PSE-Strata Practice Exam Questions with Answers Palo Alto Networks System Engineer Professional - Strata Certification

To configure the Decryption Broker, the following two steps are required:

Activate the Decryption Broker license: Ensure that the appropriate license is activated to enable the decryption broker feature.

Enable SSL Forward Proxy decryption: Configure SSL Forward Proxy decryption on the firewall to intercept, decrypt, and inspect SSL/TLS traffic. This setup allows the decrypted traffic to be forwarded to other security devices for further analysis.

These steps are essential to leverage the Decryption Broker functionality, which facilitates deeper inspection and security analysis of encrypted traffic.

References:

Palo Alto Networks Decryption Broker Configuration Guide

Palo Alto Networks SSL Decryption Documentation

When access to a business site is blocked by URL Filtering inline machine learning (ML) and it is identified as a false positive, the appropriate way to resolve this is to create a custom URL category and add the site to the exceptions list of the inline ML profile. This ensures that the specific URL is no longer subjected to the filtering rules applied by the inline ML, thereby allowing access to the site.

Creating a custom URL category and adding it to the exceptions of the inline ML profile ensures that the legitimate business site is accessible without completely disabling the URL Filtering inline ML feature, which would reduce overall security effectiveness.

References:

Palo Alto Networks, URL Filtering Administration Guide.

WildFire can analyze various script types to detect and mitigate potential threats.

JScript (Option C):

JScript files can be used in web-based attacks and are commonly analyzed by WildFire.

WildFire is Palo Alto Networks' advanced threat detection service that provides protections and verdicts for portable executable (PE) and executable and linkable format (ELF) files. It utilizes dynamic and static analysis to detect malicious behavior in files and integrates with existing security tools to provide comprehensive protection. WildFire can detect and prevent threats across multiple file types and platforms, making it suitable for environments that require robust security measures.

The SP3 (Single Pass Parallel Processing) architecture of Palo Alto Networks' Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) is designed to address high-throughput and low-latency requirements while providing comprehensive security features. This architecture allows the firewall to process network traffic in a single pass for all security functions, which significantly enhances performance by reducing latency and ensuring high throughput. By highlighting SP3, you can assure potential customers that the NGFW can handle their performance needs while delivering robust security.

Logs from various products can be sent to the Cortex Data Lake, which serves as a centralized logging and data repository:

PA-3260 firewall: This next-generation firewall (NGFW) is capable of forwarding comprehensive logs, including threat, traffic, and user activity data, to the Cortex Data Lake for centralized analysis and response.

Prisma Access: This cloud-delivered security service ensures secure access to applications and data from anywhere. It integrates with Cortex Data Lake to provide consistent security across all users, irrespective of their location, by logging security events and user activities? (Palo Alto Networks)?? (Palo Alto Networks)?? (Palo Alto Networks)?.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) significantly enhances security by requiring multiple forms of verification to access accounts, reducing the risk of abuse from stolen credentials. URL Filtering Profiles block access to malicious or high-risk websites that might be used to harvest credentials or facilitate phishing attacks. SSL decryption rules allow security systems to inspect encrypted traffic, ensuring that malicious content is not being hidden within encrypted sessions, thereby preventing the use of stolen credentials on secure sites. These measures collectively help in reducing the risk of credential theft and misuse.

References:

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines on authentication

Palo Alto Networks' Best Practices for URL Filtering

SSL Decryption in Network Security (SANS Institute)

The Query Builder found in the Custom Report creation dialog of the firewall specifically includes the following components:

Connector (A): This is used to connect different parts of the query, allowing the user to specify how data elements are linked.

Operator (D): Operators are used to define the conditions for the query, such as equals, not equals, greater than, etc.

Attribute (E): Attributes represent the fields or data points that can be queried.

These components are essential for building effective and precise queries within the custom report creation functionality of the firewall, ensuring that users can extract relevant data based on specific conditions.

The Vulnerability Protection Profile on a Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) includes signatures specifically designed to protect against a variety of threats, including brute force attacks. This profile utilizes a database of known vulnerabilities and exploits to detect and block malicious attempts to compromise network security. By applying this profile, administrators can prevent attackers from successfully using brute force methods to gain unauthorized access to systems.

Decryption port mirroring is supported on all hardware-based and VM-Series firewalls, with specific exceptions.

