Configuring WatchGuard Firewall with ISP for Internet Access, Website Blocking, VPN Setup, and VLAN Configuration

When setting up a WatchGuard firewall, you need to configure it to connect with your ISP, allow clients to access the internet, enforce web filtering policies to block certain websites, set up a VPN for remote access, and create VLANs for network segmentation. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to achieve these configurations effectively.

1- Connecting WatchGuard to Your ISP

1. Access the WatchGuard Web UI
   • Open a web browser and enter the IP address of the WatchGuard firewall.
   • Log in using the administrator credentials.
2. Configure WAN Interface
   • Navigate to Network > Interfaces.
   • Select the external interface (usually eth0 or WAN1).
   • Choose the connection type provided by your ISP (Static, DHCP, or PPPoE):
     • DHCP: If your ISP assigns an IP dynamically, select DHCP.
     • Static IP: Enter the IP address, subnet mask, and gateway provided by the ISP.
     • PPPoE: Enter the username and password given by the ISP.
   • Click Save and Apply.
3. Set Up DNS
   • Go to Network > DNS Settings.
   • Add the ISP’s DNS servers or use public DNS (e.g., Google DNS: 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4).
   • Apply the changes.

2- Allowing Clients to Access the Internet

1. Configure Internal Network (LAN)
   • Navigate to Network > Interfaces.
   • Configure the LAN interface (e.g., eth1) with an IP (e.g., 192.168.1.1/24).
   • Enable DHCP to assign IP addresses automatically if needed.
   • Apply the settings.
2. Create an Outbound Internet Policy
   • Go to Firewall > Firewall Policies.
   • Click Add Policy and select Allow.
   • Set the policy name (e.g., “Allow Internet”).
   • Under From, select Trusted/Internal.
   • Under To, select External/WAN.
   • Allow necessary services (e.g., HTTP, HTTPS, DNS).
   • Save and apply the policy.

3- Blocking Specific Websites

1. Enable WebBlocker (WatchGuard Subscription Required)
   • Navigate to Security Services > WebBlocker.
   • Enable WebBlocker and select a web filtering database (e.g., WebSense or SurfControl).
2. Create a WebBlocker Policy
   • Go to Firewall > Firewall Policies.
   • Click Add Policy.
   • Select HTTP & HTTPS Proxy as the type.
   • Under From, choose Internal (LAN).
   • Under To, choose External (WAN).
   • Under Security Services, enable WebBlocker.
   • Define the categories to block (e.g., social media, adult content, or specific URLs like youtube.com, facebook.com).
   • Save and apply the policy.

4- Setting Up a VPN for Remote Clients

1. Enable VPN Services
   • Navigate to VPN > Global Settings.
   • Enable Mobile VPN with SSL or IPSec VPN, depending on your requirements.
2. Configure SSL VPN for Remote Clients
   • Go to VPN > Mobile VPN with SSL.
   • Enable SSL VPN and configure the authentication settings (e.g., user-based authentication via Firebox DB, RADIUS, or Active Directory).
   • Define the VPN IP address pool (e.g., 192.168.100.0/24).
   • Apply the settings.
3. Download and Distribute the VPN Client
   • In the SSL VPN settings, download the WatchGuard SSL VPN client software.
   • Distribute the client software to remote users.
   • Provide users with their login credentials and the necessary configuration settings.
4. Testing VPN Connectivity
   • Install the VPN client on a remote device.
   • Connect to the VPN using the assigned credentials.
   • Verify that the client can access internal network resources.

5- Creating VLANs for Network Segmentation

1. Enable VLAN Support
   • Navigate to Network > Interfaces.
   • Click Add VLAN.
   • Enable VLAN support on the desired interfaces.
2. Create VLANs
   • Assign a VLAN ID (e.g., VLAN 10 for guest network, VLAN 20 for staff).
   • Set an IP address for each VLAN (e.g., 192.168.10.1/24 for VLAN 10, 192.168.20.1/24 for VLAN 20).
   • Configure DHCP settings for each VLAN if needed.
3. Assign VLANs to Interfaces
   • Map VLANs to specific physical ports or SSIDs if using Wi-Fi.
   • Ensure the switch connected to the firewall supports VLAN tagging (802.1Q).
4. Create Firewall Rules for VLAN Communication
   • Go to Firewall > Firewall Policies.
   • Define rules allowing or restricting traffic between VLANs based on security needs.
   • Apply and save the policies.

6- Testing the Configuration

1. Check Internet Access
   • Connect a client PC to the network.
   • Try browsing the internet to verify connectivity.
2. Verify Site Blocking
   • Try accessing a blocked website.
   • The browser should display a message that the site is restricted.
3. Confirm VPN Connection
   • Have a remote user connect via VPN.
   • Ensure they can access internal network resources.
4. Test VLAN Functionality
   • Connect devices to different VLANs and test communication restrictions.
   • Verify that devices in separate VLANs follow security policies.

For more advanced configurations, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) and advanced threat protection, explore additional WatchGuard security features.