Category Archives: Administration Guides

FortiOS 6 – AntiVirus

AntiVirus

This section describes how to configure the antivirus options. From an antivirus profile you can configure the

FortiGate unit to apply antivirus protection to HTTP, FTP, IMAP, POP3, SMTP, and NNTP sessions. If your FortiGate unit supports SSL/SSH content scanning and inspection, you can also configure antivirus protection for HTTPS, IMAPS, POP3S, SMTPS, and FTPS sessions.

In many cases you can just customize the default antivirus profile and apply it to the security policy that accepts the traffic to be virus scanned. You can also create custom antivirus profiles if want to apply different types of virus protection to different traffic.

This Handbook chapter includes Inside FortiOS: AntiVirus providing readers an overview of the features and benefits of key FortiOS 5.6 components.

For readers needing to delve into greater detail, we provide the following topics:

l Antivirus concepts l Enabling AntiVirus scanning l Testing your antivirus configuration l Example Scenarios

Antivirus concepts

The word “antivirus” refers to a group of features that are designed to prevent unwanted and potentially malicious files from entering your network. These features all work in different ways, which include checking for a file size, name, or type, or for the presence of a virus or grayware signature.

The antivirus scanning routines your FortiGate unit uses are designed to share access to the network traffic. This way, each individual feature does not have to examine the network traffic as a separate operation, and the overhead is reduced significantly. For example, if you enable file filtering and virus scanning, the resources used to complete these tasks are only slightly greater than enabling virus scanning alone. Two features do not require twice the resources.

Antivirus scanning examines files for viruses, worms, trojans, and other malware. The antivirus scan engine has a database of virus signatures it uses to identify infections. If the scanner finds a signature in a file, it determines that the file is infected and takes the appropriate action.

FortiOS 6 – Inspection Modes

Inspection modes

You can select one of two inspection modes from the System > Settings page to control the security profile inspection mode for your FortiGate or VDOM.

  • Proxy-based inspection, that reconstructs content passing through the FortiGate unit and inspects the content for security threats, or
  • Flow-based inspection, that takes a snapshot of content packets and uses pattern matching to identify security threats in the content.

Each inspection component plays a role in the processing of traffic en route to its destination. Having control over flow and proxy mode is helpful if you want to be sure that only flow inspection mode is used (and that proxy inspection mode is not used). In most cases proxy mode is preferred because more security profile features are available and more configuration options for these individual features are available. Yet, some implementations may require all security profile scanning to only use flow mode. In this case, you can set your FortiGate to flow mode knowing that proxy mode inspection will not be used. While both modes offer significant security, proxybased provides more features and flow-based is designed to optimize performance.

This section addresses the following topics:

Proxy-based inspection

Flow-based inspection

Changing between proxy and flow mode

Comparison of inspection types

Proxy-based inspection

If a FortiGate or VDOM is configured for proxy-based inspection, then a mixture of flow-based and proxy-based inspection occurs. Traffic initially encounters the IPS engine, which applies single-pass IPS, Application Control, and CASI, if configured in the firewall policy accepting the traffic.

The traffic is then sent for proxy-based inspection. Proxy-based inspection extracts and caches content, such as files and web pages, from a content session and inspects the cached content for threats. Content inspection takes place in the following order: VoIP inspection, DLP, AntiSpam, Web Filtering, AntiVirus, and ICAP.

If no threat is found, the proxy relays the content to its destination. If a threat is found, the proxy can block the threat and send a replacement message in its stead. The proxy can also block VoIP traffic that contains threats.

Transparent web proxy mode

In proxy mode, FortiOS 5.6 functions just like FortiOS 5.4 with the addition of the new Transparent Web Proxy mode. See New Operating mode for Transparent web proxy in What’s New in FortiOS 5.6.

Flow-based inspection

Flow-based inspection

Flow-based inspection identifies and blocks security threats in real time as they are identified using single-pass Direct Filter Approach (DFA) pattern matching to identify possible attacks or threats.

If a FortiGate or a VDOM is configured for flow-based inspection, depending on the options selected in the firewall policy that accepted the session, flow-based inspection can apply IPS, Application Control, Web Filtering, DLP, and AntiVirus. Flow-based inspection is all done by the IPS engine and, as you would expect, no proxying is involved.

All of the applicable flow-based security modules are applied simultaneously in one single pass, and pattern matching is offloaded and accelerated by CP8 or CP9 processors. IPS, Application Control, flow-based Web Filtering, and flow-based DLP filtering happen together. Flow-based AntiVirus scanning caches files during protocol decoding and submits cached files for virus scanning while the other matching is carried out.

Flow-based inspection typically requires fewer processing resources than proxy-based inspection and does not change packets, unless a threat is found and packets are blocked. Flow-based inspection cannot apply as many features as proxy inspection. For example, flow-based inspection does not support client comforting and some aspects of replacement messages.

In FortiOS 5.6, flow-based inspection requires the new NGFW mode.

Changing between proxy and flow mode

You can see which inspection mode your FortiGate is using by looking at the System Information widget on your Dashboard.

To change inspection modes, go to System > Settings and scroll down to Inspection Mode. You can select Flow-based to operate in Flow mode or Proxy to operate in Proxy mode.

When you select Flow-based, all proxy mode profiles are converted to flow mode, removing any proxy settings. As well proxy mode only features (for example, Web Application Profile) are removed from the GUI.

In addition, selecting Flow-based inspection will cause the Explicit Web Proxy and Explicit FTP Proxy features to be removed from the GUI and the CLI. This includes Explicit Proxy firewall policies.

W hen you select Flow-based you can only configure Virtual Servers (under Policy & Objects > Virtual Servers) with Type set to HTTP, TCP, UDP, or IP.

If required, you can change back to proxy mode through the System > Settings page.

If your FortiGate has multiple VDOMs, you can set the inspection mode independently for each VDOM. Use the top left drop-down menu to go to Global > System > VDOM. Click Editfor the VDOM you wish to change and select the Inspection Mode.

From the GUI, you can only configure antivirus and web filter security profiles in proxy mode. From the CLI you can configure flow-based antivirus profiles, web filter profiles and DLP profiles and they will appear on the GUI and include their inspection mode setting. Also, flow-based profiles created when in flow mode are still available when you switch to proxy mode.

NGFW profile-based and NGFW policy-based modes

When you select Flow-based as the Inspection Mode, you have the option in FortiOS 5.6 to select an NGFW Mode. NGFW Profile-based mode works the same as flow-based mode did in FortiOS 5.4

When selecting NGFW policy-based mode you can also select the SSL/SSH Inspection mode that is applied to all policies.

In the new NGFW Policy-based mode, you add applications and web filtering profiles directly to a policy without having to first create and configure Application Control or Web Filtering profiles. See NGFW Policy Mode on page

1.

When you change to flow-based inspection, all proxy mode profiles are converted to flow mode, removing any proxy settings. And proxy-mode only features (for example, Web Application Profile) are removed from the GUI.

If your FortiGate has multiple VDOMs, you can set the inspection mode independently for each VDOM. Go to System > VDOM. Click Edit for the VDOM you wish to change and select the Inspection Mode. CLI syntax

The following CLI commands can be used to configure inspection and NGFW (called “policy” in the CLI) modes:

config system settings set inspection-mode {proxy | flow} set policy-mode {standard | ngfw}

end

Comparison of inspection types

The tables in this section show how different security features map to different inspection types and present the strengths and weaknesses of proxy- vs. flow-based inspection.

Security profile features mapped to inspection mode

The table below lists FortiOS security profile features and shows whether they are available in flow-based or proxy-based inspection modes.

Security Profile Feature Flow-based inspection Proxy-based inspection
AntiVirus x x
Web Filter x x

 

Security Profile Feature Flow-based inspection Proxy-based inspection
DNS Filter x x
Application Control x x
Intrusion Protection x x
Anti-Spam   x
Data Leak Protection   x
VoIP   x
ICAP   x
Web Application Firewall   x
FortiClient Profiles x x
Proxy Options x x
SSL Inspection x x
SSH Inspection   x
Web Rating Overrides x x
Web Profile Overrides   x

Individual security profile considerations

In flow mode, AntiVirus and Web Filter profiles only include flow-mode features. Web filtering and virus scanning are still done with the same engines and to the same accuracy, but some inspection options are limited or not available in flow mode. Application control, intrusion protection, and FortiClient profiles are not affected when switching between flow and proxy mode.

Application control uses flow-based inspection; if you apply an additional security profile to your traffic that is proxy-based, the connection will simply timeout rather than display the warning, or replacement, message. However, Application Control will still function.

Even though VoIP profiles are not available from the GUI in flow mode, the FortiGate can process VoIP traffic. In this case the appropriate session helper is used (for example, the SIP session helper).

Setting flow or proxy mode doesn’t change the settings available from the CLI. However, when in flow mode you can’t save security profiles that are set to proxy mode.

You can also add proxy-only security profiles to firewall policies from the CLI. So, for example, you can add a VoIP profile to a security policy that accepts VoIP traffic. This practice isn’t recommended because the setting will not be visible from the GUI.

If you set flow-based to use external servers for FortiWeb and FortiMail you must use the CLI to set a Web Application Firewall profile or Anti-Spam profile to external mode and add the Web Application Firewall profile or AntiSpam profile to a firewall policy.

Proxy mode and flow mode antivirus and web filter profile options

The following tables list the antivirus and web filter profile options available in proxy and flow modes.

Antivirus features in proxy and flow mode

Feature Proxy Flow
Scan Mode (Quick or Full) no yes
Detect viruses (Block or Monitor) yes yes
Inspected protocols yes no (all relevant protocols are inspected)
Inspection Options yes yes (not available for quick scan mode)
Treat Windows Executables in Email Attachments as Viruses yes yes
Send Files to FortiSandbox Appliance for Inspection yes yes
Use FortiSandbox Database yes yes
Include Mobile Malware Protection yes yes

Web filter features in proxy and flow mode

Feature Proxy Flow
FortiGuard category based filter yes yes (show, allow, monitor, block)
Category Usage Quota yes no
Allow users to override blocked categories (on some models) yes no
Search Engines yes no

 

Feature   Proxy Flow
  Enforce ‘Safe Search’ on Google, Yahoo!, Bing, Yandex yes no
Restrict YouTube Access yes no
Log all search keywords yes no
Static URL Filter   yes yes
  Block invalid URLs yes no
URL Filter yes yes
Block malicious URLs discovered by FortiSandbox yes yes
Web Content Filter yes yes
Rating Options   yes yes
  Allow websites when a rating error occurs yes yes
Rate URLs by domain and IP Address yes yes
Block HTTP redirects by rating yes no
Rate images by URL yes no
Proxy Options   yes no
  Restrict Google account usage to specific domains yes no
Provide details for blocked HTTP 4xx and 5xx errors yes no
HTTP POST Action yes no
Remove Java Applets yes no
Remove ActiveX yes no
Remove Cookies yes no
Filter Per-User Black/White List yes no

AntiVirus scanning differences between versions of FortiOS 5.x

In FortiOS 5.0, 5.2, 5.4, 5.6 and 6.0, there are several AntiVirus (AV) scanning inspection modes available. FortiOS 5.0 includes proxy and flow-based virus scanning. FortiOS 5.2 also uses proxy-based and flowbased scanning, but the flow-based mode in FortiOS 5.2 uses a new approach to flow-based scanning (that is sometimes called deepflow or deep flow scanning). FortiOS 5.4 and onward offer another flow-based mode, quick mode, to inspect traffic efficiently.

The databases used for AV scanning does not change from proxy to flow mode unless quick mode is enabled. In flow-based quick mode, a compact antivirus database is used.

AntiVirus scanning examines files in HTTP, HTTPS, email, and FTP traffic for threats as they pass through your FortiGate. If the traffic contains compressed files, they are also examined. Go to the SysAdmin Note on the Fortinet Cookbook site for detailed information on supported compression formats in antivirus scanning.

If the AV scanner finds a threat such as a virus or some other malware, FortiOS protects your network by blocking the file.

FortiOS includes a number of AntiVirus features that make virus scanning more user-friendly. One of these features, called replacement messages, sends a customizable message to anyone whose file is blocked by AV scanning, to explain what happened and why. Other features make communication between the client and the server more seamless. The availability of these changes depending on the inspection mode.

Proxy-based AV scanning

Proxy-based AV scanning is the most feature-rich AV scanning mode. This mode uses a proxy to manage the communication between client and server. The proxy extracts content packets from the data stream as they arrive and buffers the content until the complete file is assembled. Once the file is whole, the AV scanner examines the file for threats. If no threats are found, the file is sent to its destination. If a threat is found, the file is blocked.

