Answer: A

Explanation:

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.

Reference:

Palo Alto Networks Policy Optimizer

Answer: A, C

Explanation:

Zero Trust principles revolve around minimizing trust in the network and verifying every interaction.

To adopt Zero Trust, customers should start by gaining visibility and understanding the network and

its transactions.

A . Understand which users, devices, infrastructure, applications, data, and services are part of the

network or have access to it.

The first step in adopting Zero Trust is understanding the full scope of the network. Identifying users,

devices, applications, and data is critical for building a comprehensive security strategy.

C . Map the transactions between users, applications, and data, then verify and inspect those

transactions.

After identifying all assets, the next step is to map interactions and enforce verification and

inspection of these transactions to ensure security.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

B: Enabling CDSS subscriptions is important for protection but comes after foundational Zero Trust

principles are established.

D: Implementing VM-Series NGFWs is part of enforcing Zero Trust, but it is not the first step. Visibility

and understanding come first.

Reference:

Palo Alto Networks Zero Trust Overview

Answer: A, D

Explanation:

Strata Cloud Manager (SCM) is Palo Alto Networks centralized cloud-based management platform

for managing network security solutions, including Prisma Access and Prisma SD-WAN. SCM can also

integrate with VM-Series firewalls for managing virtualized NGFW deployments.

Why A (Prisma SD-WAN) Is Correct

SCM is the management interface for Prisma SD-WAN, enabling centralized orchestration,

monitoring, and configuration of SD-WAN deployments.

Why D (VM-Series NGFW) Is Correct

SCM supports managing VM-Series NGFWs, providing centralized visibility and control for virtualized

firewall deployments in cloud or on-premises environments.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

B (Prisma Cloud): Prisma Cloud is a separate product for securing workloads in public cloud

environments. It is not managed via SCM.

C (Cortex XDR): Cortex XDR is a platform for endpoint detection and response (EDR). It is managed

through its own console, not SCM.

Reference:

Palo Alto Networks Strata Cloud Manager Overview

Answer: B

Explanation:
The PA-400 Series is the most cost-efficient Palo Alto Networks NGFW for small branch offices. Lets analyze the options: PA-400 Series (Recommended Option)

The PA-400 Series (PA-410, PA-415, etc.) is specifically designed for small to medium-sized branch

offices with fewer than 50 users.

It provides all the necessary security features, including Advanced Threat Prevention, at a lower price

point compared to higher-tier models.

It supports PAN-OS and Cloud-Delivered Security Services (CDSS), making it suitable for securing

internet traffic at branch locations.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

PA-200: The PA-200 is an older model and is no longer available. It lacks the performance and

features needed for modern branch office security.

PA-500: The PA-500 is also an older model that is not as cost-efficient as the PA-400 Series.

PA-600: The PA-600 Series does not exist.

Key Takeaways:

For branch offices with fewer than 50 users, the PA-400 Series offers the best balance of cost and

performance.

Reference:

Palo Alto Networks PA-400 Series Datasheet

Answer: B

Explanation:

When preparing for a customer meeting, its important to understand their specific challenges and

align solutions accordingly. The notes suggest that the customer is facing difficulties securing their

cloud apps and remote users, which are core areas addressed by Palo Alto Networks Zero Trust and

SASE solutions. However, jumping directly into a pitch or product demonstration without validating

the customer's specific challenges may fail to build trust or fully address their needs Option A: Leading with a pre-structured pitch about Zero Trust principles may not resonate with the

customer if their challenges are not fully understood first. The team needs to gather insights into the

customer's security pain points before presenting a solution.

Option B (Correct): Discovery questions are a critical step in the sales process, especially when

addressing complex topics like Zero Trust. By designing targeted questions about the customers

challenges with identity, devices, data, and access, the SE can identify specific pain points. These

insights can then be used to tailor a Zero Trust strategy that directly addresses the customers

concerns. This approach ensures the meeting is customer-focused and demonstrates that the SE

understands their unique needs.

Option C: While a product demonstration of GlobalProtect, Prisma Access, and SaaS security is

valuable, it should come after discovery. Presenting products prematurely may seem like a generic

sales pitch and could fail to address the customers actual challenges.

Option D: Prisma SASE is an excellent solution for addressing cloud security and remote user

challenges, but recommending it without first understanding the customers specific needs may

undermine trust. This step should follow after discovery and validation of the customers pain points.

Examples of Discovery Questions:

What are your primary security challenges with remote users and cloud applications?

Are you currently able to enforce consistent security policies across your hybrid environment?

How do you handle identity verification and access control for remote users?

What level of visibility do you have into traffic to and from your cloud applications?

