Fortinet FCP_FGT_AD-7.6 FCP – FortiGate 7.6 Administrator Exam Dumps and Practice Test Questions Set1 Q1-20

Visit here for our full Fortinet FCP_FGT_AD-7.6 exam dumps and practice test questions.

Question 1:

You are tasked with configuring FortiGate 7.6 to provide secure web access for internal users while inspecting HTTPS traffic. Which feature combination should you enable to ensure proper SSL inspection without breaking legitimate applications?

A) SSL Deep Inspection + Certificate Inspection bypass for trusted applications
B) SSL Certificate Inspection only + Deep Packet Inspection
C) Full SSL Inspection without exceptions
D) No SSL Inspection

Answer: A) – SSL Deep Inspection + Certificate Inspection bypass for trusted applications

Explanation

In FortiGate 7.6, SSL/TLS traffic inspection is critical because a majority of web traffic today is encrypted. SSL Deep Inspection allows FortiGate to decrypt, inspect, and re-encrypt HTTPS traffic, enabling detection of malware, intrusions, and data exfiltration attempts that are hidden within encrypted sessions. Simply inspecting certificates, as in Option B, only validates the certificate chain and identifies expired or invalid certificates, but does not allow content inspection. Option C, full SSL inspection without bypass, would inspect all traffic indiscriminately, which can break legitimate applications such as banking apps or SaaS platforms that use certificate pinning, causing connection failures and user frustration. Option D, no SSL inspection, leaves traffic completely uninspected, allowing threats to bypass security controls.

Option A is correct because it allows administrators to implement strong security controls while avoiding disruption of critical applications. This approach requires creating SSL/SSH inspection profiles in the FortiGate GUI or CLI, configuring policies to use these profiles, and deploying the FortiGate root CA certificate on client devices to prevent certificate warnings. Trusted applications can be added to bypass rules to ensure seamless connectivity, while all other HTTPS traffic is deeply inspected. This ensures that encrypted traffic is secure without negatively affecting productivity.

For example, a user accessing Office 365 from a corporate laptop will have traffic decrypted and scanned for threats, while sensitive applications like Zoom or banking apps are bypassed to avoid SSL pinning issues. Administrators can monitor SSL inspection logs to review decrypted traffic, check for malware, and ensure compliance with security policies. Periodic review of bypass rules is also recommended because application behavior and traffic patterns change over time. This strategy ensures a balance between strong network security and operational continuity, aligning with Fortinet’s best practices for SSL/TLS inspection.

Question 2:

While configuring a FortiGate HA cluster in active-passive mode, which parameter is critical to prevent split-brain scenarios?

A) Matching firmware versions only
B) Configuring heartbeat interfaces with dedicated links and session synchronization
C) Setting both units with the same IP addresses
D) Enabling NAT mode on both units

Answer: B) – Configuring heartbeat interfaces with dedicated links and session synchronization

Explanation

High Availability (HA) in FortiGate 7.6 ensures uninterrupted service by providing redundancy between two or more devices. In active-passive mode, one FortiGate handles traffic while the other remains on standby. A split-brain scenario occurs when both devices incorrectly assume the active role due to a failure in communication between HA units. To prevent this, heartbeat interfaces with dedicated links are configured, allowing devices to continuously exchange HA status and health information. Session synchronization ensures stateful connections are maintained during failover, preventing dropped sessions for critical applications like VoIP, databases, and VPNs.

Option A, matching firmware versions only, is necessary but insufficient to prevent split-brain. Option C, setting the same IP addresses, is invalid because IP conflicts would occur. Option D, enabling NAT mode, is unrelated to HA synchronization. Proper configuration involves defining HA mode, selecting dedicated heartbeat interfaces, setting priority, and enabling session sync. Administrators should also configure HA override to ensure the primary device remains active when it comes back online after a failure. Monitoring HA events via logs and dashboards allows for early detection of issues. This ensures that traffic seamlessly fails over during hardware or link failures, maintaining high availability while protecting against session loss.

Question 3:

You want to restrict user access to specific web applications based on category and enforce antivirus scanning in FortiGate 7.6. Which configuration sequence achieves this goal?

