Fortinet, a networking and security provider, introduced FortiOS 8.0, the latest version of the operating system that powers the Fortinet Security Fabric, adding new artificial intelligence (AI) security controls, expanded secure access service edge (SASE), and quantum-safe encryption features.
The update was presented at Fortinet Accelerate 2026, the company’s annual cybersecurity conference. FortiOS is the core platform behind many of Fortinet’s firewall, SD-WAN, and cloud security products.
The new version focuses on helping organizations manage growing risks tied to generative AI (GenAI), hybrid work, and cloud-based infrastructure.
“As organizations embrace AI, cloud, and increasingly encrypted environments, a unified operating system is essential to reduce complexity, improve visibility, and ensure security can scale without slowing the business,” said Ken Xie, founder, chair of the board, and CEO at Fortinet.
One of the biggest changes in FortiOS 8.0 is deeper monitoring of AI usage across corporate networks. New tools help security teams detect so-called “shadow AI,” or unsanctioned AI tools employees may use without approval.
The platform includes FortiView for AI, which provides real-time visibility into how AI applications are used across an organization. It can identify approved and unapproved AI services and flag potentially risky activity.
FortiOS 8.0 also adds AI-aware application controls designed to allow approved generative AI tools while blocking actions that could expose sensitive data. The system can monitor interactions between AI agents, applications, and data sources to reduce the risk of data leaks.
Another update strengthens data loss prevention by adding optical character recognition (OCR), which allows security tools to detect sensitive information hidden in images, screenshots, or scanned files.
On the networking side, the release expands SASE capabilities with features such as SASE Outpost, which allows organizations to deploy SASE infrastructure inside their own data centers while still using cloud-based management.
The operating system also adds unified SD-WAN bundles and multipath IPsec tunnels to improve reliability and application performance across distributed sites.
FortiOS 8.0 includes quantum-safe cryptography designed to protect systems from future attacks by quantum computers. The update adds post-quantum encryption support for VPN access, management connections, and encrypted traffic inspection.