Because proxy-based scanning is applied to complete files, including compressed files, it provides very effective threat detection. Proxy-based scanning also supports a full range of features, including replacement messages and client comforting, making proxy-based scanning the most user friendly inspection mode. In addition the proxy manages the communication between the client and the server, improving the user experience. For example, in flow mode if a virus is found, the last part of the file is not downloaded and the connection just times out and the user cannot tell what is going on. In proxy mode, the users gets a message about the file being blocked.

Proxy-based scanning inspects all files under the oversized threshold. Since the FortiGate unit has a limited amount of memory, files larger than a certain size do not fit within the memory buffer. The default buffer size is 10 MB. You can use the uncompsizelimitCLI command to adjust the size of this memory buffer. Files larger than the threshold are passed to the destination without scanning. You can use the Oversized File/Email setting in Security Profiles > Proxy Options to block files larger than the antivirus buffer if allowing files that are too large to be scanned is an unacceptable security risk.

During the buffering and scanning procedure, the client must wait. With a default configuration, the file is released to the client only after it is scanned. You can enable client comforting in the Proxy Options security profile to feed the client a trickle of data to prevent them from possibly thinking the transfer is stalled and consequently canceling the download.

Flow-based AV scanning

Although the name “flow-based scanning” is used in FortiOS 5.0, 5.2, 5.4, and 5.6, the different versions handle this mode in very different ways.

Flow AV in FortiOS 5.4 and 5.6

In FortiOS 5.4 and 5.6, there are two modes available for flow-based virus scanning: Quick and Full scan mode. Full mode is the same as flow-based scanning in FortiOS 5.2 (see below). Quick mode uses a compact antivirus database and advanced techniques to improve performance. You can designate quick or full scan mode when configuring the antivirus profile in the GUI. Alternatively, use the following CLI command to enable quick or full mode:

config antivirus profile edit <profile> set scan-mode {quick | full}

end

Flow AV in FortiOS 5.2 (deepflow or deep flow)

FortiOS 5.2 introduced a new type of flow-based AV scanning, that is sometimes called deepflow or deep flow, and that takes a hybrid approach where content packets are buffered while simultaneously being sent to their destination. When all of the files packets have been collected and buffered, but before the final packet is delivered, the buffered file is scanned. If a threat is found, the last packet is blocked and the client application has to deal with not getting the completed file. If no threat is found the final packet is sent and the user gets their file.

Deepflow AV scanning is as good as proxy-based AV scanning at detecting threats. There may be a small performance advantage over proxy-based AV as files get larger based on the difference between sending the whole file after analysis and just sending the last packet. Deepflow’s most notable limitation is that, just like the flow-based AV in 5.0, it does not support many of the user-friendly features provided by proxy-based AV.

Flow AV in FortiOS 5.0

In FortiOS 5.0, flow-based AV scanning examines the content of individual data packets as they pass through the FortiGate. There is no proxy involved so packets are not changed by the proxy and files are not buffered for analysis. Potentially less memory and CPU resources are used, resulting in a potential performance increase compared to using proxy-based mode. FortiOS 5.0 flow-based AV scanning is also not limited by file size.

Flow AV uses the IPS engine and the AV database and is effective at many kinds of threat detection; however, because it can only analyze what is in an individual packet rather than a complete file, flow-based scanning cannot detect some types of malware, including polymorphic code. Malware in documents, compressed files, and some archives are also less likely to be detected.

Flow AV does not actually block files, it stops delivering a file’s packets once a threat has been detected. This means that parts of the file may already have been delivered when the threat has been detected and the recipient application is responsible for dealing with the partially complete content.

In addition flow AV can be less user friendly. Replacement messages are not supported and clients may have to wait for sessions to time out without knowing why content has been blocked.

FortiOS 6 – Security profiles overview

Security profiles overview

The FortiGate line combines a number of security features to protect your network from threats. As a whole, these features, when included in a single Fortinet security appliance, are referred to as Security Profiles.

This overview addresses the following topics:

l Traffic inspection l Content inspection and filtering l Security profile components l Security profiles/lists/sensors

Firewall policies limit access, and while this and similar features are a vital part of securing your network, they are not covered in this discussion of Security Profiles.

FortiOS 5.4 no longer supports FortiClient 5.0.

FortiOS 5.4.1 supports only FortiClient 5.4.1. Be sure to upgrade managed FortiClients before upgrading the FortiGate to 5.4.1.

FortiOS 5.2 can support FortiClient 5.0, but only if the FortiGate upgraded to FortiOS 5.2. Customers need to purchase a FortiClient 5.4 subscription-based FortiClient license.

Traffic inspection

When the FortiGate unit examines network traffic one packet at a time for IPS signatures, it is performing traffic analysis. This is unlike content analysis where the traffic is buffered until files, email messages, web pages, and other files are assembled and examined as a whole.

DoS policies use traffic analysis by keeping track of the type and quantity of packets, as well as their source and destination addresses.

Application control uses traffic analysis to determine which application generated the packet.

Although traffic inspection doesn’t involve taking packets and assembling files they are carrying, the packets themselves can be split into fragments as they pass from network to network. These fragments are reassembled by the FortiGate unit before examination.

No two networks are the same and few recommendations apply to all networks. This topic offers suggestions on how you can use the FortiGate unit to help secure your network against content threats.

IPS signatures

IPS signatures can detect malicious network traffic. For example, the Code Red worm attacked a vulnerability in the Microsoft IIS web server. Your FortiGate’s IPS system can detect traffic attempting to exploit this vulnerability. IPS may also detect when infected systems communicate with servers to receive instructions.

Traffic inspection

IPS recommendations

  • Enable IPS scanning at the network edge for all services. l Use FortiClient endpoint IPS scanning for protection against threats that get into your network.
  • Subscribe to FortiGuard IPS Updates and configure your FortiGate unit to receive push updates. This will ensure you receive new IPS signatures as soon as they are available.
  • Your FortiGate unit includes IPS signatures written to protect specific software titles from DoS attacks. Enable the signatures for the software you have installed and set the signature action to Block.
  • You can view these signatures by going to Security Profiles > Intrusion Prevention and selecting the [View IPS Signatures] link in the right-hand corner of the window. l Because it is critical to guard against attacks on services that you make available to the public, configure IPS signatures to block matching signatures. For example, if you have a web server, configure the action of web server signatures to Block.

Suspicious traffic attributes

Network traffic itself can be used as an attack vector or a means to probe a network before an attack. For example, SYN and FIN flags should never appear together in the same TCP packet. The SYN flag is used to initiate a TCP session while the FIN flag indicates the end of data transmission at the end of a TCP session.

The FortiGate unit has IPS signatures that recognize abnormal and suspicious traffic attributes. The SYN/FIN combination is one of the suspicious flag combinations detected in TCP traffic by the TCP.BAD.FLAGS signature.

The signatures that are created specifically to examine traffic options and settings, begin with the name of the traffic type they are associated with. For example, signatures created to examine TCP traffic have signature names starting with TCP.

Application control

While applications can often be blocked by the ports they use, application control allows convenient management of all supported applications, including those that do not use set ports. Application control recommendations

l Some applications behave in an unusual manner in regards to application control. For more information, see Application considerations on page 128. l By default, application control allows the applications not specified in the application control list. For high security networks, you may want to change this behavior so that only the explicitly allowed applications are permitted.

SSL/SSH inspection

Regular web filtering can be circumvented by using https:// instead of http://. By enabling this feature, the FortiGate can filter traffic that is using the HTTPS protocol. This sort of analysis is some times referred to as deep scanning.

Deep Inspection works along the following lines: If your FortiGate unit has the correct chipset it will be able to scan SSL encrypted traffic in the same way that regular traffic can be scanned. The FortiGate firewall will essentially receive the traffic on behalf of the client and open up the encrypted traffic. Once it is finished it reContent inspection and filtering

encrypts the traffic and sends it on to its intended recipient. It is very similar to a man-in-the-middle attack. By enabling this feature, it allows the FortiGate firewall to filter on traffic that is using the SSL encrypted protocol.

The encrypted protocols that can be inspected are:

  • HTTPS l SMTPS l POP3S l IMAPS l FTPS

Before the invention of SSL inspection, scanning regular web traffic can be circumvented by using the prefix https:// instead of http:// in the URL. SSL inspection prevents this circumvention. However, because when the encrypted traffic is decrypted it has to be re-encrypted with the FortiGate’s certificate rather than the original certificate it can cause errors because the name on the certificate does not match the name on the web site.

At one point deep inspection was something that was either turned on or off. Now individual deep inspection profiles can be created depending on the requirements of the policy. Depending on the Inspection Profile, you can:

  • Configure which CA certificate will be used to decrypt the SSL encrypted traffic. l Configure which SSL protocols will be inspected. l Configure which ports will be associated with which SSL protocols for the purpose of inspection.
  • Configure which websites will be exempt from SSL inspection l Configure whether or not to allow invalid SSL certificates. l Configure whether or not SSH traffic will be inspected.

Web rating overrides

This feature allows you to override the FortiGuard Web Filtering. This option allows users to change the rating for a website and control access to the site without affecting the rest of the sites in the original category. More information can be found in Overriding FortiGuard website categorization.

Web profile overrides

This feature allows administrators to grant temporary access to sites that are otherwise blocked by a web filter profile. The temporary access can be granted to a user, user group, or source IP address. The time limit can be set in days, hours, or minutes. See the section on Web Profile Overrides for more information.

Content inspection and filtering

When the FortiGate unit buffers the packets containing files, email messages, web pages, and other similar files for reassembly before examining them, it is performing content inspection. Traffic inspection, on the other hand, is accomplished by the FortiGate unit examining individual packets of network traffic as they are received.

No two networks are the same and few recommendations apply to all networks. This topic offers suggestions on how you can use the FortiGate unit to help secure your network against threats to content. Be sure to understand the effects of the changes before using the suggestions.

AntiVirus

The FortiGate antivirus scanner can detect viruses and other malicious payloads used to infect machines. The FortiGate unit performs deep content inspection. To prevent attempts to disguise viruses, the antivirus scanner will reassemble fragmented files and uncompress content that has been compressed. Patented Compact Pattern Recognition Language (CPRL) allows further inspection for common patterns, increasing detection rates of virus variations in the future.

AntiVirus recommendations

  • Enable antivirus scanning at the network edge for all services. l Use FortiClient endpoint antivirus scanning for protection against threats that get into your network.
  • Subscribe to FortiGuard AntiVirus Updates and configure your FortiGate unit to receive push updates. This will ensure that new antivirus signatures are loaded onto your FortiGate as soon as they are available.
  • Enable the Extended Virus Database if your FortiGate unit supports it.
  • Examine antivirus logs periodically. Take particular notice of repeated detections. For example, repeated virus detection in SMTP traffic could indicate a system on your network is infected and is attempting to contact other systems to spread the infection using a mass mailer.
  • To conserve system resources, avoid scanning email messages twice. Scan messages as they enter and leave your network or when clients send and retrieve them, rather than both.
  • Enable Treat Windows Executables in Email Attachments as Viruses if you are concerned about incoming ‘.exe’ files.

FortiGuard web filtering

The web is the most popular part of the Internet and, as a consequence, virtually every computer connected to the Internet is able to communicate using port 80, HTTP. Botnet communications take advantage of this open port and use it to communicate with infected computers. FortiGuard Web Filtering can help stop infections from malware sites and help prevent communication if an infection occurs. FortiGuard web filtering recommendations

  • Enable FortiGuard Web Filtering at the network edge. l Install the FortiClient application and use FortiGuard Web Filtering on any systems that bypass your FortiGate unit.
  • Block categories such as Pornography, Malware, Spyware, and Phishing. These categories are more likely to be dangerous.
  • In the Anti-Spam profile, enable Spam Detection and Filtering and then enable IP Address Check. Many IP addresses used in spam messages lead to malicious sites; checking them will protect your users and your network.

DNS filter

DNS-based web filtering

This feature is similar to the FortiGuard DNS web filtering available in FortiOS 5.2. You can configure DNS web filtering to allow, block, or monitor access to web content according to FortiGuard categories. When DNS web filtering is enabled, your FortiGate must use the FortiGuard DNS service for DNS lookups. DNS lookup requests Content inspection and filtering

sent to the FortiGuard DNS service return with an IP address and a domain rating that includes the FortiGuard category of the web page.

If that FortiGuard category is set to block, the result of the DNS lookup is not returned to the requester. If the category is set to redirect, then the address returned to the requester points at a FortiGuard redirect page.

You can also allow access or monitor access based on FortiGuard category.

