RAVPN in Fortinet

RAVPN (Remote Access VPN) in Fortinet is a feature provided by Fortinet’s FortiGate firewalls that allows users to securely connect to a corporate network from a remote location. RAVPN facilitates secure access to internal resources, such as applications, files, and network services, for remote users by creating a virtual private network tunnel.

Here’s an overview of RAVPN in Fortinet:

Key Features of Fortinet RAVPN

1. Secure Remote Access:

   • Encryption: Ensures secure communication between remote users and the corporate network using strong encryption methods.
   • Authentication: Supports various authentication mechanisms, including username/password, two-factor authentication (2FA), and integration with external authentication servers.

2. Flexible VPN Protocols:

   • IPsec VPN: Provides robust security using IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) for encrypting data and ensuring secure transmission over the internet.
   • SSL VPN: Allows secure remote access through SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption, often used for web-based applications and services.

3. Client and Device Support:

   • FortiClient: A Fortinet-provided VPN client software that users can install on their devices for connecting to the RAVPN. It supports both Windows and macOS operating systems.
   • Third-Party Clients: Support for various third-party VPN clients, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices and operating systems.

4. Granular Access Control:

   • Policy-Based Access: Allows administrators to define granular access policies, specifying which resources or network segments remote users can access.
   • Group Policies: Enables grouping of users and applying specific policies based on user roles or departments.

5. Integration with Fortinet Ecosystem:

   • FortiAuthenticator: Integrates with FortiAuthenticator for enhanced user authentication and identity management.
   • FortiGate: Works seamlessly with other Fortinet security solutions like FortiGate firewalls, FortiSandbox, and FortiAnalyzer for comprehensive network security.

6. Scalability and Performance:

   • High Availability: Supports high availability configurations to ensure uninterrupted remote access.
   • Load Balancing: Distributes VPN connections across multiple FortiGate devices to optimize performance and prevent bottlenecks.

How to Configure RAVPN in Fortinet

1. Prerequisites:

   • Ensure you have a FortiGate device with the necessary firmware version that supports RAVPN.
   • Install FortiClient on remote user devices, if required.

2. Setting Up IPsec VPN:

   • Create a VPN Tunnel:
     • Go to the FortiGate GUI, navigate to VPN > IPsec Tunnels, and create a new tunnel.
     • Configure the tunnel settings, including IPsec protocol settings, local and remote gateways, and authentication details.
   • Configure Firewall Policies:
     • Set up firewall policies to allow traffic from the VPN to internal resources.
     • Define rules to control access based on source/destination addresses and services.

3. Setting Up SSL VPN:

   • Configure SSL VPN Settings:
     • Go to VPN > SSL-VPN Settings and configure the SSL VPN settings, including the port number, SSL certificate, and virtual IP settings.
   • Create SSL VPN Portal:
     • Set up the SSL VPN portal to define the resources and applications accessible through the SSL VPN.
   • Configure User Access:
     • Define user groups and access permissions for SSL VPN connections.

4. User Authentication:

   • Set Up Authentication Mechanisms:
     • Configure authentication methods, including local authentication, LDAP, RADIUS, or integration with FortiAuthenticator for two-factor authentication.

5. Testing and Monitoring:

   • Test VPN Connections:
     • Verify remote access by connecting through the VPN client and testing access to internal resources.
   • Monitor VPN Activity:
     • Use the FortiGate monitoring tools to track VPN connections, view logs, and troubleshoot any issues.

Example Configuration for SSL VPN

Here’s a simplified example of setting up an SSL VPN on a FortiGate device:

1. Create SSL VPN Settings:

   config vpn ssl settings set servercert "your_ssl_certificate" set tunnel-ip-pools "sslvpn_tunnel_ip_pool" set port 443 end

2. Configure SSL VPN Portal:

   config vpn ssl web portal edit "your_portal_name" set split-tunneling enable set bookmark enable next end

3. Define SSL VPN User Group:

   config user group 
              edit "ssl_vpn_users" 
                       set member "user1" "user2" 
              next 
   end

4. Configure Firewall Policy:

   config firewall policy


   edit 1
set srcintf "ssl.root"
set dstintf "internal"
set srcaddr "all"
set dstaddr "all"
set action accept
set schedule "always"
set service "ALL"
next
end


Benefits of Using Fortinet RAVPN

1. Enhanced Security:

   • Provides secure access to corporate resources using encryption and authentication, protecting data from unauthorized access.

2. User Convenience:

   • Allows remote users to access resources easily from anywhere, improving productivity and flexibility.

3. Comprehensive Control:

   • Offers granular access control and integration with Fortinet’s security ecosystem, ensuring a unified approach to network security.

4. Scalability and Reliability:

   • Supports high availability and load balancing, ensuring that remote access remains reliable and scalable as user demands grow.

In summary, Fortinet RAVPN offers a robust and secure solution for remote access to corporate networks. By leveraging IPsec and SSL VPN technologies, it provides flexible and reliable remote connectivity while integrating seamlessly with the Fortinet security ecosystem. Proper configuration and management of RAVPN can enhance security, user productivity, and network efficiency.