Free Fortinet NSE5_FNC_AD_7.6 Practice Exam with Questions & Answers

FortiNAC-F provides a robust engine for processing security notifications from third-party devices. For standard integrations, such as FortiGate or Check Point, the system comes pre-loaded with templates to interpret incoming data. However, when an administrator needs FortiNAC-F to process syslog messages from a vendor or device that is not supported by default, they must configure aSecurity Event Parser.

TheSecurity Event Parseracts as the translation layer. It uses regular expressions (Regex) or specific field mappings to identify key data points within a raw syslog string, such as the source IP address, the threat type, and the severity. Without a parser, FortiNAC-F may receive the syslog message but will be unable to "understand" its contents, meaning it cannot generate the necessarySecurity Eventrequired to trigger automated responses. Once a parser is created, the system can extract the host's IP address from the message, resolve it to a MAC address via L3 polling, and then apply the appropriate security rules. This allows for the integration of any security appliance capable of sending RFC-compliant syslog messages.

"FortiNAC parses the information based onpre-defined security event parsersstored in FortiNAC's database... If the incoming message format is not recognized, a newSecurity Event Parsermust be created to define how the system should extract data fields from the raw syslog message. This enables FortiNAC to generate a security event and take action based on the alarm configuration." —FortiNAC-F Administration Guide: Security Event Parsers.

In FortiNAC-F, theInventory topologyuses specific icons to represent the status and model of discovered network infrastructure. When a switch or other network device is discovered via SNMP, FortiNAC-F retrieves itsSystem ObjectID (sysObjectID)to identify the specific make and model. This OID is then compared against the internal database of supported device mappings.

Aquestion mark (?)icon appearing on a discovered switch indicates that while the discovery process successfully communicated with the device (meaning SNMP credentials were correct), theSNMP ObjectID is not recognizedor mapped in the current version of FortiNAC-F. This essentially means the device is "unsupported" by the current software out-of-the-box. Because the OID is unknown, FortiNAC-F does not know which CLI or SNMP command set to use for critical functions like L2 polling (host visibility) or VLAN switching (enforcement). To resolve this, an administrator can manually "Set Device Mapping" to a similar existing model or a "Generic SNMP Device" if only basic L3 visibility is required.

"Discovered devices displaying a'?' iconindicate the currently running version does not have a mapping for that device'sSystem OID(device is not supported). Device mappings are used to manage the device by performing functions such as L2/L3 Polling, Reading, and Switching VLANs." —Fortinet Technical Tip: Options for devices unable to be modeled in Inventory.

The process of moving a host from aRegistration VLANto aProduction VLAN(Access VLAN) is a fundamental part of the FortiNAC-F "VLAN steering" workflow. When a host successfully registers via the captive portal, FortiNAC-F evaluates its Network Access Policies to determine the correct VLAN. If the host remains stuck in the Registration VLAN despite a successful registration, it is typically due to port-level restrictions or the presence of other unregistered devices.

The two most common reasons for this behavior as per the documentation are:

The port default VLAN is the same as the Registration VLAN:If the "Default VLAN" field in the switch port's model configuration is set to the same ID as the Registration VLAN, the port will not change state because FortiNAC-F believes it is already in its "normal" or "forced" state.

There is another unregistered host on the same port:FortiNAC-F maintains the security posture of the physical port. If multiple hosts are connected to a single port (e.g., via a hub or unmanaged switch) and at least one host remains "Rogue" (unregistered), FortiNAC-F will generally keep the entire port in the isolation/registration VLAN to prevent the unregistered host from gaining unauthorized access to the production network.

Issues with agents (A, B) typically prevent a host from completing compliance or registration but do not usually result in a "stuck" statusafterregistration has already been marked as successful in the system.

"If a port is identified as havingMultiple Hosts, and those hosts require different levels of access, FortiNAC remains in the most restrictive state (Registration or Isolation) until all hosts on that port are authorized... Additionally, verify theDefault VLANsetting for the port; if the Default VLAN and Registration VLAN match, the system will not trigger a VLAN change upon registration." —FortiNAC-F Administration Guide: Troubleshooting Host Management.

The integration of FortiNAC-F withFortiGate VPNrequires a specific policy workflow to bridge the gap between initial user authentication and full network access. When a user connects to the VPN, the FortiGate typically provides the User ID and IP address, but FortiNAC-F requires aMAC addressto uniquely identify and manage the endpoint's record.

