NSE7 Advanced VPN and Zero Trust Practice Question
Which TWO features are required to implement an always-on SSL VPN tunnel with FortiGate that automatically reconnects when the user's network changes?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse DTLS (which improves performance but is optional) with a requirement for always-on connectivity, or they mistakenly think split tunneling is needed for automatic reconnection, when in fact the core requirements are tunnel mode and the auto-connect client setting.
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
✓
Tunnel mode enabled
Tunnel mode is required for an always-on SSL VPN tunnel, as it encapsulates all traffic at the network layer (TUN) and maintains a persistent virtual interface on the client. This allows the VPN to stay active and automatically reconnect when the user's network changes, such as switching from Wi-Fi to cellular, without manual intervention.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Tunnel mode enabled
Why this is correct
Tunnel mode provides a virtual interface for always-on connectivity.
- ✗
DTLS enabled
Why it's wrong here
DTLS improves performance but does not affect reconnection.
- ✓
Auto-connect setting in FortiClient
Why this is correct
Auto-connect in FortiClient ensures the tunnel reconnects automatically when network changes.
- ✗
Web mode portal
Why it's wrong here
Web mode is for clientless access, not tunnel mode.
- ✗
Split tunneling configured
Why it's wrong here
Split tunneling controls routing, not reconnection.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
Go deeper
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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.