Reference:

Palo Alto Networks Zero Trust Overview: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/zero-trust

Best Practices for Customer Discovery: https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/sales-playbooks

Answer: A

Explanation:

To address the MSSPs requirement for logically separated BGP peering setups while efficiently

managing standard routing rules and updates, Palo Alto Networks offers the Advanced Routing

Engine introduced in PAN-OS 11.0. The Advanced Routing Engine enhances routing capabilities,

including support for logical routers, which is critical in this scenario.

Why A is Correct

Logical routers enable the MSSP to create isolated BGP peering configurations for each customer.

The Advanced Routing Engine allows the MSSP to share standard routing profiles (such as filters,

policies, or maps) across logical routers, simplifying the deployment and maintenance of routing

configurations.

This approach ensures scalability, as each logical router can handle the unique needs of a customer

while leveraging shared routing rules.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

B: While using APIs to automate deployment is beneficial, it does not solve the need for logically

separated BGP peering setups. Logical routers provide this separation natively.

C: While virtual routers in PAN-OS can separate BGP peering setups, they do not support the efficient

sharing of standard routing rules and profiles across multiple routers.

D: Virtual systems (vsys) are used to segregate administrative domains, not routing configurations.

Vsys is not the appropriate solution for managing BGP peering setups across multiple customers.

Key Takeaways:

PAN-OS Advanced Routing Engine with logical routers simplifies BGP peering management for

MSSPs.

Logical routers provide the separation required for customer environments while enabling shared

configuration profiles.

Reference:

Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS 11.0 Advanced Routing Documentation

Answer: A

Explanation:

When high traffic from Palo Alto Networks NGFWs to Active Directory servers causes performance

issues, optimizing the way NGFWs gather user-to-IP mappings is critical. Palo Alto Networks offers

multiple ways to collect user identity information, and Cloud Identity Engine provides a solution that

reduces the load on AD servers while still ensuring efficient and accurate mapping.

Option A (Correct): Cloud Identity Engine allows NGFWs to gather user-to-IP mappings directly from

Active Directory authentication logs or other identity sources without placing heavy traffic on the AD

servers. By leveraging this feature, the NGFW can offload authentication-related tasks and efficiently

identify users without overloading AD servers. This solution is scalable and minimizes the overhead

typically caused by frequent User-ID queries to AD servers.

Option B: Using GlobalProtect Windows SSO to gather user information can add complexity and is

not the most efficient solution for this problem. It requires all users to install GlobalProtect agents,

which may not be feasible in all environments and can introduce operational challenges.

Option C: Data redistribution involves redistributing user-to-IP mappings from one NGFW (hub) to

other NGFWs (spokes). While this can reduce the number of queries sent to AD servers, it assumes

the mappings are already being collected from AD servers by the hub, which means the performance

issue on the AD servers would persist.

Option D: Using GlobalProtect agents to gather user information is a valid method for environments

where GlobalProtect is already deployed, but it is not the most efficient or straightforward solution for the given problem. It also introduces dependencies on agent deployment, configuration, and management. How to Implement Cloud Identity Engine for User-ID Mapping: Enable Cloud Identity Engine from the Palo Alto Networks console. Integrate the Cloud Identity Engine with the AD servers to allow it to retrieve authentication logs directly. Configure the NGFWs to use the Cloud Identity Engine for User-ID mappings instead of querying the AD servers directly. Monitor performance to ensure the AD servers are no longer overloaded, and mappings are being retrieved efficiently. Reference: Cloud Identity Engine Overview: https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/cloud-identity User-ID Best Practices: https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com

Answer: B, D, E

Explanation:

North-south traffic refers to the flow of data in and out of a network, typically between internal

resources and the internet. To secure this type of traffic, Palo Alto Networks recommends specific

CDSS subscriptions in addition to DNS Security:

A . SaaS Security

SaaS Security is designed for monitoring and securing SaaS application usage but is not essential for

handling typical north-south traffic.

B . Advanced WildFire

Advanced WildFire provides cloud-based malware analysis and sandboxing to detect and block zeroday

threats. It is a critical component for securing north-south traffic against advanced malware.

C . Enterprise DLP

Enterprise DLP focuses on data loss prevention, primarily for protecting sensitive data. While

important, it is not a minimum recommendation for securing north-south traffic.

D . Advanced Threat Prevention

Advanced Threat Prevention (ATP) replaces traditional IPS and provides inline detection and

prevention of evasive threats in north-south traffic. It is a crucial recommendation for protecting

against sophisticated threats.

E . Advanced URL Filtering

Advanced URL Filtering prevents access to malicious or harmful URLs. It complements DNS Security

to provide comprehensive web protection for north-south traffic.

Key Takeaways:

Advanced WildFire, Advanced Threat Prevention, and Advanced URL Filtering are minimum

recommendations for NGFWs handling north-south traffic, alongside DNS Security.

SaaS Security and Enterprise DLP, while valuable, are not minimum requirements for this use case.

