Banco do Brasil is deploying Fortinet's FortiGate platform for its consolidated approach to network security, ease of administration and performance-accelerated ASIC-based solution which can process large amounts of traffic without degrading network performance, according to the public RFP requirements and after a great dispute with competitors. With integrated security functionalities in each of the FortiGate-3600A, -311B and -110C solutions installed, Banco do Brasil can add or remove features without having to add additional devices and without having to overhaul its network infrastructure. The NCT Informtica, Fortinet's Platinum Channel and Authorized Training Center, is responsible for the sale, training, services and support of all the platforms in the customer environment.

Nine enterprise-class FortiGate-3600A appliances are located at Banco do Brasil's headquarters and are connected to the bank's branch offices to help provide secure and accelerated VPN connectivity. In addition, the FortiGate appliances are being used to help secure self-service applications -- both at branch locations and via the Internet -- such as ATM machines for deposits, withdrawals and payments.

Also located at the bank's headquarters are 80 FortiGate-311B appliances deployed in high availability mode. The appliances are being used to help protect the bank's datacenter. To manage and analyze the 80 devices, the bank has deployed two FortiManager-3000 appliances and two FortiAnalyzer-2000A appliances.

Each of the 145 bank locations has two FortiGate-110C appliances deployed in high availability mode. The FortiGate appliances are being used for firewall, IPS and VPN protection. Now, the branches can connect back to the main office in a secure fashion, while protecting critical customer information such as bank account balances and personal information.

Banco do Brasil's distributed network requires easy management and analysis of the network. Two FortiManager-3000 appliances are deployed at the bank's headquarters along with two FortiAnalyzer-2000A appliances. The FortiManager appliances enable the application of rules quickly and effectively throughout the distributed network without having to do truck rolls to visit each remote location. The FortiAnalyzer appliances are eliminating the number of duplicate or inconsistent rules. Bank employees at remote sites do not have to be technically proficient if there are network changes that are needed. Rather, the IT staff at the bank's Brasilia's headquarters can easily and seamlessly make network changes to all locations at a general change or by each individual bank.

"Fortinet's deployment at the Banco do Brasil is evidence of the effectiveness of the FortiGate systems in large, widely distributed enterprises that need broad, world-class network security," said Pedro Paixao, vice president, Latin America for Fortinet. "Individual point products today are cumbersome, expensive and often ineffective against the current multi-threat environment, which requires a multi-layered security approach in which Fortinet specializes."