Fortinet: Getting Started with a FortiGate Firewall

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of setting up a FortiGate firewall, based on the insights from a video presented by Firewalls.com. Whether you're a network engineer or just starting with network security, this guide will help you establish a secure and efficient firewall configuration.

Step 1: Initial Setup

1. Unbox and Connect the Firewall

   • Remove the FortiGate firewall from its packaging.
   • Connect the power cable and turn on the device.
   • Use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to the management port of the FortiGate.

2. Access the Management Interface

   • Open a web browser on your computer.
   • Enter the default IP address (usually 192.168.1.99) of the FortiGate firewall in the browser's address bar.
   • Log in using the default credentials (username: admin, password: [leave blank]).

Step 2: Configure Basic Settings

1. Change the Admin Password

   • Navigate to the System settings.
   • Select "Administrators" and click on the admin account.
   • Update the password to a secure one.

2. Set the Device Hostname

   • In the System settings, find the "Settings" option.
   • Change the hostname to something descriptive (e.g., FortiGate-Office).

3. Configure the Network Interfaces

   • Go to the "Network" section and select "Interfaces."
   • Edit the WAN interface settings:
     • Set the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway provided by your ISP.
   • Edit the LAN interface settings:
     • Assign it an appropriate IP address and subnet mask for your internal network.

Step 3: Set Up Firewall Policies

1. Create Basic Firewall Rules

   • Navigate to the "Policy & Objects" section.
   • Click on "IPv4 Policy" and select "Create New."
   • Define policies for inbound and outbound traffic:
     • Source: Select the source address (e.g., all).
     • Destination: Define the destination (e.g., the internal network).
     • Action: Set to "Accept."

2. Configure NAT Settings

   • Ensure that NAT is enabled for outgoing traffic.
   • This setting is often found in the same policy creation window.

Step 4: Enable Security Features

1. Set Up Antivirus and Web Filtering

   • Navigate to the "Security Profiles" section.
   • Enable Antivirus and Web Filtering by creating new profiles and applying them to your firewall policies.

2. Implement Logging and Monitoring

   • Go to the "Log & Report" settings.
   • Enable logging for traffic, events, and security to monitor activity on the firewall.

Step 5: Test Your Configuration

1. Check Connectivity

   • Test the internet connectivity from a device within the LAN.
   • Ensure that you can access external sites.

2. Verify Firewall Rules

   • Attempt to access restricted sites to confirm that your firewall rules are functioning correctly.
   • Monitor logs to ensure that traffic is being filtered as expected.

Conclusion

You have now set up a basic FortiGate firewall configuration. Key takeaways include changing default credentials, configuring interfaces, setting firewall policies, and enabling security features. For further enhancements, consider exploring advanced settings such as VPN configurations or integrating additional security profiles. If you need assistance, professional services are available through Firewalls.com.