The following filtering options can be configured in a DNS Filter security profile:

Blocking DNS requests to known Botnet C&C addresses

A new FortiGuard database contains a list of known Botnet C&C addresses. This database is updated dynamically and stored on the FortiGate. This database is covered by FortiGuard web filter licensing; you must have an active FortiGuard web filtering license to use this feature. You can view the botnet lists by going to System > FortiGuard > Botnet IPs and System > FortiGuard > Botnet Domains.

When you block DNS requests to known Botnet C&C addresses, using IPS, DNS lookups are checked against the Botnet C&C database. All matching DNS lookups are blocked. Matching uses a reverse prefix match, so all subdomains are also blocked.

To enable blocking of DNS requests to known Botnet C&C addresses, go to Security Profiles > DNS Filter, and enable Block DNS requests to known botnet C&C. When you do this in FortiOS 5.4.1, you can open a definitions window by clicking on “botnet package.”

Static URL filter

The DNS static URL filter allows you to block, exempt, or monitor DNS requests by using IPS to look inside DNS packets and match the domain being looked up with the domains on the static URL filter list. If there is a match the DNS request can be blocked, exempted, monitored, or allowed.

If blocked, the DNS request is blocked and so the user cannot look up the address and connect to the site.

If exempted, access to the site is allowed even if another method is used to block it.

Anti-Spam

Spam is a common means by which attacks are delivered. Users often open email attachments they should not, and infect their own machine. The FortiGate email filter can detect harmful spam and mark it, alerting the user to the potential danger.

Anti-Spam filter recommendations

l Subscribe to the FortiGuard Anti-Spam Filtering service. l Enable email filtering at the network edge for all types of email traffic. l Use FortiClient endpoint scanning for protection against threats that get into your network.

Data Leak Prevention

Most security features on the FortiGate unit are designed to keep unwanted traffic out of your network while Data Leak Prevention (DLP) can help you keep sensitive information from leaving your network. For example, credit card numbers and social security numbers can be detected by DLP sensors.

DLP recommendations

  • Rules related to HTTP posts can be created, but if the requirement is to block all HTTP posts, a better solution is to use application control or the HTTP POST Action option in the web filter profile.
  • While DLP can detect sensitive data, it is more efficient to block unnecessary communication channels than to use DLP to examine it. If you don’t use instant messaging or peer-to-peer communication in your organization, for example, use application control to block them entirely.

Security profile components

Below is a brief description of the security profiles and their features.

AntiVirus

Your FortiGate unit stores a virus signature database that can identify more than 15,000 individual viruses.

FortiGate models that support additional virus databases are able to identify hundreds of thousands of viruses. With a FortiGuard AntiVirus subscription, the signature databases are updated whenever a new threat is discovered.

AntiVirus also includes file filtering. When you specify files by type or by file name, the FortiGate unit will block the matching files from reaching your users.

FortiGate units with a hard drive or configured to use a FortiAnalyzer unit can store infected and blocked files for that you can examine later.

Web filter

Web filtering includes a number of features you can use to protect or limit your users’ activity on the web.

FortiGuard Web Filtering is a subscription service that allows you to limit access to web sites. More than 60 million web sites and two billion web pages are rated by category. You can choose to allow or block each of the 77 categories.

URL filtering can block your network users from access to URLs that you specify.

Web content filtering can restrict access to web pages based on words and phrases appearing on the web page itself. You can build lists of words and phrases, each with a score. When a web content list is selected in a web filter profile, you can specify a threshold. If a user attempts to load a web page and the score of the words on the page exceeds the threshold, the web page is blocked.

DNS filter

The FortiGate will inspect DNS traffic to any DNS server, so long as the policy has DNS inspection enabled. The

FortiGate will intercept DNS requests, regardless of the destination IP, and redirect it to the FortiGuard Secure

Security profile components

DNS server — this is separate from the FortiGuard DNS server.

The Secure DNS server will resolve and rate the FQDN and send a DNS response which includes both IP and rating of the FQDN back to the FortiGate, where it will handle the DNS response according to the DNS filter profile.

Application control

Although you can block the use of some applications by blocking the ports they use for communications, many applications do not use standard ports to communicate. Application control can detect the network traffic of more than 1,000 applications, improving your control over application communication.

Cloud Access Security Inspection (CASI)

This feature introduces a new security profile called Cloud Access Security Inspection (CASI) that provides support for fine-grained control on popular cloud applications, such as YouTube, Dropbox, Baidu, and Amazon. The CASI profile is applied to a policy much like any other security profile.

Unfortunately CASI does not work when using Proxy-based profiles for AV or Web filtering for example.

Make sure to only use Flow-based profiles in combination with CASI on a specific policy.

Intrusion protection

The FortiGate Intrusion Protection System (IPS) protects your network against hacking and other attempts to exploit vulnerabilities of your systems. More than 3,000 signatures are able to detect exploits against various operating systems, host types, protocols, and applications. These exploits can be stopped before they reach your internal network.

You can also write custom signatures tailored to your network.

Anti-spam

FortiGuard Anti-Spam is a subscription service that includes an IP address black list, a URL black list, and an email checksum database. These resources are updated whenever new spam messages are received, so you do not need to maintain any lists or databases to ensure accurate spam detection.

You can use your own IP address lists and email address lists to allow or deny addresses, based on your own needs and circumstances.

Data Leak Prevention

Data Leak Prevention (DLP) allows you to define the format of sensitive data. The FortiGate unit can then monitor network traffic and stop sensitive information from leaving your network. Rules for U.S. social security numbers, Canadian social insurance numbers, as well as Visa, Mastercard, and American Express card numbers are included.

profile components

VoIP

The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is an IETF application layer signaling protocol used for establishing, conducting, and terminating multi-user multimedia sessions over TCP/IP networks using any media. SIP is often used for Voice over IP (VoIP) calls but can be used for establishing streaming communication between end points.

For more information, see VoIP Solutions: SIP.

ICAP

This module allows for the offloading of certain processes to a separate server so that your FortiGate firewall can optimize its resources and maintain the best level of performance possible.

FortiClient profiles

FortiClient is an all-in-one comprehensive endpoint security solution that extends the power of Fortinet’s Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) to end user devices. As the endpoint is the ultimate destination for malware that is seeking credentials, network access, and sensitive information, ensuring that your endpoint security combines strong prevention with detection and mitigation is critical.

The FortiGate provides network security by defining compliance rules for FortiClient endpoints.

For more information, see the FortiClient 5.4.1 Administration Guide.

Proxy options

Proxy Options includes features you can configure for when your FortiGate is operating in proxy mode, including protocol port mapping, block oversized files/emails, and other web and email options.

SSL/SSH inspection

SSL/SSH Inspection (otherwise known as Deep Inspection) is used to scan HTTPS traffic in the same way that HTTP traffic can be scanned. This allows the FortiGate to receive and open up the encrypted traffic on behalf of the client, then the traffic is re-encrypted and sent on to its intended destination.

Individual Deep Inspection profiles can be created, depending on the requirements of the policy. Depending on the profile, you can:

l Configure which CA certificate will be used to decrypt the SSL encrypted traffic l Configure which SSL protocols will be inspected l Configure which ports will be associated with which SSL protocols for inspection l Configure whether or not to allow invalid SSL certificates l Configure whether or not SSH traffic will be inspected

Security profiles/lists/sensors

Security profiles/lists/sensors

A profile is a group of settings that you can apply to one or more firewall policies. Each Security Profile feature is enabled and configured in a profile, list, or sensor. These are then selected in a security policy and the settings apply to all traffic matching the policy. For example, if you create an antivirus profile that enables antivirus scanning of HTTP traffic, and select the antivirus profile in the security policy that allows your users to access the World Wide Web, all of their web browsing traffic will be scanned for viruses.

Because you can use profiles in more than one security policy, you can configure one profile for the traffic types handled by a set of firewall policies requiring identical protection levels and types, rather than repeatedly configuring those same profile settings for each individual security policy.

For example, while traffic between trusted and untrusted networks might need strict protection, traffic between trusted internal addresses might need moderate protection. To provide the different levels of protection, you might configure two separate sets of profiles: one for traffic between trusted networks, and one for traffic between trusted and untrusted networks.

Inside FortiOS: Web Filtering

Inside FortiOS: Web Filtering

A Web Filtering solution is designed to restrict or control the content a reader is authorized to access, delivered over the Internet via the Web browser. It may be used to improve security, prevent objectionable activities, and increase productive within an organization.

Intelligent and effective content control

Web-based threats such as Phishing, drive-by Malware sites, and Botnets are more sophisticated and scrutinized than ever, and as well as increasingly difficult to control due to the rise of mobility in the workplace, even more difficult for you to control. The Web has become the preferred medium of choice for hackers and thieves looking for new ways to disrupt services, steal information, and perform malicious activities for financial gain. In addition, employees who visit websites containing objectionable content can expose your organization to civil or criminal liability.

FortiOS Web Filtering solution utilizes three main components of the web filtering function: the Web Content Filter, the URL Filter, and the FortiGuard Web Filtering Service. These functions integrate with each other to provide maximum control over what the Internet user can view as well as protection to the network from many Internet content threats. Web Content Filtering blocks web pages containing words or patterns that you specify. URL filtering uses URLs and URL patterns to block or exempt web pages from specific sources. FortiGuard Web Filtering provides many additional categories you can use to filter web traffic by independent real-world tests.

Highlights

  • Comprehensive and advanced Web Filtering features Safe Search and user override options. l FortiGuard Web Filtering Services with superior coverage of over 250 million rated websites. l Integration with other FortiOS components, such as User Identification for flexible and secured implementation. l Supports detection for traffic using HTTP protocol (versions 1.0, 1.1, and 2.0).
  • Ability to configure web filtering by adding URL categories to security policies when operating in flow-based inspection and NGFW policy-based mode. You can set the action to accept or deny to allow or block the applications.

Key features & benefits

Cloud-based Rating Database Real-time website category rating provides accurate content control.
Wide choice of web filtering technologies Various web filtering technology options are available to provide each organization the most suitable implementation.
Integrated with other security and networking functions Allows organizations to simplified networks and reduce TCO.

 

Features

Cloud-based rating system

Fortinet is a pioneer in cloud-based rating systems for web filtering. FortiOS provides an innovative approach to HTTP and HTTPS web filtering technology by combining the advantages of a cloud-based service offering with layered response caching. The multiple FortiGuard data centers around the world hold the entire categorized URL database and receive rating requests from FortiGate units triggered by browser-based URL requests.

FortiGuard responds to these rating requests with the categories stored for specific URLs, the requesting FortiGate unit then uses its own local profile configuration to determine what action is appropriate to the category, such as: blocking, monitoring, allowing the page, displaying a warning, or requiring authentication to view the page.

Rating responses are also cached directly in FortiGate unit memory so that ratings for frequently used sites can be retrieved directly from the cache, reducing the number of requests to the FortiGuard network. Caching URLs in memory makes URL lookups almost instantaneous while only using a very small amount of system memory.

An appropriately licensed FortiManager appliance can be synchronized to the FortiGuard network and as such can be used in the same way to as the FortiGuard network for managed FortiGate devices. This can further reduce any latency associated with the round trip time for individual rating requests while at the same time ensuring complete database coverage. Consider the combination of a LAN attached FortiGate cluster and FortiManager combination with the potential to handle tens of thousands of requests per second.

Superior coverage

FortiGuard Web Filter ratings are performed by a combination of proprietary methods including text analysis, exploitation of the web structure, and human raters. This service currently rates more than 250 million sites covering billions of URLs with each site able to be rated in multiple categories. The FortiGuard database provides a truly international service with support for 70 languages.

Extensive and flexible categorization

Rated URLs are assigned into one of the 98 categories (including 20 user defined ones) which administrators can then easily manage and control. Administrators can configure and populate local categories or place specific URLs in existing categories should the FortiGuard rating not be in agreement with an organization’s policies and practices.

Rating override

At times, administrators may have to allow approved people to access what they need during periods when an exception to the normal rules is required, while still having enough control that the organization’s web usage policies are not compromised. FortiOS can provide such setup by using alternate profiles.

Protection against malicious URLs

The malicious URL database contains all malicious URLs active in the last month and is organized as one of the categories. With Fortinet Security Fabric, customers can further their protection by having the FortiSandbox add newly discovered URLs to a dynamic URL filter, thus blocking files from being downloaded again from that URL.

Inspection modes

FortiOS web filtering can operate in different modes: proxy-based and flow-based inspection modes and DNS filtering. Each mode has strengths and weaknesses and all three can be active at the same time on different traffic streams.

