best for core production firewalls.
- The Elite Extension: FortiCare Elite contracts can extend support 18 months past standard EOS (Long-Term Support).
- The Hybrid Strategy (RS Advantage): Partners like Router-switch.com provide Beyond-Standard Warranties and Advanced RMA for EOSL equipment. This lets you use your hardware for its full functional life, not just the OEM life, while ensuring business continuity.
Example Application: If your FortiGate 60E is approaching EOO, you can plan a replacement window 6–12 months before EOS while relying on TPM or RS Advanced RMA to bridge the gap. This ensures uninterrupted security without forcing a sudden upgrade.
FAQ: People Also Ask
Q1.Is Fortinet's FortiGate 800D NGFW end of life?
Yes, it has reached its End of Order (EOO) date as of April 16, 2023. It will remain under official Fortinet support until the End of Support (EOS) date on April 16, 2028.
Q2.Why is Fortinet falling?
While Fortinet remains a market leader, some users and insurers are concerned about critical exploits and the frequency of Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerabilities in FortiOS, leading to tighter cyber insurance requirements.
Q3.What is the end of engineering support in Fortinet?
End of Engineering Support (EOES) is for firmware (FortiOS) and typically occurs 36 months after release. After this, only critical security patches are issued; regular bug fixes stop.
Q4.Is Fortinet a Russian company?
No. Fortinet is a US-based multinational corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.
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