WatchGuard Security Configuration Guide

This comprehensive guide will help you securely configure your WatchGuard firewall following industry best practices and WatchGuard recommendations.

1. Initial Setup and Access Control

Change Default Admin Credentials

Immediately change default administrative passwords:

  1. Log into Fireware Web UI
  2. Navigate to System → Management → Administrators
  3. Change passwords for admin, status, and read-write accounts
  4. Create custom admin accounts with unique usernames
  5. Disable default accounts after creating alternatives
Warning: Default WatchGuard credentials (admin/readwrite, status/readonly) are well-known and must be changed immediately.

Secure Management Access

Configure secure management interfaces:

  1. Navigate to System → Management → Management Interface
  2. Enable HTTPS management only, disable HTTP
  3. Upload a valid SSL certificate
  4. Configure management from trusted networks only
  5. Change default management port (8080) if desired
  6. Enable SSH only if necessary (prefer Web UI)

Configure Authentication Settings

Strengthen authentication mechanisms:

  1. Go to Authentication → Servers
  2. Configure RADIUS or LDAP/Active Directory
  3. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)
  4. Set account lockout policies
  5. Configure password complexity requirements

2. Firewall Policy Configuration

Default Deny Strategy

Implement a secure default deny policy:

Policy Best Practices

Configure policies following these guidelines:

Tip: Navigate to Firewall → Firewall Policies in Policy Manager to manage your policies.

Policy Ordering

Order policies for optimal performance:

  1. Place more specific policies at the top
  2. Order by frequency of matches
  3. Keep deny policies appropriately positioned
  4. Use policy groups for organization
  5. Regular review and cleanup of unused policies

3. Gateway AntiVirus (GAV)

Enable Gateway AntiVirus

Configure comprehensive malware protection:

  1. Navigate to Security Services → Gateway AntiVirus
  2. Enable Gateway AntiVirus
  3. Configure scanning for HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SMTP, POP3, IMAP
  4. Enable automatic signature updates
  5. Configure action on virus detection (block/quarantine)

HTTPS Inspection

Enable deep packet inspection for encrypted traffic:

  1. Go to Security Services → HTTPS Content Inspection
  2. Create and deploy HTTPS inspection certificate
  3. Configure HTTPS inspection action
  4. Add exceptions for trusted sites if needed
  5. Deploy certificates to client devices

4. Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

Enable IPS

Configure IPS for threat detection and prevention:

  1. Navigate to Security Services → Intrusion Prevention
  2. Enable IPS on appropriate policies
  3. Select IPS action level (High, Medium, Low Security)
  4. Enable automatic signature updates
  5. Configure custom IPS exceptions as needed

IPS Tuning

Fine-tune IPS to reduce false positives:

5. Application Control

Configure Application Control

Control and monitor application usage:

  1. Navigate to Security Services → Application Control
  2. Create application control policies
  3. Block high-risk applications (P2P, torrents)
  4. Monitor and control social media access
  5. Configure bandwidth management per application
  6. Enable logging for application usage
Best Practice: Use Application Control to identify shadow IT and enforce acceptable use policies.

6. VPN Configuration

SSL VPN (Mobile VPN with SSL)

Secure remote access configuration:

  1. Navigate to VPN → Mobile VPN with SSL
  2. Enable SSL VPN
  3. Use strong encryption (TLS 1.2 or higher)
  4. Enable multi-factor authentication
  5. Configure split tunneling carefully (prefer full tunnel)
  6. Set idle timeout for security
  7. Limit concurrent connections per user

IPsec VPN

Site-to-site VPN security:

Mobile VPN with IPsec

For IPsec-based remote access:

7. Network Configuration

VLAN and Network Segmentation

Implement proper network segmentation:

DNS Configuration

Configure secure DNS settings:

  1. Navigate to Network → DNS
  2. Use reliable DNS servers (Cloudflare, Quad9, Google)
  3. Enable DNSWatch for filtering malicious domains
  4. Configure DNS proxy if needed
  5. Enable DNS query logging for analysis

DHCP Configuration

Secure DHCP settings:

8. High Availability and Clustering

Configure High Availability

For business continuity, implement HA:

  1. Deploy WatchGuard firewalls in Active/Passive pairs
  2. Navigate to System → High Availability
  3. Configure cluster with primary and backup devices
  4. Set up dedicated HA interface
  5. Configure failover settings
  6. Test failover procedures regularly
  7. Monitor cluster synchronization status

9. Logging and Monitoring

Configure Logging

Enable comprehensive logging:

  1. Navigate to System → Logging
  2. Enable logging for all security services
  3. Configure log message types (alarm, warning, info)
  4. Set up external syslog server
  5. Configure log forwarding to SIEM if available
  6. Enable WebBlocker category logging

WatchGuard Dimension

Deploy Dimension for reporting and visibility:

Configure Alerts

Set up notifications for critical events:

  1. Navigate to System → Notifications
  2. Configure email server settings
  3. Set up alert recipients
  4. Configure thresholds for alerts
  5. Enable notifications for security events
  6. Test notification delivery

10. Web Filtering (WebBlocker)

Enable WebBlocker

Configure content filtering:

  1. Navigate to Security Services → WebBlocker
  2. Create WebBlocker actions
  3. Block malicious and high-risk categories
  4. Configure custom block pages
  5. Enable SafeSearch enforcement
  6. Create category exceptions as needed
  7. Apply WebBlocker to HTTP/HTTPS policies

11. System Maintenance

Firmware Updates

Keep Fireware OS updated:

Signature Updates

Keep security signatures current:

  1. Navigate to System → Subscriptions
  2. Verify active security subscriptions
  3. Enable automatic signature updates
  4. Schedule signature updates appropriately
  5. Monitor update status regularly

Configuration Backup

Regular backups are essential:

  1. Navigate to System → Backup/Restore
  2. Download configuration backups regularly
  3. Save backups with encryption enabled
  4. Store backups securely offline
  5. Document backup passphrase securely
  6. Test restore procedures periodically

12. Performance Optimization

Traffic Management

Optimize traffic handling:

Resource Monitoring

Monitor firewall resources:

13. Security Checklist

Essential Security Checklist:

14. Additional Resources

Remember: Security is an ongoing process. Regularly review logs, update configurations, and stay informed about emerging threats.

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