What’s New in FortiClient 5.4
The following is a list of new features and enhancements in FortiClient 5.4.
This document was written for FortiClient (Windows) 5.4.1. Not all features described in this document are supported for FortiClient (Mac OS X) 5.4.1.
FortiClient 5.4.1
The following is a list of new features in FortiClient version 5.4.1.
Endpoint control
FortiClient Telemetry
FortiClient Telemetry is the new name of the connection between FortiClient and FortiGate/EMS. You no longer register FortiClient endpoints to FortiGate/EMS, but connect FortiClient Telemetry to FortiGate/EMS. See FortiClient Telemetry Connection on page 51.
Endpoint compliance
FortiClient includes a Compliance tab that communicates whether FortiClient is connected to FortiGate or EMS and whether the endpoint is compliant.
When connected to FortiGate, the Compliance tab communicates whether FortiClient and the endpoint device are compliant with the compliance rules defined by FortiGate. Endpoint users can view the Compliance tab to review compliance rules and status. Endpoint users can also view information about steps required to remain compliant with the network access rules. See Compliance on page 54.
Picture of endpoint user
FortiClient can now display a small picture of the endpoint user on the Compliance tab. This feature is available when FortiClient is used with EMS, and the feature is enabled in EMS. When enabled, FortiClient uses the picture defined in the Windows operating system on the endpoint device. FortiClient displays no picture when no picture is found in the Windows operating system.
FortiClient Telemetry can also send the picture to FortiGate and EMS.
FortiGate endpoint control
FortiGate 5.4.1 has changed how it manages FortiClient endpoints. Now FortiGate is used to define the compliance rules for NAC in a FortiClient profile, and FortiClient helps to enforce the rules on endpoints. When you use FortiGate to create a FortiClient profile, you define the compliance rules, and you specify how to handle non-compliant FortiClient endpoints. Non-compliant endpoints can be blocked from network access, warned about non-compliance while maintaining network access, or automatically updated to maintain network access.
See About managed mode on page 25.
Improved installation process for FortiClient (Windows)
An upgrade schedule dialog box is displayed in advance when deploying FortiClient from EMS to endpoints running Windows operating system. If no FortiClient is installed on the endpoint, no reboot is required for the installation, and no upgrade schedule dialog box is displayed. The user can postpone the reboot for a maximum of 24 hours. Before the mandatory reboot occurs, a FortiClient dialog box is displayed with a 15 minute warning.
Vulnerability scan
The Vulnerability scan feature requires specific versions of products. If you are using FortiGate, FortiOS 5.4.1 is required. If you are using FortiClient EMS, version 1.0.1 is required.
Vulnerability scan enhancements
Vulnerability scan feature in FortiClient (Windows) can perform a full scan of the endpoint to find any OS,
Microsoft Office, browser and third-party vulnerabilities. FortiClient can then report the vulnerabilities to FortiAnalyzer and Central Management in FortiGate or FortiClient EMS, depending on whether FortiClient is connected to FortiGate or FortiClient EMS. See Vulnerability Scan on page 92.
Vulnerability auto-patching
FortiClient (Windows) supports automatic patching of vulnerabilities where FortiClient will initiate and apply any updates required to resolve detected vulnerabilities and return endpoints to a secure state. See Vulnerability Scan on page 92.
FortiSandbox support for removable media
Files on removable media can now be sent for on-demand FortiSandbox scanning. You can configure FortiSandbox to scan files on removable media by using FortiClient XML. For more information, see the FortiClient XML Reference.
Configurator tool
You can now use the FortiClient Configurator tool to add a Telemetry Gateway IP List to a custom FortiClient installer. See Custom FortiClient Installations on page 110.
FortiClient 5.4.0
The following is a list of new features in FortiClient version 5.4.0.
