NSE7_ZTA-7.2: Fortinet NSE 7 - Zero Trust Access 7.2

In a ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) deployment, FortiClient EMS:

A) Uses endpoint information to grant or deny access to the network: FortiClient EMS plays a critical role in ZTNA by using information about the endpoint, such as its security posture and compliance status, to determine whether to grant or deny network access.

The other options do not accurately represent the role of FortiClient EMS in ZTNA:

B) Provides network and user identity authentication services: While it contributes to the overall ZTNA strategy, FortiClient EMS itself does not directly provide authentication services.

C) Generates and installs client certificates on managed endpoints: Certificate management is typically handled by other components in the ZTNA framework.

D) Acts as ZTNA access proxy for managed endpoints: FortiClient EMS does not function as an access proxy; its role is more aligned with endpoint management and policy enforcement.

FortiClient EMS in Zero Trust Network Access Deployment.

Role of FortiClient EMS in ZTNA.

FortiNAC uses a variety of methods to identify devices on the network, such as Vendor OUI, DHCP fingerprinting, and device profiling12.One of the supported communication methods that FortiNAC uses for initial device identification during discovery is SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)3.SNMP is a protocol that allows network devices to exchange information and monitor their status4.FortiNAC can use SNMP to read information from switches and routers, such as MAC addresses, IP addresses, VLANs, and port status3.SNMP can also be used to configure network devices and enforce policies4.Reference:1: Identification | FortiNAC 9.4.0 - Fortinet Documentation2: Device profiling process | FortiNAC 8.3.0 | Fortinet Document Library3: Using FortiNAC to identify medical devices - James Pratt4: How does FortiNAC identify a new device on the network?

Certificate-based authentication is a method of verifying the identity of a device or user by using a digital certificate issued by a trusted authority. For ZTNA deployment, certificate-based authentication is used to ensure that only authorized devices and users can access the protected applications or resources.

B) The default action for empty certificates is block. This is true because ZTNA requires both device and user verification before granting access. If a device does not have a valid certificate issued by the ZTNA CA, it will be blocked by the ZTNA gateway. This prevents unauthorized or compromised devices from accessing the network.

D) Client certificate configuration is a mandatory component for ZTNA. This is true because ZTNA relies on client certificates to identify and authenticate devices. Client certificates are generated by the ZTNA CA and contain the device ID, ZTNA tags, and other information. Client certificates are distributed to devices by the ZTNA management server (such as EMS) and are used to establish a secure connection with the ZTNA gateway.

A) FortiGate signs the client certificate submitted by FortiClient. This is false because FortiGate does not sign the client certificates. The client certificates are signed by the ZTNA CA, which is a separate entity from FortiGate. FortiGate only verifies the client certificates and performs certificate actions based on the ZTNA tags.

C) Certificate actions can be configured only on the FortiGate CLI. This is false because certificate actions can be configured on both the FortiGate GUI and CLI. Certificate actions are the actions that FortiGate takes based on the ZTNA tags in the client certificates. For example, FortiGate can allow, block, or redirect traffic based on the ZTNA tags.

1: Technical Tip: ZTNA for Corporate hosts with SAML authentication and FortiAuthenticator as IDP

2: Zero Trust Network Access - Fortinet

To trigger layer 2 polling on FortiNAC, the three methods are:

A) Polling scripts: These are scripts configured within FortiNAC to actively poll the network at layer 2 to gather information about connected devices.

C) Manual polling: This involves manually initiating a polling process from the FortiNAC interface to gather current network information.

D) Scheduled tasks: Polling can be scheduled as regular tasks within FortiNAC, allowing for automated, periodic collection of network data.

The other options are not standard methods for layer 2 polling in FortiNAC:

B) Link traps: These are more related to SNMP trap messages rather than layer 2 polling.

E) Polling using API: While APIs are used for various integrations, they are not typically used for initiating layer 2 polling in FortiNAC.

FortiNAC Layer 2 Polling Documentation.

Configuring Polling Methods in FortiNAC.

With the increase in IoT devices, enterprises face many challenges in securing and managing their network and data. Two of the most significant challenges are:

Unpatched vulnerabilities in IoT devices (Option C): IoT devices are often vulnerable to cyber attacks due to their increased exposure to the internet and their limited computing resources.Some of the security challenges in IoT include weak password protection, lack of regular patches and updates, insecure interfaces, insufficient data protection, and poor IoT device management12. Unpatched vulnerabilities in IoT devices can allow hackers to exploit them and compromise the network or data.For example, the Mirai malware infected IoT devices by using default credentials and created a massive botnet that launched DDoS attacks on internet services2.

Achieving full network visibility (Option D): IoT devices can generate a large amount of data that needs to be collected, processed, and analyzed. However, many enterprises lack the tools and capabilities to monitor and manage the IoT devices and data effectively. This can result in poor performance, inefficiency, and security risks. Achieving full network visibility means having a clear and comprehensive view of all the IoT devices, their status, their connectivity, their data flow, and their potential threats.This can help enterprises optimize their network performance, ensure data quality and integrity, and detect and prevent any anomalies or attacks3.

Based on the exhibit, the true statements about the hr endpoint are:

B) The endpoint is marked as a rogue device: The 'w' symbol typically indicates a warning or an at-risk status, which can be associated with an endpoint being marked as rogue due to failing to meet the security compliance requirements or other reasons.

C) The endpoint has failed the compliance scan: The 'w' symbol can also signify that the endpoint has failed a compliance scan, which is a common reason for an endpoint to be marked as at risk.

FortiAnalyzer playbooks are automated workflows that can perform actions based on triggers, conditions, and outputs. One of the actions that a playbook can perform is to quarantine a device by sending an API call to FortiClient EMS, which then instructs the FortiClient agent on the device to disconnect from the network. This can help isolate and contain a compromised or non-compliant device from spreading malware or violating policies.Reference:=

Quarantine a device from FortiAnalyzer playbooks

Playbooks

NGFW stands for Next-Generation Firewall, which is a network security device that provides advanced features beyond the traditional firewall, such as application awareness, identity awareness, threat prevention, and integration with other security tools. ZTA stands for Zero Trust Architecture, which is a security model that requires strict verification of the identity and context of every request before granting access to network resources. ZTA assumes that no device or user can be trusted by default, even if they are connected to a corporate network or have been previously verified.

In a ZTA deployment, NGFW can perform two functions:

Acts as segmentation gateway: NGFW can act as a segmentation gateway, which is a device that separates different segments of the network based on security policies and rules. Segmentation can help isolate and protect sensitive data and applications from unauthorized or malicious access, as well as reduce the attack surface and contain the impact of a breach. NGFW can enforce granular segmentation policies based on the identity and context of the devices and users, as well as the applications and services they are accessing. NGFW can also integrate with other segmentation tools, such as software-defined networking (SDN) and microsegmentation, to provide a consistent and dynamic segmentation across the network.

Device discovery and profiling: NGFW can also perform device discovery and profiling, which are processes that identify and classify the devices that are connected to the network, as well as their attributes and behaviors. Device discovery and profiling can help NGFW to apply the appropriate security policies and rules based on the device type, role, location, health, and activity. Device discovery and profiling can also help NGFW to detect and respond to anomalous or malicious devices that may pose a threat to the network.

: What is a Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW)? | Fortinet : What is Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)? | Fortinet :Zero Trust Architecture Explained: A Step-by-Step Approach:The Most Common NGFW Deployment Scenarios:Sample Configuration for Post vWAN Deployment