Fortinet NSE7_OTS-7.2 Exam Dumps & Practice Test Questions

Question 1:

FortiGate firewalls can operate in different deployment modes, including passive setups where the device does not sit directly in the traffic path. In a scenario where FortiGate is configured as an Offline Intrusion Detection System (IDS), it monitors network traffic by receiving copies rather than handling the live traffic flow.

Which two statements correctly describe how FortiGate behaves in this Offline IDS mode? (Select two.)

A. FortiGate processes and forwards live network traffic as part of the main data path.
B. FortiGate can detect threats and actively block malicious traffic.
C. FortiGate operates as a passive sensor analyzing mirrored network traffic for threats.
D. FortiGate obtains traffic via port mirroring configured on network switches or routers.

Correct Answers: C, D

Explanation:

When FortiGate is deployed in Offline IDS mode, it functions in a passive capacity rather than actively forwarding or filtering traffic. This mode is distinct from the inline or active modes (such as IPS) where FortiGate inspects and can block network traffic as it passes through the firewall.

Key operational points:

• Passive Monitoring: FortiGate receives a copy of the traffic via port mirroring, often configured on a switch or router’s SPAN (Switched Port Analyzer) port. This mirrored traffic is a duplicate of the live packets but does not pass through the FortiGate itself.

• Because FortiGate is not inline, it cannot forward or route live traffic (eliminating option A). The device is effectively "listening" to network conversations without impacting their flow.

• In offline IDS mode, FortiGate analyzes the mirrored packets for security threats by using signature-based detection, protocol analysis, and anomaly detection. However, it cannot block or prevent attacks because it has no control over the actual data path (ruling out option B).

• The FortiGate logs alerts and suspicious activity, which administrators can review to understand and mitigate threats manually or update inline policies elsewhere.
  
  

Therefore, FortiGate’s role in offline IDS mode aligns perfectly with options C and D: it functions as a network sensor and receives traffic via port mirroring from a switch or router.

This setup is ideal for organizations wanting to monitor and detect threats without risking network disruptions that might occur with inline deployments.

Question 2:

You are managing an Operational Technology (OT) environment secured by multiple FortiGate firewalls deployed across different levels of the Purdue Enterprise Reference Architecture (PERA) model. Your task is to improve network visibility by identifying and analyzing industrial control system (ICS) protocols like Modbus, DNP3, OPC UA, and BACnet, which are essential for communication between PLCs and other OT devices.

Which FortiGate feature should you enable to deeply inspect these protocols and detect anomalies within the OT traffic?

A. Antivirus scanning
B. Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
C. Application Control
D. Deep Packet Inspection (DPI)

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

In OT networks following the Purdue model, specialized protocols like Modbus, DNP3, OPC UA, and BACnet are used extensively for controlling and monitoring industrial processes. These protocols often lack encryption or authentication and may use non-standard ports, exposing the network to risks such as unauthorized commands or protocol manipulation.

To maintain security and operational continuity, it's critical to have granular visibility into this OT traffic—not just at the packet header level but down to the payload content. This is where Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) plays a crucial role.

What DPI Does:

• DPI inspects the entire contents of network packets, including headers and payloads.

• It can identify and classify ICS protocols based on the actual data rather than just port numbers, enabling accurate detection of Modbus, DNP3, BACnet, and other protocol traffic.

• DPI can parse protocol commands and monitor their sequence, helping detect anomalies, unauthorized write operations, or commands that may indicate cyber-attacks or configuration errors.

• This detailed inspection supports applying precise security policies tailored to OT traffic, enhancing threat detection and regulatory compliance.

Why Other Options Are Less Effective:

• Antivirus scanning (A) primarily targets file-based malware signatures in typical enterprise protocols, not ICS protocol analysis.

• IPS (B) is important for threat prevention but relies on DPI to decode complex OT protocols before it can identify malicious patterns. IPS alone does not provide the deep insight into ICS protocols.

• Application Control (C) manages general application traffic but does not parse or understand low-level industrial protocols effectively.

By enabling DPI on FortiGate devices deployed at various Purdue levels, network administrators gain critical insight into OT traffic, improving threat detection and maintaining system reliability. DPI helps enforce zero-trust policies, supports standards like IEC 62443, and safeguards critical industrial environments.