Reference:

Palo Alto Networks NGFW Best Practices

Cloud-Delivered Security Services

Answer: B

Explanation:

SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) is a cloud-based solution that combines networking and security

capabilities to address modern enterprise needs. However, there are scenarios where an onpremises

solution is more appropriate.

A . High growth phase with existing and planned mergers, and with acquisitions being integrated.

This scenario typically favors a SASE solution since it provides flexible, scalable, and centralized

security that is ideal for integrating newly acquired businesses.

B . Most employees and applications in close physical proximity in a geographic region.

This scenario supports the choice of an on-premises solution. When employees and applications are

concentrated in a single geographic region, traditional on-premises firewalls and centralized security

appliances provide cost-effective and efficient protection without the need for distributed, cloudbased

infrastructure.

C . Hybrid work and cloud adoption at various locations that have different requirements per site.

This scenario aligns with a SASE solution. Hybrid work and varying site requirements are better

addressed by SASEs ability to provide consistent security policies regardless of location.

D . The need to enable business to securely expand its geographical footprint.

Expanding into new geographic areas benefits from the scalability and flexibility of a SASE solution,

which can deliver consistent security globally without requiring physical appliances at each location.

Key Takeaways:

On-premises solutions are ideal for geographically concentrated networks with minimal cloud

adoption.

SASE is better suited for hybrid work, cloud adoption, and distributed networks.

Reference:

Palo Alto Networks SASE Overview

On-Premises vs. SASE Deployment Guide

Answer: B

Explanation:

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

customers 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.

Reference:

Managing Reports in PAN-OS: https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com

Zero Trust Monitoring and Reporting Best Practices: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/zero-trust

Answer: C

Explanation:

Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) provide robust security features across a

variety of use cases. Lets analyze each option:

A . Code-embedded NGFWs provide enhanced IoT security by allowing PAN-OS code to be run on

devices that do not support embedded VM images.

This statement is incorrect. NGFWs do not operate as "code-embedded" solutions for IoT devices.

Instead, they protect IoT devices through advanced threat prevention, device identification, and

segmentation capabilities.

B . Serverless NGFW code security provides public cloud security for code-only deployments that do

not leverage VM instances or containerized services.

This is not a valid use case. Palo Alto NGFWs provide security for public cloud environments using

VM-series firewalls, CN-series (containerized firewalls), and Prisma Cloud for securing serverless

architectures. NGFWs do not operate in "code-only" environments.

C . IT/OT segmentation firewalls allow operational technology (OT) resources in plant networks to

securely interface with IT resources in the corporate network.

This is a valid use case. Palo Alto NGFWs are widely used in industrial environments to provide IT/OT

segmentation, ensuring that operational technology systems in plants or manufacturing facilities can

securely communicate with IT networks while protecting against cross-segment threats. Features like

App-ID, User-ID, and Threat Prevention are leveraged for this segmentation.

D . PAN-OS GlobalProtect gateways allow companies to run malware and exploit prevention modules

on their endpoints without installing endpoint agents.

This is incorrect. GlobalProtect gateways provide secure remote access to corporate networks and

extend the NGFWs threat prevention capabilities to endpoints, but endpoint agents are required to

enforce malware and exploit prevention modules.

Key Takeaways:

IT/OT segmentation with NGFWs is a real and critical use case in industries like manufacturing and

utilities.

The other options describe features or scenarios that are not applicable or valid for NGFWs.

Reference:

Palo Alto Networks NGFW Use Cases

Industrial Security with NGFWs

Answer: A, B

Explanation:

CN-Series firewalls are Palo Alto Networks containerized NGFWs designed for protecting Kubernetes

environments. These firewalls provide threat prevention, traffic inspection, and compliance

enforcement within containerized workloads. Deploying CN-Series in a Kubernetes cluster requires

specific configuration files to set up the management plane and NGFW functionalities.

Option A (Correct): PAN-CN-NGFW-CONFIG is required to define the configurations for the NGFW

itself. This file contains firewall policies, application configurations, and security profiles needed to

secure the Kubernetes environment.

Option B (Correct): PAN-CN-MGMT-CONFIGMAP is a ConfigMap file that contains the configuration

for the management plane of the CN-Series firewall. It helps set up the connection between the

management interface and the NGFW deployed within the Kubernetes cluster.

Option C: This option does not represent a valid or required file for deploying CN-Series firewalls. The

management configurations are handled via the ConfigMap.

Option D: PAN-CNI-MULTUS refers to the Multus CNI plugin for Kubernetes, which is used for

enabling multiple network interfaces in pods. While relevant for Kubernetes networking, it is not

specific to deploying CN-Series firewalls.

