The answer is that the service must be configured to include HTTP and HTTPS. This is correct because a firewall policy in FortiGate uses the service object to match specific traffic types; without defining HTTP and HTTPS as the service, the policy will not recognize the traffic, and security profiles such as antivirus and web filter cannot be applied. On the Fortinet NSE 4 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how firewall policies and security profiles interact—specifically that inspection mode (proxy-based or flow-based) must be enabled and the correct profiles selected, but the service object is the critical first step to ensure traffic matches the policy. A common trap is assuming that simply enabling security profiles on a policy is enough, but the policy must first match the traffic via the correct service definition. Memory tip: "Match the service, then inspect the traffic"—the service object is the gatekeeper that lets the profiles do their job.
NSE4 Firewall Policies and NAT Practice Question
This NSE4 practice question tests your understanding of firewall policies and nat. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A FortiGate admin is creating a firewall policy to allow outbound HTTP and HTTPS traffic from the internal network. The admin wants to ensure that traffic is inspected by security profiles (antivirus, web filter). Which THREE of the following must be configured on the firewall policy to achieve this?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Set the action to ACCEPT
To inspect traffic with security profiles, the admin must enable inspection mode (proxy-based or flow-based), select the appropriate security profiles, and ensure that traffic matches the policy (correct source/destination). The service object for HTTP and HTTPS is needed to match the traffic.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Set the action to ACCEPT
Why this is correct
Action must be ACCEPT to allow traffic; DENY would block it.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Set the schedule to always
Why it's wrong here
Schedule is not required for inspection; it controls when the policy is active.
✓
Apply an antivirus profile and a web filter profile to the policy
Why this is correct
Security profiles perform the inspection.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✓
Configure the service to include HTTP and HTTPS
Why this is correct
Service object matches the traffic so that the policy applies to HTTP/HTTPS only.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Enable NAT on the policy
Why it's wrong here
NAT is not required for security inspection; it is for source address translation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related NSE4 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Firewall Policies and NAT — This question tests Firewall Policies and NAT — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set the action to ACCEPT — To inspect traffic with security profiles, the admin must enable inspection mode (proxy-based or flow-based), select the appropriate security profiles, and ensure that traffic matches the policy (correct source/destination). The service object for HTTP and HTTPS is needed to match the traffic.
What should I do if I get this NSE4 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related NSE4 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. An admin needs to allow outbound HTTP and HTTPS traffic from the internal network to the internet. Which two built-in service objects can be used in a single firewall policy to achieve this?
easy
A.WEB and SSL
B.ANY and HTTPS
C.ALL_TCP and ALL_UDP
✓ D.HTTP and HTTPS
Why D: FortiGate provides predefined service objects for common protocols. HTTP (TCP/80) and HTTPS (TCP/443) are separate objects. To allow both, you can either create a service group containing both or add both individually. The question asks for two built-in service objects that together cover both protocols.
Variation 2. A network admin has configured a firewall policy allowing traffic from the 'internal' zone to the 'external' zone. The policy uses a service object 'HTTP' (TCP/80). Users report they can access HTTP websites but not HTTPS. The admin confirms no other policies block HTTPS. What is the most likely cause?
medium
A.The FortiGate needs to perform SSL inspection on HTTPS traffic
B.There is a policy ordering issue; a later policy might block HTTPS
✓ C.HTTPS traffic is being dropped by implicit deny because no policy matches it
D.The service object 'HTTP' also includes TCP/443 by default
Why C: The policy only permits HTTP (TCP/80). HTTPS uses TCP/443, which is not allowed unless a separate service is defined.
Variation 3. A network admin configures a firewall policy allowing HTTP traffic from internal users to an external web server. The policy uses a service object 'HTTP' defined as TCP/80. However, users cannot reach the server. What is the MOST likely cause?
medium
✓ A.The external web server is using HTTPS (TCP/443) instead of HTTP
B.The source address object does not include the users' subnet
C.The policy order is wrong; the policy is placed after a deny-all policy
D.The interface is set to the wrong zone
Why A: The service object 'HTTP' is defined as TCP/80, but HTTPS uses TCP/443. The web server is likely expecting HTTPS on TCP/443. The policy should allow TCP/443.
Variation 4. An admin creates a firewall policy allowing HTTP traffic from internal users to the internet. Users complain that they cannot access HTTPS websites. The admin checks and sees that the policy only has HTTP service. What is the BEST course of action to allow HTTPS while maintaining security?
medium
A.Create a new policy above the existing one with HTTPS service
✓ B.Add the HTTPS service to the existing policy
C.Use a security policy that automatically adds HTTPS
D.Change the HTTP service to ALL services
Why B: The simplest and most secure approach is to add the HTTPS service to the existing policy, as it is a common web protocol.
Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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This NSE4 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Fortinet certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the NSE4 exam.
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