What is one primary use of NAT in FortiGate devices?

NAT, or Network Address Translation, is primarily used in FortiGate devices to map private IP addresses to a public IP address. This function is essential in scenarios where devices within a private network need to communicate with external networks, such as the internet. Private IP addresses, which are not routable on the internet, can be translated into a single public IP address as packets exit the private network. This allows multiple devices to share a single public IP for accessing external resources while keeping their internal addresses hidden, thereby enhancing privacy and security.

This capability is crucial for conserving public IP address space and for simplifying network management. NAT provides a level of security by masking the internal IP structure of the network, making it harder for external entities to target specific devices within the network.