FortiGate application control helps reduce bandwidth waste by identifying and managing apps

Which FortiGate feature helps reduce bandwidth consumption from unwanted applications?

• A. Web filtering
• B. Application control
• C. IPsec VPN
• D. Traffic shaping

Answer: (B)

Application control is the feature that significantly aids in reducing bandwidth consumption from unwanted applications. This functionality allows organizations to identify, monitor, and manage applications traversing their network. By specifying which applications to allow or block, application control ensures that only the necessary and legitimate traffic is prioritized, while unwanted applications consuming excessive bandwidth are restricted. This feature operates at a deep-packet inspection level, providing detailed visibility into the actual applications being used, as opposed to just the ports or protocols in use. By doing so, it can enforce policies that limit or entirely block traffic from bandwidth-hungry applications, thereby improving the overall network performance and ensuring that available bandwidth is utilized more effectively. Other choices, though useful, do not specifically address the reduction of bandwidth waste caused by unwanted applications. Web filtering, for instance, focuses more on blocking harmful or inappropriate web content rather than managing application-specific traffic. IPsec VPN is primarily concerned with securing data transmission over networks, while traffic shaping regulates bandwidth allocation but does not distinguish between applications or enforce policies based on them.

Picture this: the office network hums along smoothly, then suddenly video calls lag, file sync stalls, and employees start grumbling about slow websites. It isn’t one quirky app misbehaving; it’s a lineup of apps vying for bandwidth. FortiGate has a built-in tool that serves as a smart traffic manager—Application Control. It’s the feature that helps you curb bandwidth waste caused by unwanted applications, so legitimate work traffic gets the lane it deserves.

What is Application Control, and why does it matter?

Let me explain in plain terms. Application Control is FortiGate’s ability to identify apps on your network by looking inside the data packets—the deep, sometimes delicate details of traffic. It isn’t enough to know the port or the protocol anymore; apps can hop different ports, use obfuscated channels, or ride on encrypted tunnels. Application Control peels back the layers to reveal what’s actually happening, app by app. With that visibility comes power: you can allow what you need, block what you don’t, and set how much bandwidth any given app can use.

This matters because not all traffic is equal. Some apps are mission-critical—think collaboration tools, ERP portals, and security consoles. Others are nice-to-have or even distracting—social streams, video ads, or streaming music during the work day. When you let the bandwidth hogs roam free, essential business traffic slows to a crawl. Application Control gives you the agility to protect productive work while still letting employees do their jobs—and maybe even have a tiny bit of downtime without guilt.

Deep packet inspection: more than ports or protocols

Here’s the thing: traditional controls looked only at ports and some basic patterns. That’s fine for simple setups, but it’s not enough in a modern network. Application Control digs deeper. It analyzes how a program actually behaves, not just how it tries to interface with the network. The result is a precise map of which apps are in play, how much bandwidth they’re consuming, and whether their use aligns with your policies.

That granular view is what makes the impact real. You aren’t guessing which traffic is chewing bandwidth—you’re seeing it, policy by policy, and you can respond quickly. It’s a bit like having a smart traffic cop who knows which vehicles are allowed to pass through a busy intersection and which ones should be slowed down or redirected.

A practical scenario you might recognize

Imagine a mid-sized company with a mix of on-site and remote workers. The team relies on cloud collaboration suites, CRM portals, and internal dashboards. In the same space, people casually watch video tutorials, stream music during the workday, or use peer-to-peer file-sharing tools for legitimate project work. Without Application Control, those bandwidth-hungry activities can drain the pipe, leaving critical business apps throttled just when they’re most needed.

With Application Control enabled, you can:

• Block or throttle troublesome apps during peak hours.

• Allow high-priority apps (like your video conferencing or core business software) to take precedence.

• Create per-user or per-group rules, so departments can tune their own needs without stepping on the wider team.

• Monitor in real-time and adjust policies as teams change, projects shift, or new apps arrive on the scene.

Getting started: a quick, practical setup

If you’re curious about how to implement this in a real FortiGate deployment, here’s a straightforward path you can sketch out and adapt.

1. Update and review app signatures

Fortinet’s FortiGuard service continuously updates app signatures. Keeping these signatures current helps your unit recognize newer apps and their traffic patterns. A quick check-in to confirm you’re running the latest signatures pays off in accuracy.

2. Create an Application Control profile

• Define what you want to monitor and control. FortiGate lets you choose categories or specific applications. You can be selective: you might block known bandwidth hogs while allowing essential business apps to run unfettered.

• Decide on action. Do you want to block, monitor, or apply a soft throttle to certain apps? A mix works well in practice—block the truly disruptive apps while gently limiting others during busy times.

3. Apply the profile to a firewall policy

• Attach the Application Control profile to the policy that governs the traffic you want to manage. This is where the rubber meets the road: policies determine which traffic is subject to app-based decisions.