Reference:

CN-Series Deployment Guide: https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/cn-series

Kubernetes Integration with CN-Series Firewalls: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com

Answer: C, D

Explanation:

Zero Trust is a strategic framework for securing infrastructure and data by eliminating implicit trust

and continuously validating every stage of digital interaction. Palo Alto Networks NGFWs are

designed with native capabilities to align with Zero Trust principles, such as monitoring transactions,

validating identities, and enforcing least-privilege access. The following narratives effectively address

the customers

question:

Option A

: While emphasizing Zero Trust as an ideology is accurate, this response does not directly explain how

Palo Alto Networks firewalls facilitate mapping of transactions. It provides context but is insufficient

for addressing the technical aspect of the question.

Option B: Decryption and security protections are important for identifying malicious traffic, but they

are not specific to mapping transactions within a Zero Trust framework. This response focuses on a

subset of security functions rather than the broader concept of visibility and policy enforcement.

Option C (Correct): Placing the NGFW in the network provides visibility into every traffic flow across

users, devices, and applications. This allows the firewall to map transactions and enforce Zero Trust

principles such as segmenting networks, inspecting all traffic, and controlling access. With features

like App-ID, User-ID, and Content-ID, the firewall provides granular insights into traffic flows, making

it easier to identify and secure transactions.

Option D (Correct): Palo Alto Networks NGFWs use security policies based on users, applications, and

data objects to align with Zero Trust principles. Instead of relying on IP addresses or ports, policies

are enforced based on the applications behavior, the identity of the user, and the sensitivity of the data involved. This mapping ensures that only authorized users can access specific resources, which

is a cornerstone of Zero Trust.

Reference:

Zero Trust Framework: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/solutions/zero-trust

Security Policy Best Practices for Zero Trust: https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com

Answer: B

Explanation:

Cobalt Strike is a popular post-exploitation framework often used by attackers for Command and

Control (C2) operations. Malleable C2 profiles allow attackers to modify the behavior of their C2

communication, making detection more difficult. Stopping these attacks in real time requires deep

inline inspection and the ability to block zero-day and evasive threats.

Why "Advanced Threat Prevention and PAN-OS 10.2" (Correct Answer B)?

Advanced Threat Prevention (ATP) on PAN-OS 10.2 uses inline deep learning models to detect and

block Cobalt Strike Malleable C2 attacks in real time. ATP is designed to prevent evasive techniques

and zero-day threats, which is essential for blocking Malleable C2. PAN-OS 10.2 introduces enhanced

capabilities for detecting malicious traffic patterns and inline analysis of encrypted traffic.

ATP examines traffic behavior and signature-less threats, effectively stopping evasive C2 profiles.

PAN-OS 10.2 includes real-time protections specifically for Malleable C2.

Why not "Next-Generation CASB on PAN-OS 10.1" (Option A)?

Next-Generation CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker) is designed to secure SaaS applications and

does not provide the inline C2 protection required to stop Malleable C2 attacks. CASB is not related

to Command and Control detection.

Why not "Threat Prevention and Advanced WildFire with PAN-OS 10.0" (Option C)?

Threat Prevention and Advanced WildFire are effective for detecting and preventing malware and

known threats. However, they rely heavily on signatures and sandboxing for analysis, which is not

sufficient for stopping real-time evasive C2 traffic. PAN-OS 10.0 lacks the advanced inline capabilities

provided by ATP in PAN-OS 10.2.

Why not "DNS Security, Threat Prevention, and Advanced WildFire with PAN-OS 9.x" (Option D)?

While DNS Security and Threat Prevention are valuable for blocking malicious domains and known

threats, PAN-OS 9.x does not provide the inline deep learning capabilities needed for real-time

detection and prevention of Malleable C2 attacks. The absence of advanced behavioral analysis in

PAN-OS 9.x makes this combination ineffective against advanced C2 attacks.

Reference: Palo Alto Networks documentation for Advanced Threat Prevention on PAN-OS 10.2

highlights its capability to block evasive C2 traffic in real time using deep learning.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Policy Optimizer is a feature designed to help administrators improve the efficiency and effectiveness

of security policies on Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs). It focuses on

identifying unused or overly permissive policies to streamline and optimize the configuration.

Why "Identify Security policy rules with unused applications" (Correct Answer C)?

Policy Optimizer provides visibility into existing security policies and identifies rules that have unused

or outdated applications. For example:

It can detect if a rule allows applications that are no longer in use.

It can identify rules with excessive permissions, enabling administrators to refine them for better

security and performance.

By addressing these issues, Policy Optimizer helps reduce the attack surface and improves the overall

manageability of the firewall.

Why not "Recommend best practices on new policy creation" (Option A)?

Policy Optimizer focuses on optimizing existing policies, not creating new ones. While best practices

can be applied during policy refinement, recommending new policy creation is not its purpose.