According to theFortiGate VPN Integration Guide, theEndpoint Compliance Policyis a mandatory component of this setup because it is used todesignate the required agent type. Because a VPN connection is Layer 3, FortiNAC cannot "see" the MAC address through traditional SNMP or L2 polling. The compliance policy instructs the system to present aCaptive Portalto the remote user, requiring them to download and run either thePersistentorDissolvable Agent. The agent then reports the device's MAC address back to FortiNAC, allowing the system to correlate the VPN session with a host record.

Once the agent is running and the MAC is known, FortiNAC-F can evaluate the device's security posture (if scanning is configured) and send the necessaryFSSO tagsback to the FortiGate to lift the initial network restrictions. Without the compliance policy to enforce the agent requirement, the connection would remain in an isolated "IP-only" state with no unique hardware identity.

"TheEndpoint Compliance Policyis necessary to control the agent requirement for VPN users. Create a default VPN Endpoint Compliance Policy todistribute an agentvia captive portal for isolated machines. This policy allows the administrator todesignate the required agent type(Persistent or Dissolvable) that will be used to collect the hardware (MAC) address and perform health scans on the remote endpoint." —FortiNAC FortiGate VPN Integration Guide: Default Endpoint Compliance Policy (Optional) Section.

In FortiNAC-F,Device Profiling Rulesare used to automatically identify and categorize devices (such as IP cameras, printers, or IoT devices) based on fingerprints like DHCP fingerprints, OIDs, or MAC prefixes. When a device matches a rule, it appears in theProfiled Devicesview.

However, matching a rule does not automatically register the device in the database unless the rule is configured to do so. If the devices appear in the view but remain "Unknown" and show "No" in the registration column, it indicates that the"Confirm"(or "Auto-register") action has not been triggered. In the Device Profiling Rule configuration, there is a setting called"Allow Auto-Approval"or"Confirm". If this is not enabled, the system identifies the device but waits for an administrator to manually approve the match before changing the host status from "Unknown" to "Registered".

This is a common "safety" configuration used during the initial deployment phase to ensure that the profiling rules are accurate before the system begins automatically granting network access based on those matches.

"If a device matches a rule but is not registered, check the rule configuration. TheConfirmoption (within the Method or Rule settings) determines if the system automatically registers the device upon a match. IfConfirmis not enabled, the device will remain in the 'Profiled' state with a registration status of'No'until an administrator manually promotes the device." —FortiNAC-F Administration Guide: Device Profiling Rules.

When troubleshooting network access in FortiNAC-F, it is often necessary to verify exactly why a host has been granted a specific level of access. Since FortiNAC-F evaluates policies from the top down and assigns access based on the first match, an administrator needs a clear way to see the results of this evaluation for a specific live endpoint.

ThePolicy Details (C)view is the designated tool for this purpose. By navigating to theHosts > Hosts(or Adapter View) in the Administration UI, an administrator can search for the specific MAC address or IP of the host in question. Right-clicking on the host record reveals a context menu from whichPolicy Detailscan be selected. This view provides a real-time "look" into the policy engine's decision for that specific host, showing theNetwork Access Policythat was matched, theUser/Host Profilethat triggered the match, and the resultingNetwork Access Configuration(VLAN/ACL) currently applied.

WhilePolicy Logs (A)provide a historical record of all policy transitions across the system, they are often too high-volume to efficiently find a single host's current state. TheConnections view (B)shows the physical port and basic status but lacks the granular policy logic breakdown. ThePort Properties (D)view shows the configuration of the switch interface itself, which is only one component of the final access determination.

"To identify which policy is currently applied to a specific endpoint, use thePolicy Detailsview. Navigate toHosts > Hosts, select the host, right-click and choosePolicy Details. This window displays the specificNetwork Access Policy, User/Host Profile, and Network Access Configuration currently in effect for that host record." —FortiNAC-F Administration Guide: Policy Details and Troubleshooting.

The integration between FortiNAC-F and Mobile Device Management (MDM) platforms (such as Microsoft Intune, VMware Workspace ONE, or Jamf) is a critical component for providing visibility into mobile assets that do not connect directly to the managed infrastructure via standard wired or wireless protocols.