Antivirus
Advanced Persistent Threats
FortiClient 5.4.0 has enhanced capabilities for the detection of Advanced Persistent Threats (APT). There are two changes added in this respect:
l Botnet Command and Control Communications Detection l FortiSandbox integration (Windows only)
Botnet Communication Detection
Botnets running on compromised systems usually generate outbound network traffic directed towards Command and Control (C&C) servers of their respective owners. The servers may provide updates for the botnet, or commands on actions to execute locally, or on other accessible, remote systems. When the new botnet feature is enabled, FortiClient monitors and compares network traffic with a list of known Command and Control servers. Any such network traffic will be blocked.
FortiSandbox Integration
FortiSandbox offers the capabilities to analyze new, previously unknown and undetected virus samples in realtime. Files sent to it are scanned first, using similar Antivirus (AV) engine and signatures as are available on the FortiOS and FortiClient. If the file is not detected but is an executable file, it is run (sandboxed) in a Microsoft Windows virtual machine (VM) and monitored. The file is given a rating or score based on its activities and behavior in the VM.
FortiClient integration with FortiSandbox allows users to submit files to FortiSandbox for automatic scanning. When configured, FortiClient will send supported files downloaded over the internet to FortiSandbox if they cannot be detected by the local, real-time scanning. Access to the downloaded file is blocked until the scanning result is returned.
As FortiSandbox receives files for scanning from various sources, it collects and generates AV signatures for such samples. FortiClient periodically downloads the latest AV signatures from the FortiSandbox, and applies them locally to all real-time and on-demand AV scanning.
Enhanced Real-Time Protection Implementation
The Real-Time Protection (RTP) or on-access feature in FortiClient uses tight integration with Microsoft Windows to monitor files locally, or over a network file system, as they are being downloaded, saved, run, copied, renamed, opened, or written to. The FortiClient driver coupling with Windows has been re-written to use modern APIs provided by Microsoft. All basic features remain the same, with a few minor differences in behavior. Some noticeable performance enhancements could be observed in various use case scenarios.
Web Filtering
Web Browser Usage and Duration
If configured, FortiClient will record detailed information about the user’s web browser activities, such as:
l A history of websites visited by the user (as shown in regular web browser history) l An estimate of the duration or length of stay on the website.
These logs are sent to FortiAnalyzer, if configured. With FortiAnalyzer 5.4.0 or newer, the FortiClient logs sent from various endpoints may be viewed in FortiView.
VPN
Authorized Machine Detection
For enterprises where new computers may be brought into the organization by employees, FortiClient can be configured to check or identify the computer before allowing it to establish IPsec VPN or SSL VPN connections to the FortiGate. The administrator may configure restrictions with one or more of the following:
l Registry check: Ensure a specific registry path contains a predetermined value l File check: Verify the existence of a specific file at a specified location l Application check: Ensure that a specific application is installed and running
The verification criteria can be configured using advanced FortiClient XML configurations on the FortiGate or FortiClient Enterprise Management Server (EMS).
New SSL VPN Windows driver
The FortiClient SSL VPN driver pppop.sys was re-written to use the latest Microsoft recommended CoNDIS WAN driver model. The new driver is selected when FortiClient is installed on Windows 7 or newer. The SSL VPN driver included in the previous versions of FortiClient will still be maintained.
New IPsec VPN Windows drivers
FortiClient IPsec VPN drivers have been updated to support Microsoft Windows NDIS 6.3 specification. The new drivers are compatible with Microsoft Windows 8.1 or newer.
Support for DTLS
FortiClient SSL VPN connections to FortiGate now support Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) by using User Datagram Protocol (UDP) as the transport protocol. Previously FortiClient SSL VPN connections supported only Transport Control Protocol (TCP). You can now use FortiGate to configure SSL VPN connections that use DTLS. You cannot use FortiClient to configure SSL VPN connections that use DTLS. When FortiClient endpoints use a DTLS-enabled SSL VPN connection with FortiGate, and FortiGate communicates DTLS support, FortiClient uses DTLS via UDP. If DTLS fails, FortiClient will fall back to use TLS to establish an SSL VPN connection.