Decryption port mirroring: This feature allows the firewall to forward decrypted traffic to a traffic analysis tool, providing visibility into encrypted traffic. It is supported on all hardware-based and VM-Series firewalls, except for deployments on VMware NSX, Citrix SDX, or public cloud hypervisors.

The CLI command to view SD-WAN events, such as path selection and path quality measurements, is essential for network administrators to monitor and troubleshoot SD-WAN operations.

CLI Command:

>show sdwan event

This command provides visibility into SD-WAN events, including path selection decisions and path quality metrics.

When there are different Master Keys on Panorama and managed firewalls, the push operation of configurations from Panorama to the managed firewalls will succeed provided there is no error within the configuration itself. The Master Key differences do not interfere with the configuration push process as long as the configurations are valid and free of errors.

References: Palo Alto Networks Panorama Administration Guide.

During a security event, the Traps agent (part of Cortex XDR) performs several actions beyond just preventing the activity:

Collects forensic information about the event: The Traps agent gathers detailed information regarding the event, which helps in understanding the nature and source of the threat.

Communicates the status of the endpoint to the ESM (Endpoint Security Manager): This communication ensures that the ESM is aware of the current state of the endpoint, helping in centralized management and response.

Notifies the user about the event: The agent informs the user about the occurrence of a security event, which can help in immediate local response and awareness.

References:

Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Documentation

Palo Alto Networks Traps Agent User Guide

Dynamic user groups (DUGs) provide flexibility in managing user access and security policies.

Tagging Users via Panorama or Web UI (Option B):

Administrators can manually add or remove users from DUGs using the graphical interface provided by Panorama or the firewall’s Web UI.

Deploying Panorama in a High Availability (HA) configuration provides significant advantages, especially for maintaining the management layer and ensuring robust log collection. Here are the key reasons:

Ensure Management Continuity: By deploying a second Panorama appliance in an HA setup, you can ensure continuous management of your firewall environment. In the event that the primary Panorama appliance fails, the secondary appliance can take over, ensuring that there is no interruption in management capabilities. This is crucial for maintaining operational stability and uninterrupted administrative functions? (Palo Alto Networks)?? (Palo Alto Networks)?.

Improve Log Collection Redundancy: An HA setup improves the redundancy and reliability of log collection. If the primary Panorama appliance that is collecting logs from various firewalls becomes unavailable, the secondary appliance can continue the log collection process. This ensures that all security events and network activities are recorded without gaps, which is essential for effective monitoring and incident response? (Palo Alto Networks)?? (Palo Alto Networks Knowledge Base)?.

The update frequencies for the databases of different subscription services on Palo Alto Networks are as follows:

Anti-virus: Daily updates ensure that the latest virus definitions and malware signatures are available to protect against new threats.

Application: Weekly updates provide the latest application signatures to maintain accurate application identification and control.

Threats: Daily updates deliver the most current threat signatures to enhance the firewall's ability to detect and prevent emerging threats.

WildFire: Updates every 5 minutes ensure that the latest malware analysis results and protections are quickly disseminated to protect against new and evolving threats.

These update intervals are designed to provide comprehensive and up-to-date protection against a wide range of security threats.

References:

Palo Alto Networks Threat Prevention Documentation

Palo Alto Networks WildFire Subscription Service Guide

With a WildFire subscription, email links contained in SMTP and POP3 messages can be submitted for WildFire analysis if they are either HTTP or HTTPS links. WildFire is a cloud-based threat analysis service that dynamically analyzes these links to detect malicious content. By submitting HTTP and HTTPS links, the system can effectively identify and block threats before they reach the end user, enhancing overall email security.

The SIA (Scan It All) Processing Engine in a Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) is responsible for handling multiple security functions such as file proxy solutions, virus and spyware scanning, vulnerability scanning, and HTTP decoding for URL filtering. This engine ensures comprehensive security coverage by performing deep inspection and analysis of network traffic to detect and mitigate various types of threats, ensuring robust protection for the network.

The customer currently lacks visibility into the Layer 7 application traffic on port 53, which is typically used for DNS. Palo Alto Networks' App-ID technology can identify applications traversing the network irrespective of the port, protocol, or encryption (SSL or SSH). By using App-ID, the customer can gain visibility into the specific applications being used, even if they are running over standard ports such as 53. This capability not only identifies the applications but also allows for granular control over them, enabling the customer to block unsanctioned applications if necessary.