Proxy-based web filtering uses a proxy to assemble and analyze web content as it passes through the FortiGate unit. If a page is blocked the proxy can replace the blocked page with a customizable web page informing users that the page is blocked. Proxy-based web filtering is the most feature-rich mode, supporting many advanced filters including web content filtering that analyzes web page content according to your custom requirements, Java applet filtering, and blocking invalid URLs.

Flow-based web filtering uses the FortiOS IPS engine to filter web content packets as they pass through the FortiGate unit without any buffering. Flow-based inspection does not use a proxy, so inspected packets are not proxied and altered by the FortiGate unit. Flow-based inspection does not support as many advanced features as proxy-based web filtering.

To control your FortiGate’s security profile inspection mode in FortiOS 5.6, you can select Flow or Proxy Inspection Mode from System > Settings. Having control over flow and proxy mode is helpful if you want to ensure that only flow inspection mode is used.

In most cases proxy mode is preferred because more security profile features are available and more configuration options for these individual features are available. Some implementations, however, may require all security profile scanning to only use flow mode. In this case, you can set your FortiGate to flow mode knowing that proxy mode inspection will not be used. Two new policy modes are available in FortiOS 5.6.

l NGFW mode simplifies applying application control and web filtering to traffic by allowing you to add applications and web filtering profiles directly to policies. This is used in conjunction with flow-based inspection. l Transparent proxy allows you to apply web authentication to HTTP traffic without using the explicit proxy.

DNS web filtering employs DNS lookups to the FortiGuard DNS service to get web page ratings. Filtering is done as part of the DNS lookup and web pages can be blocked or redirected to a web filter block page before the HTTP session starts. As a result, it is lightweight in terms of resource usage although it only supports a limited number of advanced features.

Usage quota

Administrators can set a daily timed access quota by category or category group. Quotas allow access for a specified length of time or traffic volume, calculated separately for each user.

SafeSearch

SafeSearch is a feature of popular search sites that prevents explicit web sites and images from appearing in search results. Although SafeSearch is a useful tool, especially in educational environments, the resourceful user may be able to simply turn it off. Enabling SafeSearch on the FortiGate for the supported search sites can better enforce its use by rewriting the search URL to include the code to indicate the use of the SafeSearch feature.

 

Restrict YouTube access

In FortiOS 5.6 with inspection mode set to proxy-based, you can set Strict or Moderate access to YouTube in a Web Filter profile.

Manual URL and content filter

FortiOS web filtering offers specific URL filtering by standard, wildcard, and regular expression definition, as well as content filtering by pattern type and language.

Advanced web filter configurations

FortiOS rich feature set includes ability to implement a number of enterprise features such as:

  • Block HTTP redirects by rating, invalid URLs, HTTP POST actions, and Web resume download l Cookie, Java applet, and ActiveX filter
  • Rate Images by URL and URLs by domain and IP address

Proxy avoidance preventions

FortiGate is able to improve the effectiveness of the web filtering by preventing users from evading the security implementation. Organizations can use its multiple integrated technologies including proxy site URL, proxy application control, and IPS proxy behavior blocking.

User and device awareness

Most networks in today’s organizations are connected with both corporate and personal mobile devices. User and device awareness provides the option to configure intelligent policies that can effectively enforce security.

To tackle the prevalence of BYOD environments, administrators are able to configure web content access policies with sources defined by IPs, users, and devices, either combined or selectively.

External URL filtering support

In instances where customers have large, existing, deployed implementations of a specific URL filtering solution but replace their legacy firewalls with a FortiGate family, they can still retain their web filtering infrastructure since FortiOS supports both ICAP and WISP.

Monitoring, logging, and reporting

FortiOS empowers an organization to implement security best practices that require continuous monitoring of threats, allowing the organization to adapt to new requirements.

The FortiView dashboards display useful analysis data with detailed and contextual session information, which can be filtered and ranked, with drilldown options also available. This information, including system events activities and administration audit trails, can also be archived via logs.

FortiOS logs all the types of traffic that can connect to or terminate at the FortiGate unit. In turn, these logs can generate useful trending and overview reports.

 

Inside FortiOS: AntiVirus

Inside FortiOS: AntiVirus

AntiVirus uses a suite of integrated security technologies to provide against a variety of threats, including both known and unknown malicious codes (Malware), plus Advanced Targeted Attacks (ATA), also known as Advanced Persistent Threats (APT).

Advanced protection against malware and APTs

Malware and Advanced Persistent Threats can cause significant damages to today’s organizations. These malicious codes are commonly designed to steal valuable data, gain unauthorized access, or cause products to degrade. FortiOS’s AntiVirus is an industry-proven anti-malware security solution with robust features and deployment options

FortiOS offers the unique ability to implement both Flow- and Proxy-based AV concurrently, depending on traffic type, users, and locations. Flow-based AV offers higher throughput performance while proxy-based solutions are useful in mitigating stealthy malicious codes. The AV detection capabilities are further enhanced with complementary security features and external sandbox integration.

By utilizing the unique Content Pattern Recognition Language (CPRL) built into the FortiASIC Content Processor, FortiOS is able to deliver high performance and low latency anti-malware capabilities. This real-time protection is backed by a team of worldwide researchers.

Highlights

  • Certification from multiple industries for best-in-class security and capacity with proven coverage and high performance.
  • Multi-layered protection with extended AV components and external file analysis integration. l Comprehensive remediation actions such as file quarantine and knowledge tools.

Key Features & Benefits

Robust feature set Allows the flexibility to deploy appropriate protection according to security needs and infrastructure designs.
High performance utilizing FortiASIC and patented CPRL AV signatures Low latency and high capacity ensures that business applications are not affected while security is enforced.
Backed by FortiGuard Labs that deliver real-time protection Critical digital assets are covered by continuous protection against latest threats.

 

Features

Industry’s validated protection

FortiOS anti-malware components and FortiGuard AV signatures periodically undergo numerous authoritative certifications. These independent certifications demonstrate that the solution offered is of the highest standard in performance and accuracy, ensuring organizations are truly protected.

Fortinet has been consistently ranked among the top vendors for Virus Bulletin’s RAP (Reactive And Proactive) bimonthly tests. This test measures a product’s detection rates over the freshest samples available, as well as samples not seen until after product databases are frozen, thus reflecting both the vendor’s ability to handle the huge quantity of newly emerging malware and accurately detect previously unknown malware.

Real time protection

The FortiGuard AntiVirus Service provides fully automated updates to ensure protection against the latest content-level threats via the experienced FortiGuard global network is backed by over 200 researchers. With the release of FortiOS 5.6, botnet protection is part of the FortiGuard AntiVirus contract.

FortiGuard AV service quick facts

l 95,000 malware programs neutralized per minute l 1.8 Million new and updated AV definitions per week l Hourly updates of the AV signature database l 190 TB of threat samples till date

Organizations can also engage the FortiGuard Premier Signature Service, which provides enhanced virus detection and threat analysis support. This service offers submissions for custom AntiVirus signatures on a daily basis, offering prioritized support with guaranteed response times. With the release of FortiOS 5.6, botnet protection is part of the FortiGuard AntiVirus contract.

Unique proxy- and flow-based AV

FortiOS offers organizations the flexibility to select the most appropriate inspection method for different network sessions. This can be implemented by defining policies that match specific source objects (IP, IP ranges, users, and devices), destination objects, applications, and schedules with different AV profiles.

 

Flow-based AV relies on IPS technology where packets are inspected in real-time and matched against the AV signature database. It offers lower latency and higher throughput than Proxy-based AV. Flow-based AV is recommended for inspecting traffic that requires spontaneous user experience or when serving as an additional AV protection layer.

FortiOS’s Proxy-based AV offers the most secure AV protection as it’s able to inspect more protocols and provides replacement messages on wider range of applications.

AV acceleration with Content Processor

The FortiASICS Content Processor (CP) accelerates content processing traditionally performed completely by the CPU. The CP reduces the resources required by the CPU when matching an incoming file against the signature database, thus improving system performance and stability.

Proactive protection using patented CPRL

Compact Pattern Recognition Language (CPRL) is a patented and proprietary programming language that allows for further inspection of common patterns to not only protect against threats and their variants but also to predict tomorrow’s zero-day malware. It allows FortiGuard analysts to describe entire families of malware with a single program, instead of the traditional signature- based “one signature, one variant” model used by other vendors. With fewer signatures to match, throughput performance and latency naturally improve.

Intelligent behavioral evaluation

Signature-based security alone is no longer sufficient; it is now critical to understand how devices on your network are behaving. Threat Weight scoring provides a cumulative security ranking of each client device on your network based on a range of behaviors. It provides specific, actionable information that helps identify compromised systems and potential zero-day attacks in real-time.

This unique system attaches predefined scores to various malicious network activities discovered by IPS, application control, URL filtering, etc., to determine the top suspicious users. Administrator can then further inspect these users to undercover unknown threats or APTs via FortiView.

External file analysis integration

FortiOS offers organizations the ability to adopt robust ATP (Advanced Threat Protection) framework that reaches mobile users and branch offices, detecting and preventing advanced attacks that may bypass traditional defenses by examining files from various vectors, including encrypted files. To detect unknown threats, zero-day, and targeted attacks, the FortiGate can engage external resources to perform additional file analysis. Files can be submitted to an on- premise appliance (FortiSandbox) or cloud-based service (FortiSandbox Cloud) after both proxy-based and flow- based AV processing.

It is also possible to configure the FortiGate to automatically receive dynamic signature updates from FortiSandbox and add the originating URL of any malicious file to a blocked URL list. In addition, if the organization deploys integrated endpoint control with FortiClient, an administrator can instruct an infected terminal to self-quarantine.

 

File filtering

File filtering using data leak prevention (DLP) on the FortiGate offers an effective ways to stop unwanted file transmission instantly. Administrators may implement granular file controls by defining protection profiles using filenames or nearly 50 different file types over mail, web, and file download protocols.

File quarantine

FortiOS offers sophisticated file quarantine capabilities that allow organizations to archive suspicious or blocked files for further examination or to release false positives.

Anti-bot

Organizations may prevent, uncover, and block botnet activities using FortiOS Anti-Bot traffic pattern detection and domain and IP reputation services supplied in real-time by FortiGuard threat experts.

User notification

User notifications are helpful in reducing administration and support burdens, as well as providing user education. FortiOS is able to automatically replace blocked attachments and downloads with detailed information sent to Email, FTP, or web users.

Monitoring, logging, and reporting

FortiOS empowers organizations to implement security best practices that require continuous examination of their threat status and adaptation to new requirements. The FortiView widgets provide useful analysis data with detailed and contextual session information, which can be filtered, ranked, and further inspected. System events can also be archived via logs, which in turn can generate useful trending and overview reports.

FortiOS also offers robust in-built E-mail and SMS alert systems, as well as integration with external threat management systems using SNMP and standard-based Syslogs.

Inside FortiOS: Application Control

Inside FortiOS: Application Control

Application control technologies detect and take action against network traffic based on the application that generated the traffic. Application control uses protocol decoders with signatures that analyze network traffic to detect application traffic, even if the traffic uses nonstandard ports or protocols.

Enhance control and network visibility

Controlling and monitoring applications on a network can seem like a daunting task due to the wide range of available applications. It is no longer an option to simply block or allow TCP and/or UDP ports since most applications do not map to individual ports. For example, controlling traffic on an HTTP or HTTPS port is futile against complex social networking sites and cloud applications.

FortiOS leverages its massive application database to identify applications and their activities while still providing a suitable and sufficient user experience, thanks to FortiASIC Content Processors (CPs), which boost CPU performance. Organizations can adopt more granular control, such as allowing logins but not chatting over selected sites. Traffic shaping may also be applied to the application traffic that is allowed. After applying control measures, continuous monitoring ensures that the measures are effective and allow for changes in application traffic patterns to be managed.

Highlights

  • Superior performance using the unique FortiASIC Content Processor that offloads heavy computation from the CPU.
  • Flexible implementation with robust deployment modes and granular controls. l Excellent visibility and management tools that help administrators improve security.
  • Application control is a standard part of any FortiCare support contract and the database for Application Control signatures is separate from the IPS database. Access to the database no longer requires a FortiGuard IPS subscription.
  • Supports detection for traffic using HTTP protocol (versions 1.0, 1.1, and 2.0).
  • Ability to configure application control by adding individual applications or application categories to security policies when operating in flow-based inspection and NGFW policy-based mode.

Key features & benefits

Identifies and controls application traffic Allows organization to strengthen security policies by controlling evasive application communications.

Inside FortiOS: Application Control

Leverages FortiGate’s hardware acceleration and software optimization Offers more security without compromising performance.
Granular control and integration with other FortiOS capabilities Provides administrators the ability to implement the most appropriate configuration for any given organization.

