Basics of Network Security – FortiGate and Beyond

Welcome back!
In this series, Packets and Protocols, I’m taking you on a complete journey through real-world networking and security, based on hands-on experience with FortiGate firewalls, enterprise routing, VPNs, SD-WAN, ZSCLAR, SIEM, and SOAR solutions.

Here's What You’ll Learn – Module by Module:

✅ Module 1: FortiGate Security Essentials

Get started with security fundamentals and understand how to harden a network from the edge:

• Initial firewall setup & interface configuration

• Deploying Fortinet’s Security Fabric

• Crafting firewall policies and NAT rules

• Enabling user authentication and access control

• Web filtering and application control

• Antivirus, IPS, DoS protection

• SSL VPN deployment for remote users

• Logging, monitoring, and certificate management

✅ Module 2: FortiGate Infrastructure & Advanced Features

Dive deeper into core networking elements and FortiGate's role as a flexible infrastructure component:

• Static & dynamic routing configuration

• Implementing SD-WAN local breakout

• Configuring Virtual Domains (VDOMs) for multitenancy

• Layer 2 switching scenarios

• Building robust IPSec VPNs

• Fortinet Single Sign-On (FSSO)

• Enabling High Availability (HA)

• Troubleshooting with FortiGate diagnostic tools

✅ Module 3 : Centralized Authentication & Identity Services

This module focuses on integrating FortiGate and enterprise networks with centralized authentication systems — a crucial component of secure access control.

Topics Covered:

• Overview of AAA (Authentication, Authorization, Accounting)

• Understanding centralized identity architecture

• LDAP Integration with FortiGate

  • Bind DN setup

  • User group mapping

  • Policy-based user filtering

• RADIUS Authentication

  • Setting up RADIUS servers

  • Assigning user roles via attributes

  • CLI and GUI config examples

• TACACS+ Integration

  • Command authorization for admin control

  • Role-based CLI access

• Real-world use cases:

  • MFA integration (e.g., FortiToken, DUO, MFA)

  • Role-based firewall access via AD groups

  • Troubleshooting auth logs and debugging failures

✅ Module 4: Enterprise Firewall and Secure Network Architecture

This module focuses on enterprise-level implementations and advanced configurations:

• Understanding FortiOS architecture

• Live traffic/session analysis

• Routing strategies within complex environments

• FortiGuard services for threat intelligence

• Centralized firewall management

• Routing Protocols:

  • OSPF (Open Shortest Path First)

  • BGP (Border Gateway Protocol)

• Advanced Web Filtering and Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

• IPSec and Auto-Discovery VPN (ADVPN)

✅ Module 5: SD-WAN & Intelligent Traffic Management

Learn to build scalable, performance-optimized WAN infrastructures using Fortinet’s SD-WAN:

• Introduction to SD-WAN concepts

• Deep-dive into routing, sessions, and performance SLAs

• Crafting SD-WAN rules for intelligent path selection

• Traffic shaping, quality of service (QoS)

• Integrating with other Fortinet services

• Implementing Advanced IPSec

• Secure, scalable deployment using ADVPN

✅ Module 6: Cloud Security with Zscaler Integration

Zscaler Basics

• Introduction to ZIA (Zscaler Internet Access) and ZPA (Private Access)
• How Zscaler enhances cloud-based security

Firewall Integration

• Forwarding traffic from FortiGate to Zscaler
• Proxy chaining & PAC file usage
• Policy-based and static routing to Zscaler

Tunnel Deployment

• GRE and IPsec tunnel configuration from firewall to ZEN nodes
• Routing internet-bound traffic via Zscaler tunnel
• SD-WAN integration with Zscaler tunnels

Identity Integration

• User authentication via LDAP, SAML, SCIM
• XFF headers and user mapping
• Role-based policies and identity-aware filtering

Logging & Monitoring

• Real-time traffic logs in Zscaler portal
• Integration with FortiAnalyzer / SIEM via API
• Tunnel health, policy hits, and threat analytics

Use Cases

• Cloud proxy for remote and mobile users
• Secure local breakout for SaaS apps
• Extending FortiGate perimeter with cloud filtering

✅ Module 7: OT (Operational Technology) Security

Dive into securing industrial and operational networks, which are becoming high-risk targets:

• Fundamentals of OT infrastructure

• Securing OT systems using segmentation and micro-segmentation

• Validating and authenticating OT users

• Using FortiGate to inspect and secure OT traffic

• OT visibility with:

  • FortiSIEM

  • FortiAnalyzer

  • FortiNAC

  • Event correlation and real-time security alerts

✅ Module 8: FortiSOAR – Automation & Incident Response

Learn to design automated security workflows using Fortinet’s Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response platform:

• FortiSOAR design principles

• Building custom playbooks

• Connecting security tools across the environment

• Automating threat detection, response, and reporting

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