Secure Remote Access with FortiGate SSL VPN and MFA: A Step-by-Step Guide

8 August 2024

DESCRIPTION: Learn how to configure FortiGate SSL VPN with SAML and MFA for secure remote access.
Secure Remote Access with FortiGate SSL VPN and MFA: A Step-by-Step Guide

Configuring FortiGate SSL VPN with SAML and MFA

As a sysadmin, you’re probably familiar with the importance of securing remote access to your network. One effective way to do this is by using FortiGate SSL VPN in conjunction with Single Sign-On (SSO) via SAML and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). In this article, we’ll walk through the process of configuring FortiGate SSL VPN with SAML and MFA for secure remote access.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the configuration, make sure you have the following prerequisites:

A FortiGate device with the SSL VPN feature enabled
A SAML Identity Provider (IdP) set up to authenticate users
An MFA solution integrated with your IdP
A FortiGate SSL VPN client installed on remote access devices

Step 1: Configure SAML in FortiGate

To enable SAML authentication in FortiGate, follow these steps:

config system saml
edit "saml-config"
set server-idp "https://example.com/idp" 
set server-cert "path/to/cert"
set assertion-encryption encrypt
next
end

In the above configuration, replace server-idp with the URL of your SAML IdP and server-cert with the path to the certificate of your IdP.

Step 2: Configure MFA in FortiGate

To enable MFA in FortiGate, follow these steps:

config system mfa
edit "mfa-config"
set server-idp "https://example.com/idp" 
set challenge-type "push"
next
end

In the above configuration, replace server-idp with the URL of your SAML IdP and set the challenge type to push for MFA.

Step 3: Configure SSL VPN in FortiGate

To enable SSL VPN in FortiGate, follow these steps:

config system ssl-vpn
edit "ssl-vpn-config"
set tunnel-mode enable
set server-cert "path/to/cert"
next
end

In the above configuration, replace server-cert with the path to the certificate of your SSL VPN.

Conclusion

Configuring FortiGate SSL VPN with SAML and MFA provides a secure remote access solution for your organization. By following these steps, you can enable SSO via SAML and MFA to protect your network from unauthorized access. Remember to replace the placeholders in the configurations with your actual values to ensure a smooth setup process.

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