Fortinet, a networking and security company, introduced FortiOS 8.0, a major update to the operating system that powers the Fortinet Security Fabric, adding AI security controls, next-generation SASE features, and quantum-safe encryption to help enterprises protect data across cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments.
Announced at Fortinet Accelerate 2026, FortiOS 8.0 targets organizations dealing with increasing cybersecurity risks linked to generative AI (GenAI), remote work, and encrypted traffic. The company said the update is designed to simplify complex security setups while improving visibility and performance across networks.
“FortiOS 8.0 reflects more than 25 years of continued innovation at the intersection of networking and security,” the company said, noting that a unified operating system is becoming critical as businesses adopt AI and cloud services at scale.
“FortiOS 8.0 addresses these challenges by advancing Secure Networking through a unified operating system that provides deeper visibility, stronger control, and future-ready security across the network edge, cloud, and data center,” said Ken Xie, founder, chair, and CEO at Fortinet.
FortiOS 8.0 now includes tools to monitor and control how employees and systems interact with AI applications. FortiView, for example, gives security teams real-time visibility into AI usage, including so-called “shadow AI” tools that employees may use without approval. This helps companies reduce data leaks and compliance risks.
The system also introduces AI-aware application controls that allow approved GenAI tools while blocking risky actions, such as uploading sensitive company data. New monitoring features track interactions between AI agents and applications, reducing blind spots where data could be exposed.
FortiOS 8.0 also improves data loss prevention by using optical character recognition to detect sensitive information hidden in images, screenshots, and scanned documents, a common gap in traditional security tools.
On the networking side, the update strengthens secure access service edge (SASE) capabilities, a fast-growing approach to securing distributed workforces. Fortinet added SASE Outpost, which enables companies to deploy security enforcement closer to users through on-premises or private data center setups, while still managing policies from the cloud.
The company also introduced sovereign SASE options, allowing organizations to control where data is stored and processed, addressing stricter data privacy and residency rules in markets such as Europe and Asia. Additional upgrades include unified SD-WAN bundles and multipath IPsec tunnels to improve network performance and reliability.
FortiOS 8.0 expands support for post-quantum cryptography, a security approach designed to withstand attacks from future quantum computers. New features include quantum-resilient VPN access and enhanced SSL inspection that can detect threats hidden in encrypted traffic without weakening encryption standards.