A) Create an Application Control profile → Apply it to a firewall policy → Enable antivirus scanning
B) Enable antivirus scanning → Enable web filtering → Apply to a firewall policy
C) Configure web filtering → Enable SSL inspection → Enable NAT mode
D) Enable IPS → Enable antivirus scanning → Apply global policies

Answer: A) – Create an Application Control profile → Apply it to a firewall policy → Enable antivirus scanning

Explanation

FortiGate 7.6 uses Application Control to manage access to specific applications and categories. Application Control profiles allow administrators to allow, block, or limit application usage based on predefined or custom signatures. By applying the profile to a firewall policy, FortiGate inspects traffic matching the policy and enforces the desired rules. Antivirus scanning can be enabled on the same firewall policy to detect malware within allowed traffic, providing dual protection.

Option B is incorrect because simply enabling antivirus and web filtering does not control applications at a granular level. Option C mixes web filtering with NAT, which does not enforce application-level control. Option D enables IPS and antivirus, but IPS does not manage application access. Proper implementation involves: creating an Application Control profile, selecting categories or individual applications, defining block/allow behavior, enabling logging for auditing, and applying the profile in firewall policies with antivirus enabled. This ensures that traffic is both application-aware and scanned for threats. For example, blocking peer-to-peer file sharing while scanning allowed HTTP downloads for viruses. Administrators should monitor logs regularly to refine profiles and maintain compliance with organizational policies.

Question 4:

A network engineer wants to deploy FortiGate 7.6 as a transparent bridge to inspect traffic without changing the existing IP addressing. Which feature must be enabled?

A) NAT mode
B) Transparent mode
C) HA mode
D) Route-based VPN

Answer: B) – Transparent mode

Explanation

Transparent mode in FortiGate allows the device to function as a Layer 2 bridge, inspecting traffic without requiring IP address changes on existing networks. This mode is ideal for environments where readdressing is not feasible. FortiGate still enforces security policies, IPS, antivirus, and SSL inspection while appearing invisible to network endpoints.

Option A (NAT mode) requires IP reconfiguration and functions as a Layer 3 device. Option C (HA mode) provides redundancy but does not bridge traffic. Option D (Route-based VPN) is for site-to-site encrypted tunnels and is unrelated to Layer 2 inspection. Proper deployment involves configuring interfaces as part of the bridge group, assigning a management IP for administration, and applying security policies to the bridge interface. Transparent mode also supports VLANs, allowing segmentation and inspection in complex networks. Administrators can inspect traffic across VLANs while keeping the original IP addressing intact, providing security with minimal network disruption. This setup is common in enterprise networks where seamless integration with existing infrastructure is required while enforcing security policies at Layer 2.

Question 5:

You need to ensure that VPN users in FortiGate 7.6 are authenticated using their corporate credentials from an Active Directory server. Which configuration is required?

A) Configure LDAP server → Map to user groups → Apply to SSL VPN policy
B) Configure RADIUS server → Apply to firewall policy → Enable NAT
C) Enable local user accounts → Apply to SSL VPN portal
D) Configure IPS sensor → Map to Active Directory → Apply to SSL VPN

Answer: A) – Configure LDAP server → Map to user groups → Apply to SSL VPN policy

Explanation

FortiGate 7.6 supports integration with Active Directory using LDAP. By configuring an LDAP server connection, administrators can authenticate SSL VPN users with their corporate credentials. User groups in Active Directory are mapped to FortiGate user groups, which are then applied to SSL VPN policies or portals. This approach ensures centralized user management and simplifies policy enforcement.

Option B (RADIUS) is an alternative protocol but requires additional infrastructure and may not directly map to AD groups. Option C (local users) does not leverage corporate authentication, resulting in decentralized management. Option D (IPS sensor) is unrelated to authentication. Correct configuration involves: defining the LDAP server settings (IP, port, credentials), testing connectivity, mapping groups, and assigning them in SSL VPN policies. SSL VPN users can then log in with AD credentials, supporting single sign-on and centralized access control. Administrators can also enable two-factor authentication for VPN access, combining LDAP authentication with OTP or FortiToken. This ensures secure, manageable remote access while leveraging existing corporate identity infrastructure.

Question 6:

You want to monitor bandwidth usage by application on your FortiGate 7.6 firewall to identify top-consuming apps. Which feature should you configure?

A) Application Control → Traffic Shaping
B) Web Filtering → Log Settings
C) Traffic Shaping Policy → Virus Scan
D) Intrusion Prevention → Bandwidth Monitor

Answer: A) – Application Control → Traffic Shaping

Explanation

FortiGate 7.6 allows administrators to control and monitor traffic based on applications using Application Control and Traffic Shaping. Application Control identifies traffic by application signatures rather than only ports and protocols, providing precise visibility into how bandwidth is being consumed. Once traffic is identified, administrators can create Traffic Shaping policies to prioritize, limit, or monitor bandwidth usage per application or application category.

