How to Configure FortiClient for Secure Remote AccessSecure remote access is essential for modern organizations that support remote work, contractor access, and distributed IT environments. FortiClient is Fortinet’s endpoint security and VPN client that integrates with FortiGate firewalls and FortiGate VPNs to provide secure, authenticated connections, endpoint posture enforcement, and centralized management. This article explains how to configure FortiClient for secure remote access, covering planning, installation, VPN setup (SSL and IPSec), endpoint posture checks, two-factor authentication, centralized management with FortiClient EMS (Endpoint Management Server), and troubleshooting.
1. Planning and prerequisites
Before configuring FortiClient, gather and verify:
- Network and firewall admin access to your FortiGate appliance(s).
- FortiClient installers for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android as needed.
- A FortiGate firmware version compatible with your FortiClient version.
- VPN settings: public IP or FQDN of FortiGate, VPN mode (SSL-VPN or IPSec), authentication method (local, LDAP, RADIUS, SAML).
- Licensing: FortiClient EMS or FortiClient Cloud if you need centralized management and advanced features.
- Certificates (for SSL-VPN or endpoint authentication) — either signed by a trusted CA or self-signed with distribution to clients.
2. Choose VPN type: SSL-VPN vs IPSec
- SSL-VPN — Easier for clientless browser access and SSL-based tunnels; supports web portal, full-tunnel, and split tunneling. Good for remote users behind NAT or restrictive networks.
- IPSec (IKEv2) — Typically offers better performance and is suitable where strict network-level VPN tunnels are required. Strong options for site-to-site and client VPN with native OS integration.
Choose based on user needs, performance, and compatibility. You can offer both and let users select.
3. Configure FortiGate for SSL-VPN (basic steps)
- Sign in to FortiGate GUI (Admin account).
- Configure an SSL-VPN portal:
- Go to VPN > SSL-VPN Portals > Create New. Define portal type (full tunnel vs split tunnel), bookmarks, and DNS/WINS if needed.
- Configure SSL-VPN settings:
- VPN > SSL-VPN Settings. Set the listen interface (usually the WAN interface), server certificate, and authentication methods (Local, LDAP, RADIUS, or SAML). Set the IP range to assign to SSL-VPN clients.
- Create user groups and users in User & Device > User Definition and User Groups. Link to external auth (LDAP/RADIUS) if required.
- Create firewall policies:
- Create an SSL-VPN policy to allow traffic from ssl.root (or the SSL-VPN interface) to the internal networks and apply necessary security profiles (IPS, AV, Web Filtering).
- Configure routing/NAT as needed so VPN client traffic reaches internal resources.
4. Configure FortiGate for IPSec VPN (IKEv2) (basic steps)
- VPN > IPsec Wizard: select Remote Access.
- Select VPN Type: FortiClient or IKEv2 (depending on firmware).
- Configure interface, local gateway (public IP), authentication (pre-shared key or certificates), encryption algorithms (recommend AES-GCM or AES256 with SHA-256), and idle timeout.
- Define IP pools for remote clients or use VTI (virtual tunnel interface) depending on design.
- Create user/group authentication and bind to the VPN.
- Create firewall policies to allow client traffic to internal subnets.
- Optionally configure split tunneling by restricting which networks are routed over the VPN.
5. Install and configure FortiClient on endpoints
- Download the appropriate FortiClient installer from Fortinet’s site or distribute via your software deployment tool. For managed deployments, use FortiClient EMS or FortiClient Cloud installers with provisioning packages.
For manual setup:
- Install FortiClient on the endpoint.
- Open FortiClient > VPN > Add a new connection.
- For SSL-VPN: set connection name, remote gateway (FQDN/IP), port (usually 443), username, and select SSL-VPN. Enter any required settings (split tunnel, port forwarding).
- For IPSec: choose IPSec, enter the gateway, pre-shared key or certificate selection, username, and local ID if needed.
- Test connection and save credentials per company policy.
For managed setups (EMS/FortiClient Cloud):
- Create and push profiles containing VPN settings, certificates, and security posture rules so users don’t need to configure manually.
6. Enforce endpoint posture and security
- Use FortiClient EMS or FortiClient Cloud to enforce:
- Anti-malware and real-time protection enabled.
- Disk encryption status (BitLocker/FileVault).
- OS and application patch levels.
- Firewall settings and necessary services running.
- Configure NAC/posture checks on FortiGate:
- Security Fabric or NAC rules can query EMS for endpoint health. Configure access levels based on posture (full access vs quarantine).
- Set quarantine portal and remediation steps for non-compliant clients (e.g., redirect to update portal).
7. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Implement MFA via:
- RADIUS with an MFA provider (Duo, Okta, etc.).
- SAML IdP integration (Azure AD, Okta) for SSL-VPN web authentication.
- Built-in FortiToken (hardware or mobile token).
- Configure FortiGate user groups to require MFA; test login flows to ensure seamless experience.
8. Certificate management
- For SSL-VPN and client certificates:
- Use certificates signed by a trusted CA to avoid client trust prompts.
- For client certificate authentication, generate client certificates and deploy via EMS or MDM.
- Rotate and revoke certificates regularly; maintain an inventory of issued certificates.
9. Logging, monitoring, and hardening
- Enable logging:
- FortiGate: enable logs for VPN events, authentication, and traffic. Send logs to FortiAnalyzer or syslog for retention and analysis.
- FortiClient EMS: monitor endpoint compliance, connected sessions, and malware events.
- Configure alerts for suspicious activity (multiple failed logins, unusual geographic logins).
- Harden FortiGate:
- Limit management access on the WAN.
- Use strong ciphers (disable weak algorithms like DES, 3DES).
- Enforce minimum TLS versions (TLS 1.2+).
- Keep firmware and FortiClient versions up to date.
10. Performance, split tunneling, and client UX
- Split tunneling reduces bandwidth use on the VPN but may bypass security inspection. Use selectively (e.g., route only corporate subnets over VPN).
- For best performance:
- Use AES-GCM ciphers, enable compression only if appropriate, and size IP pools properly.
- Consider client route metrics and DNS configuration to avoid leaks.
- Provide clear user documentation: connection steps, troubleshooting common errors, how to update FortiClient, and how to request support.
11. Common troubleshooting steps
- Verify connectivity to FortiGate (ping/probe public IP).
- Confirm user credentials and group membership.
- Check certificate validity and trust chain.
- Review FortiGate logs for authentication failures.
- On client: check local firewall, DNS settings, and routes (ipconfig/ifconfig, route print).
- Reproduce with packet captures on FortiGate if needed.
12. Example configuration snippets
- Recommended cryptography for IKEv2 / IPsec:
- IKE: AES256-GCM, SHA256, DH group 19 or 21
- ESP: AES256-GCM, integrity handled by GCM
- SSL-VPN settings:
- TLS 1.2+ minimum, certificate from trusted CA, split tunnel for 10.0.0.0/8 and 192.168.0.0/16 (example), DNS push to 10.1.1.10.
13. Summary
Implementing FortiClient for secure remote access requires planning (VPN type, authentication, certificates), proper FortiGate configuration for SSL-VPN or IPSec, endpoint setup (manual or via EMS), posture enforcement, strong MFA, logging/monitoring, and user guidance. Combining FortiClient EMS with FortiGate’s access controls gives a scalable, secure solution for remote users while allowing granular control and automated remediation.
If you want, I can: provide step-by-step screenshots for a specific FortiGate firmware version, create EMS provisioning profiles, or draft user-facing setup instructions for Windows and macOS. Which would you like next?
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