Why not "Show unused licenses for Cloud-Delivered Security Services (CDSS) subscriptions and

firewalls" (Option B)?

Policy Optimizer is not related to license management or tracking. Identifying unused licenses is

outside the scope of its functionality.

Why not "Act as a migration tool to import policies from third-party vendors" (Option D)?

Policy Optimizer does not function as a migration tool. While Palo Alto Networks offers tools for

third-party firewall migration, this is separate from the Policy Optimizer feature.

Reference: The Palo Alto Networks Policy Optimizer documentation highlights its primary function of

identifying unused or overly broad policy rules to optimize firewall configurations.

Answer: D

Explanation:

The appropriate CDSS subscription to inspect and mitigate suspicious DNS traffic is Advanced DNS

Security. Heres why:

Advanced DNS Security protects against DNS-based threats, including domain generation algorithms

(DGA), DNS tunneling (often used for data exfiltration), and malicious domains used in attacks. It

leverages machine learning to detect and block DNS traffic associated with command-and-control

servers or other malicious activities. In this case, unusually high DNS traffic to an unfamiliar IP

address is likely indicative of a DNS-based attack or malware activity, making this the most suitable

service.

Option A: Advanced Threat Prevention (ATP) focuses on identifying and blocking sophisticated

threats in network traffic, such as exploits and evasive malware. While it complements DNS Security,

it does not specialize in analyzing DNS-specific traffic patterns.

Option B: Advanced WildFire focuses on detecting and preventing file-based threats, such as

malware delivered via email attachments or web downloads. It does not provide specific protection

for DNS-related anomalies.

Option C: Advanced URL Filtering is designed to prevent access to malicious or inappropriate

websites based on their URLs. While DNS may be indirectly involved in resolving malicious websites,

this service does not directly inspect DNS traffic patterns for threats.

Option D (Correct): Advanced DNS Security specifically addresses DNS-based threats. By enabling this

service, the customer can detect and block DNS queries to malicious domains and investigate

anomalous DNS behavior like the high traffic observed in this scenario.

How to Enable Advanced DNS Security:

Ensure the firewall has a valid Advanced DNS Security license.

Navigate to Objects > Security Profiles > Anti-Spyware.

Enable DNS Security under the "DNS Signatures" section.

Apply the Anti-Spyware profile to the relevant Security Policy to enforce DNS Security.

Reference:

Palo Alto Networks Advanced DNS Security Overview: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/dnssecurity

Best Practices for DNS Security Configuration.

Answer: A, B, E

Explanation:

Panorama is Palo Alto Networks centralized management solution for managing multiple firewalls. It

supports multiple deployment options to suit different infrastructure needs. The valid deployment

options are as follows:

Why "As a virtual machine (ESXi, Hyper-V, KVM)" (Correct Answer A)?

Panorama can be deployed as a virtual machine on hypervisors like VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V,

and KVM. This is a common option for organizations that already utilize virtualized infrastructure.

Why "With a cloud service provider (AWS, Azure, GCP)" (Correct Answer B)?

Panorama is available for deployment in the public cloud on platforms like AWS, Microsoft Azure,

and Google Cloud Platform. This allows organizations to centrally manage firewalls deployed in cloud

environments.

Why "As a dedicated hardware appliance (M-100, M-200, M-500, M-600)" (Correct Answer E)?

Panorama is available as a dedicated hardware appliance with different models (M-100, M-200, M500, M-600) to cater to various performance and scalability requirements. This is ideal for

organizations that prefer physical appliances.

Why not "As a container (Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift)" (Option C)?

Panorama is not currently supported as a containerized deployment. Containers are more commonly

used for lightweight and ephemeral services, whereas Panorama requires a robust and persistent

deployment model.

Why not "On a Raspberry Pi (Model 4, Model 400, Model 5)" (Option D)?

Panorama cannot be deployed on low-powered hardware like Raspberry Pi. The system

requirements for Panorama far exceed the capabilities of Raspberry Pi hardware.

Reference: Palo Alto Networks Panorama Admin Guide outlines the supported deployment options,

which include virtual machines, cloud platforms, and hardware appliances.

Answer: A, D, E

Explanation:

A perimeter firewall is traditionally deployed at the boundary of a network to protect it from external

threats. It provides a variety of protections, including blocking unauthorized access, inspecting traffic

flows, and safeguarding sensitive resources. Here is how the options apply:

Option A (Correct): Perimeter firewalls provide network layer protection by filtering and inspecting

traffic entering or leaving the network at the outer edge. This is one of their primary roles.

Option B: Power utilization is not a functional or architectural aspect of a firewall and is irrelevant

when describing the purpose of a perimeter firewall.

Option C: Securing east-west traffic is more aligned with data center firewalls, which monitor lateral

(east-west) movement of traffic within a virtualized or segmented environment. A perimeter firewall

focuses on north-south traffic instead.

