10 Fortigate Geo Blocking Best Practices

Geo blocking is a security measure that can be used to restrict access to certain websites or services based on the geographical location of the user. It is a useful tool for businesses that need to comply with local laws, or for organizations that need to protect their networks from malicious actors.

In this article, we will discuss 10 best practices for implementing geo blocking with Fortigate, a popular firewall solution. We will cover topics such as setting up geo-blocking rules, configuring the Fortigate firewall, and monitoring the effectiveness of the geo-blocking policy.

1. Create a list of countries that are allowed to access your network

Creating a list of countries that are allowed to access your network helps you control who can and cannot access your resources. This is especially important if you have sensitive data or services that should only be available to certain users in specific locations. By creating a whitelist, you can ensure that only the countries you specify will be able to access your network.

Fortigate Geo Blocking also allows you to block traffic from certain countries based on their IP address range. This means that any requests coming from an IP address within the specified country will be blocked before they even reach your network. This provides an additional layer of security by preventing malicious actors from accessing your resources.

2. Configure the Fortigate firewall to block traffic from any other country

The Fortigate firewall can be configured to block traffic from any other country by using the GeoIP database. This database contains IP addresses and their associated countries, allowing the firewall to identify which traffic is coming from outside of a specified region. By blocking all traffic from outside of the desired region, it ensures that only authorized users are able to access the network.

Additionally, configuring the Fortigate firewall to block traffic from any other country also helps protect against malicious actors who may be attempting to gain access to the network. By limiting access to only those within the specified region, it reduces the risk of unauthorized access or data theft.

Configuring the Fortigate firewall to block traffic from any other country is relatively simple. The administrator simply needs to create an access control list (ACL) with the appropriate rules for each country they wish to block. Once this is done, the ACL can then be applied to the firewall policy, ensuring that only traffic from the specified regions is allowed through.

3. Utilize GeoIP databases for accurate IP address location information

GeoIP databases are a great way to accurately determine the geographic location of an IP address. They use a combination of publicly available data sources, such as regional Internet registries and other authoritative sources, to map IP addresses to physical locations. This allows Fortigate Geo Blocking to be more precise in blocking traffic from certain countries or regions.

Using GeoIP databases also helps reduce false positives when blocking traffic. For example, if you want to block all traffic from China, but there is a Chinese user who is traveling abroad, their IP address will not be blocked because it is located outside of China. This ensures that legitimate users are not inadvertently blocked due to inaccurate location information.

4. Set up an alert system to notify you when new IP addresses attempt to connect from blocked countries

The alert system allows you to stay informed of any attempts to connect from blocked countries. This is important because it helps you identify potential malicious activity and take appropriate action. For example, if a new IP address attempts to connect from a country that has been blocked, the alert system will notify you so that you can investigate further.

Setting up an alert system also makes it easier to monitor your network for suspicious activity. By having alerts in place, you can quickly detect any unauthorized access attempts and respond accordingly. Additionally, this type of monitoring can help you identify trends or patterns in attempted connections from blocked countries, which can be used to improve your security posture.

To set up an alert system with Fortigate Geo Blocking, you need to configure the firewall to send out notifications when certain conditions are met. You can specify what types of events should trigger an alert, such as connection attempts from blocked countries, and then configure the notification settings to determine how and where the alert should be sent. Once configured, the alert system will automatically notify you whenever a new IP address attempts to connect from a blocked country.

5. Monitor and review logs regularly to ensure proper geo blocking is in place

Geo blocking is a security measure used to restrict access to certain websites or services based on the geographic location of the user. It can be used to prevent users from accessing content that is not available in their region, or to protect against malicious actors attempting to gain access to sensitive data.

Monitoring and reviewing logs regularly helps ensure that geo blocking rules are being enforced properly. Logs provide visibility into which IP addresses are being blocked, as well as any attempts to bypass the geo blocking rules. This information can then be used to identify potential threats and take corrective action if necessary.

