Unlocking FortiCloud: Your Essential Guide to Registration and Management
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For IT professionals managing Fortinet security infrastructures, proper registration and activation with FortiCloud isn't just an administrative task—it's the foundational step that unlocks the full potential of the security ecosystem. FortiCloud serves as Fortinet's comprehensive platform for delivering security management services, providing organizations with a streamlined approach to connect, protect, and manage their data and applications across both on-premise and cloud environments.
Based on technical documentation and community experiences from Fortinet users worldwide, this guide explores the essential processes for FortiCloud registration, device management, and account creation. Whether you're implementing new FortiGate firewalls, managing existing deployments, or troubleshooting registration challenges, understanding these procedures ensures you maximize your security investments while maintaining operational efficiency in increasingly complex network environments.
Understanding FortiCloud: More Than Just Registration
What is FortiCloud?
FortiCloud represents a unified management ecosystem that extends beyond simple product registration. The platform enables organizations to register, manage, and access all their Fortinet products, services, and support through a centralized interface. This consolidation simplifies what would otherwise be a fragmented approach to managing various security components across hybrid environments.
The platform's significance becomes particularly evident when examining FortiGate Cloud—a specialized component for managing FortiGate firewalls. For small and medium businesses or managed security service providers (MSSPs), FortiGate Cloud offers scalable cloud-based management with tiered subscription levels that determine access to advanced features like extended security analytics, hosted log retention, configuration management, and comprehensive reporting capabilities.
Key Benefits of FortiCloud Registration
Registering devices with FortiCloud provides several critical advantages that directly impact security posture and operational efficiency:
Centralized Asset Management: View all registered devices through the Fortinet Technical Support site (support.fortinet.com) by logging in with FortiCloud credentials and navigating to Asset > Manage/View Products. This consolidated view simplifies license tracking, warranty management, and compliance reporting.
Access to Customer Services: Registered devices become eligible for essential services including firmware updates, technical support access, and FortiGuard security subscription services that require active registration status.
Subscription Feature Unlocking: For services like FortiGate Cloud, registration activates premium features based on subscription level—from basic read-only access to advanced capabilities like SD-WAN monitoring, incident management, and extended log retention (increasing from 7 days for free tier to 1 year for paid subscriptions).
Simplified Device Transfer: As highlighted in community discussions, proper registration enables smoother account transfers when devices change ownership or management responsibility, though this process requires careful coordination.
Step-by-Step Registration Processes
Creating Your FortiCloud Account
The foundation of FortiCloud management begins with establishing an account. According to Fortinet's official documentation, the account creation process follows these specific steps:
Initiation: Navigate to the FortiCloud portal and select "Create Account."
Email Verification: Enter your primary email address in the Account Email field. Unless you are a government user (with separate verification protocols), click "Create Account" to proceed.
Security Verification: Complete the hCaptcha verification and request an email verification code. This code will be sent to the email address you provided.
Account Setup: Enter the verification code, then establish a secure password (entered twice for confirmation) before proceeding to provide necessary account information.
Terms Acceptance: After submitting your information, carefully review the Fortinet Service Terms & Conditions, select "I have read, understood and accepted the contract stated above," and click "Accept" to complete the process.
Registering Fortinet Devices
Device registration varies slightly depending on the specific product, but generally follows a consistent pattern. For FortiManager devices specifically, the documented process involves:
Accessing Registration Interface: From the FortiManager dashboard, locate the License Information widget and click "Register Now for FortiCloud."
Entering Device Details: Complete the registration dialog with accurate device information. This typically includes the device serial number and potentially other identifying information.
Finalizing Registration: Click "OK" to initiate the connection between FortiManager and FortiCloud. Upon successful registration, a confirmation message appears at the top of the content pane, and the device status changes to "Registered."
For FortiGate devices specifically, additional steps may be required, particularly for activating cloud management features. The process often involves navigating to Dashboard > Status, locating the FortiGate Cloud widget, clicking "Not Activated > Activate," and entering the password for the account associated with the FortiGate registration.
Special Registration Considerations
Certain deployment scenarios require additional registration steps. For example, when implementing Overlay-as-a-Service (OaaS), FortiGate devices must be registered with FortiCare and activated with FortiGate Cloud. According to deployment guides, this dual registration is essential because "OaaS uses the FortiCloud management tunnel to FortiGates to retrieve interface information and to install configuration settings orchestrated from OaaS."
Overcoming Common Registration Challenges
Missing FortiCloud Keys
One of the most frequently encountered challenges occurs when FortiCloud keys are unavailable during device registration. Based on community troubleshooting experiences from Fortinet administrators, this situation typically arises when:
- Devices were purchased through resellers or distributors who didn't provide the registration keys
- Organizational changes resulted in lost documentation
- Inventory management systems failed to capture registration information
The community-recommended resolution process involves:
Contacting Fortinet Support: Initiate contact through Fortinet's technical support page via live chat or phone support. Budget approximately 2-3 hours for resolution due to potential response times.
Verification Preparation: Before contacting support, ensure you have registered the email address you want Fortinet to use for communication within your FortiCloud account (My Account > Manage User > Add User).
Gathering Proof of Ownership: Fortinet support will request verification that the devices belong to your organization through one of these methods:
- A copy of the packing slip or purchase documentation
- Photographs of the serial number label on the physical unit
- Screenshots from the device GUI displaying the serial number
Comprehensive Documentation: Create an Excel spreadsheet listing all device serial numbers requiring keys, accompanied by corresponding screenshots proving possession of each unit. Send this complete package to the email address provided by Fortinet support.
