What does application control in FortiGate regulate?

Application control in FortiGate primarily focuses on regulating the use of specific applications over the network. This functionality enables network administrators to monitor and manage application traffic, providing granular control over the applications that are allowed or denied on a network.

By using application control, Fortinet devices can identify applications based on their behavior rather than merely relying on port and protocol information. This is particularly useful for controlling high-bandwidth applications that may consume excessive resources or create security vulnerabilities. Furthermore, it allows organizations to enforce policies related to acceptable use, ensuring that applications deemed unsafe or inappropriate for the network environment can be blocked or limited.

For example, an organization might want to restrict access to certain streaming applications during work hours to preserve bandwidth for critical business functions. Through application control, administrators can create rules that precisely define which applications are permitted or restricted, thereby enhancing security and optimizing network performance.

The other options do not accurately reflect the capabilities and purpose of application control. While access speed, installation processes, and interface design may be relevant to application performance or user experience, they are not directly controlled by FortiGate's application control feature.