Regularly reviewing logs also allows administrators to adjust geo blocking rules as needed. For example, if an IP address is blocked due to its geographic location but it turns out to be legitimate traffic, the administrator can add the IP address to the whitelist so that it is no longer blocked.

6. Ensure that all remote users connecting to the network have their IP addresses whitelisted

Whitelisting IP addresses helps to ensure that only authorized users can access the network. This is especially important when using Fortigate Geo Blocking, as it allows administrators to control which countries or regions are allowed to connect to the network. By whitelisting specific IP addresses, administrators can be sure that only those with permission will be able to access the network.

The process of whitelisting IP addresses involves creating a list of approved IPs and then configuring the firewall to allow traffic from these IPs while blocking all other traffic. This can be done manually by entering each IP address into the firewall configuration, or it can be automated using scripts or third-party tools.

Once the IP addresses have been whitelisted, they should be regularly monitored to make sure that no unauthorized IPs have been added to the list. Additionally, any changes in the IP addresses should be tracked so that the whitelist can be updated accordingly.

7. Utilize VPNs or other secure tunneling protocols to protect data while traveling over public networks

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a secure tunneling protocol that encrypts data traveling over public networks. This encryption prevents malicious actors from intercepting and accessing the data, as they would not be able to decrypt it without the proper credentials.

Fortigate Geo Blocking can also benefit from using a VPN or other secure tunneling protocols because it allows users to access geo-restricted content. By connecting to a server in another country, users can bypass geographic restrictions and access websites and services that are otherwise blocked in their current location.

Using a VPN or other secure tunneling protocols with Fortigate Geo Blocking also provides an additional layer of security for users. It ensures that all traffic sent through the network is encrypted, making it much more difficult for attackers to gain access to sensitive information. Additionally, it helps protect user privacy by hiding their IP address and preventing third parties from tracking their online activities.

8. Implement two-factor authentication for extra security

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to the login process by requiring users to provide two pieces of evidence that they are who they say they are. This is usually done through a combination of something the user knows, such as a password or PIN, and something the user has, such as a physical token or mobile device. By adding this additional step, it makes it much more difficult for malicious actors to gain access to your network.

When using Fortigate Geo Blocking, 2FA can be used to ensure that only authorized users from specific geographic locations are able to access the network. For example, if you have employees in multiple countries, you could set up 2FA so that each employee must enter their username and password, plus a code sent to their phone number associated with the country they’re located in. This way, even if someone were to guess or steal a user’s credentials, they would still need to have access to the correct phone number in order to log in.

9. Regularly update the GeoIP database to keep up with changes in IP address locations

The GeoIP database is a collection of IP addresses and their associated geographic locations. It’s used to identify the location of an IP address, which can then be used for geo-blocking purposes. By regularly updating the GeoIP database, organizations can ensure that they are blocking access from unwanted locations while still allowing legitimate traffic from trusted sources.

Updating the GeoIP database is relatively simple. Organizations can either manually update the database or use automated tools such as MaxMind’s GeoIP Update service. This service automatically downloads the latest version of the GeoIP database and updates it on a regular basis.

Regularly updating the GeoIP database also helps to reduce false positives. False positives occur when an IP address is incorrectly identified as being from an unwanted location. By keeping the GeoIP database up to date, organizations can minimize the chances of this happening.

10. Test the geo blocking configuration periodically to make sure it is working properly

Testing the geo blocking configuration periodically is important because it ensures that the rules are being applied correctly and that they are up to date. This helps ensure that only authorized users can access the network, while unauthorized users are blocked from accessing sensitive data or resources. Additionally, testing the geo blocking configuration regularly allows administrators to identify any potential issues with the configuration before they become a problem.

To test the geo blocking configuration, administrators should use an IP geolocation service such as MaxMind or ip2location. These services allow administrators to enter an IP address and determine its geographic location. Administrators can then compare this information to the geo blocking rules to make sure they are working properly.

Additionally, administrators should also monitor their logs for any suspicious activity related to geo blocking. If there are any attempts to access restricted resources from outside of the allowed locations, administrators should investigate further to determine if the attempt was malicious or not.