Option D (Correct): A perimeter firewall primarily secures north-south traffic, which refers to traffic

entering and leaving the network. It ensures that inbound and outbound traffic adheres to security

policies.

Option E (Correct): Perimeter firewalls play a critical role in guarding against external attacks, such as

DDoS attacks, malicious IP traffic, and other unauthorized access attempts.

Reference:

Palo Alto Networks Firewall Deployment Use Cases: https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com

Security Reference Architecture for North-South Traffic Control.

Answer: A, C

Explanation:

Populating user-to-IP mappings is a critical function for enabling user-based policy enforcement in

Palo Alto Networks firewalls. The following two methods are valid ways to populate these mappings:

Why "XML API" (Correct Answer A)?

The XML API allows external systems to programmatically send user-to-IP mapping information to

the firewall. This is a highly flexible method, particularly when user information is available from an

external system that integrates via the API. This method is commonly used in environments where

the mapping data is maintained in a centralized database or monitoring system.

Why "User-ID" (Correct Answer C)?

User-ID is a core feature of Palo Alto Networks firewalls that allows for the dynamic identification of

users and their corresponding IP addresses. User-ID agents can pull this data from various sources,

such as Active Directory, Syslog servers, and more. This is one of the most common and reliable

methods to maintain user-to-IP mappings.

Why not "Captive portal" (Option B)?

Captive portal is a mechanism for authenticating users when they access the network. While it can

indirectly contribute to user-to-IP mapping, it is not a direct method to populate these mappings.

Instead, it prompts users to authenticate, after which User-ID handles the mapping.

Why not "SCP log ingestion" (Option D)?

SCP (Secure Copy Protocol) is a file transfer protocol and does not have any functionality related to

populating user-to-IP mappings. Log ingestion via SCP is not a valid way to map users to IP addresses.

Reference: Palo Alto Networks documentation on User-ID confirms that the XML API and User-ID are

two valid methods for populating user-to-IP mappings.

Answer: A, C

Explanation:

When assisting a customer in deploying next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) for their new physical

store branches, it is crucial to address their requirements for SD-WAN, security, and data protection

with a validated deployment methodology. Palo Alto Networks provides robust solutions for branch

security and SD-WAN integration, and several steps align with vendor-validated methods:

Option A (Correct): Palo Alto Networks or certified partners provide professional services for

validated deployment methods, including SD-WAN, security, and data protection in branch locations.

Professional services ensure that the deployment adheres to industry best practices and Palo Altos

validated reference architectures. This ensures a scalable and secure deployment across all branch

locations.

Option B: While using Golden Images and a Day 1 configuration can create a consistent baseline for

configuration deployment, it does not align directly with the requirement of following vendorvalidated

deployment methodologies. This step is helpful but secondary to vendor-validated

professional services and bespoke deployment planning.

Option C (Correct): A bespoke deployment plan considers the customer's specific architecture, store

footprint, and unique security requirements. Palo Alto Networks system engineers typically

collaborate with the customer to design and validate tailored deployments, ensuring alignment with

the customers operational goals while maintaining compliance with validated architectures.

Option D: While Palo Alto Networks provides branch deployment guides (such as the "On-Premises

Network Security for the Branch Deployment Guide"), these guides are primarily reference materials.

They do not substitute for vendor-provided professional services or the creation of tailored

deployment plans with the customer.

Reference:

Palo Alto Networks SD-WAN Deployment Guide.

Branch Deployment Architecture Best Practices: https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com

Professional Services Overview: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/services

Answer: B

Explanation:
The most effective way to reduce the risk of exploitation by newly announced vulnerabilities is

through Advanced Threat Prevention (ATP). ATP uses inline deep learning to identify and block

exploitation attempts, even for zero-day vulnerabilities, in real time.

Why "Advanced Threat Preventions command injection and SQL injection functions use inline deep

learning against zero-day threats" (Correct Answer B)?

Advanced Threat Prevention leverages deep learning models directly in the data path, which allows

it to analyze traffic in real time and detect patterns of exploitation, including newly discovered

vulnerabilities being actively exploited in the wild. It specifically targets advanced tactics like:

Command injection.

SQL injection.

Memory-based exploits.

Protocol evasion techniques.

This functionality lowers the risk of exploitation by actively blocking attack attempts based on their

behavior, even when a signature is not yet available. This approach makes ATP the most valuable

solution for addressing new and actively exploited vulnerabilities.

Why not "Advanced URL Filtering uses machine learning (ML) to learn which malicious URLs are

being utilized by the attackers, then block the resulting traffic" (Option A)?