• Consider user and device scope. If you can tie policies to groups (like Marketing, Engineering, or remote users), you gain precision and avoid blanket constraints that frustrate teams.

4. Review logs and adjust

• FortiGate logs will tell you which apps were blocked, throttled, or flagged for monitoring. Use these insights to refine the rules. Fine-tuning is not a one-and-done task; it’s an ongoing process as your environment shifts.

5. Pair with other controls for a balanced approach

• You can combine Application Control with Traffic Shaping to prioritize essential apps and smooth out spikes. The key is to differentiate app-level decisions from general bandwidth quotas.

• If you have encrypted traffic’s visibility limits, consider TLS/SSL inspection where policy and security requirements allow. It’s a reminder that every tool has trade-offs and that the bigger picture matters.

What you gain in day-to-day performance

The payoff isn’t just fewer buffering icons or happier employees. It’s a cleaner, more predictable network experience. When bandwidth isn’t wasted on nonessential apps, your core services stay responsive, joint-project meetings don’t stall, and backups or data transfers have room to breathe. For IT teams, Application Control translates into fewer firefighting moments and more time to focus on strategic improvements rather than constant bandwidth policing.

Choosing the right comparison in your toolbox

Let’s line up the other common options and see how Application Control stacks up in the bandwidth won’t-quit department:

• Web filtering: This is about content control—blocking harmful or inappropriate sites. It’s essential for policy compliance and security hygiene, but it isn’t designed to discriminate traffic by the actual application. If your goal is to optimize bandwidth specifically, Web Filtering is a companion tool, not the main lever.

• IPsec VPN: Great for securing data in transit between sites or for remote workers. It doesn’t inherently manage how bandwidth is allocated among different apps. It’s about securing the channel; Application Control is about governing what rides on that channel.

• Traffic shaping: This term often means “set the flow” and can smooth out bursts. It’s powerful for prioritization, but without App-level visibility, you might end up shaping traffic you didn’t intend to. Application Control adds that crucial app-awareness layer, letting shaping behave more intelligently.

Common caveats and how to navigate them

No tool is perfect, and Application Control comes with real-world nuances. A few lightweight reminders to keep your deployment sane:

• DPI overhead: Deep packet inspection isn’t free in terms of processor load. If you’re managing a very large user base or high-throughput links, monitor performance and ensure the FortiGate model you’re using can handle the load.

• Encrypted traffic: Some apps hide inside TLS. When that happens, you’ll need to pair Application Control with TLS inspection to see inside encrypted streams. Weigh the privacy and compliance implications before enabling TLS inspection.

• Policy complexity: It’s easy to create a tangle of rules. Start with a few broad categories, then zero in on problem apps. Keep policies readable so you can adjust them without confusion later.

• Business-critical apps: Some tools are essential even if they’re bandwidth-heavy. Build exceptions or dedicated paths so you don’t cripple core workflows.

A few quick rules of thumb

• Start with the obvious suspects. Block or throttle apps that routinely waste bandwidth but don’t contribute to value.

• Prioritize what matters. Critical collaboration tools and line-of-business apps should have robust performance even during peak times.

• Monitor, don’t guess. Rely on logs and reports to guide changes rather than assumptions about user behavior.

• Keep it flexible. As teams grow and new apps appear, revisit policies every few weeks or after major projects.

Why this matters for a modern network

Networks aren’t just lines of code and cables; they’re living systems. People move between devices, apps morph to fit new work patterns, and the line between productive work and distraction blurs. Application Control gives you a living, breathing way to keep bandwidth where it’s most valuable. It’s about ensuring that when someone in the product team runs a live conference with a large share of the bandwidth, the rest of the organization doesn’t pay the price in laggy emails or stalled dashboards.

A light stroll through the tooling landscape

If you’re exploring FortiGate in more detail, you’ll notice Application Control sits alongside a broader set of security and network-management tools. The beauty of FortiGate is that these features aren’t isolated; they’re designed to work together. You can layer them to build a security posture that’s not just airtight but also responsive to everyday network needs.

Final take: empower your network with smart control

Here’s the core takeaway: Application Control is the FortiGate feature that helps you curb bandwidth waste by identifying, monitoring, and managing the apps traversing your network. It’s not only about stopping the bandwidth hogs; it’s about making sure the apps your team relies on get the space they deserve. The result is a network that feels faster, more predictable, and more reliable—a small change with a big impact on daily work life.

If you’re curious to explore, dig into Fortinet’s guides on Application Control and DPI. Look for real-world case studies from teams similar to yours, and pay attention to how they balance visibility with performance. You’ll likely find that a thoughtful Application Control strategy doesn’t just improve speed; it changes how an organization collaborates, delivers, and grows.

And yes, sometimes the simplest choice can be the most powerful: let you designate which apps are permitted to take the lead, and which ones you’ll politely ask to pause. When that balance is right, your network behaves more like a well-tuned orchestra than a noisy crowd. That harmony—that’s what Application Control brings to the table.