Review FortiGate system event logs for administrator logins and configuration activity, then validate anything unusual against approved changes and your normal access patterns. A failed login, unfamiliar source address, or configuration-save event is a reason to investigate—not proof of compromise.
Where administrator activity appears
FortiGate administrator authentication and device-management activity is recorded in system event logs. FortiAnalyzer groups FortiGate event logs into System, Router, VPN, User, and WiFi areas; start with System for administrator logins and configuration activity, then check other categories when the surrounding circumstances point there. FortiAnalyzer 7.6.6 documentation describes these event-log categories.
The exact fields, event identifiers, menu labels, and defaults vary by release. The examples below are specifically documented for FortiOS 7.0.10, 7.0.18, and FortiAnalyzer 7.6.4–7.6.6; check the Log Message Reference and administration guide matching your installed versions before building searches or alerts.
Review the logs in a reliable sequence
- Set the scope. Identify the FortiGate, relevant VDOM, time zone, and period under review. Check that the expected events are being collected at the configured local or centralized destination. Gaps in collection or unclear clock settings can make attribution unreliable.
- Open system event logs. In FortiAnalyzer, use the event-log view and select the relevant device and time range. Review administration events first; pivot to Router, VPN, User, or WiFi categories if an event suggests related activity.
- Check authentication records. Look for successful and failed administrator logins, disabled-login messages, password events, and disconnects. Search for literal descriptions such as “Admin login failed,” “Admin login disabled,” “Admin password expired,” and “Admin disconnected.” These descriptions identify events to examine, not their cause.
- Inspect configuration activity. Find configuration-change and save records. Identify the account, interface or access method when recorded, time, device and VDOM, and the message or change details. A save event can be a useful lead, but should not be treated as a complete account of every configuration difference.
- Attribute and compare. Compare the source address and access method with known administrator networks and approved remote-access routes. Check the account and timestamp against change tickets, on-call schedules, and expected automation. Allow for NAT or VPN egress and verify time-zone interpretation.
- Preserve the evidence. Save relevant records in the incident repository using the available download or export function. Retain device identity, VDOM, time zone, collection time, and enough surrounding events to preserve sequence and context.
- Build a timeline. Correlate failed attempts, later successful access, administrator monitor activity, and configuration changes across relevant devices. Where available, compare with identity-provider and network logs before escalating.
Which fields help attribute an event?
Read related fields together rather than relying on a username, source address, or description in isolation. Fortinet’s documented examples illustrate the context available in particular releases:
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| Record | Useful fields | What they help establish |
|---|---|---|
| Failed administrator login, FortiOS 7.0.10 event 32002 (“Admin login failed”) | user, srcip, dstip, ui, status, reason, method, date, time, tz, eventtime, devid, vd, msg |
Account, source and destination, access interface, outcome or reason, timestamp, device, and VDOM context. |
| Manually saved configuration, FortiOS 7.0.18 event 36882 | user, ui, vd, date, time, eventtime, logdesc, msg, devid |
Who saved, through which interface, and when and where the event occurred. The save record is not necessarily a full change diff. |
| FortiAnalyzer event-log table | Date/Time, Device ID, Level, User, Sub Type, Description, Operation, Performed On, Changes, Message | Filtering and review of the operation and affected entity; raw log display may provide detail behind a formatted row. |
FortiOS 7.0.10 categorizes event 32002 as a System-category Event with Alert severity. Do not assume the same identifier or field behavior applies to another release; consult the matching FortiOS 7.0.10 Log Message Reference or the reference for your installed version.
For event 36882, the documented description is “Configuration manually saved.” The listed fields identify user and interface context, among other details; the event alone does not establish exactly what changed. See the FortiOS 7.0.18 Log Message Reference.
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Signals that deserve follow-up
- A burst of failed attempts, particularly when followed by a successful login for the same account or from the same source.
- Successful administrator access from an unfamiliar address or interface, or at a time outside the organization’s normal pattern.
- An unfamiliar account, unexpected administrator monitor activity, or activity that does not fit the account holder’s responsibilities.
- A configuration save or change outside an approved maintenance window, especially when followed by changes to management access, accounts, policies, logging, VPN, or security controls.
- Missing expected records, unexpected device or VDOM context, or logging gaps that prevent reliable attribution.
These are triage signals, not findings by themselves. Check for legitimate automation, emergency maintenance, shared NAT or VPN egress, clock and time-zone differences, change approvals, identity-provider records, and other available telemetry. The documented event examples do not establish a universal alert threshold or a complete list of malicious patterns.
Search, export, and alerting in FortiAnalyzer
FortiAnalyzer 7.6.6 documents event-log filtering by time and fields such as level, user, subtype, and message, along with raw and formatted displays and real-time or historical views. Its event-log view also supports downloads in CSV or normal format. Use the format and repository appropriate to your incident process, and retain context rather than an isolated row. See the FortiAnalyzer 7.6.6 administration guide.
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FortiAnalyzer 7.6.4 documents a predefined “Default-NOC-Security-Events” handler with administrator-login and password-related rules. The documented predefined rules are disabled by default, so verify the handler and rules in your deployment before relying on them. The cited examples include high-severity rules for failed or disabled logins and expired passwords, as well as disconnect rules. See the FortiAnalyzer 7.6.4 administration guide.
FortiOS event-log triggers can target specific log IDs and apply field filters. In the FortiOS 7.2.8 guide, the GUI path is Security Fabric > Automation > Trigger; administrator login success is identified as event ID 32001. Check the exact event and available fields in the Log Message Reference for your deployed release before creating a trigger. See the FortiOS 7.2.8 administration guide.
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On-device review or centralized review?
FortiAnalyzer is useful when centralized collection, filtering, export, or correlation across devices matters. The documentation establishes those event-log functions, but does not make a universal recommendation or quantify the trade-offs. Choose the workflow that meets your operational needs:
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- Number of devices: A single-device investigation may be manageable in its available local logs; reviewing several devices raises the value of a centralized view.
- Search and export: Consider how quickly analysts need to filter records and preserve them in the incident workflow.
- Correlation and alerting: Decide whether the investigation requires a cross-device timeline or event-trigger workflows.
- Retention and access: Confirm where logs are stored, how long they remain available, and who can access or export them.
- Operational overhead: Account for the setup and administration of the chosen logging workflow. No specific licensing or cost comparison is established here.
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