The answer is that a firewall policy must also be created in VDOM B to permit the traffic from VDOM A. This is required because inter-VDOM routing on a FortiGate enforces stateful inspection at the boundary of each VDOM, meaning that packets entering VDOM B from the inter-VDOM link must be explicitly allowed by a policy in VDOM B, even if VDOM A already permits the outbound traffic. Without this second policy, the FortiGate drops the packets due to asymmetric policy enforcement, as the return traffic or even the initial forward traffic cannot be processed without a matching rule on the receiving side. On the Fortinet NSE 7 Advanced Security NSE7 exam, this concept tests your understanding that inter-VDOM routing is not a simple router-to-router link but a firewall-to-firewall connection requiring policies on both VDOMs for bidirectional traffic flow. A common trap is assuming one policy suffices, so remember the memory tip: “One VDOM, half the route; both VDOMs, the full commute.”
NSE7 Enterprise Firewall and VDOMs Practice Question
This NSE7 practice question tests your understanding of enterprise firewall and vdoms. 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 network admin configures inter-VDOM routing between two VDOMs on a FortiGate. The admin creates a firewall policy in VDOM A allowing traffic to VDOM B, but traffic is still not passing. What additional step is required?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a firewall policy in VDOM B to permit the traffic from VDOM A
Inter-VDOM routing on a FortiGate requires firewall policies in both VDOMs to permit traffic in both directions. Even if VDOM A has a policy allowing traffic to VDOM B, VDOM B must have a corresponding policy to allow the return traffic or the initial traffic from VDOM A to be processed. Without this, the FortiGate drops the packets due to asymmetric policy enforcement.
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.
✗
Configure a static route in VDOM B pointing back to VDOM A
Why it's wrong here
Routing is needed but not sufficient; the firewall policy in VDOM B must permit the traffic.
✗
Enable inter-VDOM routing under config system global
Why it's wrong here
Inter-VDOM routing is enabled by default; no global command is needed.
✗
Assign the inter-VDOM link to both VDOMs
Why it's wrong here
The inter-VDOM link is automatically created; no assignment needed.
✓
Create a firewall policy in VDOM B to permit the traffic from VDOM A
Why this is correct
Inter-VDOM traffic requires policies on both VDOMs to allow the session. Without the return policy, the session is blocked.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume a single firewall policy in the source VDOM is sufficient, but FortiGate requires policies in both VDOMs for inter-VDOM traffic to pass, mirroring the behavior of separate physical firewalls.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Inter-VDOM routing is enabled by default; no global command is needed.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Inter-VDOM routing uses a virtual link (e.g., 'link-vdom1-vdom2') that acts as a direct Layer 3 connection between VDOMs. Firewall policies in each VDOM must explicitly permit traffic based on source/destination interfaces and addresses; the FortiGate enforces policy in both directions to prevent bypassing security controls. In real-world scenarios, forgetting the return policy is common when traffic is initiated from one VDOM but requires responses or bidirectional flows.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Enterprise Firewall and VDOMs — This question tests Enterprise Firewall and VDOMs — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a firewall policy in VDOM B to permit the traffic from VDOM A — Inter-VDOM routing on a FortiGate requires firewall policies in both VDOMs to permit traffic in both directions. Even if VDOM A has a policy allowing traffic to VDOM B, VDOM B must have a corresponding policy to allow the return traffic or the initial traffic from VDOM A to be processed. Without this, the FortiGate drops the packets due to asymmetric policy enforcement.
What should I do if I get this NSE7 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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