Intel partners with Fortinet to produce custom firewall processor SP6

Intel announced a strategic partnership with Fortinet to design, package and manufacture Fortinet's next‑generation security processor, the SP6, for its FortiGate firewalls. The chip will be built on Intel's 4‑nanometre process, the first time Intel is using this node for an external customer and the first named foundry client since the unit’s leadership change. Fortinet’s current flagship firewalls use a custom chip called the SP5, and the SP6 is expected to be a chiplet‑based design that expands the company's custom silicon portfolio.

The deal is a milestone for Intel’s foundry business, showcasing its ability to attract external customers and compete with rivals such as TSMC. Intel and Fortinet said they will explore extending the collaboration to other Fortinet custom chips, including those used in switches and Wi‑Fi access points, potentially broadening Intel’s manufacturing revenue stream.