Which two statements are true regarding certificate-based authentication for ZTNA deployment? (Choose two.)

Which two statements are true regarding certificate-based authentication for ZTNA deployment? (Choose two.)

A. FortiGate signs the client certificate submitted by FortiClient.

B. The default action for empty certificates is block

C. Certificate actions can be configured only on the FortiGate CLI

D. Client certificate configuration is a mandatory component for ZTNA

View Answer

Answer: B, D

Explanation:

Certificate-based authentication is a method of verifying the identity of a device or user by using a digital certificate issued by a trusted authority. For ZTNA deployment, certificate-based authentication is used to ensure that only authorized devices and users can access the protected applications or resources.

B) The default action for empty certificates is block. This is true because ZTNA requires both device and user verification before granting access. If a device does not have a valid certificate issued by the ZTNA CA, it will be blocked by the ZTNA gateway. This prevents unauthorized or compromised devices from accessing the network.

D) Client certificate configuration is a mandatory component for ZTNA. This is true because ZTNA relies on client certificates to identify and authenticate devices. Client certificates are generated by the ZTNA CA and contain the device ID, ZTNA tags, and other information. Client certificates are distributed to devices by the ZTNA management server (such as EMS) and are used to establish a secure connection with the ZTNA gateway.

A) FortiGate signs the client certificate submitted by FortiClient. This is false because FortiGate does not sign the client certificates. The client certificates are signed by the ZTNA CA, which is a separate entity from FortiGate. FortiGate only verifies the client certificates and performs certificate actions based on the ZTNA tags.

C) Certificate actions can be configured only on the FortiGate CLI. This is false because certificate actions can be configured on both the FortiGate GUI and CLI. Certificate actions are the actions that FortiGate takes based on the ZTNA tags in the client certificates. For example, FortiGate can allow, block, or redirect traffic based on the ZTNA tags.

Reference: =

1: Technical Tip: ZTNA for Corporate hosts with SAML authentication and FortiAuthenticator as IDP

2: Zero Trust Network Access – Fortinet