NGFW 6.9 Online Help

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SMC configuration
Security Management Center (SMC) configuration allows you to customize how the SMC components work.
Alert escalation
The SMC can escalate the alerts generated so that notifications are sent to the administrators through multiple channels.

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.
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.
- Administrator accounts
  Administrator accounts define administrator rights and permissions in the SMC.
- Alert escalation
  The SMC can escalate the alerts generated so that notifications are sent to the administrators through multiple channels.
  - Alert escalation and how it works
    Alerts notify you if something unexpected or suspicious happens. It is important for administrators to respond to alerts to maintain the health of the SMC.
  - Creating Alert elements
    You can use one of the predefined Alert elements or define a Custom Alert element.
  - Configure notifications for alerts
    Alert Notifications are ways to send notifications to administrators.
  - Alert Chain elements and how they work
    Alert Chain elements define which notification channels are used to send alert notifications to administrators.
  - Creating Alert Policy elements
    Alert Policies determine the criteria for selecting which alerts generated by various sources are escalated to which Alert Chains.
  - Install Alert Policy elements
    Changes made to Alert Policies or the Alert Chains used by the Alert Policy take effect when you install the Alert Policy on a Domain.
  - Acknowledge active alerts
    New alerts are handled as active alerts until they are acknowledged. To stop alert escalation, you acknowledge active alerts.
  - How custom scripts for alert escalation work
    Before writing a custom alert script, review the following information about the command arguments and script file location.
  - Create SMTP Server elements
    SMTP Server elements define the properties of SMTP servers that you can use, for example, to send email and SMS notifications.
  - Use a script for SMS notification
    You can use a script to send alert notification SMS messages through a third-party tool that forwards the SMS messages to the administrators.
  - SNMP for the SMC Appliance
    SNMP traps and monitoring access can be configured to receive information about the health of the SMC Appliance.
  - Test alerts
    You can test the correct functioning of the alerts by sending a Test Alert.
  - Examples of alert escalation
    These examples show some common uses for alert escalation, and general steps on how each example is configured.
- Domain elements
  Domain elements allow you to restrict which elements are displayed to the administrators in the Management Client and in the optional Web Portal. They also allow you to define in which administrative Domains an administrator has permissions. Configuring Domains requires a special license.
- Setting up the Web Portal
  The Web Portal provides browser-based access to logs, reports, and Policy Snapshots for specific authorized users. The Web Portal is provided by the Web Portal Server, which is an optional component that you can purchase for your SMC.
- Using the Management Client in a web browser
  To avoid installing the full Java-based Management Client on each workstation that an administrator uses, you can run the Management Client in a web browser.
- Management Client downloads from the Management Server
  When the Management Server provides the Management Client for download, administrators can download and install the Management Client from the SMC Downloads page.
- Configuring the Log Server
  You can modify a Log Server element, configure settings for Log Servers, and recertify Log Servers.
- Configuring SMC servers for high availability
  You can install several Management Servers and Log Servers to provide high availability for the SMC.
- Reconfiguring the SMC and NGFW Engines
  You can modify settings for Management Servers, change hardware platforms or the IP addresses used in system communications, change the type of certificate authority, and change the role of NGFW Engines.
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

Alert escalation

The SMC can escalate the alerts generated so that notifications are sent to the administrators through multiple channels.

Alert escalation and how it works
Alerts notify you if something unexpected or suspicious happens. It is important for administrators to respond to alerts to maintain the health of the SMC.
Creating Alert elements
You can use one of the predefined Alert elements or define a Custom Alert element.
Configure notifications for alerts
Alert Notifications are ways to send notifications to administrators.
Alert Chain elements and how they work
Alert Chain elements define which notification channels are used to send alert notifications to administrators.
Creating Alert Policy elements
Alert Policies determine the criteria for selecting which alerts generated by various sources are escalated to which Alert Chains.
Install Alert Policy elements
Changes made to Alert Policies or the Alert Chains used by the Alert Policy take effect when you install the Alert Policy on a Domain.
Acknowledge active alerts
New alerts are handled as active alerts until they are acknowledged. To stop alert escalation, you acknowledge active alerts.
How custom scripts for alert escalation work
Before writing a custom alert script, review the following information about the command arguments and script file location.
Create SMTP Server elements
SMTP Server elements define the properties of SMTP servers that you can use, for example, to send email and SMS notifications.
Use a script for SMS notification
You can use a script to send alert notification SMS messages through a third-party tool that forwards the SMS messages to the administrators.
SNMP for the SMC Appliance
SNMP traps and monitoring access can be configured to receive information about the health of the SMC Appliance.
Test alerts
You can test the correct functioning of the alerts by sending a Test Alert.
Examples of alert escalation
These examples show some common uses for alert escalation, and general steps on how each example is configured.

© 2020 Forcepoint
Published 8 December 2020