CBTS is targeting the mid-market resource gap by consolidating fragmented network and security functions into a single, managed subscription model. By partnering with Fortinet, the Cincinnati-based technology services provider aims to address the specific challenges faced by multi-site organizations struggling with talent scarcity and increasing AI-enabled threats. The new CBTS Fortinet Managed Services offering moves away from traditional, disconnected hardware deployments toward a unified architecture. This strategic shift allows organizations to modernize aging infrastructure—including firewalls, switching, wireless, and SD-WAN—without the necessity of hiring specialized in-house engineering staff to manage the increased complexity of a modern, distributed attack surface.
Consolidating Infrastructure via CBTS Fortinet Managed Services
The launch of CBTS Fortinet Managed Services seeks to resolve the operational friction caused by "platform sprawl," a challenge identified by Forrester Research as a persistent hurdle for security and risk leaders. For many mid-market enterprises, managing disparate vendors for switching, wireless, and security creates policy gaps and increases the burden on lean IT teams. CBTS is positioning this service as a way to bridge that gap by bringing these distinct technologies onto a single Fortinet platform. The company handles the entire lifecycle of the deployment, including the initial assessment, architectural design, and full-scale implementation.
Once deployed, the environment is overseen by Fortinet-certified CBTS engineers who provide 24x7 operations. This model is intended to eliminate the traditional handoffs between resellers, integrators, and managed service providers that often lead to visibility gaps. To support multi-site scalability, the service utilizes a common operating model where networking and security function under a unified policy framework. This approach is designed to assist organizations in sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services, where maintaining consistent security postures across numerous physical locations is a critical requirement for operational resilience and regulatory compliance.
Transitioning from CapEx to Managed OpEx Models
A central component of the CBTS offering is the shift from capital-intensive hardware procurement to a predictable monthly operating expense. The subscription model integrates hardware, deployment, ongoing management, and scheduled hardware refreshes into a single cost structure. This is specifically designed for organizations that cannot justify the upfront capital investment required for a complete infrastructure overhaul or those that lack the budget to continuously hire new headcount to manage evolving cybersecurity threats.
The service is not limited to organizations already utilizing Fortinet technology; CBTS has included migration services within the offering to facilitate transitions from legacy, mixed-vendor environments. To ensure continuity during these shifts, the company provides a dedicated project manager to oversee the migration process. The effectiveness of this managed approach has already been demonstrated in a deployment for a quick-service restaurant chain with more than 100 locations. In that instance, CBTS replaced a fragmented, multi-vendor network with a single Fortinet platform, consolidating firewall, wireless, switching, and SD-WAN capabilities under a dedicated management dashboard. This provides the client with centralized visibility while maintaining strict separation from other managed environments, a feature critical for maintaining security integrity in multi-tenant or highly distributed service models.
Key Takeaways
- CBTS Fortinet Managed Services integrates Fortinet firewalls, switching, wireless, and SD-WAN into a single managed platform.
- The service operates on a monthly subscription model that includes hardware, deployment, management, and ongoing hardware refreshes.
- CBTS utilizes Fortinet-certified engineers to provide 24x7 operational support and design for multi-site organizations.
TechInsyte's Take
In our view, the CBTS and Fortinet collaboration is a direct response to the "talent tax" currently squeezing mid-market IT budgets. As AI-driven threats increase the velocity of attacks, the traditional model of building out internal security operations centers (SOCs) is becoming financially and operationally unsustainable for many mid-sized enterprises. By wrapping Fortinet’s converged networking and security architecture in a fully managed service, CBTS is essentially offering "security-as-an-outcome" rather than just "security-as-a-tool." This signals a broader industry trend where the value proposition is shifting from the hardware itself to the continuous, expert-led management of that hardware. For CIOs, the decision to adopt this model will likely hinge on whether the predictability of a monthly OpEx spend outweighs the perceived loss of direct, granular control over their internal network engineering functions.
Questions & Answers
How does this service address the shortage of specialized cybersecurity talent in the mid-market?
The service allows organizations to bypass the need for internal hiring by providing access to Fortinet-certified CBTS engineers who manage the network and security 24x7. This enables lean IT teams to maintain high-level security postures without increasing their internal headcount.
What is the financial structure of the CBTS Fortinet Managed Services offering?
The service utilizes a subscription-based model, which converts what would typically be significant upfront capital expenditures (CapEx) into a predictable monthly operating expense (OpEx). This single cost covers hardware, deployment, ongoing management, and hardware refreshes.
Can an organization migrate to this service if they are currently using a different vendor's hardware?
Yes. The service includes migration capabilities, and CBTS provides a dedicated project manager to oversee the transition. Additionally, the company can demonstrate how Fortinet solutions integrate with an organization's existing third-party technologies.
What specific networking technologies are included in the unified Fortinet platform?
The managed service brings together Fortinet firewalls, switching, wireless, and SD-WAN capabilities onto a single platform, allowing them to operate under a common architecture and policy model.
Source: CBTS