Features

NSS Labs “Recommend” rating for Next Generation Firewall

Fortinet’s entry into the NSS Labs Next Generation Firewall Group Test in 2013, 2014 and 2016 received the “Recommend” rating, placing it as one of the top performing systems. NSS Labs uses respectable real-world testing methodologies to measure Next Generation Firewall protection and performance, including application control.

Superior performance with unique hardware architecture

Unlike a traditional security gateway, which relies heavily on CPUs for packet inspection, the FortiGate’s unique hardware architecture allows FortiOS to automatically utilize appropriate hardware components to achieve optimal performance. This prevents the CPU from becoming a bottleneck as it performs various functions concurrently.

In support of application control, the Content Processor (CP) is a specialized ASIC chip that handles demanding cryptographic computation for SSL inspection and intensive signature matching. By offloading these processes from the CPU, the FortiGate is able to minimize performance degradation when administrators opt for greater security.

Robust deployment modes

FortiOS supports a wide array of network protocols and operating modes, allowing administrators to deploy the most appropriate security for their unique IT infrastructure. FortiOS also supports a variety of routing and switching protocols.

The FortiGate is able to operate in inline route and transparent mode. It can also operate in offline sniffer mode for passive monitoring of user activities. These different operating modes run concurrently by using virtual systems.

 

Protection at the edge

With today’s BYOD and mobile workforce environment, it is no longer wise to deploy control just at the Internet gateway. Through Fortinet Security Fabric, FortiOS unique wireless and switch controller feature allows organizations to implement better visibility and protection closer to internal devices. Moreover, with FortiClient, administrators can also apply similar policies when mobile users are outside of the protected networks.

Advanced application detection and control

By relying on the FortiOS 3rd Generation IPS engine, the FortiGate is able to inspect many of today’s encrypted and evasive traffic, as well as traffic running on new technologies, such as SPDY protocol. The inspection can be applied to both network and IPsec/SSL VPN traffic.

An application and its specific activity are identified using FortiGuard’s Application Control database of over 2,500 distinct signatures. These signatures are crafted by researchers across the globe to include applications that may be unique to platforms, regions, and/or languages. It also offers specific application activity identification, such as a Facebook posting or Dropbox file sync. The database is kept up to date via scheduled or manual downloads.

The application database is classified into 20 intuitive categories for ease of use. Administrators may also create specific application overrides that differ from the category settings. These specific applications can be filtered and selected by type of behavior, risk levels, technology type, application vendor and popularity.

Administrators may also apply advanced controls, such as setting up session TTLs for specific applications using CLI commands.

Traffic shaping

Organizations may better utilize bandwidth and protect critical applications by enforcing granular application usage with traffic shaping. Administrators can create various traffic shaping profiles by defining traffic priority and maximum or guaranteed bandwidth. These profiles can then be assigned to targeted applications.

User notification

User education is central to an effective security implementation. In response to this, FortiOS lets you provide user notification when blocking an unauthorized application. The notification appears as an HTML block page for web-based applications.

Advanced notification is possible by implementing Fortinet’s browser-embedded frame. And when “off-net” users are denied access, notifications appear via FortiClient’s notification pop-ups.

Deep inspection for cloud applications

The prevalence of cloud applications like Dropbox poses a security challenge to today’s organizations. Using

FortiOS’s deep inspection for popular cloud applications, administrators gain deep and useful insights, via FortiView and logs, into activities associated with these applications, such as user IDs, cloud actions, file names, and file sizes. For popular video sites, FortiOS will also be able to track video files viewed.

Inside FortiOS: Application Control

SSL inspection for encrypted traffic

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a popular encryption standard used to protect Internet traffic but may also be used to evade traditional inspection. FortiOS enables organizations to adopt effective application control even when traffic is encrypted.

Unique hardware components and software optimizations can decrypt traffic with minimal performance impact. The inspection can easily omit sensitive communications, such as financial transaction (thereby complying with privacy policies), or bypass applications that forbid SSL inspection by using granular policy settings.

Monitoring, logging, and reporting

FortiOS empowers organization to implement security best practices that require continuous examination of threat statuses and the ability to adapt to new requirements.

The FortiView widgets provide useful analyses with detailed and contextual session information that can be filtered, ranked, and further inspected. For example, an administrator can instantly query the top applications that are currently consuming bandwidth and drill down to identify their users and help decide if such activities should be blocked.

Network, threat, and system events activities can be archived via syslogs. In turn, these logs can generate useful trending and overview reports.

Lastly, the FortiOS offers robust in-built email and SMS alert systems. Meanwhile, integration with external threat management systems can be achieved with SNMP and standard-based syslogs.

 

Recipes

Visit cookbook.fortinet.com for these and other recipes:

l NGFW policy-based mode

 

Inside FortiOS: Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

Inside FortiOS: Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) technology protects your network from cybercriminal attacks by actively seeking and blocking external threats before they can reach potentially vulnerable network devices.

World class next generation IPS capabilities

Today, sophisticated and high volume attacks are the challenges that every organization must recognize. These attacks are evolving, infiltrating ever-increasing vectors and complex network environments. The result is an urgent need for network protection while maintaining the ability to efficiently provide demanding services and applications.

FortiOS’s IPS functionality is an industry-proven network security solution that scales up to over 200 Gbps of inline protection. Powered by purpose-built hardware and FortiASICs, FortiOS is able to achieve attractive TCO while meeting performance requirements. IPS is easy to set up, yet offers feature-rich capabilities, with contextual visibility and coverage. It is kept up-to-date by research teams that work 24 hours a day worldwide, in order to detect and deter the latest known threats as well as zero-day attacks.

Highlights

  • Validated best-in-class security and capacity with proven coverage and high performance.
  • Comprehensive protection provided by a signatures-based IPS engine, protocol anomaly scanning, and DDOS mitigation. l Flexible deployment options and actionable implementations for a wide array of network integration and operation requirements.

Key features & benefits

High Performance IPS, powered by FortiASIC Low latency and high capacity ensure business applications are not affected while security is enforced.
Best-in-class security with superior coverage Protects critical digital resources from both internal exploits and external cybercriminals, even if sophisticated attacks are crafted.
Backed by FortiGuard Labs that deliver real-time

protection

Maintains up-to-date and proactive protection against latest known threats and newly discovered hacking techniques while allowing time for organizations to patch vulnerable systems.

Features                                                                                      Inside FortiOS: Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

Features

Tested and proven protection

Not only have FortiGates been deployed in some of the largest enterprises in the world since 2002, FortiOS IPS components and FortiGuard IPS signatures are periodically tested and certified by well-known external labs. For example, Fortinet’s FortiGate 3000D earned the highest ratings for Security Effectiveness, blocking 99.9 percent of exploits in the recent NSS Labs DCIPS test. These independent certifications ensure that solutions delivered to

customers are of the highest standards in performance, coverage, and accuracy.

Real-time & zero-day protection

The FortiGuard Intrusion Prevention Service (IPS) provides customers with the latest defenses against stealthy network-level threats through a constantly updated database of known threats and behavior-based signatures.

FortiGuard IPS service quick facts

l     Over 10,000 signatures consisting of 18,000 rules l Approximately 470,000 network intrusion attempts resisted per

minute

l     About 1,000 rules are updated or added per week l Over 300 Zero-day vulnerabilities discovered to date

This update service is backed by a team of threat experts and a close relationship with major application vendors. The best-in-class team also uncovers significant zero-day vulnerabilities continuously, providing FortiGate units with advanced protection ahead of vendor patches.

Uncompromised performance

The FortiASICS Content Processor (CP) accelerates content processing, which is traditionally done completely by the CPU. The CP reduces the resources required by the CPU when matching an incoming file against the signature database, thus improving system performance and stability.

Protocol decoders and anomaly detection

Protocol decoders are required to assemble the packets and detect suspicious, nonconforming sessions that resemble known attacks or are non-compliant to RFC or standard implementation.

FortiOS offers one of the most comprehensive arrays of protocol decoders in the industry, providing customers with significantly wide coverage in all kinds of environments.

Pattern & rate-based signatures

The pattern signature matching technique is essential in IPS implementation due to its high level of precision and accuracy. FortiOS offers administrators robust pattern signature selection using filters based on severity, target, operating system, application, and protocol. Each of the 10,000+ signatures has a direct link to its detailed entry on the threat encyclopedia and CVE-ID references. After selection, administrators are able to assign associated actions such as monitoring, blocking, or resetting the session.

Rate-based IPS signatures protect networks against application based DoS and brute force attacks.

Administrators can configure nearly 30 rate-based IPS signatures and tune them to their needs. Threshold (incidents per minute) and an action to take when the threshold is reached can be assigned to each signature. If the action is set to block, then a timeout period can be set so that the block is removed after a specified duration.

DoS and DDoS mitigation

DoS policies can help protect against DDoS attacks that aim to overwhelm server resources. In FortiOS, the DoS scans precede the policy engine at the incoming interfaces, thus eliminating unnecessary sessions from the firewall process and state table entry during a surge of attack traffic. This helps to safeguard the firewall from overloading and allows it to perform optimally.

FortiOS DoS policies can be configured to detect and block floodings, port scans, and sweeps. Administrators can set baselines for the amount of concurrent sessions from sources or to destinations. The settings utilize thresholds and can be applied to UDP, TCP, ICMP, IP, and SCTP.

Network interfaces associated with a port attached to a Network Processor (NP) can be configured to offload anomaly checking, further offloading the CPU for greater performance. Some of the anomaly traffic dropped includes LAND attacks, IP protocol with malformed options, and WinNukes.

Quarantine attacks

FortiOS offers sophisticated automatic attack quarantine capabilities which allow organizations to proactively prevent further attacks from known attackers over a predefined duration. Quarantining by duration can be used to protect potentially vulnerable servers until more permanent defense.

Packet logging

Administrators may choose to automatically perform IPS packet logging, which saves packets for detailed analysis when an IPS signature is matched. Saved packets can be viewed and analyzed on the FortiGate unit or by using third-party analysis tools. Packet logging is also useful in determining false positives.

Custom signatures

Custom IPS signatures can be created to further extend protection. For example, you can use custom IPS signatures to protect unusual or specialized applications, or even custom platforms from known and unknown attacks.

Organizations may use FortiConverter to easily convert Snort signatures for FortiOS use.

Resistant against evasions

Evasion techniques attempt to fool the protocol decoders in IPS products by crafting exotic network streams that would not be handled or reconstructed by the decoders, yet still be valid enough for the target recipient to process. Robust IPS engine is capable of handling both common evasions and sophisticated AETs (Advanced Evasion Techniques) deployed by hackers such as IP Packet Fragmentation, TCP Stream Segmentation, RPC Fragmentation, URL & HTML Obfuscation, and other protocol specific evasion techniques.

Intrusion detection mode

In out-of-band sniffer mode (or one-arm IPS mode), IPS operates as an Intrusion Detection System (IDS), detecting attacks and reporting them but not taking any action against them. In sniffer mode, the FortiGate unit does not process network traffic and instead is connected to a spanning or mirrored switch port, or a network tap. If an attack is detected, log messages can be recorded and alerts sent to system administrators.

Traffic bypass

Since most IPS deployments are in transparent inline mode, active traffic bypass is often desired until normal operation of the device resumes. Some FortiGates offer inbuilt active bypass interfaces while others may use external bypass devices such as the FortiBridge. Administrators are also offered with software fail-open option to tackle instances where the IPS engine fails.

Monitoring, logging, and reporting

FortiOS empowers organizations to implement security best practices that require continuous examination of their threat status and adaptation to new requirements. The FortiView query widgets provide useful analysis data with detailed and contextual session information, which can be filtered, ranked, and further inspected. System events can also be archived via logs, which in turn can generate useful trending and overview reports.

 

FortiWLC – Appendix

Appendix

Captive Portal and Fortinet Connect Deployment Recommendations

These are the deployment recommendations.

DNS Entry

It is mandatory to enter the DNS while creating internal DHCP profile.

External Portal IP Configuration

If a NAT device is located between the controller and the Fortinet Connect, the IP address with which Fortinet Connect sees the controller should be configured under Device > RADIUS Clients page in Fortinet Connect Admin portal (http://<fortinetconnect-ip-address>/admin) . Select the RADIUS client and enter the controller IP address in the Client tab. The Fortinet Connect Automatic Setup then configures the controller correctly and ensures that the correct controller IP address is configured on Fortinet Connect.

Remember Me settings

In the Portal Settings step of the Guest Portal configuration wizard, if you choose to enable

Remember Credentials, then select “Initially attempt to use a cookie, if this fails try the MAC address” option. This removes the dependency on the client’s browser and security settings.

