Protect SMB Remote Users with Fortinet Endpoint Protection
Remote employees are often the weak point in SMB security, connecting to networks through consumer-grade routers and potentially infected devices. The solution brief, "Protect SMB Remote Users with Fortinet Endpoint Protection," shows how Fortinet integrates zero-trust access, two-factor authentication, endpoint hygiene scanning, and real-time breach prevention onto one platform. Download the solution brief to see how to secure remote users and protect your business. Contact Miller Industrial Inc. for guidance tailored to your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Fortinet secure remote and hybrid workers for SMBs?
Fortinet secures SMB remote and hybrid workers by combining endpoint protection, secure access, and centralized management into a single, integrated approach.
Key elements include:
1. **Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA) with FortiClient**
- Uses a “never trust, always verify” model.
- Authenticates users and devices per session and continuously checks device posture (patch level, vulnerabilities, etc.).
- Grants access only to specific applications or resources, following a least-privilege approach.
- Reduces the risk of malware and ransomware moving laterally across the network.
2. **Secure remote connectivity beyond traditional VPNs**
- Still supports VPN where needed, but ZTNA avoids routing all traffic through a central VPN gateway.
- Improves performance for geographically dispersed users by connecting them directly to applications while enforcing security policies.
3. **Endpoint hygiene and visibility**
- FortiClient provides endpoint telemetry to FortiGate, including logged-in user ID, applications in use, and unpatched vulnerabilities.
- Risk-based access rules can block or limit network and VPN access if endpoints are missing patches or updates.
- Automated vulnerability scanning and patching help keep devices up to date, even when they are offline.
4. **Off-network web filtering and SaaS control**
- Web filtering policies follow users on and off the corporate network.
- IT can enforce consistent acceptable-use and SaaS access policies without deploying separate web proxies or third-party web-filtering tools.
5. **Two-factor authentication (2FA) with FortiToken Cloud**
- Adds an extra layer of protection for logins from outside the network.
- Supports both physical tokens and mobile push, so users can quickly validate access from their phones.
- Helps reduce the risk from stolen or phished credentials.
6. **Real-time breach and ransomware protection with FortiEDR**
- Detects and blocks exploits, data exfiltration, and ransomware without disrupting normal work.
- Can protect data even on already infected devices by controlling outbound communications and file changes.
- Supports rollback of malicious changes so systems can be restored without full re-imaging.
7. **Threat intelligence and automation with FortiSandbox Cloud**
- Uses dual machine learning models to detect unknown threats.
- Shares threat intelligence across the Fortinet Security Fabric in minutes, not hours or days.
- Supports unlimited submissions and scales as the business grows.
Together, these capabilities help SMBs protect remote users connecting from home offices, consumer-grade routers, and potentially unmanaged devices, while keeping management overhead and cost aligned with SMB realities.
What is FortiClient and how does it improve endpoint security for SMBs?
FortiClient is a unified endpoint agent that combines secure remote access, endpoint visibility, and endpoint protection into one solution designed to fit SMB needs.
Here’s how it helps:
1. **Unified ZTNA and VPN access**
- Provides both ZTNA and traditional VPN in a single client.
- Users can securely access corporate and SaaS applications from any location without manual VPN configuration.
- Single sign-on (SSO) simplifies access so users do not have to log in separately to each application.
2. **Improved security posture through zero trust**
- Uses per-session authentication and continuous device posture checks.
- Grants access only to the specific applications or resources a user needs, reducing the attack surface.
- Access can be revoked in real time if a device becomes non-compliant or compromised.
3. **Endpoint visibility and control for IT**
- Sends endpoint telemetry to FortiGate, including:
- Logged-in user identity
- Applications installed and in use
- Unpatched vulnerabilities
- Enables risk-based (conditional) access rules so IT can allow, limit, or block network and VPN access based on patch status and security posture.
4. **Automated vulnerability scanning and patching**
- Regularly scans endpoints for vulnerabilities.
- Supports automated patching to keep systems current, even when devices are offline.
- Builds an application inventory to help manage software licenses and identify outdated or unwanted applications.
5. **Consistent web security on and off the network**
- Enforces centralized web filtering policies whether users are on the corporate network or remote.
- Integrates with FortiGate to apply the same web and SaaS access policies everywhere.
- Reduces the need for separate web-filtering or proxy solutions.
6. **Tight integration with the Fortinet Security Fabric**
- Can be managed directly from FortiGate NGFW or via FortiClient EMS.
- Shares endpoint data with other Fortinet tools for coordinated detection and response.
- Offers a cost-effective way for SMBs to combine endpoint protection and secure access in one agent.
For SMBs, FortiClient helps reimagine endpoint security from a set of disconnected tools into a single, manageable solution that supports both security and user productivity.
How do FortiEDR and FortiSandbox Cloud protect against advanced threats and ransomware?
FortiEDR and FortiSandbox Cloud are designed to help SMBs handle more advanced and targeted threats without adding a lot of operational overhead.
**FortiEDR: Real-time endpoint detection, protection, and recovery**
1. **Advanced detection and prevention**
- Uses multiple layers of detection, including machine learning and patented code-tracing technology.
- Identifies exploits, suspicious behavior, and ransomware activity in real time.
- Automatically blocks malicious activity to reduce the chance of a successful breach.
2. **Post-infection protection**
- Can protect assets even on devices that are already infected.
- Controls outbound communications and file system modifications to prevent:
- Data exfiltration
- Lateral movement
- Command-and-control (C2) communications
- File tampering and ransomware encryption
3. **Automated incident response and rollback**
- Automates response and remediation steps to contain threats quickly.
- Supports backup and recovery by rolling back malicious changes and restoring systems to a pre-attack state.
- Helps avoid the time and cost of fully re-imaging infected endpoints.
**FortiSandbox Cloud: Threat analysis and intelligence sharing**
1. **Cloud-based sandboxing with dual ML models**
- Analyzes suspicious files and activity in an isolated environment to detect unknown or zero-day threats.
- Uses dual machine learning models to improve detection accuracy.
2. **Scalability and unlimited submissions**
- Delivered as a turnkey Platform-as-a-Service.
- Supports unlimited file submissions and scales with business growth, which is useful as digital footprints expand.
3. **Fast, actionable threat intelligence**
- Updates Fortinet products across the Security Fabric with new threat information in minutes.
- Provides detailed analysis mapped to the MITRE ATT&CK framework.
- Shares indicators of compromise using STIX 2.0, helping align with modern security operations practices.
**Working together for SMBs**
- FortiEDR focuses on protecting endpoints in real time and enabling recovery.
- FortiSandbox Cloud focuses on analyzing new or unknown threats and distributing intelligence quickly.
- Combined with FortiClient, FortiToken Cloud, and FortiGate, they help SMBs reshape their approach to endpoint and remote user security into an integrated, automated system that can adapt as threats and work patterns change.

