What is the significance of policy-based routing in FortiGate configurations?

Policy-based routing is significant in FortiGate configurations because it allows administrators to define specific routing decisions based on various characteristics of the traffic and predefined security policies. Unlike traditional routing, which makes decisions solely based on destination IP addresses, policy-based routing provides the flexibility to direct traffic according to criteria such as source address, protocol, application, or even time of day. This tailored approach enables more granular control over how traffic is managed and secured, aligning routing paths with the security needs and operational requirements of the network.

For example, an organization may want to route voice over IP (VoIP) traffic through a specific path to ensure quality of service, while sending less critical data over a different route. By leveraging policy-based routing, network administrators can optimize traffic flow, improve performance, and enhance security within their FortiGate firewall configuration. This capability is particularly valuable in complex network environments where different types of traffic require different handling.