How can administrators limit access to the FortiGate management interface?

Limiting access to the FortiGate management interface is crucial for maintaining the security of the firewall and the network it protects. The most effective way to achieve this is by configuring administrative access policies and applying security measures like IP restrictions. This method allows administrators to specify which IP addresses are permitted to access the management interface, thus reducing the attack surface significantly. By restricting access to certain trusted IP ranges, administrators can prevent unauthorized users from even attempting to log in to the interface, which is a proactive and effective security measure.

While other options such as user account expirations, enabling multi-factor authentication, and adjusting password complexity requirements contribute to the overall security strategy, they do not directly control access in the same stringent manner as IP restrictions do. For instance, user account expirations are useful for terminating access after a certain period, but they do not prevent access prior to the expiration. Multi-factor authentication enhances security by requiring additional verification steps, making it harder for unauthorized users to gain access if they have user credentials. Similarly, adjusting password complexity requirements ensures that passwords are more secure but does not limit who can access the interface.

Therefore, utilizing administrative access policies with IP restrictions is a fundamental step that provides a strong layer of security by directly managing who can attempt to