While Advanced URL Filtering is highly effective at blocking access to malicious websites, it does not

provide the inline analysis necessary to prevent direct exploitation of vulnerabilities. Exploitation

often happens within the application or protocol layer, which Advanced URL Filtering does not

inspect.

Why not "Single Pass Architecture and parallel processing ensure traffic is efficiently scanned against

any enabled Cloud-Delivered Security Services (CDSS) subscription" (Option C)?

Single Pass Architecture improves performance by ensuring all enabled services (like Threat

Prevention, URL Filtering, etc.) process traffic efficiently. However, it is not a feature that directly

addresses vulnerability exploitation or zero-day attack detection.

Why not "WildFire loads custom OS images to ensure that the sandboxing catches any activity that

would affect the customer's environment" (Option D)?

WildFire is a sandboxing solution designed to detect malicious files and executables. While it is

useful for analyzing malware, it does not provide inline protection against exploitation of newly

announced vulnerabilities, especially those targeting network protocols or applications.

Reference: Palo Alto Networks Advanced Threat Prevention specifically highlights its capability to

detect and block zero-day exploits, leveraging inline deep learning and machine learning models.

This makes it the optimal solution for protecting against new vulnerabilities being actively exploited.

Answer: D

Explanation:

Palo Alto Networks' PAN-OS supports API keys for authentication when interacting with the firewalls RESTful and XML-based APIs. By default, API keys do not have an expiration time set, but the expiration time for API keys can be configured by an administrator to meet specific requirements, such as a time-based deactivation after two hours. This is particularly useful for compliance and security purposes, where API keys should not remain active indefinitely. Heres an evaluation of the options: Option A: This is incorrect because the default setting for API keys does not include an expiration time. By default, API keys are valid indefinitely unless explicitly configured otherwise. Option B: This is incorrect because PAN-OS fully supports API keys. The API keys are integral to managing access to the firewall's APIs and provide a secure method for authentication. Option C: This is incorrect because PAN-OS does support API key expiration when explicitly configured. While the default is "no expiration," the feature to configure an expiration time (e.g., 2 hours) is available. Option D (Correct): The correct response to the RFP clause is that the default API key settings need to be modified to set the expiration time to 120 minutes (2 hours). This aligns with the customer requirement to enforce API key deactivation based on time. Administrators can configure this using the PAN-OS management interface or the CLI. How to Configure API Key Expiration (Steps): Access the Web Interface or CLI on the firewall. Navigate to Device > Management > API Key Lifetime Settings (on the GUI). Set the desired expiration time (e.g., 120 minutes). Alternatively, use the CLI to configure the API key expiration: set deviceconfig system api-key-expiry commit Verify the configuration using the show command or by testing API calls to ensure the key expires after the set duration. Reference: Palo Alto Networks API Documentation: https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/apis Configuration Guide: Managing API Key Expiration

Answer: B

Explanation:

Protecting web servers from advanced threats like SQL injection, command injection, XSS attacks,

and IIS exploits requires a solution capable of deep packet inspection, behavioral analysis, and inline

prevention of zero-day attacks. The most effective solution here is Advanced Threat Prevention (ATP)

combined with PAN-OS 11.x.

Why "Advanced Threat Prevention and PAN-OS 11.x" (Correct Answer B)?

Advanced Threat Prevention (ATP) enhances traditional threat prevention by using inline deep

learning models to detect and block advanced zero-day threats, including SQL injection, command

injection, and XSS attacks. With PAN-OS 11.x, ATP extends its detection capabilities to detect

unknown exploits without relying on signature-based methods. This functionality is critical for

protecting web servers in scenarios where a dedicated WAF is unavailable.

ATP provides the following benefits:

Inline prevention of zero-day threats using deep learning models.

Real-time detection of attacks like SQL injection and XSS.

Enhanced protection for web server platforms like IIS.

Full integration with the Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW).

Why not "Threat Prevention and PAN-OS 11.x" (Option A)?

Threat Prevention relies primarily on signature-based detection for known threats. While it provides

basic protection, it lacks the capability to block zero-day attacks using advanced methods like inline

deep learning. For zero-day SQL injection and XSS attacks, Threat Prevention alone is insufficient.

Why not "Threat Prevention, Advanced URL Filtering, and PAN-OS 10.2 (and higher)" (Option C)?

While this combination includes Advanced URL Filtering (useful for blocking malicious URLs

associated with exploits), it still relies on Threat Prevention, which is signature-based. This

combination does not provide the zero-day protection needed for advanced injection attacks or XSS

vulnerabilities.

Why not "Advanced WildFire and PAN-OS 10.0 (and higher)" (Option D)?

Advanced WildFire is focused on analyzing files and executables in a sandbox environment to identify

malware. While it is excellent for identifying malware, it is not designed to provide inline prevention

for web-based injection attacks or XSS exploits targeting web servers.