SmartConnect Certificate download

In the Certificates step of the Smart Connect Profile Wizard, ensure that you select the complete certificate chain of your uploaded certificate. If all certificates in the chain (from root to server) have been uploaded, then selecting the server certificate will automatically select the entire certificate chain.

  • To upload the server certificates, go to Server > SSL Settings > Server Certificate
  • To upload rest of the chain, go to Server > SSL Settings > Trusted CA Certificates

Captive Portal and Fortinet Connect Deployment Recommendations

IP Prefix Validation

In a situation where a station with an IP address from a different subnet connects to the controller, it can result in various network issues including outage. A new field, IP Prefix Validation is added to the ESS Profile and Port Profile configuration page. When enabled, stations with different subnet are prevented from connecting to the controller. By default, IP Prefix Validation in ESS Profile is ON and in Port Profile it is OFF.

IP Prefix Validation must be disabled if the ESS profile is used for RAC.

IP Prefix Validation

A Glossary

This glossary contains a collection of terms and abbreviations used in this document. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y

Numerals

10BaseT An IEEE standard (802.3) for operating 10 megabits per second (Mbps) Ethernet networks (LANs) over twisted pair cabling and using baseband transmission methods.
100baseT A Fast Ethernet standard (802.3u) that allows up to 100 Mbps and uses the CSMA/CD LAN access method.
3DES Triple Des. A Data Encryption Standard (DES) that uses three 64-bit encryption key, and therefore is three times longer than that used by DES.
802.11 802.11, or IEEE 802.11, is a radio technology specification used for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs). 802.11 defines the mobile (wireless) network access link layer, including 802.11 media access control (MAC) and different Physical (PHY) interfaces. This standard defines the protocol for communications between a wireless client and a base station as well as between two wireless clients.

The 802.11 specification, often called Wi-Fi, is composed of several standards operating in different radio frequencies, including the 2.4 GHz (802.11 b and g) and 5 GHz (802.11a) unlicensed spectrums. New standards are emerging within the 802.11 specification to define additional aspects of wireless networking.

802.11a A supplement to 802.11 that operates in the 5 GHz frequency range with a maximum 54 Mbps data transfer rate. The 802.11a specification offers more radio channels than the 802.11b and uses OFDM. The additional channels ease radio and microwave interference.
802.11b International standard for wireless networking that operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency range (2.4 GHz to 2.4835 GHz) and provides a throughput of up to 11 Mbps. This common frequency is also used by microwave ovens, cordless phones, medical and scientific equipment, as well as Bluetooth devices.

529

 

802.11e An IEEE specification for providing Quality of Service (QoS) in 802.11 WLANs. 802.11e is a supplement to the IEEE 802.11 and provides enhancements to the 802.11 MAC layer supplying a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) construct and error-correcting mechanisms that aid delay-sensitive applications such as  and video.
802.11g Similar to 802.11b, this standard operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency. It uses OFDM to provide a throughput of up to 54 Mbps.
802.11i Supports the 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) along with 802.1X authentication and key management features for increased WLAN security capabilities.
802.11j Provides enhancements to the current 802.11 standard to support the 4.9GHz – 5GHz band for operations in Japan.
802.11k Due for ratification in 2005, the 802.11k Radio Resource Management standard will provide measurement information for access points and switches to make Wireless LANs run more efficiently.
802.11n An emerging standard aimed at providing greater than 100 Mbps of throughput in a wireless environment.
802.11r A specification under development to improve a wireless client’s ability to roam across wireless networks.
802.16 A specification for fixed broadband wireless metropolitan access networks (MANs) that uses a point-to-multipoint architecture. The standard defines the use of bandwidth between the licensed 10GHz and 66GHz bands and between the 2GHZ and 11GHz (licensed and unlicensed) frequency ranges. 802.16 supports very high bit rates for a distance of approximately 30 miles.
802.1X

A

Wireless LAN security implementation that uses port-based authentication between an operating system and the network access device, meant to increase security in user authentication by using RADIUS, Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP), and LDAP.
AAA authentication, authorization, and accounting (triple A). An IP-based system for providing services to ensure secure network connections for users. The system requires a server such as a RADIUS server to enforce these services.
access point A device that is managed by a controller and that allows stations such as cellular phones or laptops to communicate wirelessly with the Wireless LAN System.
accounting Services that track the resources a user session uses such as amount of time logged on, data transferred, resources, etc. Accounting services are typically used for billing, auditing, analysis, etc.

 

 

ACL Access Control List. A list kept by the controller to limit access of station to the WLAN. The ACL can be a permit, deny, or RADIUS Server list of MAC addresses of the NIC device within the station. An ACL is controller by the configured state, either enabled or disabled.
AES Advanced Encryption Standard. An encryption standard that uses a symmetric encryption algorithm (Rijndael). AES was chosen by the National Information and Standards Institute (NIST) as the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS).
Air Traffic

Control

Fortinet technology that exercises a high degree of control over all transmissions within a wireless network. Unlike superficially similar technologies from other vendors, Air Traffic Control technology coordinates uplink and downlink transmissions on a single 802.11 channel in such a manner that the effects of co-channel and adjacent channel interference are eliminated and all access points on a network can share a single radio channel. It also load balances traffic across channels when using Channel Layering, ensuring that each channel
ATS Access Transaction Station. Alternative term for access point.
attenuation The reduction of RF signal strength due to the presence of an obstacle, such as a wall or person. The amount of attenuation caused by a particular object will vary depending upon its composition.
authentication The process of identifying a user, usually based on a username and password, but can also be a MAC address.
authorization

B

The process of granting or denying a user access to network resources once the user has been authenticated through the username and password.
backbone The central part of a large network that links two or more subnetworks and is the primary path for data transmission for a large business or corporation. A network can have a wired backbone or a wireless backbone.
bandwidth The amount of transmission capacity that is available on a network at any point in time. Available bandwidth depends on several variables such as the rate of data transmission speed between networked devices, network overhead, number of users, and the type of device used to connect PCs to a network. It is similar to a pipeline in that capacity is determined by size: the wider the pipe, the more water can flow through it; the more bandwidth a network provides, the more data can flow through it. Standard 802.11b provides a bandwidth of 11 Mbps; 802.11a and 802.11g provide a bandwidth of 54 Mbps. These are the raw capabilities of the network. Many things conspire to reduce these values, including protocol overhead, collisions, and implementation inefficiencies.
base station A term in cellular networking that refers to a radio transmitter/receiver that maintains communications with mobile radiotelephone sets within a given range (typically a cell site).

 

bps bits per second. A measure of data transmission speed over communication lines based on the number of bits that can be sent or received per second. Bits per second-bps-is often confused with bytes per second-Bps. 8 bits make a byte, so if a wireless network is operating at a bandwidth of 11 megabits per second (11 Mbps or 11 Mbits/sec), it is sending data at 1.375 megabytes per second (1.375 MBps).
bridge A product that connects a local area network (LAN) to another local area network that uses the same protocol (for example, wireless, Ethernet or token ring). Wireless bridges are commonly used to link buildings in campuses.
BSC Base Station Controller. Manages radio resources and controls handoff between cells. May also contain the transcoder for compressing/uncompressing  between cellular network and the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
BSSID

C

Basic Service Set Identifier is a means of uniquely identifying an access point, usually intended for machine use rather than human use. A 48-bit Ethernet MAC address is used to identify an 802.11 wireless service. In a Virtual Cell, all same-channel APs may appear to have the same BSSID, thus virtualizing the network from the client’s perspective. When Virtual Ports are used, each client sees a different BSSID, appearing to get its own private AP. See also ESSID.
Co-channel Interference Radio interference that occurs when two transmitters use the same frequency without being closely synchronized. Legacy wireless systems cannot achieve this kind of synchronization, so access points or cell towers that transmit on one channel must be spaced far apart. The result is coverage gaps that must be filled in with radios tuned to another channel, resulting in an inefficient and complex microcell architecture. Air Traffic Control technology avoids cochannel interference by tightly synchronizing access point transmissions, enabling that adjacent APs to use the same channel.
Channel Bonding The combination of two non-overlapping 20 MHz. channels into a single 40 MHz. channel, doubling the amount of data that can be transmitted in a given time but halving the number of available channels. Along with MIMO, it is a key innovation in the 802.11n standard.
Channel Layering Wireless LAN architecture in which several Virtual Cells are located in the same physical space but on non-overlapping channels, multiplying the available capacity. This additional capacity can be used for redundancy or to support higher data rates or user density. It can be enabled through multiple radios on one AP or by using multiple AP close together, so the total capacity is limited only be the number of non-overlapping channels available.
Channel Reuse A pattern in which different APs can use the same channel. In microcell networks, such APs need to be placed far apart to avoid co-channel interference, meaning that contiguous coverage requires multiple channels. In networks using Air Traffic Control technology, the same

channel can be reused throughout the network, meaning that only one channel is required and others are left free for other purposes.

CHAP Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol. An authentication protocol that defines a three-way handshake to authenticate a user. CHAP uses the MD5 hash algorithm to generate a response to a challenge that can be checked by the authenticator.
CLI Command-line interpreter. On a controller and other units, this is similar to a command shell for giving instructions.
client Any computer connected to a network that requests services (files, print capability) from another member of the network.
client

devices

Clients are end users. Wi-Fi client devices include PC Cards that slide into laptop computers, mini-PCI modules embedded in laptop computers and mobile computing devices, as well as USB radios and PCI/ISA bus Wi-Fi radios. Client devices usually communicate with hub devices like access points and gateways.
collision avoidance A network node characteristic for proactively detecting that it can transmit a signal without risking a collision.
controller A device that is responsible for configuring and integrating the access points in a WLAN.
CSMA-CA CSMA/CA is the principle medium access method employed by IEEE 802.11 WLANs. It is a “listen before talk” method of minimizing (but not eliminating) collisions caused by simultaneous transmission by multiple radios. IEEE 802.11 states collision avoidance method rather than collision detection must be used, because the standard employs half duplex radiosradios capable of transmission or reception-but not both simultaneously.
CSMA/CD

D

A method of managing traffic and reducing noise on an Ethernet network. A network device transmits data after detecting that a channel is available. However, if two devices transmit data simultaneously, the sending devices detect a collision and retransmit after a random time delay.
dBm A measurement of relative power (decibel) related to 1 milliwatt (mW).
Denial of Service (DoS) A condition in which users are deliberately prevented from using network resources.
DES Data Encryption Standard. A symmetric encryption algorithm that always uses 56 bit keys. It is rapidly being replaced by its more secure successor, 3DES.
DHCP A utility that enables a server to dynamically assign IP addresses from a predefined list for a predefined time period, limiting their use time so that they can be reassigned. Without DHCP, IP addresses would have to be manually assigned to all computers on the network. When

DHCP is used, whenever a computer logs onto the network, it automatically is assigned an IP address.

DNS A program that translates URLs to IP addresses by accessing a database maintained on a collection of Internet servers. The program works behind the scenes to facilitate surfing the Web with alpha versus numeric addresses. A DNS server converts a name like mywebsite.com to a series of numbers like 107.22.55.26. Every website has its own specific IP address on the Internet.
DSL

E

Various technology protocols for high-speed data,  and video transmission over ordinary twisted-pair copper POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) telephone wires.
EAP Extensible Authentication Protocol. An extension to PPP. EAP is a general protocol for authentication that also supports multiple authentication methods, such as token cards, Kerberos, one-time passwords, certificates, public key authentication and smart cards. IEEE 802.1x specifies how EAP should be encapsulated in LAN frames.
EAP-TLS Extensible Authentication Protocol with Transport Layer Security. EAP-TLS supports mutual authentication using digital certificates. When a client requests access, the authentication server responds with a server certificate. The client replies with its own certificate and also validates the server certificate. The certificate values are used to derive session encryption keys.
EAP – TTLS Extensible Authentication Protocol with Tunneled Transport Layer Security. EAP-TTLS uses a combination of certificates and password challenge and response for authentication within an 802.1X environment. TTLS supports authentication methods defined by EAP, as well as the older Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP), Password Authentication Protocol (PAP), Microsoft CHAP (MS-CHAP), and MS-CHAPV2.
encryption key An alphanumeric (letters and/or numbers) series that enables data to be encrypted and then decrypted so it can be safely shared among members of a network. WEP uses an encryption key that automatically encrypts outgoing wireless data. On the receiving side, the same encryption key enables the computer to automatically decrypt the information so it can be read.
enterprise A term that is often applied to large corporations and businesses. The enterprise market can incorporate office buildings, manufacturing plants, warehouses and R&D facilities, as well as large colleges and universities.
ESSID Extended Service Set Identifier (ID). The identifying name of an 802.11 wireless network, which is a string of up to 32 characters that is intended to be viewed by humans. When you specify an ESSID in your client setup, you ensure that you connect to your wireless network rather than another network in range.