Option B (Web Filtering → Log Settings) only allows URL categorization logging, which does not provide real-time bandwidth metrics per application. Option C (Traffic Shaping Policy → Virus Scan) incorrectly links shaping to scanning rather than bandwidth control. Option D (IPS → Bandwidth Monitor) is invalid; IPS detects intrusions but does not measure bandwidth consumption.

The correct process involves enabling Application Control on relevant firewall policies, creating application-based shaping rules, and monitoring logs and dashboards for traffic statistics. For example, a company may limit peer-to-peer apps during business hours while giving VoIP traffic priority. Administrators can generate reports showing which applications consume the most bandwidth, allowing informed decisions about policy enforcement. Regular review ensures that critical applications maintain performance and network resources are not wasted on non-essential traffic. Proper implementation requires reviewing signature updates for accurate app identification and periodic adjustment of shaping policies to align with changing network usage patterns.

Question 7:

An administrator wants to block users from accessing malicious websites while still allowing access to business-critical web apps. Which FortiGate feature combination achieves this?

A) Web Filtering Profile + SSL Deep Inspection
B) IPS Sensor + NAT Mode
C) Antivirus Profile + Transparent Mode
D) Application Control + SSL Certificate Inspection only

Answer: A) – Web Filtering Profile + SSL Deep Inspection

Explanation

FortiGate 7.6 provides Web Filtering to categorize and control web access based on URLs, domains, and content categories. By combining Web Filtering with SSL Deep Inspection, encrypted HTTPS traffic can be decrypted, scanned, and allowed or blocked according to policy rules. Without SSL inspection, HTTPS traffic remains opaque, and malicious sites may bypass filtering.

Option B (IPS + NAT Mode) is unrelated; IPS prevents exploits but does not block web categories, and NAT mode affects IP translation, not URL filtering. Option C (Antivirus + Transparent Mode) scans for malware but cannot enforce category-based web access. Option D (Application Control + Certificate Inspection only) manages application access but not URLs specifically.

Configuration involves creating a Web Filtering profile with categories to block, applying the profile to firewall policies, and enabling SSL Deep Inspection for HTTPS traffic. Trusted websites or business-critical applications can be added to allow lists to prevent disruption. Administrators can view logs and generate reports to monitor blocked traffic, ensuring policies are effective. For instance, social media or adult content sites may be blocked while cloud-based business apps like Office 365 or Salesforce remain accessible. Periodic updates of category databases and inspection profiles ensure protection against newly emerging threats. This method provides robust web security without compromising legitimate application use, enhancing both productivity and safety.

Question 8:

You need to configure FortiGate 7.6 to ensure that all outbound email traffic is scanned for malware and spam. Which configuration should be applied?

A) Create an Antivirus Profile → Enable SMTP Scanning → Apply to outbound policy
B) Enable Web Filtering → Apply to SSL VPN policy
C) Configure IPS → Apply to all traffic
D) Enable NAT mode → Apply to internal interfaces

Answer: A) – Create an Antivirus Profile → Enable SMTP Scanning → Apply to outbound policy

Explanation

FortiGate 7.6 supports full-protocol antivirus scanning, including SMTP email traffic. Administrators can create an Antivirus Profile, enable SMTP scanning, and apply it to outbound policies to detect and block malware, viruses, and spam before messages leave the network. This prevents the spread of infected emails to external recipients and protects internal users from infected replies.

Option B (Web Filtering → SSL VPN) only controls web content, not email. Option C (IPS → Apply to all traffic) targets network-level threats and exploits but cannot detect embedded malware or spam in email messages. Option D (NAT mode → Apply to internal interfaces) only manages IP translation, not security inspection.

Configuration steps include creating an antivirus profile, selecting SMTP scanning with optional content filtering, attaching the profile to firewall policies handling outbound email, and monitoring logs for detected threats. Administrators may combine this with anti-spam profiles for additional protection against phishing or unsolicited emails. For example, an internal mail server sending outbound messages will have each SMTP session scanned in real-time. Suspicious attachments, infected files, or spam messages are blocked according to policy, and events are logged for auditing. This ensures compliance with security policies, reduces the risk of data breaches, and maintains email service integrity. Regular updates of antivirus definitions and signature databases are essential to keep scanning effectively against new malware and spam campaigns.

