A current NGFW customer has asked a systems engineer (SE) for a way to prove to their internal management team that its NGFW follows Zero Trust principles. Which action should the SE take?
Use the "Monitor > PDF Reports" node to schedule a weekly email of the Zero Trust report to the internal management team.
Help the customer build reports that align to their Zero Trust plan in the "Monitor > Manage Custom Reports" tab.
Use a third-party tool to pull the NGFW Zero Trust logs, and create a report that meets the customer's needs.
Use the "ACC" tab to help the customer build dashboards that highlight the historical tracking of the NGFW enforcing policies.
The Answer Is:
BExplanation:
To demonstrate compliance with Zero Trust principles, a systems engineer can leverage the rich reporting and logging capabilities of Palo Alto Networks firewalls. The focus should be on creating reports that align with the customer's Zero Trust strategy, providing detailed insights into policy enforcement, user activity, and application usage.
Option A: Scheduling a pre-built PDF report does not offer the flexibility to align the report with the customer’s specific Zero Trust plan. While useful for automated reporting, this option is too generic for demonstrating Zero Trust compliance.
Option B (Correct): Custom reports in the "Monitor > Manage Custom Reports" tab allow the customer to build tailored reports that align with their Zero Trust plan. These reports can include granular details such as application usage, user activity, policy enforcement logs, and segmentation compliance. This approach ensures the customer can present evidence directly related to their Zero Trust implementation.
Option C: Using a third-party tool is unnecessary as Palo Alto Networks NGFWs already have built-in capabilities to log, report, and demonstrate policy enforcement. This option adds complexity and may not fully leverage the native capabilities of the NGFW.
Option D: The Application Command Center (ACC) is useful for visualizing traffic and historical data but is not a reporting tool. While it can complement custom reports, it is not a substitute for generating Zero Trust-specific compliance reports.
The efforts of a systems engineer (SE) with an industrial mining company account have yielded interest in Palo Alto Networks as part of its effort to incorporate innovative design into operations using robots and remote-controlled vehicles in dangerous situations. A discovery call confirms that the company will receive control signals to its machines over a private mobile network using radio towers that connect to cloud-based applications that run the control programs.
Which two sets of solutions should the SE recommend?
That 5G Security be enabled and architected to ensure the cloud computing is not compromised in the commands it is sending to the onsite machines.
That Cloud NGFW be included to protect the cloud-based applications from external access into the cloud service provider hosting them.
That IoT Security be included for visibility into the machines and to ensure that other devices connected to the network are identified and given risk and behavior profiles.
That an Advanced CDSS bundle (Advanced Threat Prevention, Advanced WildFire, and Advanced URL Filtering) be procured to ensure the design receives advanced protection.
The Answer Is:
A, CExplanation:
5G Security (Answer A):
In this scenario, the mining company operates on a private mobile network, likely powered by 5G technology to ensure low latency and high bandwidth for controlling robots and vehicles.
Palo Alto Networks 5G Security is specifically designed to protect private mobile networks. It prevents exploitation of vulnerabilities in the 5G infrastructure and ensures the control signals sent to the machines are not compromised by attackers.
Key features include network slicing protection, signaling plane security, and secure user plane communications.
IoT Security (Answer C):
The mining operation depends on machines and remote-controlled vehicles, which are IoT devices.
Palo Alto Networks IoT Security provides:
Full device visibility to detect all IoT devices (such as robots, remote vehicles, or sensors).
Behavioral analysis to create risk profiles and identify anomalies in the machines' operations.
This ensures a secure environment for IoT devices, reducing the risk of a device being exploited.
Why Not Cloud NGFW (Answer B):
While Cloud NGFW is critical for protecting cloud-based applications, the specific concern here is protecting control signals and IoT devices rather than external access into the cloud service.
The private mobile network and IoT device protection requirements make 5G Security and IoT Security more relevant.
Why Not Advanced CDSS Bundle (Answer D):
The Advanced CDSS bundle (Advanced Threat Prevention, Advanced WildFire, Advanced URL Filtering) is essential for securing web traffic and detecting threats, but it does not address the specific challenges of securing private mobile networks and IoT devices.
While these services can supplement the design, they are not the primary focus in this use case.
References from Palo Alto Networks Documentation:
5G Security for Private Mobile Networks
IoT Security Solution Brief
Cloud NGFW Overview
Which action can help alleviate a prospective customer's concerns about transitioning from a legacy firewall with port-based policies to a Palo Alto Networks NGFW with application-based policies?
Discuss the PAN-OS Policy Optimizer feature as a means to safely migrate port-based rules to application-based rules.
Assure the customer that the migration wizard will automatically convert port-based rules to application-based rules upon installation of the new NGFW.
Recommend deploying a new NGFW firewall alongside the customer's existing port-based firewall until they are comfortable removing the port-based firewall.
Reassure the customer that the NGFW supports the continued use of port-based rules, as PAN-OS automatically translates these policies into application-based policies.