Question 3:

As a security analyst managing an Operational Technology (OT) network using FortiSIEM, you notice multiple unusual activities and possible security breaches over the last day. Your task is to analyze these incidents thoroughly to find their source, nature, severity, and effects. 

Which three FortiSIEM modules or views would you primarily use to gather the most useful information for your investigation? (Select three.)

A. Risk – Displays assets and users ranked by risk levels calculated from correlated security events.
B. IPS – Shows intrusion prevention system alerts and network threat detections.
C. List – Provides detailed, searchable logs and event data with filtering capabilities.
D. Security – Highlights security incidents, anomalies, and triggered alerts related to attacks.
E. Overview – Gives a high-level summary of system health and performance metrics.

Correct Answers: A, C, D

Explanation:

When investigating security events in a sensitive OT environment, FortiSIEM’s ability to deliver comprehensive, contextual insights is essential. The three most valuable views for this purpose are the Risk, List, and Security modules.

The Risk view (Option A) provides a prioritized perspective of your assets and users based on calculated risk scores. These scores are derived from correlating various security events and behavioral patterns. In OT settings, where critical devices like PLCs and SCADA systems must be closely guarded, this view helps analysts quickly focus on the most vulnerable or suspicious entities, improving response times and resource allocation.

The List view (Option C) is a core forensic tool allowing access to detailed logs and raw event data. Analysts can filter events by type, source, destination, or severity to pinpoint anomalies such as unauthorized logins or suspicious device communications. This granular data is critical for reconstructing attack timelines, understanding event sequences, and performing root cause analysis.

The Security view (Option D) focuses on security-specific incidents, including detected threats, attack signatures, and abnormal behaviors. This dashboard consolidates alerts across the network and provides context for determining whether recent events represent isolated anomalies or coordinated attacks. For example, a spike in OT protocol scans or unusual access attempts would be flagged here, enabling swift prioritization and mitigation.

Options B and E are less suited for detailed investigations. The IPS data (Option B) might be integrated but is not a dedicated FortiSIEM investigative view. The Overview tab (Option E) provides general health and status information but lacks the depth needed for incident response.

Together, the Risk, List, and Security views give a layered approach: prioritizing threats, drilling down into specifics, and correlating events for a holistic investigation of OT incidents.

Question 4:

An OT network administrator has configured Fortinet Single Sign-On (FSSO) alongside local firewall authentication on a FortiGate device. During testing, a user from a particular group is not prompted to enter login credentials, contrary to expectations. 

What is the most plausible explanation for this behavior?

A. Two-factor authentication has not been set up with the RADIUS method.
B. The user’s identity was resolved through Fortinet Security Fabric integration.
C. FortiGate recognized the user automatically using FSSO’s passive authentication.
D. FortiNAC identified the user via DHCP fingerprinting.

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

This scenario involves FortiGate configured with both Fortinet Single Sign-On (FSSO) and local firewall authentication. The unusual behavior is that the user is not prompted for credentials during access, which suggests an automatic recognition mechanism is in play.

FSSO enables FortiGate to seamlessly identify users by leveraging their existing authenticated sessions on a Windows domain. When a user logs into their Windows machine, FSSO captures the username and associates it with the device’s IP address. FortiGate then uses this information to authenticate the user passively—without requiring additional login prompts.

This passive authentication (Option C) is designed to reduce friction in user experience, especially in environments like OT networks where continuous and uninterrupted access is crucial for operational stability. Because the user is already authenticated at the domain level, FortiGate trusts this identity and grants access automatically.

Option A (lack of two-factor authentication) does not explain the lack of a credential prompt because two-factor authentication adds a security layer but doesn’t cause silent login. Option B references Security Fabric integration, which shares threat intelligence but doesn’t handle user authentication. Option D mentions FortiNAC’s DHCP fingerprinting, which profiles devices rather than authenticating users, so it’s unrelated to the observed behavior.

Thus, the most reasonable explanation is that FortiGate uses FSSO’s passive authentication to identify the user without prompting for credentials, streamlining access while maintaining security.

Question 5:

An organization managing several Industrial Control System (ICS) networks uses a single FortiGate firewall and activates the multi-VDOM feature to isolate each network in its own virtual domain. 

To guarantee sufficient security protection for all ICS networks under this multi-VDOM setup, which statement best describes the correct configuration approach?