Question 9:

Your FortiGate 7.6 deployment must allow users to securely connect from remote locations using SSL VPN. Which component must be configured first?

A) User Authentication with LDAP or local users
B) Web Filtering Profile
C) IPS Sensor
D) NAT Mode

Answer: A) – User Authentication with LDAP or local users

Explanation

SSL VPN access in FortiGate 7.6 requires that users be authenticated before being granted network access. Administrators can configure authentication using LDAP integration with Active Directory, local user accounts, or RADIUS servers. Once authentication is in place, SSL VPN policies and portals can be defined to control which resources remote users can access.

Option B (Web Filtering Profile) controls URL access and is applied after connectivity is established. Option C (IPS Sensor) detects threats but does not provide authentication. Option D (NAT Mode) manages IP addressing and routing, unrelated to user login credentials.

Configuration involves defining user groups, mapping LDAP or local users, and associating them with SSL VPN policies. Administrators can then create SSL VPN portals specifying accessible resources, authentication methods, and optional two-factor authentication. For example, users logging in with corporate credentials can be restricted to internal applications while their sessions are monitored for security events. Authentication must be established first because all subsequent access policies depend on knowing the identity of the connecting user. Administrators can also monitor logs for failed login attempts, ensuring security compliance and enabling auditing. Proper implementation guarantees that remote access is secure, controlled, and integrates seamlessly with existing user directories, providing both usability and protection for sensitive corporate resources.

Question 10:

A FortiGate administrator wants to implement role-based administration in FortiGate 7.6. Which approach should be taken?

A) Create Admin Profiles → Assign profiles to individual administrators
B) Enable Local Users → Assign to firewall policies
C) Configure SSL Inspection → Apply to administrators
D) Configure Web Filtering → Apply to admin accounts

Answer: A) – Create Admin Profiles → Assign profiles to individual administrators

Explanation

FortiGate 7.6 allows role-based administration using Admin Profiles. Administrators can create profiles with granular permissions, specifying which system features and objects each admin can view or modify. Profiles can restrict access to configuration sections, monitoring dashboards, logs, and policies. Once profiles are created, they are assigned to individual administrators or groups, ensuring proper access control and preventing unauthorized changes.

Option B (Local Users → Assign to firewall policies) relates to traffic control, not administrative permissions. Option C (SSL Inspection → Apply to administrators) secures traffic but does not control admin access. Option D (Web Filtering → Apply to admin accounts) is unrelated to administrative permissions.

Implementation steps involve creating profiles for tasks like read-only access, policy management, VPN administration, or full super-admin rights. Administrators are then created or mapped to these profiles. For example, a junior admin may have read-only monitoring access while a senior network engineer can modify firewall policies. Logs of administrative actions provide auditing capabilities to track changes and support compliance. By using Admin Profiles, organizations ensure that administrative responsibilities are segregated according to role, reducing the risk of misconfiguration, accidental changes, or insider threats. Periodic review of admin profiles and permissions ensures continued alignment with organizational security policies and operational requirements.

Question 11:

You need to ensure that internal users cannot access file-sharing applications such as BitTorrent while allowing legitimate business applications. Which FortiGate 7.6 feature should you configure?

A) Application Control → Block peer-to-peer applications
B) Web Filtering → Block social media
C) IPS Sensor → Block all high-risk signatures
D) SSL Inspection → Full inspection without bypass

Answer: A) – Application Control → Block peer-to-peer applications

Explanation

FortiGate 7.6 includes Application Control, a feature that allows administrators to identify and manage traffic based on application signatures rather than just ports or protocols. By creating an Application Control profile, administrators can block specific categories of applications, such as peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing apps like BitTorrent, eMule, or uTorrent. This prevents unauthorized or potentially high-risk applications from consuming bandwidth or spreading malware, while legitimate business applications remain unaffected.

Option B (Web Filtering → Block social media) focuses on URLs, which do not effectively block peer-to-peer applications because these often do not rely on HTTP/HTTPS protocols. Option C (IPS Sensor → Block all high-risk signatures) protects against exploits but cannot selectively block application usage. Option D (SSL Inspection → Full inspection without bypass) enables traffic decryption but does not inherently block applications and could disrupt legitimate encrypted traffic if applied without exceptions.

