Fortinet NSE5_SSE_AD-26 Certification Exam Syllabus
Preparing for the Fortinet NSE 5 Certified - SASE (FortiSASE and SD-WAN Core Administrator) exam starts with knowing exactly what is assessed. This NWExam syllabus guide brings together the Fortinet NSE5_SSE_AD-26 exam details, syllabus topics, recommended training resources, and preparation references in one place, organized around the knowledge areas the certification tests, so you can plan your study with confidence.
A syllabus shows you what to study; effective preparation confirms you can understand and apply those topics when answering certification-style questions. Begin with the official Fortinet objectives, documentation, and study materials, then use structured self-assessment and hands-on practice to identify knowledge gaps, reinforce weaker areas, and improve your readiness before attempting the Fortinet NSE5_SSE_AD-26 exam.
Fortinet NSE5_SSE_AD-26 Exam Summary and Key Details
| Exam Name | Fortinet NSE 5 - FortiSASE and SD-WAN 26 Core Administrator |
| Exam Number | NSE5_SSE_AD-26 FortiSASE and SD-WAN Core Administrator |
| Exam Price | $210 USD |
| Duration | 65 minutes |
| Number of Questions | 30-35 |
| Passing Score | Pass / Fail |
| Recommended Training | FortiSASE Core Administrator |
| Exam Registration | Pearson VUE |
| Sample Questions | Fortinet NSE5_SSE_AD-26 Sample Questions |
| Practice Exam | Fortinet NSE5_SSE_AD-26 Practice Exam |
Fortinet NSE5_SSE_AD-26 Exam Syllabus Topics
| Section | Weight | Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Decentralized SD-WAN | 20-30% |
- Implement a basic SD-WAN setup * Introduction to SD-WAN and use cases * SD-WAN architecture components and use case identification * SD-WAN direct internet access (DIA), DIA topologies, best practices and recommended settings * SD-WAN fundamentals and basic components * Basic SD-WAN DIA setup and basic monitoring * SD-WAN traffic distribution and member health * SD-WAN widgets * SD-WAN traffic logs and events - Configure SD-WAN members and zones * Underlay and overlay links * Members and zones configuration * Use cases - Configure performance service-level agreements (SLA) * SLA targets * Active and passive monitoring * SLA configuration and monitoring * Member status and performance * Advanced settings and member state change actions * How ICMP probes pass SLA information * Advanced performance SLA settings * Use case |
| Rules and routing | 15-25% |
- Configure SD-WAN rules * User-defined SD-WAN rules and the SD-WAN rule lookup process * SD-WAN for local-out traffic * Implicit SD-WAN rule and rule status monitoring * SD-WAN rule strategies * Rule criteria and traffic matching criteria * Application steering and application learning phases * Internet services as destination criteria * Manual strategies and preferred-member election * Load balancing with manual rules * Best quality strategy and quality metrics * Lowest cost (SLA) strategy and SLA target maps * Impact of the minimum-SLA-meet-members parameter - Configure SD-WAN routing * Routing fundamentals and key routing principles in SD-WAN * Policy routes and the route lookup process * Member static routes and static routes for zones * Member probe routes * Sessions, session table, and protocol states * Common session flags * Session reevaluation and triggers * Routing changes in SNAT sessions * Introduction to central management and FortiManager basics * FortiManager features for SD-WAN |
| SASE deployment | 20-30% |
- Configure SASE administration settings * Traditional architecture and current market trends * The challenges of work-from-anywhere * SASE architecture and components * Fortinet SASE solution * FortiSASE provisioning * Data residency and data sovereignty * Licensing: FortiSASE license types - Use available user onboarding methods * Agent-based mode and the FortiClient agent * Secure web gateway (SWG) mode and the agentless proxy client * Authentication server configuration * Remote authentication with LDAP and RADIUS * SAML single sign-on (SSO) * Use cases: FortiClient installation, local users and user groups * Use cases: VPN policy and FortiClient configuration to connect to FortiSASE * Use cases: VPN SSO authentication and SSO for agentless deployment - Describe how FortiSASE is integrated with SD-WAN * Use cases |
| SIA and SSA | 15-25% |
- Implement security profiles to perform content inspection * Geofencing and IP address management (IPAM) configuration * Secure internet access (SIA) for FortiClient agent-based and agentless remote users * Secure SaaS access (SSA) using inline CASB and FortiCASB * Security profiles and security profile groups * Certificate inspection and SSL deep inspection * Web filter and application control with inline CASB (SSA) * Antivirus, data loss prevention (DLP), and video filter * Intrusion prevention system (IPS) sensor - Deploy compliance rules to managed endpoints * Endpoint profiles * Endpoint profile provisioning and maintenance * Use cases: custom security profile group and antivirus profiles * Use cases: FortiGuard web filtering categories and inline-CASB * Use cases: application control with inline-CASB and endpoint protection |
| Analytics | 15-25% |
- Analyze SD-WAN logs to monitor rules and session behavior * FortiView, consoles, and dashboards * Logging and reports * Log workflow, types, and subtypes * Log forwarding and log anonymization * Enabling and running reports * Use cases: FortiSASE dashboards, FortiView widgets, and on-demand reports - Describe the FortiSASE logs used to identify potential security threats * Feature monitor * Security events and logs * Dashboards and external log servers * Use cases: log analysis to identify potential security threats - Explain the reports used to identify user traffic and security issues * Report types * Use cases: evaluation of the reports |
Understanding the Fortinet FortiSASE and SD-WAN Core Administrator Certification Exam
The NSE 5 in SASE certification validates your ability to secure internet and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) access using Fortinet SASE solutions. The certification exam covers the design, deployment, and management of small and medium-sized SASE infrastructures.
Use the syllabus objectives as the foundation of your study plan. Official Fortinet training and documentation will help you build the required knowledge, while hands-on experience reinforces practical understanding. Once the core topics are covered, structured practice lets you evaluate your readiness, recognize areas that need further review, and become more comfortable working through exam-oriented questions in a timed environment. Practice exams should complement, not replace, official training, documentation, and hands-on learning.
For additional exam and preparation information, review the Fortinet NSE5_SSE_AD-26 certification FAQs. When you are ready to move from syllabus review to repeated timed practice, you can access the Premium Fortinet NSE5_SSE_AD-26 practice exam. For the latest certification requirements, policies, pricing, and vendor updates, always refer to the official Fortinet NSE5_SSE_AD-26 exam page.
- FortiSASE and SD-WAN Core Administrator Certification Syllabus |
- Fortinet FortiSASE and SD-WAN Core Administrator Study Guide |
- Fortinet NSE5_SSE_AD-26 Syllabus |
- NSE5_SSE_AD-26 Exam Topics |
- Fortinet NSE5_SSE_AD-26 FortiSASE and SD-WAN Core Administrator Exam Cost |
- Fortinet NSE5_SSE_AD-26 Passing Score |
- Fortinet NSE5_SSE_AD-26 Exam Duration |
- Fortinet NSE5_SSE_AD-26 Registration |
- Fortinet NSE5_SSE_AD-26 Sample Questions |
- Fortinet NSE 5 - FortiSASE and SD-WAN 26 Core Administrator |
- NSE5_SSE_AD-26 Exam Cost
