NSE7 Advanced Threat Protection Practice Question
Which FortiGate security feature removes potentially malicious active content from files (e.g., macros, scripts) before delivering them to end users?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse 'File Filter' (which blocks file types) with 'Content Disarm and Reconstruction' (which sanitizes file content), or they assume 'Antivirus' handles all file-based threats, not realizing that CDR addresses zero-day macro and script attacks that antivirus signatures may miss.
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
✓
Content Disarm and Reconstruction
Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR) is the correct answer because it specifically removes potentially malicious active content—such as macros, scripts, and embedded objects—from files (e.g., Office documents, PDFs) by stripping the active elements and reconstructing a safe, sanitized version before delivery. Unlike traditional scanning, CDR does not rely on signatures or heuristics; it assumes the file could be malicious and proactively neutralizes threats by rebuilding the file with only safe, static content.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Antivirus
Why it's wrong here
Antivirus detects and blocks known malware signatures; it does not strip macros or scripts from otherwise-delivered files. It is tempting because antivirus handles malicious files, and it would be correct for quarantining a known virus, but content disarmament is the feature that removes active content.
- ✗
Data Leak Prevention
Why it's wrong here
Data Leak Prevention inspects outbound traffic for sensitive data leaving the network; it does not sanitise inbound file content. It is tempting because DLP also examines file contents, and it would be correct when preventing confidential data exfiltration, but content disarmament removes embedded macros and scripts instead.
- ✗
File Filter
Why it's wrong here
File Filter blocks files by type, size or name pattern; it does not strip embedded macros or scripts from otherwise permitted documents. It is tempting because it is the FortiGate feature for controlling file transfers, and it would be the right choice when the requirement is simply to prevent specific file types crossing the perimeter.
- ✓
Content Disarm and Reconstruction
Why this is correct
Content Disarm and Reconstruction strips and rebuilds potentially malicious active content such as macros and scripts from files, delivering sanitised versions to users. Unlike antivirus signature matching, CDR removes the threat regardless of whether the payload is known, satisfying the requirement to eliminate active content before delivery.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.