Implementation requires creating an Application Control profile, selecting the “Peer-to-Peer” category, defining the block action, and applying the profile to the relevant firewall policy. Administrators can also enable logging to monitor blocked attempts and evaluate policy effectiveness. For example, employees attempting to use BitTorrent will be blocked, while essential business applications like Microsoft Teams or Office 365 continue functioning normally. Periodic updates to application signatures ensure newly released P2P clients are also blocked. This approach enforces security and bandwidth efficiency without impacting productivity, maintaining compliance with corporate IT policies.

Question 12:

Your organization wants to provide high availability (HA) for FortiGate 7.6 devices across multiple data centers. Which HA mode supports active-active operation across different locations?

A) Cluster HA (Synchronous Active-Active)
B) Active-Passive HA with heartbeat
C) Transparent Mode HA
D) Route-based HA

Answer: A) – Cluster HA (Synchronous Active-Active)

Explanation

FortiGate 7.6 supports Cluster HA in synchronous active-active mode, allowing multiple FortiGate devices to share traffic load while maintaining redundancy. This setup is suitable for organizations with multiple data centers that require high availability and load balancing across geographic locations. In active-active HA, traffic can be distributed across multiple FortiGate units simultaneously, improving network performance while providing failover if one device fails.

Option B (Active-Passive HA with heartbeat) provides redundancy but does not load-balance traffic; the passive unit only becomes active when the primary fails. Option C (Transparent Mode HA) refers to Layer 2 bridging in HA and does not inherently provide inter-data center load balancing. Option D (Route-based HA) is not a standard FortiGate configuration and does not exist as an HA mode.

Implementation involves configuring cluster mode, assigning priorities to devices, enabling session synchronization, and configuring heartbeat interfaces. Devices must run compatible firmware versions and share synchronized configuration data. Administrators should also monitor cluster health, session failover events, and bandwidth utilization. For example, two FortiGate units in separate data centers can actively route traffic for different branches, maintaining service continuity even if one data center experiences hardware failure. Regular testing and monitoring ensure that HA configurations operate correctly, preventing split-brain scenarios and ensuring seamless network availability. This strategy optimizes both reliability and performance for critical corporate networks.

Question 13:

You need to configure FortiGate 7.6 to allow internal users to access the internet, but you want to hide internal IP addresses from external servers. Which configuration should be applied?

A) Enable NAT on the outbound firewall policy
B) Enable Transparent Mode on internal interfaces
C) Apply SSL Inspection on outbound traffic
D) Configure an IPS sensor

Answer: A) – Enable NAT on the outbound firewall policy

Explanation

Network Address Translation (NAT) is a key feature in FortiGate 7.6 that allows internal IP addresses to be translated to public IP addresses when accessing the internet. This ensures internal network topology remains hidden and provides an additional layer of security. NAT also enables multiple internal devices to share a single public IP address for outbound connectivity, conserving public IP resources.

Option B (Transparent Mode) allows Layer 2 bridging without NAT; it does not hide internal IPs. Option C (SSL Inspection) decrypts traffic for inspection but does not affect IP addressing. Option D (IPS Sensor) detects attacks but does not provide NAT functionality.

Implementation involves enabling NAT in the firewall policy controlling outbound traffic, selecting the outgoing interface, and optionally defining a specific source IP translation. Administrators can also configure policies to ensure specific traffic bypasses NAT if necessary, such as VPN tunnels or DMZ servers. For example, internal users with private IP addresses (e.g., 192.168.x.x) can access external websites, but the websites will only see the public IP assigned by FortiGate. This provides security by obscuring internal addressing while maintaining seamless internet connectivity. Logs and monitoring can help administrators verify NAT translation and troubleshoot connectivity issues. Proper NAT configuration ensures both privacy and operational efficiency for internal networks accessing external resources.

Question 14:

You want to enforce two-factor authentication (2FA) for FortiGate SSL VPN users. Which FortiGate feature supports this?

A) FortiToken integration with SSL VPN
B) LDAP user authentication only
C) IPS sensor applied to VPN traffic
D) Web Filtering profile on SSL VPN portal

Answer: A) – FortiToken integration with SSL VPN

Explanation

FortiGate 7.6 supports two-factor authentication (2FA) for SSL VPN users through FortiToken integration. FortiToken provides time-based one-time passwords (TOTP) or push notifications that complement user credentials, ensuring a second layer of security beyond username and password. Two-factor authentication helps prevent unauthorized access even if credentials are compromised.

