NGFW 6.9 Online Help

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Monitoring
You can use the SMC to monitor system components and third-party devices. You can also view and filter logs, and create Reports from them.
Monitoring third-party devices
The SMC can be configured to log and monitor other manufacturers’ devices in much the same way as SMC components are monitored.

About this Help
This online help was created for Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall (Forcepoint NGFW), version 6.9.0.
Introduction to the Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall solution
Before setting up Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall (Forcepoint NGFW), it is useful to know what the different components do and what engine roles are available.
Deployment
Before you can set up the system and start configuring elements, you must consider how the different SMC components should be positioned and deployed.
Setting up
After deploying the SMC components, you are ready to start using the Management Client and carrying out some of the first configuration tasks.
Monitoring
You can use the SMC to monitor system components and third-party devices. You can also view and filter logs, and create Reports from them.
- Monitoring Forcepoint NGFW components
  You can monitor Forcepoint NGFW components and view system summaries in the Management Client.
- Monitoring third-party devices
  The SMC can be configured to log and monitor other manufacturers’ devices in much the same way as SMC components are monitored.
  - Getting started with monitoring third-party devices
    As well as SMC components, you can monitor third-party devices, with some limitations.
  - Converting logs from third-party devices
    You can set up most external devices to send logs to the Log Server in syslog format.
  - Methods for monitoring third-party device status
    The Log Server can actively probe the status of third-party components using several alternative methods.
  - Configuring Log Servers to monitor third-party devices
    Log Servers can be configured to monitor third-party devices.
  - Activate monitoring of third-party devices
    You can activate status monitoring, log reception, or both for a third-party device.
  - Configuring third-party devices for monitoring
    For any type of monitoring, confirm that the connections between the third-party device and the Log Server are allowed through any possible traffic filtering in your network. When configuring third-party devices for monitoring, be aware of some conditions.
  - Changing the ports for third-party device monitoring
    It is recommended to set your third-party devices to send data to the default ports that the Log Server listens to.
  - Activate or deactivate third-party device monitoring alerts
    You can activate or deactivate the status surveillance feature, which generates an alert if a monitored component’s status remains unknown for 15 minutes.
- Viewing and exporting logged data
  You can view log, alert, and audit entries through the log browsing views. You can view data from SMC servers, all types of engines, and from third-party components that are configured to send data to the SMC.
- Reports
  Reports are summaries of logs and statistics that allow you to combine large amounts of data into an easily viewable form.
- Filtering data
  Filters allow you to select data based on values that it contains. Most frequently, you use filters when viewing logs, but filters can also be used for other tasks, such as exporting logs and selecting data for reports.
- Working with Diagram elements
  Diagrams allow you to visualize your network security environment.
- Incident Case elements
  When suspicious activity is detected, it is important to collect information about the incident and act quickly. The Incident Case element is a tool for investigating incidents of suspicious activity.
Controlling NGFW Engines
You can command and set options for engines through the Management Client or on the engine command line. You can also stop traffic manually.
SMC configuration
Security Management Center (SMC) configuration allows you to customize how the SMC components work.
NGFW Engine configuration
You can create and modify Firewalls, IPS engines, Layer 2 Firewalls, Master NGFW Engines and Virtual NGFW Engines. You can configure the NGFW Engine properties, activate optional features, and configure advanced NGFW Engine settings.
Routing
Use the Management Client to configure static or dynamic routing, and use a Multi-Link configuration to manage and distribute inbound and outbound connections.
Traffic inspection policies
Policies are key elements that contain rules for allowing or blocking network traffic and inspecting the content of traffic.
Users and authentication
User accounts are stored in internal databases or external directory servers. You can use Forcepoint NGFW in the Firewall/VPN role or external authentication servers to authenticate users.
Virtual private networks
Forcepoint NGFW supports both policy-based and route-based VPN (virtual private network) tunnels between VPN gateways. For full remote access, Forcepoint NGFW supports both IPsec and SSL VPN tunnels for VPN clients.
Maintenance and upgrades
Maintenance includes procedures that you do not typically need to do frequently.
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting helps you resolve common problems in the Forcepoint NGFW and SMC.
Appendices

Monitoring third-party devices

The SMC can be configured to log and monitor other manufacturers’ devices in much the same way as SMC components are monitored.

Getting started with monitoring third-party devices
As well as SMC components, you can monitor third-party devices, with some limitations.
Converting logs from third-party devices
You can set up most external devices to send logs to the Log Server in syslog format.
Methods for monitoring third-party device status
The Log Server can actively probe the status of third-party components using several alternative methods.
Configuring Log Servers to monitor third-party devices
Log Servers can be configured to monitor third-party devices.
Activate monitoring of third-party devices
You can activate status monitoring, log reception, or both for a third-party device.
Configuring third-party devices for monitoring
For any type of monitoring, confirm that the connections between the third-party device and the Log Server are allowed through any possible traffic filtering in your network. When configuring third-party devices for monitoring, be aware of some conditions.
Changing the ports for third-party device monitoring
It is recommended to set your third-party devices to send data to the default ports that the Log Server listens to.
Activate or deactivate third-party device monitoring alerts
You can activate or deactivate the status surveillance feature, which generates an alert if a monitored component’s status remains unknown for 15 minutes.

© 2020 Forcepoint
Published 8 December 2020