When ping is disabled, FortiSIEM cannot collect ICMP availability metrics

If ping is disabled on a device, will FortiSIEM still collect availability metrics?

• A. Yes
• B. No

Answer: (B)

When ping is disabled on a device, FortiSIEM will not be able to collect availability metrics based on ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) requests. Availability metrics often rely on successful ping responses to determine if a device is reachable and functioning properly. In this scenario, when the ping is disabled, the source cannot send requests to the destination device, and as a result, it cannot receive any replies. This lack of communication means that FortiSIEM will have no way to ascertain the device's availability; therefore, it won't be able to capture or report on its status. FortiSIEM may still have other methods of collecting availability metrics, such as SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) or analyzing logs from the device. However, specifically in the context of ICMP traffic, the answer is clear: without ping being enabled, availability metrics related to that device cannot be collected.

Ping gone quiet: how FortiSIEM reads availability without ICMP

Here’s a quick reality check you can use on the job or in your NSE 5 topics stash: if ping is blocked on a device, FortiSIEM won’t log availability data that comes from ICMP pings. In plain terms, ICMP-based availability checks die when ping is disabled. If you’ve relied on those quick “is it reachable?” pings to gauge uptime, you’ll need to adjust how you watch for device health.

Let me explain what that means in practice, and how to keep a clear read on the network even when ping can’t get through.

ICMP ping: the quick read on reachability

• ICMP ping is like calling a neighbor to see if they’re home. If you get a reply, you know the path to that device is working, at least for that moment.

• For FortiSIEM, availability metrics built from these ping responses tell you if a device is reachable and responsive over the network. When ping is disabled, those ICMP-based signals aren’t available, so FortiSIEM has no ICMP echoes to count.

• That doesn’t mean you’ve lost all visibility, but it does mean you’ll need other data sources to fill in the gaps.

What FortiSIEM can still use to measure availability

Even with ICMP muted, FortiSIEM has several other data streams that can reveal whether devices are in good shape or experiencing trouble. Think of these as alternative “signals” you can lean on to get a similar sense of uptime and reliability.

• SNMP polling and traps

• Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is a backbone for availability data. If you enable SNMP on devices, FortiSIEM can poll the device at intervals and check for status indicators (like interface up/down, device up/down, or specific MIBs that report health).

• SNMP traps or notifications are another route. When a device detects an issue, it can push a trap to FortiSIEM, signaling a problem even if ICMP isn’t allowed.

• Tip: make sure SNMP credentials and access controls are set up securely (consider SNMPv3 if you can) and that the relevant OIDs are being monitored. This keeps you in the loop when ping can’t reach the device.

• Syslog and device logs

• Many devices send syslog messages about state changes, alarms, or health events. FortiSIEM can parse these logs to infer availability. If a device goes down or an interface flaps, you’ll often see a stream of related messages in the logs.

• This route is powerful because it provides a narrative: not only that something failed, but when it happened and what preceded it.

• Other telemetry: NetFlow, app-layer data, and custom probes

• NetFlow and related telemetry can help you understand traffic patterns that hint at reachability and performance issues.

• Some environments deploy lightweight agents or synthetic tests that don’t rely on ICMP. If your setup includes such probes, FortiSIEM can ingest their results to corroborate availability.

• A balanced view: combine sources for best accuracy

• The real win comes from triangulating signals. If ping is blocked, you don’t want a single data source steering the ship. Use SNMP for direct status, logs for event timing, and any other available telemetry to build a coherent picture of device availability.

Practical steps to preserve visibility when ICMP is off

If you’re facing a scenario where ping is disabled, here’s a practical playbook to keep monitoring meaningful without waiting for outage anecdotes to hit your inbox.

• Check the device’s reachability configuration

• Confirm that ping is indeed disabled on the device and that there’s no interim firewall rule blocking ICMP from your FortiSIEM source. It’s easy to assume “ping is off,” but sometimes a firewall rule or a policy change is the real culprit.

• If you can, document which devices have ICMP blocked and why. A quick inventory helps with future planning and reduces the “unknown device” noise.

• Enable and tune SNMP monitoring

• Turn on SNMP on devices you need to watch, and wire up FortiSIEM to poll those devices regularly.

• Choose the right MIBs. If you’re after availability, look at status indicators for the device itself and for key interfaces. If an interface is down, that’s a strong signal of device-reachability issues.

• Use SNMP traps for sudden changes. A trap can alert you immediately when a device flips to a down state, even if ICMP is blocked.

• Leverage logs and event parsing

• Set up FortiSIEM to ingest syslog from critical devices. Create alert rules that trigger on up/down messages, power cycles, or interface state changes.

• Correlate these events with SNMP data. A “device down” event paired with an SNMP poll showing no response can validate a real outage rather than a transient blip.

• Test and validate the data paths

• Run a structured test: intentionally disable ping to a test device, verify that FortiSIEM still surfaces an availability alert via SNMP or logs, and confirm the timing aligns with the event.

• Check time synchronization. If clocks drift between devices and FortiSIEM, you can misread the timing of outages. A clean time backbone matters for accurate incident timelines.

• Document the monitoring policy

• Write a simple policy that explains how you determine availability when ICMP isn’t in play. Include which data sources are used, what thresholds trigger alerts, and how responders should interpret mixed signals (e.g., SNMP up but missing ping).

A quick analogy to keep it real

Think of ping as a quick knock on the door to see if a room is occupied. If the door is closed or the knock is blocked, you still might know the room is in use because you hear footsteps from the hallway (syslog), you see a light on under the door (SNMP status), or you get a note slid under the door (traps). That combination gives you a reliable picture of what's happening—even without that first knock.

Common pitfalls to watch for

• Relying on one source only. If you depend solely on SNMP without validating it, you might miss subtle issues that logs would reveal or vice versa.

• Time gaps between checks. SNMP polling frequency matters. If polls are too far apart, short outages slip by undetected.

• Access and security gaps. Opening SNMP to a broad audience or leaving traps unencrypted creates risk. Lock it down with proper credentials and access controls.

• Incomplete device coverage. If some devices aren’t sending logs or aren’t SNMP-enabled, you’ll have blind spots. Plan a mixed approach that fits all devices.

Why this matters for NSE 5 topics

Understanding how FortiSIEM handles availability without ICMP ties directly into real-world network operations. It shows you how a security operations center (SOC) or network operations team preserves visibility when a basic tool (ping) is unavailable. It also highlights the value of multiple data streams—something many practitioners learn early on: no single metric tells the whole story.

A compact takeaway

• ICMP-based availability depends on ping being enabled. If ping is disabled, FortiSIEM won’t produce ICMP-driven availability data.

• You can still gauge availability through SNMP polling and traps, plus device logs and other telemetry.

• Build a layered monitoring approach: combine SNMP, logs, and any alternative probes to maintain a trustworthy picture of device health.

• Validate, document, and regularly test the data paths so your team isn’t left guessing during an incident.

To wrap it up, let’s keep this simple: ping gives you a fast, surface-level read. When it’s blocked, FortiSIEM can still paint a full picture—if you lean on SNMP and logs, align those signals, and test the setup. It’s all about weaving together the data threads so you’re never in the dark about availability, even when a door is hard to knock on.

If you’re exploring NSE 5 material, this kind of practical alignment between monitoring methods and real-world constraints is exactly what helps you connect the dots. The network doesn’t stop talking just because one channel is quiet; it just speaks through a different voice. And with the right ears, you’ll hear it loud and clear.