Option B (LDAP authentication only) provides single-factor authentication using corporate credentials, lacking additional verification. Option C (IPS sensor) detects attacks but does not enforce authentication. Option D (Web Filtering profile) controls content but is unrelated to VPN authentication.

Configuration steps include installing FortiTokens on user devices, configuring token assignment in FortiGate, and linking token authentication to SSL VPN user groups. Administrators can enforce 2FA per policy or per user group. For example, remote users connecting via SSL VPN must enter their password and provide a token code from FortiToken. Logs track authentication attempts, enabling auditing and compliance reporting. 2FA reduces the risk of credential theft and unauthorized network access while maintaining a secure remote access environment. Organizations should enforce strong token management practices, such as expiration and revocation of lost or stolen tokens, ensuring continued protection against security breaches.

Question 15:

You are tasked with creating firewall policies in FortiGate 7.6 that allow certain internal users to access external SaaS applications while blocking others. Which approach should be used?

A) Create user groups → Assign to firewall policies → Apply Application Control and Web Filtering profiles
B) Enable NAT → Apply to all outbound policies
C) Configure HA mode → Assign to firewall policies
D) Apply SSL Deep Inspection globally without user mapping

Answer: A) – Create user groups → Assign to firewall policies → Apply Application Control and Web Filtering profiles

Explanation

FortiGate 7.6 supports user-based firewall policies that allow administrators to control traffic based on user identity. By creating user groups mapped to LDAP, RADIUS, or local authentication, specific policies can be applied to allow or block access to external applications. Application Control profiles can manage access to specific applications or categories, while Web Filtering profiles can restrict URLs and content types. This enables granular access control, ensuring that only authorized users can access SaaS platforms or sensitive services.

Option B (Enable NAT) manages IP translation but does not restrict user access. Option C (HA mode) ensures redundancy and availability, not access control. Option D (SSL Deep Inspection globally) decrypts traffic, but without user mapping, cannot enforce selective access.

Configuration involves creating user groups, defining firewall policies targeting those groups, and applying Application Control and Web Filtering profiles. Administrators can test access using logs to ensure policies are correctly enforced. For example, the marketing team may access social media SaaS apps, while finance users are restricted. Combining identity-based policies with inspection ensures security, compliance, and controlled access. Periodic review and policy updates are critical to reflect organizational changes, ensuring only authorized users have access to sensitive external resources while maintaining visibility and security across the network.

Question 16:

You want to inspect SSL traffic on FortiGate 7.6 for malware while ensuring that banking websites are not disrupted. Which configuration achieves this?

A) SSL Deep Inspection → Create bypass rules for banking applications
B) SSL Certificate Inspection only → Apply to all traffic
C) Full SSL Inspection without bypass → Apply to all firewall policies
D) Disable SSL Inspection → Only apply antivirus

Answer: A) – SSL Deep Inspection → Create bypass rules for banking applications

Explanation

In FortiGate 7.6, SSL Deep Inspection allows the firewall to decrypt, inspect, and re-encrypt HTTPS traffic for threats. This inspection ensures that malware or malicious content hidden in encrypted traffic is detected. However, some applications, particularly banking apps or SaaS platforms, use certificate pinning and will reject SSL interception, resulting in failed connections. To address this, administrators create bypass rules for these trusted applications while inspecting all other traffic.

Option B (SSL Certificate Inspection only) validates certificates but does not inspect content for malware, leaving encrypted threats undetected. Option C (full SSL inspection without bypass) risks breaking legitimate applications with certificate pinning. Option D (disabling SSL inspection) leaves encrypted traffic unmonitored, exposing the network to hidden threats.

Implementation involves creating an SSL/SSH inspection profile, applying it to relevant firewall policies, and defining exceptions for trusted applications. Client devices must trust the FortiGate root CA certificate to prevent certificate warnings. For example, employees accessing banking websites will bypass deep inspection to maintain functionality, while traffic to other sites is fully inspected for malware. Logs and monitoring ensure exceptions are properly enforced, and periodic review is recommended as new applications or SaaS platforms are deployed. This approach balances security with operational continuity, ensuring maximum protection without disrupting user experience.

Question 17:

A network engineer needs to configure FortiGate 7.6 to block attacks targeting vulnerable web applications while allowing normal traffic. Which feature should be used?

