What is a 'security fabric' in the context of FortiGate?

A 'security fabric' in the context of FortiGate refers to a holistic security architecture that integrates various Fortinet solutions to provide comprehensive security across the entire network infrastructure. This approach allows organizations to seamlessly link multiple security components such as firewalls, endpoint security, network segmentation, and cloud security to ensure consistent policy enforcement and visibility.

The security fabric is designed to facilitate real-time communication and threat intelligence sharing among different Fortinet products and services, which together enhance the overall security posture of the organization. By enabling a cohesive security environment, it allows for quicker incident response, better protection against advanced threats, and simplifies the security management process for administrators.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately encapsulate the concept of a security fabric. A collection of firewall rules primarily focuses on access control and does not represent an integrated security approach. A database of user credentials is limited to user management and authentication, which is just one part of an overall security strategy. A tool for managing network devices does not convey the integrated and comprehensive security capabilities that the security fabric encompasses.