Vulnerability Scanning for Fortinet Firewalls: Your First Line of Defense

In the world of cyber security, vulnerability scanning is your first line of defense. In particular for Fortinet firewalls, keeping ahead of firewall CVEs is about identifying weaknesses before hackers do. We both know cyber threats do not sit down and wait, so being proactive on scanning is key.

Vulnerability Landscape

The world of vulnerabilities is quickly changing. New firewall CVE reports targeting different Systems (for example, Fortinet Firewalls) are dropped every day. They are security holes attackers love to abuse since they grant full access or isolate services.

So why does this matter?

• — Attackers move fast: Some CVEs are up in live exploit kits within hours.
• — Firewalls guard your whole network: A weakness here leaves everything vulnerable.
• — New vulnerabilities frequently arise: Not a once-and-done solution.

When you conduct regular vulnerability scans, you are essentially searching for these flaws early on. And rather than waiting for an alert that something is amiss, you spot it on your timeframe before damage takes place.

Scan Scheduling

Timing is everything. Once-a-year scanning won’t take you very far. You need to work scanning into your regular routine. Here are some tips:

• Scan frequently: Once a weekly or biweekly is best for mission-critical systems.
• Set scans during off hours: So it won’t slow your network down.
• Automate everything: Have your system scan things itself so you don’t forget.
• Scan for updates: Each time after any firewall firmware or policy update, initiate a scan.

This way, you keep the CVE radar on 24/7. Which means no new threats will slip through your defenses while waiting for the next manual check.

Remediation Workflow

Identifying a loophole is only the beginning. What you do after that is what counts the most. Scans are worthless without a rock-solid remediation workflow.

Here’s an easy one to try out:

1. Prioritize discoveries: All CVEs are not created equal. Focus on the critical and high risks before anything else.
2. Divvy up the work: There should be someone in IT or security who has responsibility for each one of the fixes.
3. Patch and update: Apply Fortinet fixes or patches if available.
4. Validate remedies: Perform additional scans to verify the problem has been resolved.
5. Document your actions: Maintain a log for audits and record keeping purposes.

A well-designed remediation workflow transforms vulnerability scanning from a checkbox into actual protection.

Reporting

Your reports are your friend. They help everyone understand risk and the measures taken to minimize it.

Good reports are:

• Clear and concise: No cluttering with technical details for business leaders.
• Action-oriented: Say what needs to be done.
• Visual: Create eye catching charts and graphs to quickly gain insights.
• Library COMPLIANT: Conform to industry requirements where applicable.

I also suggest scheduling reports for each of these scans. Pass the reports to your cybersecurity staff or decision makers. This keeps everyone on the same page and demonstrates that proactive support is occurring.

Wrapping Up

As with so many things, vulnerability scanning of Fortinet firewalls isn’t just technical. It’s a forward-leaning support approach that catches firewall CVE issues before hackers capitalize on them. By knowing the lay of the land, by scanning early and often, by running a good remediation workflow, and by providing reports at high level, we can build better, safer, more predictable networks.

And when you should be doing constant vulnerability scanning And let me tell you, constant vulnerability scanning is no longer optional. This is the best way to remain a step ahead in today’s threat environment.” Let’s all keep scanning and fixing to protect what matters most.