A) IPS sensor → Apply to firewall policy
B) Application Control → Block all unknown apps
C) Web Filtering → Block malware URLs
D) SSL Inspection → Full inspection

Answer: A) – IPS sensor → Apply to firewall policy

Explanation

The Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) in FortiGate 7.6 protects networks by inspecting traffic for known attack signatures, vulnerabilities, and abnormal patterns. By creating an IPS sensor and applying it to firewall policies, the administrator can detect and block malicious traffic targeting web applications, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, or known software vulnerabilities, while allowing legitimate requests to pass.

Option B (Application Control → Block unknown apps) restricts unknown applications but does not specifically protect against targeted web attacks. Option C (Web Filtering → Block malware URLs) controls access to malicious websites but cannot prevent exploits sent directly to web servers. Option D (SSL Inspection → Full inspection) decrypts traffic for scanning, but does not automatically detect exploit patterns unless paired with IPS or antivirus.

Implementation requires selecting relevant IPS signatures, tuning detection to minimize false positives, and applying the sensor to policies for affected web servers. Logs and alerts allow monitoring of blocked attempts. For example, an IPS sensor can block repeated SQL injection attempts while allowing normal HTTP requests to continue. Administrators can schedule signature updates to maintain protection against new vulnerabilities. Proper tuning ensures security is maintained without affecting legitimate user activity, providing effective protection for web-facing applications.

Beyond basic deployment, the implementation of an IPS involves a structured approach that balances security effectiveness with operational efficiency. First, organizations must assess their network and application landscape to identify which assets are most critical and exposed. For web-facing servers, this often includes applications that handle sensitive user data, process transactions, or integrate with internal systems. By prioritizing these servers, the IPS deployment can focus resources where potential attacks could have the most significant impact.

Selecting relevant signatures is a critical step. IPS solutions typically provide thousands of predefined signatures covering common exploits such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), buffer overflow attacks, and protocol anomalies. Not all signatures are relevant to every environment; for instance, if an application does not use FTP, FTP-related signatures may generate unnecessary alerts. Administrators should tailor the signature set based on the specific protocols, applications, and services in use, reducing the chance of irrelevant alerts and improving detection accuracy. Signature tuning also involves adjusting thresholds for triggering alerts or blocking traffic. For example, repeated failed login attempts from a single IP may indicate brute force attacks, but normal users occasionally mistype passwords. Tuning ensures that genuine threats are blocked without disrupting legitimate traffic.

Policy application is another essential aspect. IPS sensors operate within defined policies that determine how traffic is monitored and which actions are taken when a threat is detected. Common actions include alerting, dropping the connection, or actively blocking the source IP. Policies should align with organizational security requirements and the risk tolerance of each system. For high-risk web servers, aggressive blocking may be appropriate, while internal servers with controlled access may use alert-only modes initially to assess the environment. Policy management also includes layering protections, combining IPS with firewalls, web application firewalls (WAFs), and network segmentation to ensure a multi-layered defense strategy.

Monitoring and analysis of logs and alerts are vital to maintaining an effective IPS deployment. Administrators should review alerts regularly to identify emerging threats, attack patterns, or misconfigurations that could lead to false positives or missed detections. Integrating IPS logs with a security information and event management (SIEM) system enables correlation with other network events, providing a more comprehensive security view. Over time, the organization can refine detection rules, disable signatures that generate frequent false positives, and prioritize alerts based on severity and potential impact.

Another critical consideration is keeping the IPS up to date. Vendors release signature updates and vulnerability patches to address new attack vectors. Regularly scheduled updates ensure that the IPS remains effective against the latest threats. Administrators should test updates in a controlled environment to verify compatibility with existing applications and avoid unintended disruptions. Some organizations also implement adaptive learning or anomaly-based detection, which allows the IPS to identify deviations from normal traffic behavior and block suspicious activity even when specific signatures do not exist.

Question 18:

You want FortiGate 7.6 to limit internet bandwidth per user during peak hours while allowing business-critical applications full bandwidth. Which configuration should be applied?

A) Create Traffic Shaping Policy → Apply per user/group → Set guaranteed/prioritized bandwidth
B) Enable NAT → Apply globally
C) SSL Inspection → Full inspection
D) IPS Sensor → Apply to all traffic

Answer: A) – Create Traffic Shaping Policy → Apply per user/group → Set guaranteed/prioritized bandwidth

Explanation

Traffic shaping in FortiGate 7.6 enables administrators to manage bandwidth usage, ensuring fair distribution and prioritization. By creating Traffic Shaping policies tied to users or user groups, specific limits can be applied during defined times (e.g., peak business hours), while critical applications can receive guaranteed or prioritized bandwidth.