In Panorama, the centralized management tool for Palo Alto Networks firewalls, WildFire analysis reports, threat logs, and botnet reports are essential for identifying the inclusion of a host source in a command-and-control (C2) incident. WildFire analysis reports provide detailed insights into malware behavior and characteristics. Threat logs record events related to security threats, such as attempted intrusions or malware detections. Botnet reports specifically track botnet activity, identifying compromised hosts that communicate with known botnet servers. By reviewing these reports and logs, administrators can accurately identify and mitigate C2 incidents.

The command show sdwan rule interface allows you to view the names of SD-WAN policy rules that send traffic to the specified virtual SD-WAN interface. This command also provides performance metrics related to the specified interface, helping administrators monitor and troubleshoot SD-WAN policies and their effectiveness? (Marks4Sure)?.

The key benefit of Palo Alto Networks' Single Pass Parallel Processing (SP3) design is that it allows the addition of new functions to existing hardware without significant performance degradation. The SP3 architecture processes traffic in a single pass, applying all security functions (such as threat prevention, URL filtering, and application identification) simultaneously, which enhances performance and efficiency. This design ensures that the firewall can scale to meet increasing demands and integrate new security features as they are developed.

References: Palo Alto Networks SP3 architecture whitepaper.

To provide access for 5500 mobile users and 10 remote locations (100Mbps each) for one year with Base Support and minimal logging, the following Bill of Materials (BOM) should be selected:

5500x PAN-GPCS-USER-C-BAS-1YR: This covers the license for 5500 mobile users for one year.

1000x PAN-GPCS-NET-B-BAS-1YR: This covers the network license for 10 remote locations.

1x PAN-LGS-1TB-1YR: This provides minimal logging capability.

1x PAN-PRA-25: This includes the Prisma Access license.

1x PAN-SVC-BAS-PRA-25: This includes the Base Support service for Prisma Access.

These components ensure that the customer has the necessary licenses and support to meet their requirements.

Cortex XDR licensing is based on the number of nodes and endpoints providing logs. This model ensures that organizations are charged according to the volume of endpoints and devices that are integrated with the Cortex XDR platform for comprehensive detection and response capabilities. By basing the licensing on endpoints and nodes, Cortex XDR offers a scalable and flexible solution that can adapt to the specific needs and growth of an organization's network infrastructure.

References:

Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Licensing Guide

Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Datasheet

When configuring Prisma Cloud to scan your Amazon S3 account, the service requires specific permissions to access your S3 resources. This is achieved by providing the access key ID, which, along with the secret access key, allows Prisma Cloud to authenticate and authorize the necessary access to your S3 buckets. This method ensures secure and efficient management of permissions and access within your AWS environment? (Palo Alto Networks)?? (Palo Alto Networks)?.

Correlation objects in Palo Alto Networks' security solutions are designed to identify and highlight potential security risks. Two key network events that are flagged as potential security risks include:

Identified Vulnerability Exploits: These are attempts to exploit known vulnerabilities within the network. By correlating various data points, the system can identify patterns that suggest an exploit attempt is in progress, allowing for timely intervention and mitigation? (Marks4Sure)?.

Suspicious Host Behavior: This includes any activity that deviates from normal behavior patterns for hosts within the network. Such behaviors might indicate compromised systems or malicious insiders. By analyzing and correlating these anomalies, the system helps in identifying potential security breaches early? (Marks4Sure)?.

In a Palo Alto Networks firewall, when configuring User-ID, there are two essential components that must be configured: User Mapping and Group Mapping.

User Mapping involves identifying users by their usernames, which helps in associating network traffic with user activity. This is critical for applying user-specific policies and monitoring user activities.

Group Mapping involves associating users with their respective groups, typically pulled from a directory service like LDAP. This allows the firewall to apply policies based on group membership, making it easier to manage policies for large numbers of users.

These components enable the firewall to enforce security policies based on user identity and group membership, enhancing overall network security by ensuring that policies are applied accurately.

