Consistency is vital in network security. In distributed environments, a single firewall drifting from the standard can expose hidden security gaps. This gradual misalignment—known as configuration drift—often happens as sites are tweaked or managed independently over time.
Small changes, like “temporary” rules or rapid fixes, can pile up. Over time, a standardised environment becomes inconsistent, making it difficult to identify weaknesses or maintain compliance. Manual management only increases these risks.
What Causes Configuration Drift?
Configuration drift often results from:
- Emergency Fixes: Urgent needs lead to fast, broad rule changes that are rarely revisited.
- Different Admin Approaches: Each IT admin may apply security policies differently.
- Manual Updates: Making changes device-by-device is slow and prone to errors.
- Staff Turnover: New team members inherit undocumented, site-specific tweaks.
Each instance creates a deviation from your security baseline, making audits and breach investigations significantly more challenging.
FortiManager: Establishing a Single Source of Truth
Centralising control is the only practical way to fight drift. FortiManager acts as your organisation’s policy anchor, ensuring all sites draw from a centrally maintained and standardised configuration.
Simplified Object and Policy Management
Define network objects and policies in FortiManager once. When updates are needed—such as IP changes for a key server—edit the object or rule centrally. FortiManager then automatically pushes updates to every affected device, significantly reducing the need for manual edits and inconsistencies.
Policy Package Templates
FortiManager enables you to create “policy packages” for different environments (e.g., branch, data centre, guest Wi-Fi). Assign the correct template when a new firewall is deployed to enforce consistent rules and standards from the outset. Updates to the templates are automatically cascaded to all relevant sites.
Automation: Reducing Human Error
Automation prevents most issues that cause drift. With FortiManager, scripts can roll out changes network-wide, and workflow approvals ensure all modifications are reviewed before taking effect. This consistency greatly reduces the risk of accidental misconfiguration.
Detecting and Correcting Drift
FortiManager constantly compares live device configs to the central standard. If it detects a deviation, it flags the device as “out of sync.” Admins can then either restore the standard config or incorporate valid local changes into policy templates.
The Cost of Drift in Compliance Audits
Inconsistent configurations make passing security audits far more difficult. Regulators and standards bodies require clear evidence of standardised controls. Configuration drift can lead to audit failures, fines, or forced remediation.
Actionable Insight: Regularly schedule policy audits in FortiManager and use its compliance reports to prove consistency across all sites.
Real-World Examples of Drift Prevention with FortiManager
- Retail Chain: A retailer avoided an outage caused by outdated branch firewall rules by updating policies centrally and pushing changes network-wide in minutes.
- Healthcare Provider: After a quick emergency change was made locally, FortiManager flagged the drift, prompting an immediate review and rapid alignment with corporate policy.
Actionable Insight: Enable notification alerts within FortiManager so administrators can respond to drift as soon as it occurs, minimizing risk windows.
Conclusion: Consistency is Security
Preventing configuration drift isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter. Centralised management with FortiManager simplifies updates, enforces standards, and instantly identifies drift. As your network grows, let automation and centralized control maintain your strong security posture and streamline compliance.