Option B (NAT) only translates IP addresses and does not control bandwidth. Option C (SSL Inspection) inspects encrypted traffic but does not enforce bandwidth policies. Option D (IPS Sensor) detects threats but does not manage traffic usage.

Implementation involves defining user groups, creating Traffic Shaping policies with guaranteed and maximum bandwidth, scheduling time-based policies if needed, and applying them to relevant firewall policies. For example, employees in a general user group may be limited to 2 Mbps for web browsing during peak hours, while Office 365 and ERP applications receive priority traffic. Monitoring and logging enable administrators to validate policy effectiveness and adjust limits based on usage patterns. Properly configured traffic shaping ensures critical business operations remain unaffected while maintaining fair use of network resources.

Finally, user education and incident response planning complement IPS implementation. Administrators should ensure that operational teams understand how the IPS functions, how to interpret alerts, and how to respond to incidents. A well-tuned IPS, combined with proactive monitoring and clear response procedures, provides robust protection for web-facing applications, reducing the likelihood of successful exploitation while minimizing disruptions to legitimate users. Proper implementation, tuning, and ongoing management ensure that the IPS contributes meaningfully to the organization’s overall security posture, maintaining a balance between protection and usability.

Question 19:

A FortiGate administrator wants to integrate FortiGate 7.6 with Active Directory for centralized user authentication. Which method should be used?

A) Configure LDAP server → Map user groups → Apply to policies or VPNs
B) Enable local user accounts → Apply to firewall policies
C) Use SSL Deep Inspection → Apply to LDAP traffic
D) Configure IPS sensor → Apply to authentication traffic

Answer: A) – Configure LDAP server → Map user groups → Apply to policies or VPNs

Explanation

FortiGate 7.6 integrates with Active Directory using LDAP to provide centralized authentication for users. By configuring an LDAP server connection, user groups can be mapped to FortiGate user groups, which can then be applied to firewall policies, SSL VPNs, or administrative access. This approach simplifies management by leveraging existing corporate directories and ensuring consistent access control.

Option B (local user accounts) requires manual creation and maintenance of individual accounts, increasing administrative overhead. Option C (SSL Deep Inspection) is for inspecting encrypted traffic and does not provide authentication. Option D (IPS sensor) protects against exploits but cannot manage user authentication.

Implementation steps include defining the LDAP server IP, credentials, base DN, and group mappings. After testing connectivity, administrators assign the mapped user groups to policies or VPNs. For example, members of the finance group can be granted access to internal ERP applications, while the marketing team can access specific SaaS resources. Authentication logs allow auditing of user access. This method centralizes user management, supports single sign-on, and improves security and compliance by ensuring that access rights are consistently applied across the network.

Question 20:

You need FortiGate 7.6 to ensure that all traffic to cloud applications is inspected for malware, even if encrypted. Which configuration should be applied?

A) SSL Deep Inspection → Enable Antivirus and Application Control → Apply to firewall policies
B) NAT Mode → Apply to outbound traffic
C) Transparent Mode → Apply to internal LAN
D) IPS Sensor → Apply to SSL VPN traffic

Answer: A) – SSL Deep Inspection → Enable Antivirus and Application Control → Apply to firewall policies

Explanation

To inspect encrypted traffic to cloud applications, FortiGate 7.6 requires SSL Deep Inspection, which decrypts HTTPS traffic so that security profiles such as Antivirus and Application Control can be applied. Antivirus scans for malware embedded in files or web traffic, while Application Control enforces access policies and monitors application usage.

Option B (NAT) provides IP translation, not inspection. Option C (Transparent Mode) allows bridging but does not decrypt traffic for content inspection. Option D (IPS Sensor → SSL VPN) detects threats in network traffic but does not provide application-level scanning for cloud applications.

Configuration involves creating an SSL/SSH inspection profile, applying it to relevant firewall policies, enabling antivirus scanning, and applying Application Control profiles. Trusted cloud applications can be bypassed if needed to avoid breaking functionality, while all other encrypted traffic is inspected for threats. For example, employees accessing Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 will have encrypted traffic scanned for malware without impacting usability. Logs provide detailed visibility into blocked threats or malicious activity, and regular signature updates ensure protection against emerging threats. This configuration ensures comprehensive security while allowing encrypted cloud applications to function normally, maintaining both protection and productivity.