According to theFortiNAC-F MDM Integration Guide, the communication between the FortiNAC-F appliance and the MDM server is handled throughREST APIcalls. FortiNAC-F acts as an API client, periodically polling the MDM server to retrieve device metadata, compliance status, and ownership information. If communication is failing, it is most likely because the API credentials (Client ID/Secret) are incorrect, the MDM's API endpoint is unreachable from the FortiNAC-F service port, or the SSL certificate presented by the MDM is not trusted by the FortiNAC-F root store.

While SSH (B) is used for switch CLI management and the Security Fabric (A) uses proprietary protocols for FortiGate synchronization, neither is the primary vehicle for MDM data exchange. SOAP API (D) is an older protocol that has been largely replaced by REST in modern FortiNAC integrations.

"FortiNAC integrates with MDM systems by utilizingREST APIcommunication to query the MDM database for device information. To establish this link, administrators must configure the MDM Service Connector with the appropriateAPI URLand authentication credentials. If the 'Test Connection' fails, verify that the FortiNAC can reach the MDM provider via theREST APIport (usually HTTPS 443)." —FortiNAC-F Administration Guide: MDM Integration and Troubleshooting.

In FortiNAC-F, accountability and forensic tracking of configuration changes are managed through theAdmin Auditingfunctionality. When an administrator performs an action that modifies the system state—such as creating a policy, changing a device's status, or adding a switch port to anEnforcement Group—the system generates an audit record. This record is essential for troubleshooting scenarios where unauthorized or accidental configuration changes have occurred, leading to unintended network behavior.

TheAdmin Auditingview (found underLogs > Admin Auditing) provides a comprehensive log of the "Who, What, and When" for every administrative session. Each entry includes the username of the administrator, the source IP address from which they accessed the FortiNAC-F console, a precise timestamp, and a detailed description of the modification. In the scenario described, where ports have been incorrectly added to enforcement groups, the Admin Auditing view allows a supervisor to filter by the specific "Port" or "Group" object to identify exactly which administrator executed the command.

In contrast, theEvent Managementview (B) is designed to monitor system and network events, such as RADIUS authentications, host connections, and SNMP trap arrivals. While it tracks system activity, it does not typically log the manual configuration changes performed by admins. ThePort Changesview (C) tracks the operational history of a port (such as VLAN assignment changes and host movements) but does not attribute the administrative assignment of the port to a group. Finally, theSecurity Eventsview (D) is dedicated to alerts triggered by security rules and external threat feeds.

"Admin Auditing displays a record of all modifications made to the FortiNAC-F system by an administrator. This view includes the administrator's name, the date and time of the change, and a description of the action taken. It is the primary resource for determining which administrative user performed a specific configuration change, such as modifying port group memberships or altering policy settings." —FortiNAC-F Administration Guide: Logging and Auditing Section.

FortiNAC-F serves as a central manager for security events originating from a diverse ecosystem of third-party security appliances, such as FortiGate, Check Point, and Cisco. Each vendor utilizes its own internal scale forseverity levelswithin syslog messages (e.g., Check Point uses a 1–5 scale, while others may use 0–7). To provide a consistent response regardless of the source, FortiNAC-F usesSeverity Mappingsto normalize these incoming values.

According to theFortiNAC-F Administration Guide, severity mappings allow the administrator to translate vendor-specific threat levels into standardizedFortiNAC Security Levels(such as High, Medium, or Low Violation). When a syslog message arrives, the parser extracts the vendor's severity code, and the system immediately references theSecurity Event Severity Level Mappingstable to determine how that event should be categorized internally. This normalization is vital because it allows a singleSecurity Alarmto be configured to respond to any "High Violation" event, whether it was reported as a "Critical" by one vendor or a "Level 5" by another. Without these mappings, the administrator would have to create separate, redundant security rules for every vendor to account for their different naming conventions and numerical scales.

"Each vendor defines its own severity levels for syslog messages. The following table shows the equivalent FortiNAC security level... To normalize these events, configure theSeverity Level Mappingsfound in the device integration guides. This allows FortiNAC to generate a consistent security event that can then trigger an alarm regardless of the reporting vendor's specific terminology." —FortiNAC-F Administration Guide: Vendor Severity Levels and Syslog Management.