Reference: The Palo Alto Networks Advanced Threat Prevention documentation highlights its ability

to block zero-day injection attacks and web-based exploits by leveraging inline machine learning and

behavioral analysis. This makes it the ideal solution for the described scenario.

Answer: B

Explanation:

To prevent malicious actors from abusing file-sharing applications for data exfiltration, App-ID

provides a granular approach to managing application traffic. Palo Alto Networks' App-ID is a

technology that identifies applications traversing the network, regardless of port, protocol,

encryption (SSL), or evasive tactics. By leveraging App-ID, security engineers can implement policies

that restrict the use of specific applications or functionalities based on job functions, ensuring that

only authorized users or groups can use file-sharing applications while blocking unauthorized or

malicious usage.

Heres why the options are evaluated this way:

Option A: DNS Security focuses on identifying and blocking malicious domains. While it plays a

critical role in preventing certain attacks (like command-and-control traffic), it is not effective for

managing application usage. Hence, this is not the best approach.

Option B (Correct): App-ID provides the ability to identify file-sharing applications (such as Dropbox,

Google Drive, or OneDrive) and enforce policies to restrict their use. For example, you can create a

security rule allowing file-sharing apps only for specific job functions, such as HR or marketing, while

denying them for other users. This targeted approach ensures legitimate business needs are not

disrupted, which aligns with the requirement of not impacting valid users.

Option C: Blocking all file-sharing applications outright using DNS Security is a broad measure that

will indiscriminately impact legitimate users. This does not meet the requirement of allowing specific

users to continue using file-sharing applications.

Option D: While App-ID can block file-sharing applications outright, doing so will prevent legitimate

usage and is not aligned with the requirement to allow usage based on job functions.

How to Implement the Solution (Using App-ID):

Identify the relevant file-sharing applications using App-ID in Palo Alto Networks predefined

application database.

Create security policies that allow these applications only for users or groups defined in your

directory (e.g., Active Directory).

Use custom App-ID filters or explicit rules to control specific functionalities of file-sharing

applications, such as uploads or downloads.

Monitor traffic to ensure that only authorized users are accessing the applications and that no

malicious activity is occurring.

Reference:

Palo Alto Networks Admin Guide: Application Identification and Usage Policies.

Best Practices for App-ID Configuration: https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com

Answer: A

Explanation:

Advanced DNS Security on Palo Alto Networks firewalls is designed to identify and prevent a wide

range of DNS-based attacks. Among the listed options, "High entropy DNS domains" is a specific

example of a DNS attack that Advanced DNS Security can detect and block.

Why "High entropy DNS domains" (Correct Answer A)?

High entropy DNS domains are often used in attacks where randomly generated domain names (e.g.,

gfh34ksdu.com) are utilized by malware or bots to evade detection. This is a hallmark of Domain

Generation Algorithms (DGA)-based attacks. Palo Alto Networks firewalls with Advanced DNS

Security use machine learning to detect such domains by analyzing the entropy (randomness) of DNS

queries. High entropy values indicate the likelihood of a dynamically generated or malicious domain.

Why not "Polymorphic DNS" (Option B)?

While polymorphic DNS refers to techniques that dynamically change DNS records to avoid

detection, it is not specifically identified as an attack type mitigated by Advanced DNS Security in

Palo Alto Networks documentation. The firewall focuses more on the behavior of DNS queries, such

as detecting DGA domains or anomalous DNS traffic patterns.

Why not "CNAME cloaking" (Option C)?

CNAME cloaking involves using CNAME records to redirect DNS queries to malicious or hidden

domains. Although Palo Alto firewalls may detect and block malicious DNS redirections, the focus of

Advanced DNS Security is primarily on identifying patterns of DNS abuse like DGA domains,

tunneling, or high entropy queries.

Why not "DNS domain rebranding" (Option D)?

DNS domain rebranding involves changing the domain names associated with malicious activity to

evade detection. This is typically a tactic used for persistence but is not an example of a DNS attack

type specifically addressed by Advanced DNS Security.

Advanced DNS Security focuses on dynamic, real-time identification of suspicious DNS patterns, such

as high entropy domains, DNS tunneling, or protocol violations. High entropy DNS domains are

directly tied to attack mechanisms like DGAs, making this the correct answer.

Reference: According to Palo Alto Networks Advanced DNS Security documentation, detecting high

entropy domains is a core feature of the service, leveraging machine learning and behavioral analysis

to identify and block such malicious activities.

Exam Code	PSE-Strata-Pro-24
Exam Name	Palo Alto Networks Systems Engineer Professional - Hardware Firewall
Questions	60 Questions Answers With Explanation
Update Date	February 17,2026
Price	Was : ~~$81~~ Today : $45 Was : ~~$99~~ Today : $55 Was : ~~$117~~ Today : $65

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