- A
The web server's certificate is self-signed and FortiGate is rejecting the connection
Why wrong: A certificate error would typically block or warn on the connection, not silently bypass antivirus scanning.
- B
The FortiGuard antivirus subscription has expired
Why wrong: An expired subscription would typically still scan with old signatures, and the symptom would be different — the profile would still attempt scanning.
- C
The antivirus profile is configured for flow-based inspection instead of proxy-based
Why wrong: Both flow and proxy modes can scan HTTPS if SSL inspection is enabled. This is not the root cause.
- D
SSL/TLS deep inspection is not enabled on the firewall policy
HTTPS traffic is encrypted. FortiGate cannot inspect the payload without SSL deep inspection decrypting the TLS session. The antivirus profile requires inspection mode to be enabled.
NSE4 System and Network Administration Practice Question
This NSE4 practice question tests your understanding of system and network administration. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 notices that HTTPS traffic to a web server is not being scanned by the antivirus profile applied to the firewall policy. The admin confirms the policy is correct and antivirus is enabled. What is the MOST likely reason the traffic is not being scanned?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
SSL/TLS deep inspection is not enabled on the firewall policy
Option B is correct because HTTPS uses TLS encryption. Without SSL deep inspection enabled on the policy, FortiGate cannot decrypt and inspect the content of HTTPS traffic. The antivirus profile will only scan unencrypted traffic or traffic where deep inspection has decrypted it first.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The web server's certificate is self-signed and FortiGate is rejecting the connection
Why it's wrong here
A certificate error would typically block or warn on the connection, not silently bypass antivirus scanning.
- ✗
The FortiGuard antivirus subscription has expired
Why it's wrong here
An expired subscription would typically still scan with old signatures, and the symptom would be different — the profile would still attempt scanning.
- ✗
The antivirus profile is configured for flow-based inspection instead of proxy-based
- ✓
SSL/TLS deep inspection is not enabled on the firewall policy
Why this is correct
HTTPS traffic is encrypted. FortiGate cannot inspect the payload without SSL deep inspection decrypting the TLS session. The antivirus profile requires inspection mode to be enabled.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the NSE4 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which NSE4 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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System and Network Administration — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this NSE4 question test?
System and Network Administration — This question tests System and Network Administration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: SSL/TLS deep inspection is not enabled on the firewall policy — Option B is correct because HTTPS uses TLS encryption. Without SSL deep inspection enabled on the policy, FortiGate cannot decrypt and inspect the content of HTTPS traffic. The antivirus profile will only scan unencrypted traffic or traffic where deep inspection has decrypted it first.
What should I do if I get this NSE4 question wrong?
Identify which NSE4 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 →
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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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