Lifecycle Management of Fortinet Devices

I don’t know about you, but, downing my third cup of coffee (yes, the standard PJ Networks hustle fuel) I’m embarking on something close to my heart and desk: lifecycle management of Fortinet devices. After working in the trenches since I first started working as a network admin in 1993, I’ve seen it all—from the days of everyone using muxes to multiplex voice and data over PSTN to the dark days of the Slammer worm epidemic. Now, operating my own cybersecurity shop, I still geek out when I get to manage devices like FortiAPs and FortiAuthenticators and more, especially since I just returned from DefCon full of new ideas from the hardware hacking village.

But it's all good for Fortinet about managing devices and not simply stick gear in, type a number, good to go. It’s a race that confounds even those who have been paying attention, where so much can happen in a matter of minutes or seconds that it’s often difficult to predict who will win, and how. That’s where the managed services of PJ Networks comes in. We keep your fleet of Fortinet equipment running smoothly — like a finely tuned vehicle: efficient, secure, ready for anything.

Device Enrollment

Enrolling a device is much like opening the gate to your security estate. May you fall into pieces; without a formal beginning, all follows one another! Back in the day — you remember the Slammer worm? I learned the hard way, amid that turmoil, how important it is to have your devices cleanly enrolled and identified.

With Fortinet, enrollment is not simply Plugging and FortiAP or a FortiAuthenticator. It’s about methodically onboarding those devices into your security fabric — which means verifying configuration baselines and assigning the identity. PJ Networks does a lot of this automatically—enabling zero-touch provisioning, so devices come online prepped and secured. You do not want human errors here, believe me.

• Assign unique device IDs
• Apply initial config policies
• Incorporate appliances into centralized management consoles

If you’re not enrolled properly, it’s really like trying to drive a car that does not have the keys and you hope it can drive; however you do not know the status, firmware or any vulnerabilities that may be under the hood.

Configuration Management

So once your device is enrolled, that’s when the real magic starts — or the real potential for nightmares if you do it wrong. Managing configs on Fortinet devices is a bit of a juggle. It’s like adding seasoning to a complex curry; too much of one spice ruins the whole thing.

For instance, you are not changing firewall rules left and right in a FortiGate. I’ve watched organizations over the years break their network because of unchecked changes. PJ Networks solves this through versioned config management which tracks, validates and reverses every tweak.

Our approach includes:

• Confg templated deployment
• Automated validation using security baselines
• Audit logs for change tracking

And yes—I’m that guy that still fondly reminisces of the days when network configs were on paper printouts and unix shell scripts. But the moral of this story is: never disregard the importance of configuration discipline. It can either make or break your zero-trust upgrades, which is something I’ve recently helped three different banks roll out.

Firmware Updates

I have to be honest here—I’m always a bit dubious when I hear about an AI-powered firmware update or an auto-patching system. Like, really? Yes, automation is a killer, but surrendering to black-box AI without proper vetting? Recipe for disaster.

On Fortinet appliances, especially something critical like FortiAuthenticator, firmware updates are your first line against being exploited. We prepare updates ahead of time and rely on PJ Networks’ own automated systems to deploy tested firmware once it has gone through rigourous validation cycle.

A few tips:

• Always use staged rollout to reduce downtime
• Check the backup configs before patching
• See how the device behaves after being updated

Quick rant: How some companies are still oblivious to firmware and don’t wake up until a disaster happens just floors me. You learn that with the Slammer worm. You don’t want to be that shop.

Inventory Tracking

You can’t defend what you don’t know you have.

Inventory management on your Fortinet is more than just a spreadsheet with serial numbers, it is your security infrastructure. We’ve been building integrations over the years, including automated inventory solutions which literally just ingest asset data straight into our lifecycle workflows.

We’re tracing not only devices, but:

• Bootloader and config version
• Warranty and EOL (end-of-life) dates
• Location and ownership

Our system hops up and down alerting for EOL and schedules proactive replacements so you’re never running critical infrastructure on way outdated gear.

Frankly, not diligently keeping track of inventory is a bit like driving a car without looking at your gas gauge. You’ll be gasping for air before you know it.

PJ Networks Lifecycle Plan

OK, let’s break it down: PJ Network’s lifecycle management isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our style is selective, proactive, and ultra-detailed.

1. Policy validation during provisioning and enrollment — devices get onboarded clean with a known-good config
2. Continuous configuration audits No surprises, just the allowed policies in force
3. Planned automatic updates of firmware — tested, verified, staged
4. Inventory sync with asset management (real time tracking, EOL forecasting etc.)
5. Backups and disaster recovery plan – configurations, device states backed up frequently
6. Replacement with higher inconvenience—EOL devices replaced before failure
7. Decommissioning with data cleanup — no leftover credentials or config data

This end-to-end strategy has gotten my customers out of a number of jams—most notably when any bank would be forced to deploy zero-trust. It’s like maintaining a fleet of high-performance sports cars: Tune-ups are placed on the calendar, not left to chance.

Decommission Checklist

Ripping out the Fortinet gear? Don’t just unplug and throw it away.

I’ve witnessed companies who mistakenly re-deployed or disposed of devices without wiping configs or certs. That’s a wide-open invitation to a security breach.

PJ Networks is strict about its checklist:

• Backup the current configuration and logs
• Secure self-destroying credentials and certificate removeAll credentials and certificates safely Permanently delete all credentials and certificates properly.
• Management Consoles – Select system management in the Remove devices from drop down box.
• Record on and maintain inventory system
• Secure used physical devices when not in use

Here’s a quick rant: In cybersecurity, decommissioning is frequently an afterthought — but it’s as important as provisioning is. Your old hardware can still be a vector for attack if you’re not careful.

Quick Take

If you have time to read through this after your second cup, here’s what to know:

• Fortinet hierarchy of devices = register > setup > update > monitor > retire
• Automation and pro-active management will always outperform reactive triage
• Stager and Validate Firmware Updates and Don’t Trust, They Blindly Should be.
• Security is your inventory control core
• PJ Networks’ managed services provide the discipline and rigor that many companies need

Hence, in my few decades of tumbling networks, worms, and constantly emerging threats around, doing good things to manage Fortinet devices is honestly a matter of respecting the whole lifecycle. It’s not sexy, but it’s the kind of thing that makes or breaks security postures.

And hey — if you are kicking lifecycle can down the road because you think it’s boring, guess what: ignoring that stuff is way more expensive and stressful. Trust me — I’ve been there, done that and owned the scorched t-shirt.

Be safe, and do lifecycle management right.