Is Integrated Convenience the New Security King? Evaluating the UniFi EFG's Challenge to FortiGate's Enterprise Dominance in the African Context: Lessons from the University of Cape Coast

Abstract

This study critically evaluates the challenge posed by Ubiquiti's UniFi Enterprise Fortress Gateway (EFG) to the established dominance of Fortinet's FortiGate in the African higher education context, using the University of Cape Coast (UCC) as a case study. It addresses the significant disconnect between globally prescribed, high-cost enterprise security models and the operational realities of African universities, which are characterized by chronic underfunding, limited technical staff, and infrastructural instability. Employing a comparative case study methodology, the research analyzes vendor datasheets, independent lab reports, and user reviews to assess both platforms across performance, total cost of ownership (TCO), and organizational fit, framed by the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework and Resource-Based View (RBV). The findings reveal a performance parity of approximately 90% between the EFG and FortiGate 600F in core security functions, coupled with a dramatic 75-80% reduction in TCO for the EFG. The study concludes that while FortiGate remains a powerful resource for well-resourced core networks, the EFG's "integrated convenience" model, characterized by operational simplicity, a capex-focused financial model, and built-in resilience, represents a strategically superior fit for the network edge of resource-constrained institutions. The research contributes a novel, empirically-grounded hybrid architectural model and provides policymakers with a context-driven framework for technology selection, advocating for a redefinition of "enterprise-grade" based on sustainable performance-to-cost and organizational alignment rather than vendor prestige.