A set of access points can share an ESSID. In this case, a station can roam among the access points.

Ethernet

F

International standard networking technology for wired implementations. Basic 10BaseT networks offer a bandwidth of about 10 Mbps. Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) and Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps) are becoming popular.
FCC Federal Communications Commission. The United States’ governing body for telecommunications law.
firewall A system that secures a network and prevents access by unauthorized users. Firewalls can be software, hardware or a combination of both. Firewalls can prevent unrestricted access into a network, as well as restrict data from flowing out of a network.
Fourth

Generation

G

Term coined by analyst firm Gartner to describe a wireless LAN system in which the controller governs handoffs, such as one utilizing Virtual Cells. This is contrasted with third generation (micro-cell architecture) systems, in which the controller is only responsible for managing access points and clients must decide for themselves when to initiate a handoff. Second generation systems lacked a controller altogether and were designed for standalone operation, whereas the first generation used proprietary, non-802.11 systems.
gain The ratio of the power output to the power input of an amplifier in dB. The gain is specified in the linear operating range of the amplifier where a 1 dB increase in input power gives rise to a 1 dB increase in output power.
gateway

H

In the wireless world, a gateway is an access point with additional software capabilities such as providing NAT and DHCP. Gateways may also provide VPN support, roaming, firewalls, various levels of security, etc.
Handoff The transfer of a link from one access point to another as a client moves through a network. In legacy microcell networks, Wi-Fi clients are responsible for handoff, meaning that the quality of the link and the overall network performance is dependent on each client’s implementation of 802.11 roaming algorithms. In Virtual Cell and Virtual Port networks, the network itself governs handoffs as clients remain connected to a single virtual AP.
hub A multiport device used to connect PCs to a network via Ethernet cabling or via Wi-Fi. Wired hubs can have numerous ports and can transmit data at speeds ranging from 10 Mbps to multigigabyte speeds per second. A hub transmits packets it receives to all the connected ports. A

small wired hub may only connect 4 computers; a large hub can connect 48 or more. Wireless hubs can connect hundreds.

Hz

I

The international unit for measuring frequency, equivalent to the older unit of cycles per second. One megahertz (MHz) is one million hertz. One gigahertz (GHz) is one billion hertz. The standard US electrical power frequency is 60 Hz, the AM broadcast radio frequency band is 535-1605 kHz, the FM broadcast radio frequency band is 88-108 MHz, and Wireless 802.11b LANs operate at 2.4 GHz.
IP number Also called an IP address. A 32-bit binary number that identifies senders and receivers of traffic across the Internet. It is usually expressed in the form nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn where nnn is a number from 0 to 256.
identitybased networking A concept whereby WLAN policies are assigned and enforced based upon a wireless client’s identity, as opposed to its physical location. With identity networking, wireless devices need only authenticate once with a WLAN system. Context information will follow the devices as they roam, ensuring seamless mobility.
IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. (www.ieee.org) A membership organization that includes engineers, scientists and students in electronics and allied fields. It has more than 300,000 members and is involved with setting standards for computers and communications.
IEEE 802.11 A set of specifications for LANs from The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Most wired networks conform to 802.3, the specification for CSMA/CD based Ethernet networks or 802.5, the specification for token ring networks. 802.11 defines the standard for Wireless LANs encompassing three incompatible (non-interoperable) technologies: Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS), Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) and Infrared. WECA’s focus is on 802.11b, an 11 Mbps high-rate DSSS standard for wireless networks.
infrastructure mode A client setting providing connectivity to an AP. As compared to Ad-Hoc mode, whereby PCs communicate directly with each other, clients set in Infrastructure Mode all pass data through a central AP. The AP not only mediates wireless network traffic in the immediate neighborhood, but also provides communication with the wired network. See Ad-Hoc and AP.
IP Internet Protocol. A set of rules used to send and receive messages at the Internet address level.
IP telephony Technology that supports , data and video transmission via IP-based LANs, WANs, and the Internet. This includes VoIP ( over IP).
IP address A 32-bit number that identifies each sender or receiver of information that is sent across the Internet. An IP address has two parts: an identifier of a particular network on the Internet and

an identifier of the particular device (which can be a server or a workstation) within that network.

IPSec                       IPSec is a security protocol from the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) that provides authentication and encryption. IPsec, which works at Layer 3, is widely used to secure VPNs and wireless users. Some vendors, like Airespace, have implemented special WLAN features that allow IPsec sessions to roam with clients for secure mobility.

ISDN A type of broadband Internet connection that provides digital service from the customer’s premises to the dial-up telephone network. ISDN uses standard POTS copper wiring to deliver , data or video.

ISO network A network model developed by the International Standards Organization (ISO) that consists of model seven different levels, or layers. By standardizing these layers, and the interfaces in between, different portions of a given protocol can be modified or changed as technologies advance or systems requirements are altered. The seven layers are:

  • Physical
  • Data Link Network
  • Transport
  • Session
  • Presentation
  • Application

The IEEE 802.11 Standard encompasses the physical layer (PHY) and the lower portion of the data link layer. The lower portion of the data link layer is often referred to as the Medium Access Controller (MAC) sublayer.

J

K

L

LAN                          Local Area Network. A system of connecting PCs and other devices within the same physical proximity for sharing resources such as an Internet connections, printers, files and drives. When Wi-Fi is used to connect the devices, the system is known as a Wireless LAN or WLAN.

LDAP Lightweight Directory Access Protocol. A set of protocols for accessing information directories conforming to the X.500 standard.

 

LWAPP

M

Lightweight Access Point Protocol. A proposed specification to the International Engineering Task Force (IETF) created to standardize the communications protocol between access points and WLAN system devices (switches, appliances, routers, etc.). Initial authors include Airespace and NTT DoCoMo. See CAPWAP
MAC Medium Access Control. This is the function of a network controller that determines who gets to transmit when. Each network adapter must be uniquely identified. Every wireless 802.11 device has its own specific MAC address hard-coded into it. This unique identifier can be used to provide security for wireless networks. When a network uses a MAC table, only the 802.11 radios that have had their MAC addresses added to that network’s MAC table will be able to get onto the network.
Man in Middle (MiM) An attack that results from the interception and possible modification of traffic passing between two communicating parties, such as a wireless client and Access Point. MIM attacks succeed if the systems can’t distinguish communications with an intended recipient from those with the intervening attacker.
Mbps Million bits (megabits) per second.
MIC Message Integrity Check. MIC is part of a draft standard from IEEE 802.11i working group. It is an additional 8 byte field which is placed between the data portion of an 802.11 (Wi-Fi) frame and the 4 byte ICV (Integrity Check Value) to protect both the payload and the header. The algorithm which implements the MIC is known as Michael.
Microcell Wireless architecture in which adjacent APs must be tuned to different, non-overlapping channels in an attempt to mitigate co-channel interference. This requires complex channel planning both before the network is built and whenever a change is made, and uses spectrum so inefficiently that some co-channel interference still occurs, especially at 2,4 GHz. Microcell architectures were common in 2G cell phone systems and legacy wireless LAN systems. They are not used in 3G cellular networks or in wireless LAN systems that use Air Traffic Control, as these allow all access points to share a single channel.
mobile professional A salesperson or a “road warrior” who travels frequently and requires the ability to regularly access his or her corporate networks, via the Internet, to post and retrieve files and data and to send and receive e-mail.
multipath

N

The process or condition in which radiation travels between source and receiver via more than one propagation path due to reflection, refraction, or scattering.
NAT NetwOrk Address Translation. A system for converting the IP numbers used in one network to the IP numbers used in another network. Usually one network is the internal network and one

network is the external network. Usually the internal IP numbers form a relatively large set of IP numbers, which must be compressed into a small set of IP numbers for the external network.

network name Identifies the wireless network for all the shared components. During the installation process for most wireless networks, you need to enter the network name or SSID. Different network names are used when setting up your individual computer, wired network or workgroup.
NIC

O

Network Interface Card. A type of PC adapter card that either works without wires (Wi-Fi) or attaches to a network cable to provide two-way communication between the computer and network devices such as a hub or switch. Most office wired NICs operate at 10 Mbps (Ethernet), 100 Mbps (Fast Ethernet) or 10/100 Mbps dual speed. High-speed Gigabit and 10 Gigabit NIC cards are also available. See PC Card.
OFDM Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing. A modulation technique for transmitting large amounts of digital data over a radio wave. OFDM splits the radio signal into multiple smaller signals that are transmitted in parallel at different frequencies to the receiver. OFDM reduces the amount of crosstalk in signal transmissions. 802.11a uses OFDM.
Overlay Network

P

A dedicated network of radio sensors that are similar to access points but do not serve clients, scanning the airwaves full time for security or management issues. Overlay networks lack the flexibility of AP-based scanning, as radios cannot be redeployed between scanning and client access. They also lack deep integration with the main wireless network, necessary for realtime management and intrusion prevention.
Partitioning Virtualization technique in which a single resource is divided up into virtual resources that are then dedicated to a particular application. Examples include the virtual machines in server virtualization, virtual disk drives in SANs and Virtual Ports in Fortinet’s Wireless LAN Virtualization. The main advantages of partitioning are control and isolation: Each application or user can be given exactly the resources that it  needs, protecting them from each other and ensuring that none consumes more than its allocated share of resources. In a wireless context, it makes a wireless LAN behave more like a switched Ethernet port.
Pooling Virtualization technique in which multiple physical resources are combined into a single virtual resource. Examples include the multiple disk drives in a virtual storage array, the multiple CPUs in a modern server and the multiple access points in a Fortinet Virtual Cell. The main advantages of pooling are agility, simplified management and economies of scale: Resources can be moved  between applications on demand, reducing the need for over-provisioning and freeing applications or users from dependence on a single piece of limited infrastructure.

 

PC card A removable, credit-card-sized memory or I/O device that fits into a Type 2 PCMCIA standard slot, PC Cards are used primarily in PCs, portable computers, PDAs and laptops. PC Card peripherals include Wi-Fi cards, memory cards, modems, NICs, hard drives, etc.
PCI A high-performance I/O computer bus used internally on most computers. Other bus types include ISA and AGP. PCIs and other computer buses enable the addition of internal cards that provide services and features not supported by the motherboard or other connectors.
PDA Smaller than laptop computers but with many of the same computing and communication capabilities, PDAs range greatly in size, complexity and functionality. PDAs can provide wireless connectivity via embedded Wi-Fi Card radios, slide-in PC Card radios, or Compact Flash Wi-Fi radios.
PEAP Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol. An extension to the Extensible Authentication Protocol with Transport Layer Security (EAP-TLS), developed by Microsoft Corporation. TLS is used in PEAP Part 1 to authenticate the server only, and thus avoids having to distribute user certificates to every client. PEAP Part 2 performs mutual authentication between the EAP client and the server.
peer-to-peer network A wireless or wired computer network that has no server or central hub or router. All the networked PCs are equally able to act as a network server or client, and each client computer can talk to all the other wireless computers without having to go through an access point or hub. However, since there is no central base station to monitor traffic or provide Internet access, the various signals can collide with each other, reducing overall performance.
PHY The lowest layer within the OSI Network Model. It deals primarily with transmission of the raw bit stream over the PHYsical transport medium. In the case of Wireless LANs, the transport medium is free space. The PHY defines parameters such as data rates, modulation method, signaling parameters, transmitter/receiver synchronization, etc. Within an actual radio implementation, the PHY corresponds to the radio front end and baseband signal processing sections.
plenum The ceiling plenum is the volume defined by the area above the back of the ceiling tile, and below the bottom of the structural slab above. Within this plenum is usually found a combination of HVAC ducts, electrical and electronic conduits, water pipes, traditional masking sound speakers, etc. Networking equipment needs to be plenum rated to certify that it is suitable for deployment in this area.
PoE Power over Ethernet. A technology defined by the IEEE 802.3af standard to deliver dc power over twisted-pair Ethernet data cables rather than power cords. The electrical current, which enters the data cable at the power-supply end and comes out at the device end, is kept separate from the data signal so neither interferes with the other.
POTS Plain Old Telephone Service. Standard analog telephone service (an acronym for Plain Old Telephone Service).