A. Every traffic VDOM must establish a direct connection to FortiGuard services for security updates.
B. The management VDOM must have access to all global security services.
C. Each VDOM requires its own individual security license.
D. Traffic between VDOMs must be routed through physical interfaces on the FortiGate to detect security threats.

Answer: B

Explanation:

FortiGate’s multi-VDOM (Virtual Domain) functionality allows a single firewall device to be partitioned into multiple virtual firewalls, each with independent security policies, routing, and configurations. This is highly advantageous when managing several isolated ICS networks on one physical device, as it maintains strict segmentation while simplifying infrastructure.

In this multi-VDOM environment, the management VDOM plays a critical central role. It is responsible for managing global configurations, licensing, and importantly, connecting to Fortinet’s FortiGuard services—Fortinet’s threat intelligence platform that provides real-time updates like antivirus definitions, intrusion prevention signatures, and web filtering data.

Centralizing FortiGuard connectivity within the management VDOM means that security updates are pulled once and then distributed internally to all traffic VDOMs. This centralized update model ensures uniform and timely application of threat intelligence across every ICS network, improving security posture and reducing administrative complexity.

Option B correctly states that the management VDOM must have access to all global security services. This is essential to guarantee that all VDOMs remain up to date with the latest threat information and protection mechanisms.

The other options are incorrect for these reasons:

• A is wrong because traffic VDOMs do not need individual FortiGuard connections; updates are centralized through the management VDOM.

• C is inaccurate since licensing generally applies to the entire FortiGate device, not each VDOM separately. Licensing covers the total number of VDOMs supported rather than requiring individual licenses per VDOM.

• D is false because traffic between VDOMs can be handled internally via inter-VDOM links without passing through physical interfaces, maintaining both security and efficiency.

In summary, centralizing security updates via the management VDOM ensures consistent and effective protection for all ICS networks using FortiGate’s multi-VDOM configuration.

Question 6:

Which FortiOS feature allows you to inspect SSL-encrypted traffic without causing certificate errors on client devices?

A. SSL deep inspection with Certificate Inspection
B. SSL deep inspection with SSL Inspection using a trusted CA certificate
C. SSL Certificate Bypass
D. SSL offloading on the FortiGate

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

The Fortinet NSE7_OTS-7 exam tests your knowledge of securing network traffic using FortiGate devices, including SSL/TLS inspection.

SSL deep inspection is crucial for inspecting encrypted traffic to detect hidden threats. FortiGate can decrypt SSL/TLS traffic and inspect the contents for malicious activity before re-encrypting it and sending it to the destination. However, for this process to work seamlessly, client devices must trust the FortiGate device’s certificate, or they will raise certificate errors.

• Option A suggests “Certificate Inspection,” which generally means only inspecting certificates without decrypting traffic, so it’s not sufficient for deep inspection.

• Option B is correct because it describes configuring SSL deep inspection using a trusted CA certificate installed on the client devices. FortiGate generates a certificate on the fly signed by this trusted CA to intercept and inspect the encrypted traffic without triggering certificate warnings.

• Option C, SSL Certificate Bypass, means skipping inspection for certain certificates or hosts, which does not meet the requirement of inspecting traffic without errors.

• Option D, SSL offloading, usually means terminating SSL on the FortiGate and forwarding unencrypted traffic internally, but this is not about avoiding certificate errors on clients when inspecting traffic.

Understanding how FortiGate handles SSL deep inspection and the importance of trusted CA certificates installed on client devices is key for the NSE7_OTS-7 exam, ensuring encrypted traffic can be inspected without user disruption.

Question 7:

What is the primary benefit of enabling session TTL (Time-To-Live) adjustment in FortiOS firewall policies?

A. To extend session lifetimes indefinitely
B. To prevent premature session termination and improve application stability
C. To force immediate session expiration after a specific time
D. To monitor session activity without affecting session duration

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

The session TTL (Time-To-Live) setting in FortiOS controls how long a session remains active before FortiGate considers it expired and deletes it. This is critical in maintaining stable network connections for various applications.

• Option A is incorrect because FortiOS does not allow sessions to live indefinitely; sessions need to expire to free resources and maintain security.

• Option B is correct because adjusting the session TTL helps prevent premature session termination. Some applications keep long-lived connections or periodic keep-alives, and if the TTL is too short, FortiGate might prematurely drop sessions, causing disruptions or failures.