Receiving Keys: Upon verification, Fortinet typically provides the FortiCloud keys in the same Excel format submitted, enabling registration of all documented devices.
Account Transfers and Ownership Changes
As highlighted in community discussions, device transfer between accounts represents another common challenge. When pre-configuring devices for clients or transferring management responsibilities, administrators must consider:
- Whether registration under a service provider account can be transferred to client ownership
- How registration transfer impacts FortiGate Cloud account associations
- The implications for subscription services tied to the original registration
While official documentation provides limited detail on transfer processes, community experiences suggest that Fortinet support can facilitate these transitions when provided with proper documentation and authorization from both account holders.
FortiGate Cloud: Subscription Tiers and Features
Understanding Subscription Levels
FortiGate Cloud offers tiered subscription levels that determine available management capabilities:
| Feature | No Subscription | Standard Subscription | Advanced Subscription |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud Access | Read only | Read/write | Read/write |
| Hosted Log Retention | 7 days | 1 year | 1 year |
| Reports | 360 Degree Activity Report | Multiple pre-defined reports | Multiple pre-defined reports |
| Configuration Management | Not Available | Available | Available |
| Incident Management | Not Available | Available | Available |
| SD-WAN Monitoring | Not Available | Available | Available |
| Event Handlers | Not Available | Available | Available |
Activation Requirements
Activating FortiGate Cloud requires both device registration with FortiCare and explicit activation with the FortiGate Cloud service. As outlined in deployment guides, this dual requirement ensures that "OaaS uses the FortiCloud management tunnel to FortiGates to retrieve interface information and to install configuration settings orchestrated from OaaS."
The activation process typically involves accessing the FortiGate GUI, navigating to Dashboard > Status, locating the FortiGate Cloud widget, and clicking "Not Activated > Activate" before entering the password for the account associated with the FortiGate registration.
Best Practices for FortiCloud Management
Organizational Account Strategy
Based on both documentation and community experiences, developing a deliberate account strategy significantly impacts long-term management efficiency:
Centralized vs. Distributed Accounts: Consider whether a single organizational account or multiple department/team accounts best serves your operational model. Centralized accounts simplify cross-device management but may create administrative bottlenecks.
Documentation Standards: Maintain consistent records of all registration details, including serial numbers, FortiCloud keys, associated accounts, and subscription information. This documentation proves invaluable during troubleshooting, audits, or ownership transfers.
Account Security: Implement strong authentication practices for FortiCloud accounts, recognizing that these credentials provide access to critical security infrastructure management capabilities.
Proactive Registration Planning
To avoid registration complications:
Procurement Coordination: Ensure registration requirements are communicated during procurement processes, particularly when purchasing through third-party resellers or distributors.
Pre-deployment Registration: When possible, complete device registration during initial configuration phases rather than post-deployment, reducing potential connectivity or access issues.
Vendor Communication: Establish clear channels with Fortinet or authorized partners for addressing registration questions before they become operational roadblocks.
Conclusion: Maximizing Your Fortinet Investment
FortiCloud registration represents far more than an administrative formality—it's the gateway to comprehensive security management in increasingly complex network environments. By understanding the registration processes, anticipating common challenges, and implementing strategic account management practices, organizations can ensure they fully leverage Fortinet's security capabilities.
The experiences shared by the Fortinet community highlight both the importance of proper registration and the availability of support resources when challenges arise. Whether managing a single FortiGate device or coordinating an enterprise-scale deployment with multiple security components, investing time in understanding and properly implementing FortiCloud registration pays dividends through enhanced visibility, streamlined management, and maximized security effectiveness.
As Fortinet continues expanding its cloud management capabilities, with recent updates like the 25.4.a release introducing new features, maintaining proper registration ensures organizations can rapidly adopt these enhancements while maintaining consistent security postures across hybrid infrastructure deployments.
Frequently Asked Questions About FortiCloud Registration
Do I need separate accounts for FortiCloud and FortiGate Cloud?
No, you use the same FortiCloud credentials for both services. When you activate FortiGate Cloud on a registered device, you simply enter the password for the FortiCloud account that was used to register the FortiGate device initially.
What happens if I lose my FortiCloud keys for device registration?
If you don't have the FortiCloud keys, you can contact Fortinet Technical Support with proof of ownership (packing slips, photos of serial numbers, or GUI screenshots showing serial numbers). They can provide the keys after verification, though this process may take 2-3 hours for resolution.
Can I transfer a device registered under my account to a client's account?
Yes, device transfers between accounts are possible but typically require coordination with Fortinet support. This is a common scenario when service providers pre-configure devices for clients. The transfer process should include both the device registration and any associated FortiGate Cloud account associations.
What's the difference between registering with FortiCare and activating with FortiGate Cloud?
Registration with FortiCare establishes product ownership and entitlement to support services. Activation with FortiGate Cloud specifically enables the cloud-based management features for that device. Some services, like Overlay-as-a-Service (OaaS), require both steps to function properly.
Is there a free tier for FortiGate Cloud, and what does it include?
Yes, FortiGate Cloud offers a free subscription tier that provides read-only cloud access, 7 days of hosted log retention, and a 360 Degree Activity Report. To access advanced features like configuration management, longer log retention (1 year), or SD-WAN monitoring, you need a Standard or Advanced paid subscription.
How do government users create FortiCloud accounts?
Government users follow a slightly different account creation process. After entering their email address, they should select "I am a government user," then "Register." A confirmation dialog will appear to verify if they are U.S. Federal Government users, with specific steps for that category or the option to proceed normally if not.