The Answer Is:
AExplanation:
A. Discuss the PAN-OS Policy Optimizer feature as a means to safely migrate port-based rules to application-based rules.
PAN-OS includes the Policy Optimizer tool, which helps migrate legacy port-based rules to application-based policies incrementally and safely. This tool identifies unused, redundant, or overly permissive rules and suggests optimized policies based on actual traffic patterns.
Why Other Options Are Incorrect
B: The migration wizard does not automatically convert port-based rules to application-based rules. Migration must be carefully planned and executed using tools like the Policy Optimizer.
C: Running two firewalls in parallel adds unnecessary complexity and is not a best practice for migration.
D: While port-based rules are supported, relying on them defeats the purpose of transitioning to application-based security.
Which two statements correctly describe best practices for sizing a firewall deployment with decryption enabled? (Choose two.)
SSL decryption traffic amounts vary from network to network.
Large average transaction sizes consume more processing power to decrypt.
Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) ephemeral key exchange algorithms such as Diffie-Hellman Ephemeral (DHE) and Elliptic-Curve Diffie-Hellman Exchange (ECDHE) consume more processing resources than Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) algorithms.
Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) certificate authentication method (not the RSA key exchange algorithm) consumes more resources than Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA), but ECDSA is more secure.
The Answer Is:
A, CExplanation:
When planning a firewall deployment with SSL/TLS decryption enabled, it is crucial to consider the additional processing overhead introduced by decrypting and inspecting encrypted traffic. Here are the details for each statement:
Why "SSL decryption traffic amounts vary from network to network" (Correct Answer A)?SSL decryption traffic varies depending on the organization’s specific network environment, user behavior, and applications. For example, networks with heavy web traffic, cloud applications, or encrypted VoIP traffic will have more SSL/TLS decryption processing requirements. This variability means each deployment must be properly assessed and sized accordingly.
Why "Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) ephemeral key exchange algorithms such as Diffie-Hellman Ephemeral (DHE) and Elliptic-Curve Diffie-Hellman Exchange (ECDHE) consume more processing resources than Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) algorithms" (Correct Answer C)?PFS algorithms like DHE and ECDHE generate unique session keys for each connection, ensuring better security but requiring significantly more processing power compared to RSA key exchange. When decryption is enabled, firewalls must handle these computationally expensive operations for every encrypted session, impacting performance and sizing requirements.
Why not "Large average transaction sizes consume more processing power to decrypt" (Option B)?While large transaction sizes can consume additional resources, SSL/TLS decryption is more dependent on the number of sessions and the complexity of the encryption algorithms used, rather than the size of the transactions. Hence, this is not a primary best practice consideration.
Why not "Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) certificate authentication method consumes more resources than Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA), but ECDSA is more secure" (Option D)?This statement discusses certificate authentication methods, not SSL/TLS decryption performance. While ECDSA is more efficient and secure than RSA, it is not directly relevant to sizing considerations for firewall deployments with decryption enabled.
Which three tools can a prospective customer use to evaluate Palo Alto Networks products to assess where they will fit in the existing architecture? (Choose three)
Proof of Concept (POC)
Policy Optimizer
Security Lifecycle Review (SLR)
Ultimate Test Drive
Expedition
The Answer Is:
A, C, DExplanation:
When evaluating Palo Alto Networks products, prospective customers need tools that can help them assess compatibility, performance, and value within their existing architecture. The following tools are the most relevant:
Why "Proof of Concept (POC)" (Correct Answer A)?A Proof of Concept is a hands-on evaluation that allows the customer to deploy and test Palo Alto Networks products directly within their environment. This enables them to assess real-world performance, compatibility, and operational impact.
Why "Security Lifecycle Review (SLR)" (Correct Answer C)?An SLR provides a detailed report of a customer’s network security posture based on data collected during a short evaluation period. It highlights risks, vulnerabilities, and active threats in the customer’s network, demonstrating how Palo Alto Networks solutions can address those risks. SLR is a powerful tool for justifying the value of a product in the customer’s architecture.
Why "Ultimate Test Drive" (Correct Answer D)?The Ultimate Test Drive is a guided hands-on workshop provided by Palo Alto Networks that allows prospective customers to explore product features and capabilities in a controlled environment. It is ideal for customers who want to evaluate products without deploying them in their production network.
Why not "Policy Optimizer" (Option B)?Policy Optimizer is used after a product has been deployed to refine security policies by identifying unused or overly permissive rules. It is not designed for pre-deployment evaluations.
Why not "Expedition" (Option E)?Expedition is a migration tool that assists with the conversion of configurations from third-party firewalls or existing Palo Alto Networks firewalls. It is not a tool for evaluating the suitability of products in the customer’s architecture.
A large global company plans to acquire 500 NGFWs to replace its legacy firewalls and has a specific requirement for centralized logging and reporting capabilities.
What should a systems engineer recommend?
