User groups

User groups

A user group is a list of user identities. An identity can be:

• a local user account (username/password stored on the FortiGate unit
• a remote user account (password stored on a RADIUS, LDAP, or TACACS+ server)
• a PKI user account with digital client authentication certificate stored on the FortiGate unit
• a RADIUS, LDAP, or TACACS+ server, optionally specifying particular user groups on that server
• a user group defined on an FSSO server.

Security policies and some types of VPN configurations allow access to specified user groups only. This restricted access enforces Role Based Access Control (RBAC) to your organization’s network and its resources. Users must be in a group and that group must be part of the security policy.

In most cases, the FortiGate unit authenticates users by requesting their username and password. The FortiGate unit checks local user accounts first. If a match is not found, the FortiGate unit checks the RADIUS, LDAP, or TACACS+ servers that belong to the user group. Authentication succeeds when a matching username and password are found. If the user belongs to multiple groups on a server, those groups will be matched as well.

FortiOS does not allow username overlaps between RADIUS, LDAP, or TACACS+ servers.

There are four types of FortiGate user groups: Firewall, Fortinet Single Sign-On (FSSO), Guest, and RADIUS Single Sign-On (RSSO) user groups.