NSE7 Advanced Threat Protection Practice Question
A FortiGate administrator wants to prevent users from accessing a list of known malicious domains. The list is updated daily by a third-party provider and available as a plain text file over HTTPS. Which FortiGate feature should be used to ingest and block these domains?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse FortiGuard's built-in DNS categories with the ability to import custom external lists, which requires the External Threat Feed connector.
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
✓
External Threat Feed connector
The External Threat Feed connector is designed to import IP or domain lists from external HTTP/HTTPS sources and keep them updated. It creates a dynamic object that can be referenced in policies, providing automated blocking. The other options are either static or tied to Fortinet's own categorization, and cannot ingest a custom third-party list automatically.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
FortiGuard DNS Filter with custom categories
Why it's wrong here
FortiGuard DNS Filter uses Fortinet's categorized database and does not allow importing custom domain lists from third-party sources. While it can block known malicious domains, it cannot be customized to include an arbitrary external list. The scenario requires ingesting a specific third-party list, which this feature does not support.
- ✓
External Threat Feed connector
Why this is correct
The External Threat Feed connector can fetch a plain text list of domains from an HTTPS URL and create a dynamic address object. This object can then be used in a DNS filter or firewall policy to block access. It supports automatic updates at configured intervals, exactly matching the requirement for daily updates from a third-party provider.
- ✗
Static DNS zone with blackhole
Why it's wrong here
A static DNS zone can be used to override specific domains, but it requires manual entry and does not support automatic updates from an external file. The scenario involves a list that changes daily, so manual maintenance is impractical. This option does not provide the required automation.
- ✗
FortiGate local domain blocklist
Why it's wrong here
A local domain blocklist is a static list configured on the FortiGate. It does not automatically refresh from an external source. While it can block domains, it would need to be manually updated each time the third-party list changes, which is not feasible for daily updates. The External Threat Feed connector is the appropriate automated solution.
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About these practice questions
This NSE7 question is part of Courseiva's 718-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Fortinet exam blueprint
This NSE7 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 NSE7 exam.