Fortinet FortiSwitch 424E-Fiber 1-Year Secure RMA (FC-10-S424I-301-02-12)

Certain regulated industries — government, defense, finance, healthcare — operate under data handling policies that prohibit returning failed hardware to an external depot. For FortiSwitch 424E-Fiber deployments in those environments, FC-10-S424I-301-02-12 provides a compliant alternative: Fortinet ships a replacement unit and the failed device stays on your premises for documented, on-site disposal.

What Secure RMA Covers

The -301- Secure RMA service changes one critical element of the standard RMA process: when a hardware failure is declared, Fortinet ships a replacement FortiSwitch 424E-Fiber to your location, but the failed unit is not returned to Fortinet. Instead, it remains under your custody for secure, auditable destruction or retention in accordance with your compliance requirements. Your team installs the replacement. Fortinet waives the standard return obligation so you can maintain chain-of-custody documentation for the failed device. FortiCare Premium or Elite must be active on the device; the -301- service is not eligible under FortiCare Essential.

Who Uses This Contract

Secure RMA fits environments where hardware custody is part of a compliance framework:

• Federal and provincial government networks with hardware disposal procedures that require on-premises destruction
• Financial institutions subject to data handling regulations that restrict returning switching hardware to vendors
• Healthcare organizations running the FortiSwitch 424E-Fiber in environments where device custody audits are required
• Defense contractors and other entities operating under ITAR, CMMC, or equivalent frameworks

Activation and Delivery

FC-10-S424I-301-02-12 is delivered as a software license key by DataCenter360.ca within 0–1 business days of purchase. Register it in the FortiCare portal against the FortiSwitch 424E-Fiber’s serial number. Coverage activates immediately for 1 year from that date. The contract itself is delivered electronically — no physical shipment required for the license.

Secure RMA vs. Other RMA Tiers

FortiSwitch 424E-Fiber RMA service options:

• -210- Next Calendar Day Delivery: Replacement hardware ships next calendar day; self-install
• -211- 4-Hour Hardware Delivery: Replacement hardware on-site within 4 hours; self-install
• -212- 4-Hour Hardware and Onsite Engineer: On-site technician with hardware within 4 hours
• -301- Secure RMA: Replacement ships; failed unit retained on-premises for compliant disposal

The -301- Secure RMA is not a speed tier — it is a compliance tier. The replacement delivery timeline aligns with the standard RMA process, not the Priority -210-/-211-/-212- tiers. If both speed and secure retention are required, evaluate whether Priority RMA add-ons can be layered with Secure RMA for your specific Fortinet support agreement. In most cases, -301- is chosen because custody policy drives the decision, not delivery speed.

FortiCare Support Tiers and RMA Eligibility

Secure RMA requires FortiCare Premium or Elite to be active on the FortiSwitch 424E-Fiber. The table below shows what each base tier covers and which qualify for the -301- add-on:

Buying from DataCenter360.ca

DataCenter360.ca carries the full FortiSwitch 424E-Fiber RMA portfolio, including Secure RMA at 1-, 3-, and 5-year terms. License keys are delivered electronically within the same business day in most cases. If you’re navigating which RMA tier satisfies your compliance requirement or need to confirm that Secure RMA covers your specific policy, we can discuss the options before you finalize your order.

Frequently Asked Questions