Combine Panorama for firewall management with Palo Alto Networks' cloud-based Strata Logging Service to offer scalability for the company's logging and reporting infrastructure.
Use Panorama for firewall management and to transfer logs from the 500 firewalls directly to a third-party SIEM for centralized logging and reporting.
Highlight the efficiency of PAN-OS, which employs AI to automatically extract critical logs and generate daily executive reports, and confirm that the purchase of 500 NGFWs is sufficient.
Deploy a pair of M-1000 log collectors in the customer data center, and route logs from all 500 firewalls to the log collectors for centralized logging and reporting.
The Answer Is:
AExplanation:
A large deployment of 500 firewalls requires a scalable, centralized logging and reporting infrastructure. Here's the analysis of each option:
Option A: Combine Panorama for firewall management with Palo Alto Networks' cloud-based Strata Logging Service to offer scalability for the company's logging and reporting infrastructure
The Strata Logging Service (or Cortex Data Lake) is a cloud-based solution that offers massive scalability for logging and reporting. Combined with Panorama, it allows for centralized log collection, analysis, and policy management without the need for extensive on-premises infrastructure.
This approach is ideal for large-scale environments like the one described in the scenario, as it ensures cost-effectiveness and scalability.
This is the correct recommendation.
Option B: Use Panorama for firewall management and to transfer logs from the 500 firewalls directly to a third-party SIEM for centralized logging and reporting
While third-party SIEM solutions can be integrated with Palo Alto Networks NGFWs, directly transferring logs from 500 firewalls to a SIEM can lead to bottlenecks and scalability issues. Furthermore, relying on third-party solutions may not provide the same level of native integration as the Strata Logging Service.
This is not the ideal recommendation.
Option C: Highlight the efficiency of PAN-OS, which employs AI to automatically extract critical logs and generate daily executive reports, and confirm that the purchase of 500 NGFWs is sufficient
While PAN-OS provides AI-driven insights and reporting, this option does not address the requirement for centralized logging and reporting. It also dismisses the need for additional infrastructure to handle logs from 500 firewalls.
This is incorrect.
Option D: Deploy a pair of M-1000 log collectors in the customer data center, and route logs from all 500 firewalls to the log collectors for centralized logging and reporting
The M-1000 appliance is an on-premises log collector, but it has limitations in terms of scalability and storage capacity when compared to cloud-based options like the Strata Logging Service. Deploying only two M-1000 log collectors for 500 firewalls would result in potential performance and storage challenges.
This is not the best recommendation.
While a quote is being finalized for a customer that is purchasing multiple PA-5400 series firewalls, the customer specifies the need for protection against zero-day malware attacks.
Which Cloud-Delivered Security Services (CDSS) subscription add-on license should be included in the quote?
AI Access Security
Advanced Threat Prevention
Advanced WildFire
App-ID
The Answer Is:
CExplanation:
Zero-day malware attacks are sophisticated threats that exploit previously unknown vulnerabilities or malware signatures. To provide protection against such attacks, the appropriate Cloud-Delivered Security Service subscription must be included.
Why "Advanced WildFire" (Correct Answer C)?Advanced WildFire is Palo Alto Networks’ sandboxing solution that identifies and prevents zero-day malware. It uses machine learning, dynamic analysis, and static analysis to detect unknown malware in real time.
Files and executables are analyzed in the cloud-based sandbox, and protections are shared globally within minutes.
Advanced WildFire specifically addresses zero-day threats by dynamically analyzing suspicious files and generating new signatures.
Why not "AI Access Security" (Option A)?AI Access Security is designed to secure SaaS applications by monitoring and enforcing data protection and compliance. While useful for SaaS security, it does not focus on detecting or preventing zero-day malware.
Why not "Advanced Threat Prevention" (Option B)?Advanced Threat Prevention (ATP) focuses on detecting zero-day exploits (e.g., SQL injection, buffer overflows) using inline deep learning but is not specifically designed to analyze and prevent zero-day malware. ATP complements Advanced WildFire, but WildFire is the primary solution for malware detection.
Why not "App-ID" (Option D)?App-ID identifies and controls applications on the network. While it improves visibility and security posture, it does not address zero-day malware detection or prevention.
Which two compliance frameworks are included with the Premium version of Strata Cloud Manager (SCM)? (Choose two)
Payment Card Industry (PCI)
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Center for Internet Security (CIS)
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
The Answer Is:
A, BExplanation:
Step 1: Understanding Strata Cloud Manager (SCM) Premium
Strata Cloud Manager is a unified management interface for Strata NGFWs, Prisma Access, and other Palo Alto Networks solutions. The Premium version (subscription-based) includes advanced features like:
AIOps Premium: Predictive analytics, capacity planning, and compliance reporting.
Compliance Posture Management: Pre-built dashboards and reports for specific regulatory frameworks.
Compliance frameworks in SCM Premium provide visibility into adherence to standards like PCI DSS and NIST, generating actionable insights and audit-ready reports based on firewall configurations, logs, and traffic data.
