Free Practice Questions for Paloalto Networks PSE-Strata Exam

WildFire, Palo Alto Networks' advanced threat analysis service, has expanded its capabilities to analyze the following new script types:

VBScript: A scripting language commonly used in Windows environments for automation and administrative tasks, which can be exploited for malicious purposes.

JScript: A Microsoft implementation of JavaScript, used in various applications and often targeted by attackers for script-based exploits.

PowerShell Script: A powerful scripting language used for task automation and configuration management in Windows, which has become a common target for advanced attacks due to its capabilities.

By analyzing these script types, WildFire enhances its ability to detect and prevent sophisticated attacks that leverage scripting languages.

References:

Palo Alto Networks WildFire Datasheet

Palo Alto Networks WildFire Administration Guide

When deploying User-ID, it's crucial to specify included and excluded networks to ensure that only relevant traffic is monitored, reducing unnecessary load and potential privacy concerns. Enabling User-ID only on trusted zones minimizes the risk of exposing sensitive user information. Using a dedicated service account with minimal permissions necessary for User-ID services enhances security by limiting the potential damage if the account is compromised.

References:

Palo Alto Networks' User-ID Best Practices

NIST Special Publication 800-53 on Access Control

Anti-Spyware Signatures are designed to detect and block known malware, including those that attempt to establish command-and-control (C2) connections with external servers. When an endpoint inside an organization is infected with known malware, the anti-spyware signatures on the firewall can recognize the malicious traffic and prevent the connection from being established. This mechanism works by inspecting traffic against a database of known spyware and malware signatures, thereby stopping the malware from communicating with its C2 server.

The metric health baseline for devices is typically calculated by taking the average performance of a specific metric over a period (such as seven days) and then adding the standard deviation to account for variability. This helps in identifying deviations from normal performance, which can indicate potential issues or anomalies in device behavior.

References:

Network Performance Monitoring and Diagnostics (NPMD) methodologies

ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) standards for performance baselines

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.

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.

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

The Palo Alto Networks Security Operating Platform is designed to prevent various stages of the cyberattack lifecycle. Specifically, it effectively prevents the following four stages:

Breach the Perimeter: By using advanced threat prevention mechanisms, the platform can stop initial attempts to penetrate the network perimeter.

Lateral Movement: Once inside the network, attackers often try to move laterally to access more systems. The platform uses network segmentation and advanced monitoring to detect and prevent such movements.

Exfiltrate Data: Data exfiltration is the process of unauthorized data transfer out of the network. The platform employs data loss prevention (DLP) technologies to detect and block such attempts.

Deliver the Malware: The platform can prevent malware delivery through its threat prevention capabilities, including anti-malware, anti-spyware, and sandboxing technologies.

These steps cover critical phases where the platform can intervene to stop attacks before they cause significant damage.

Palo Alto Networks Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) offers significant business value by automating and simplifying the process of adding new firewalls to the network, specifically the Panorama management server.

Automation and Simplification:

ZTP automates the initial configuration and deployment of new firewalls, reducing the need for manual intervention.

This leads to faster deployment times and reduces the potential for human error.