In an era where cyber threats are growing more sophisticated by the day, securing your business network is crucial. The FortiGate-60F is an ideal solution for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) looking to protect their network against a variety of cyberattacks. This next-generation firewall (NGFW) offers high-speed performance, advanced security features, and user-friendly management, making it a top choice for businesses seeking comprehensive protection.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the process of setting up and using the FortiGate-60F to protect your business network.

What is the FortiGate-60F?

The FortiGate-60F is a compact yet powerful next-generation firewall designed for businesses that require strong protection against modern cyber threats. Equipped with FortiOS, the FortiGate-60F provides high-speed throughput, VPN support, intrusion prevention, web filtering, SSL inspection, and advanced threat protection.

Benefit: The FortiGate-60F offers enterprise-grade security with high-speed performance, ideal for businesses looking for affordable protection.

Step 1: Unbox and Set Up Your FortiGate-60F

Before you start configuring your FortiGate-60F, it’s important to unbox the device and ensure you have the necessary components:

• FortiGate-60F firewall

• Power adapter

• Ethernet cables

• Internet connection

Steps:

1. Power up the device: Connect the power adapter to the FortiGate-60F and plug it into a power source.

2. Connect the network: Use Ethernet cables to connect the WAN port to your internet modem and the LAN port to your internal network or switch.

Benefit: The FortiGate-60F is designed for easy setup, ensuring that you can get started with network security quickly.

Step 2: Access the FortiGate Web Interface

Once the device is powered on and connected to your network, you’ll need to access the web interface to configure the firewall settings.

Steps:

1. Open a web browser on a computer connected to the LAN network.

2. Type http://192.168.1.99 in the address bar and hit Enter.

3. The login page will appear. The default username is admin, and the default password is blank.

Benefit: Web interface access is quick and easy, providing you with a user-friendly dashboard to manage your firewall.

Step 3: Change Default Admin Password

To enhance the security of your FortiGate-60F, it is crucial to change the default admin password to something more secure.

Steps:

1. After logging in, go to System > Admin > Administrators.

2. Click on the admin user and set a new password.

3. Save the new password.

Benefit: Changing the default password helps secure your FortiGate-60F from unauthorized access.

Step 4: Configure WAN and LAN Settings

Now, you need to configure the WAN and LAN interfaces to match your network’s settings. This includes setting up IP addressing and ensuring that internet access is properly routed through the firewall.

Steps:

1. Navigate to Network > Interfaces.

2. Edit the WAN interface to match your ISP settings (e.g., DHCP or static IP).

3. Configure the LAN interface with a static IP address and enable DHCP to automatically assign internal IP addresses to devices.

Benefit: Configuring the WAN and LAN interfaces ensures that internal and external traffic is properly routed and secure.

Step 5: Enable Security Features

The FortiGate-60F comes with a variety of built-in security features that can be enabled for comprehensive protection, such as Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), web filtering, and antivirus scanning.

Steps:

1. Navigate to Security Profiles > IPS and enable it.

2. Enable web filtering to block access to harmful websites.

3. Set up antivirus scanning under Security Profiles > Antivirus.

4. Enable SSL inspection for inspecting encrypted traffic.

Benefit: Enabling these security features ensures that your network is protected against a wide range of threats and vulnerabilities.

Step 6: Set Up Firewall Policies

You’ll need to configure firewall policies that control the traffic flow through the FortiGate-60F. This ensures that only authorized users and devices can access specific resources.

Steps:

1. Navigate to Policy & Objects > IPv4 Policy.

2. Create new policies to allow or block specific traffic based on source and destination IP addresses.

3. Save the policies and activate them.

Benefit: Setting up firewall policies gives you granular control over the traffic that flows in and out of your network.

Step 7: Test the Configuration

After configuring the FortiGate-60F, it’s important to test the setup to ensure everything is working as expected.

Steps:

1. Perform a ping test to check internet connectivity.

2. Verify that firewall policies are working by testing access to specific websites and services.

3. Check the logs for any unusual activity.

Benefit: Testing your configuration ensures that the FortiGate-60F is fully operational and secure.

Conclusion

The FortiGate-60F provides a powerful, scalable, and affordable solution for SMBs looking to protect their networks from evolving cyber threats. With its easy-to-use web interface, advanced security features, and high-speed performance, the FortiGate-60F offers comprehensive protection in just a few simple steps. Whether you are setting it up for the first time or optimizing your existing configuration, following this guide will ensure that your network remains secure and protected from potential attacks.

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