• Option C is false since forcing immediate expiration after a specific time is rarely useful and would cause session instability.

• Option D is incorrect as TTL directly affects session duration, not just monitoring.

Properly tuning session TTL ensures that FortiGate maintains sessions long enough to support stable communication without unnecessary session drops, improving application performance and user experience. This is especially important in environments running VoIP, video conferencing, or long-lived database connections.

Question 8:

Which FortiGate feature can automatically detect and block botnet communication attempts in the network?

A. FortiGuard Antivirus
B. Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
C. Botnet IP/Domain Filtering
D. Web Filtering Profiles

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

Botnets are networks of compromised devices controlled by attackers for malicious purposes such as DDoS, spam, or data theft. Detecting and blocking botnet communication is critical to prevent these threats.

• Option A, FortiGuard Antivirus, primarily focuses on detecting malware on files and endpoints, not network-level botnet communication.

• Option B, Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), can detect network attacks and exploit signatures, but while IPS can identify suspicious activity, it’s not specialized for botnet traffic detection.

• Option C, Botnet IP/Domain Filtering, is the correct answer. FortiGate can leverage FortiGuard Botnet IP and domain reputation feeds to automatically identify and block known botnet Command & Control (C&C) servers and infected hosts attempting to communicate with these servers. This feature uses reputation intelligence to prevent infected machines from participating in botnet activity.

• Option D, Web Filtering Profiles, control user access to websites but do not specifically block botnet communications.

For the NSE7_OTS-7 exam, understanding how FortiGate uses threat intelligence, such as botnet filtering, to enhance network security is essential. Botnet IP/domain filtering is an automated, effective layer of defense against botnet traffic in modern networks.

Question 9:

Which FortiOS CLI command would you use to verify the current firewall policy hit counts and identify whether traffic is being allowed or denied by specific policies?

A. diagnose firewall iprope lookup
B. get firewall policy
C. diagnose firewall policy list
D. get system performance top

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

When troubleshooting FortiGate firewall policies, it is important to verify which policies are actively processing traffic and whether the traffic is permitted or blocked. The CLI command diagnose firewall policy list provides a detailed overview of all configured firewall policies, including their hit counts, action (allow/deny), source/destination interfaces, and services.

The hit count is particularly useful because it shows how often a policy has matched traffic since the last reboot or statistics reset. This helps administrators quickly identify which policies are actively being used and can aid in diagnosing issues such as traffic being blocked unexpectedly or not matching any policy.

Option A, diagnose firewall iprope lookup, is a command used for debugging the internal packet processing path but does not summarize policy hit counts.

Option B, get firewall policy, does not exist in the FortiOS CLI.

Option D, get system performance top, displays CPU and memory usage statistics but is unrelated to firewall policy specifics.

Understanding and using diagnose firewall policy list enables network engineers to troubleshoot issues efficiently by correlating firewall rules with actual traffic flow, making option C the correct choice.

Question 10:

During a FortiGate SSL VPN connection troubleshooting session, which log or diagnostic tool provides the best insight into authentication failures and session establishment problems?

A. diagnose debug application sslvpn -1
B. get vpn ssl monitor
C. diagnose debug flow trace start 100
D. show vpn ssl settings

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

SSL VPN troubleshooting often revolves around authentication failures and session establishment issues. To gain detailed insights, FortiGate offers debugging commands specifically targeting the SSL VPN subsystem.

The command diagnose debug application sslvpn -1 enables verbose debug logging for SSL VPN processes, including authentication attempts, certificate validation, tunnel establishment, and error messages. This allows administrators to capture real-time detailed logs that reveal why an SSL VPN session might be failing, such as invalid credentials, expired certificates, or configuration mismatches.

Option B, get vpn ssl monitor, shows an overview of currently connected SSL VPN sessions but does not provide detailed failure diagnostics.

Option C, diagnose debug flow trace start 100, is a powerful command for tracing packet flows through the FortiGate firewall but is more general and less focused on SSL VPN specifics.

Option D, show vpn ssl settings, only displays the current SSL VPN configuration, which is useful for verification but not for real-time troubleshooting of connection problems.

Thus, enabling detailed SSL VPN debug logs with option A is the best method to diagnose authentication and session issues in FortiGate SSL VPN environments.