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.
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.
Creating filters
You can create local filters that are specific to an element or view, then save them as permanent Filter elements to use globally.

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.
- 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.
  - Getting started with filtering data
    Network traffic can generate a large amount of log data. You can use filters to select data for many operations such as viewing log entries in the Logs view or generating statistical reports.
  - Creating filters
    You can create local filters that are specific to an element or view, then save them as permanent Filter elements to use globally.
    - Basics of constructing filters
      You construct filters using fields, values of the fields, and operations.
    - Creating and editing local filters
      Local filters are valid only in the view or in the element in which they are created.
    - Create local filters
      You can create local filters in various views in the Management Client.
    - Save local filters as permanent Filter elements
      Local filters are specific to the view or element for which they have been created. Saving local filters as permanent Filter elements allows you to apply these filters anywhere in the Management Client.
    - Create or edit Filter elements
      All the permanent Filter elements are stored and can be edited from one view.
    - Add or edit criteria in Filter elements
      You can add new criteria or edit the criteria of Filters that you have created.
    - How missing values are handled in Filter elements
      You can adjust what happens when the Filter element is matched to data that does not contain any value for a field that the filter defines.
  - Organizing Filter elements
    Adding Filter Tags to permanent Filter elements that you create makes it easier to find filters when you want to use them. You can select several Filter Tags for each Filter element that you create.
  - Examples of filters
    These examples illustrate some common uses for filters and general steps on how the scenarios are configured.
- 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

Creating filters

You can create local filters that are specific to an element or view, then save them as permanent Filter elements to use globally.

Basics of constructing filters
You construct filters using fields, values of the fields, and operations.
Creating and editing local filters
Local filters are valid only in the view or in the element in which they are created.
Create local filters
You can create local filters in various views in the Management Client.
Save local filters as permanent Filter elements
Local filters are specific to the view or element for which they have been created. Saving local filters as permanent Filter elements allows you to apply these filters anywhere in the Management Client.
Create or edit Filter elements
All the permanent Filter elements are stored and can be edited from one view.
Add or edit criteria in Filter elements
You can add new criteria or edit the criteria of Filters that you have created.
How missing values are handled in Filter elements
You can adjust what happens when the Filter element is matched to data that does not contain any value for a field that the filter defines.

Related concepts

Creating and editing local filters

Related tasks

Create or edit Filter elements

© 2020 Forcepoint
Published 8 December 2020