 

proxy server Used in larger companies and organizations to improve network operations and security, a proxy server is able to prevent direct communication between two or more networks. The proxy server forwards allowable data requests to remote servers and/or responds to data requests directly from stored remote server data.
PSTN

Q

Public Switched Telephone Network. The usual way of making telephone calls in the late 20th century, designed around the idea of using wires and switches. Perhaps to be supplanted by  Over IP in the 21st century.
QoS

R

Quality of Service. A set of technologies for managing and allocating Internet bandwidth. Often used to ensure a level of service required to support the performance requirements of a specific application, user group, traffic flow, or other parameter. Defined within the service level are network service metrics that include network availability (uptime), latency and packet loss.
RADIUS Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service. A service that authorizes connecting users and allows them access to requested systems or services. The Microsoft ISA server is a RADIUS server.
range How far will your wireless network stretch? Most Wi-Fi systems will provide a range of a hundred feet or more. Depending on the environment and the type of antenna used, Wi-Fi signals can have a range of up to mile.
RC4 algorithm The RC4 algorithm uses an Initialization Vector (IV) and a secret key to generate a pseudorandom key stream with a high periodicity. Designed by RSA Security, RC4 is used in WEP and many other transmission protocols including SSL.
RF Radio Frequency. The type of transmission between a Wireless LAN access point and a wireless client (e.g., laptop, PDA, or phone). Wireless LANs can use RF spectrum at either 2.4 GHz (IEEE 802.11b or IEEE 802.11g) or 5 GHz (IEEE 802.11G).
RFID Radio Frequency ID. A device that picks up signals from and sends signals to a reader using radio frequency. Tags come in many forms, such as smart labels that are stuck on boxes; smart cards and key-chain wands for paying for things; and a box that you stick on your windshield to enable you to pay tolls without stopping. Most recently, active 802.11 RFID tags are being deployed in enterprise environments to provide more consistent tracking across farther distances than traditional passive devices.
RF fingerprinting In an enterprise WLAN scenario, RF fingerprinting refers to creating a blueprint of a building’s RF characteristics, taking into account specific wall and design characteristics such as attenuation and multipath. This information is compared to real-time information collected by APs for

802.11 location tracking. By taking RF characteristics into account, RF fingerprint is the most accurate method of wireless device tracking available today.

RF prediction The process of predicting WLAN characteristics, such as throughput and coverage area, based upon imported building characteristics and sample WLAN design configurations.
RF triangulation A common method used for 802.11 device tracking whereby 3 or more Access Points compare RSSI information to triangulate in on a device’s location. While easy to implement, RF triangulation does not account for multipath, attenuation, and other RF characteristics that may affect receive sensitivity, making it less accurate than RF fingerprinting.
roaming The process that takes places as a client moves between the coverage areas of different APs, necessitating a handoff. In microcell Wi-Fi networks, roaming can be a complex procedure that risks dropped connections and drags down network performance, as the client is forced to decide when to disconnect from one AP and search for another. In networks using Virtual Cell and Virtual Port technology, the infrastructure controls roaming, automatically connecting each client to the optimum AP.
rogue Access Point An AP that is not authorized to operate within a wireless network. Rogue APs subvert the security of an enterprise network by allowing potentially unchallenged access to the enterprise network by any wireless user (client) in the physical vicinity.
RJ-45 Standard connectors used in Ethernet networks. Even though they look very similar to standard RJ-11 telephone connectors, RJ-45 connectors can have up to eight wires, whereas telephone connectors have only four.
roaming Moving seamlessly from one AP coverage area to another with no loss in connectivity.
router A device that forwards data packets from one local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) to another. Based on routing tables and routing protocols, routers can read the network address in each transmitted frame and make a decision on how to send it via the most efficient route based on traffic load, line costs, speed, bad connections, etc.
RSA A public-key algorithm developed in 1977 and named after its inventors, Rivest, Shamir, and Adleman. RSA, currently owned by RSA Data Security, Inc., is used for encryption, digital signatures, and key exchange.
RSN Robust Security Network. A new standard within IEEE 802.11i to provide security and privacy mechanisms in an 802.11 wireless network. RSN leverages 802.1x authentication with Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) and AES for encryption.
RSSI

S

Received Signal Strength Indication. The measured power of a received signal.
scanning The process of checking the airwaves for rogue access points or attackers.  Scanning APs are typically implemented as an Overlay Network, as most APs can not scan and serve traffic at

the same time. Fortinet’s APs are able to scan the airwaves and serve clients simultaneously, eliminating the need for an overlay.  Fortinet’s single-channel architecture improves accuracy when scanning for intruders, as all APs are able to detect signals from all clients.

server A computer that provides its resources to other computers and devices on a network. These include print servers, Internet servers and data servers. A server can also be combined with a hub or router.

Single Channel

Term sometimes used to describe a network in which all access points operate on the same channel, such as one using Virtual Cell technology. Single channel operation is more spectrally efficient than a microcell architecture and necessary for the use of Virtual Cells and network-controlled handoff. Single Channel improves security by making intrusion detection easier and location tracking more accurate, as every AP automatically receives transmissions from every client within range. It also enables the RF Barrier to function with as little as one radio, because only one channel needs to be blocked from outside access.

SIP Session Initiation Protocol. SIP is a protocol for finding users, usually human, and setting up multimedia communication among them, typically a VoIP phone call.
site survey The process whereby a wireless network installer inspects a location prior to putting in a wireless network. Site surveys are used to identify the radio- and client-use properties of a facility so that access points can be optimally placed. Wireless LAN System WLANs are optimized to not require a site survey.
spectral efficiency The ratio of data rate to radio spectrum usage. A Virtual Cell is much more spectrally efficient than a microcell architecture, as the microcells consume at least three non-overlapping channels to provide the coverage that a Virtual Cell offers with just one.
SSID A 32-character unique identifier attached to the header of packets sent over a WLAN that acts as a name when a mobile device tries to connect to the BSS. (Also called ESSID.) The SSID differentiates one WLAN from another, so all access points and all devices attempting to connect to a specific WLAN must use the same SSID. A device will not be permitted to join the BSS unless it can provide the unique SSID. Because an SSID can be sniffed in plain text from a packet, it does not supply any security to the network. An SSID is also referred to as a Network Name because essentially it is a name that identifies a wireless network.
ssh Secure SHell. A terminal-emulation program that allows users to log onto a remote device and execute commands. It encrypts the traffic between the client and the host.
SSL Secure Socket Layer. Commonly used encryption scheme used by many online retail and banking sites to protect the financial integrity of transactions. When an SSL session begins, the server sends its public key to the browser. The browser then sends a randomly generated secret key back to the server in order to have a secret key exchange for that session.

 

station Devices such as cellular phones or laptops that need to communicate wirelessly with the Meru Wireless LAN System and do so through access points.
subnetwork or subnet Found in larger networks, these smaller networks are used to simplify addressing between numerous computers. Subnets connect to the central network through a router, hub or gateway. Each individual Wireless LAN will probably use the same subnet for all the local computers it talks to.
subnet mobility The ability of a wireless user to roam across Access Points deployed on different subnets using a single IP address.
supplicant A wireless client that is requesting access to a network.
switch

T

A type of hub that efficiently controls the way multiple devices use the same network so that each can operate at optimal performance. A switch acts as a networks traffic cop: rather than transmitting all the packets it receives to all ports as a hub does, a switch transmits packets to only the receiving port.
TCP Transmission Control Protocol. A protocol used along with the Internet Protocol (IP) to send data in the form of individual units (called packets) between computers over the Internet. While IP takes care of handling the actual delivery of the data, TCP takes care of keeping track of the packets that a message is divided into for efficient routing through the Internet. For example, when a web page is downloaded from a web server, the TCP program layer in that server divides the file into packets, numbers the packets, and then forwards them individually to the IP program layer. Although each packet has the same destination IP address, it may get routed differently through the network. At the other end, TCP reassembles the individual packets and waits until they have all arrived to forward them as a single file.
TCP/IP The underlying technology behind the Internet and communications between computers in a network. The first part, TCP, is the transport part, which matches the size of the messages on either end and guarantees that the correct message has been received. The IP part is the user’s computer address on a network. Every computer in a TCP/IP network has its own IP address that is either dynamically assigned at startup or permanently assigned. All TCP/IP messages contain the address of the destination network as well as the address of the destination station. This enables TCP/IP messages to be transmitted to multiple networks (subnets) within an organization or worldwide.
TKIP Temporal Key Integrity Protocol. An enhancement to the WEP encryption technique that uses a set of algorithms to rotate session keys for better protection. TKIP uses RC4 ciphering, but adds functions such as a 128-bit encryption key, a 48-bit initialization vector, a new message integrity code (MIC), and initialization vector (IV) sequencing rules.

U

USB A high-speed bidirectional serial connection between a PC and a peripheral that transmits data at the rate of 12 megabits per second. The new USB 2.0 specification provides a data rate of up to 480 Mbps, compared to standard USB at only 12 Mbps. 1394, FireWire and iLink all provide a bandwidth of up to 400 Mbps.
UTC

V

Universal Time Coordinated. Also known as Greenwich Mean Time. The time is not adjusted for time zones or for daylight savings time.
Virtual Cell Proprietary wireless LAN architecture in which multiple access points are pooled into a single, virtual resource. To the client, APs are indistinguishable because they all use the same BSSID and radio channel . Because clients remain connected to the same virtual AP as they move through a network, no client-initiated handoffs are necessary. Instead, the network itself automatically routes all radio connections through the most appropriate AP. This maximizes bandwidth, simplifies network management and conserves radio spectrum for scalability and redundancy.
Virtual Port An enhancement to the Virtual Cell architecture which partitions the network so that each client device has its own private network with a unique BSSID. From the client’s perspective, it gets its own dedicated AP to which it remains connected no matter where it travels in the network. Like a switched  Ethernet port, the Virtual Port eliminates latency, jitter and contention for bandwidth as there is only ever one client on each port. Unlike an Ethernet port, it can be personalized to fit each user or device, giving the network control over client behavior with no proprietary client-side software or extensions necessary.
VoFI ( over

Wi-Fi) or VoWLAN ( over Wireless

LAN)

 over IP links that run over a wireless network. VoIP does not usually require high data rates, but it stresses wireless networks in other ways by demanding low latencies and smooth handoffs. In addition, no 802.11n phones yet exist, as most handsets are too small to accommodate MIMO’s multiple antennas  spaced a wavelength apart. This means that 802.11n networks running VoFI must have a way to deal with 802.11b/g clients.
VLAN Virtual LAN. A logical grouping of devices that enables users on separate networks to communicate with one another as if they were on a single network.
VPN Virtual Private Network. A type of technology designed to increase the security of information transferred over the Internet. VPN can work with either wired or wireless networks, as well as with dial-up connections over POTS. VPN creates a private encrypted tunnel from the end user’s computer, through the local wireless network, through the Internet, all the way to the corporate servers and database.

W

WAN                        Wide Area Network. A communication system of connecting PCs and other computing

devices across a large local, regional, national or international geographic area. Also used to distinguish between phone-based data networks and Wi-Fi. Phone networks are considered WANs and Wi-Fi networks are considered Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs).

WEP                          Wired Equivalent Privacy. Basic wireless security provided by Wi-Fi. In some instances, WEP

may be all a home or small-business user needs to protect wireless data. WEP is available in 40-bit (also called 64-bit), or in 104-bit (also called 128-bit) encryption modes. As 104-bit encryption provides a longer key that takes longer to decode, it can provide better security than basic 40-bit (64-bit) encryption.

Wi-Fi                        Brand name for wireless LANs based on various 802.11 specifications. All products bearing the Wi-Fi logo have been tested for interoperability by the Wi-Fi Alliance, an industry group composing every major 802.11 client and infrastructure vendor.

WLAN                      Wireless LAN. Also referred to as LAN. A type of local-area network that uses high-frequency radio waves rather than wires to communicate between nodes.

WME                        Wireless Multimedia Extension. The Wi-Fi Alliance’s standard for QoS based upon the Enhanced Distribution Coordination Function (EDCF), which is a subset of the IEEE 802.11e specification.

WNC                        Wireless Network Controller. Alternative term for controller.

WSM                        Wi-Fi Scheduled Media. The Wi-Fi Alliance’s emerging standard for QoS that is based upon the HCF portion of the 802.11e standard, which dedicates bandwidth segments to specific data types. WSM is going to have less of a focus in the enterprise space than its WME counterpart.

WPA                        Wi-Fi Protected Access. The Wi-Fi Alliance put together WPA as a data encryption method for 802.11 Wireless LANs. WPA is an industry-supported, pre-standard version of 802.11i utilizing the Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP). WPA will serve until the 802.11i standard is ratified in the third quarter of 2003.

X

X.509                         Created by the International Telecommunications Union Telecommunication Standardization

Sector (ITU-T), X.509 is the most widely used standard for defining digital certificates.