When HTTP header logging is enabled on a URL Filtering profile in Palo Alto Networks firewalls, the attribute-value that can be logged includes:

X-Forwarded-For (A): This HTTP header is commonly used to identify the originating IP address of a client connecting to a web server through an HTTP proxy or load balancer. Logging this header allows administrators to track the source IP addresses of clients accessing resources through proxies, providing better visibility into user activity.

References:

Palo Alto Networks, URL Filtering Profiles Documentation.

HTTP Header Field Definitions (RFC 7239).

To ensure that firewalls have the most current set of signatures for up-to-date protection, it is recommended to use dynamic updates with the most aggressive schedule required by business needs. Dynamic updates allow the firewall to automatically download and install the latest threat signatures and security updates from Palo Alto Networks. This approach minimizes the window of vulnerability by ensuring that the firewall is consistently equipped with the most recent protections against emerging threats. Setting an aggressive update schedule ensures timely application of critical updates, enhancing the overall security posture of the network.

To enable Credential Phishing Prevention on a Palo Alto Networks firewall, several actions need to be taken to detect and block phishing attempts effectively.

Enable User Credential Detection: This is crucial for identifying when user credentials are being sent to potentially malicious or unknown sites.

Enable User-ID: This feature maps IP addresses to user identities, which is necessary for identifying which user credentials are being used and applying relevant security policies.

Define a URL Filtering profile: This profile allows the firewall to inspect and control web traffic, blocking access to phishing sites and other malicious URLs.

To avoid split-brain scenarios in an active/passive high availability (HA) pair deployment, it is essential to ensure reliable communication between the HA peers. Using the management interface as the HA1 backup link provides an additional communication path between the firewalls, ensuring they can synchronize state information and avoid scenarios where both units assume the active role due to a communication failure.

To configure SSL Forward Proxy, two types of certificates can be used:

Enterprise CA-signed certificates: These certificates are issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) within the organization, ensuring trust within the enterprise environment.

Self-Signed certificates: These are generated and signed by the firewall itself. While easier to deploy, they may not be trusted by external clients unless explicitly added to their trust stores.

Both types of certificates allow the firewall to decrypt and inspect SSL/TLS traffic, ensuring that malicious traffic can be detected and blocked even when encrypted.

References: Palo Alto Networks SSL Decryption documentation.

For the User-ID Agent to perform WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) Authentication on a Windows Server, the following domain permissions are required:

Domain Administrators: This group has the highest level of privileges in the domain and can perform any action within the Active Directory domain.

Distributed COM Users: This group allows members to launch, activate, and use Distributed COM objects on the server.

Event Log Readers: This group provides read access to the event logs, which is crucial for the User-ID Agent to collect security events necessary for user identification? (Palo Alto Networks)?? (Palo Alto Networks)?.

The Best Practice Assessment (BPA) tool provided by Palo Alto Networks helps organizations to assess and improve their security posture. The tool identifies several best practices, including:

Use of Decryption Policies: Implementing decryption policies ensures that encrypted traffic can be inspected for threats. This is crucial for identifying and mitigating risks hidden within SSL/TLS encrypted traffic? (Marks4Sure)?.

Measure the Adoption of URL Filters, App-ID, User-ID: The BPA tool evaluates how effectively the organization is utilizing URL filtering, application identification (App-ID), and user identification (User-ID) to enforce security policies. These technologies are essential for granular control and visibility over network traffic? (Marks4Sure)?.

Identify Sanctioned and Unsanctioned SaaS Applications: The tool helps in identifying which SaaS applications are being used within the network, distinguishing between those that are sanctioned by IT and those that are not. This visibility is crucial for managing shadow IT and ensuring that only approved applications are used, reducing security risks? (Marks4Sure)?.

The CLI command that allows you to view latency, jitter, and packet loss on a virtual SD-WAN interface is:

show sdwan path-monitor stats vif

This command displays the statistics related to the virtual SD-WAN interface, including important metrics such as latency, jitter, and packet loss. These metrics are crucial for monitoring the performance and quality of the SD-WAN connections to ensure optimal network performance and quick identification of issues.

References:

Palo Alto Networks SD-WAN Configuration Guide

Palo Alto Networks CLI Reference

This action will optimize the traffic flow by ensuring that there is a direct and efficient path for traffic within the Americas region. By onboarding a Service Connection in this region, you can reduce latency and improve the performance of the network for users and branches located there. This adjustment is critical for maintaining optimal network performance and user experience.