Quick Answer
The answer is policy-based routing (PBR), which allows you to override the default route and direct VPN traffic through a specific interface like port2. PBR works by matching traffic based on source and destination addresses—in this case, traffic from 10.0.0.0/8 destined for 10.10.0.0/16—and then forcing that traffic out a designated egress interface, bypassing the routing table’s default gateway. On the Fortinet NSE 4 Network Security Professional exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how PBR differs from static routing and policy routes; a common trap is confusing PBR with route-based VPNs, which rely on the routing table alone. Remember that PBR is a “if-then” override: if traffic matches your defined criteria, then send it out the specified interface, regardless of the default route. A helpful memory tip is “PBR picks the port”—it lets you pinpoint the exact egress interface for specific traffic flows.
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.
An organization has multiple remote sites connected via IPsec VPN. The administrator needs to ensure that traffic from the internal network (10.0.0.0/8) to the VPN destination (10.10.0.0/16) uses a specific interface (port2) instead of the default route. Which feature should be configured?
Central NAT
Why wrong: Central NAT controls source/destination NAT, not routing.
Static route with higher distance
Why wrong: A static route would use the routing table, not override it based on source.
Policy-based routing
PBR allows forwarding traffic based on policy criteria, overriding the routing table.
Traffic shaping
Why wrong: Traffic shaping controls bandwidth, not routing.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Policy-based routing
Policy-based routing (PBR) allows you to override the default routing table by matching traffic based on source/destination addresses and directing it to a specific egress interface (port2). This is the correct feature because the requirement is to force traffic from 10.0.0.0/8 to 10.10.0.0/16 out port2, bypassing the default route.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Central NAT
Why it's wrong here
Central NAT controls source/destination NAT, not routing.
Static route with higher distance
Why it's wrong here
A static route would use the routing table, not override it based on source.
Policy-based routing
Why this is correct
PBR allows forwarding traffic based on policy criteria, overriding the routing table.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Traffic shaping
Why it's wrong here
Traffic shaping controls bandwidth, not routing.
Common exam traps
The trap here is confusing policy-based routing with static route manipulation; candidates often think a static route with a higher distance can override the default route, but distance only affects route preference, not the ability to force traffic out a specific interface when a default route with lower distance exists.
Detailed technical explanation
Policy-based routing operates by evaluating traffic against configured policies before consulting the routing table, using a route map or policy route to set the next-hop or output interface. In FortiOS, this is implemented via the 'config router policy' CLI or GUI, where you define match criteria (source/destination) and set the 'set output-device' to port2. A real-world scenario is when you need to send specific traffic over a dedicated MPLS link while keeping internet traffic on the default route.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Firewall Policies and NAT — This question tests Firewall Policies and NAT — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Policy-based routing — Policy-based routing (PBR) allows you to override the default routing table by matching traffic based on source/destination addresses and directing it to a specific egress interface (port2). This is the correct feature because the requirement is to force traffic from 10.0.0.0/8 to 10.10.0.0/16 out port2, bypassing the default route.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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