Paloalto Networks Practitioner Palo Alto Networks Cybersecurity Practitioner (PCCP) Exam Practice Test

The Anthem data breach of 2015 was caused by a phishing scheme that captured a database administrator’s password. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR), hackers sent phishing emails to an Anthem subsidiary. At least one employee responded. Attackers were able to plant malware on the company’s system and gain remote access to confidential information1. The breach exposed the electronic protected health information of almost 79 million people, including names, Social Security numbers, medical identification numbers, addresses, dates of birth, email addresses, and employment information2. References:

Anthem Pays OCR $16 Million in Record HIPAA Settlement Following Largest U.S. Health Data Breach

How Anthem Data Breach Exposed Personnel Records - IDStrong

 A switch is a network device that connects multiple devices on a local area network (LAN) and forwards data packets between them. A switch can be identified by its icon, which is a rectangle with four curved lines on each side. In the attached network diagram, device D is the switch, as it matches the icon and connects three computers to device A, which is another network device. References:

[What is a Network Switch and How Does it Work?]

[Network Diagram Symbols and Icons | Lucidchart]

A Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) secures SaaS applications and network data by providing visibility, data security, threat protection, and compliance enforcement. It acts as a control point between users and cloud service providers to enforce security policies.

A knowledge-based system uses a database of known vulnerabilities and attack profiles

to identify intrusion attempts. These types of systems have lower false-alarm rates than

behavior-based systems but must be continually updated with new attack signatures to

be effective.

● A behavior-based system uses a baseline of normal network activity to identify unusual

patterns or levels of network activity that may be indicative of an intrusion attempt.

These types of systems are more adaptive than knowledge-based systems and therefore

may be more effective in detecting previously unknown vulnerabilities and attacks, but

they have a much higher false-positive rate than knowledge-based systems.

Advanced malware is designed to evade detection and persist within a system, often using stealthy techniques to spread laterally across multiple hosts in a network without triggering alerts, making it especially dangerous and difficult to remove.

A container-based NGFW is specifically designed to integrate with Kubernetes environments, providing full application visibility and control within containerized workloads. It operates at the pod level, making it ideal for securing dynamic microservices architectures.

Scripting of manual tasks – SOAR platforms automate repetitive, manual security tasks through playbooks and scripting, improving response time and efficiency.

Consistent incident handling – SOAR ensures that incidents are managed in a standardized and repeatable manner, reducing errors and improving compliance.

Isolated system and log retention are not core advantages of SOAR.

"The WildFire cloud-based malware analysis environment is a cyber threat prevention service that identifies unknown malware, zero-day exploits, and advanced persistent threats (APTs) through static and dynamic analysis in a scalable, virtual environment. WildFire automatically disseminates updated protections in near-real time to immediately prevent threats from spreading; this occurs without manual intervention"

SIEM stands for security information and event management. It is a technology that collects, analyzes, and reports on security-related data from various sources within an organization’s network. The purpose of SIEM is to provide real-time monitoring and analysis of security events, such as user logins, file access, and changes to critical system files. SIEM helps security teams to detect and respond to potential threats, as well as to meet compliance requirements and improve their cybersecurity posture. References: What Is Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)? - Palo Alto Networks, What is a SIEM Solution? - Palo Alto Networks, Integrate IoT Security with SIEM - Palo Alto Networks

A Type 1 hypervisor, also known as a bare-metal hypervisor, is a software layer that runs directly on the hardware of a physical host computer, without requiring an underlying operating system. A Type 1 hypervisor can create and manage multiple isolated virtual machines (VMs), each with its own virtual (or guest) operating system and applications. A Type 1 hypervisor is hardened against cyber attacks, as it has a smaller attack surface and fewer vulnerabilities than a Type 2 hypervisor, which runs within an operating system. A Type 1 hypervisor also offers better performance, scalability, and resource utilization than a Type 2 hypervisor. References: 10 Palo Alto Networks PCCET Exam Practice Questions, Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician v1.0, FREE Cybersecurity Education Courses.

To maximize the use of a network address, the administrator should use the subnet that can accommodate the required number of hosts with the least amount of wasted IP addresses. The subnet mask determines how many bits are used for the network portion and the host portion of the IP address. The more bits are used for the network portion, the more subnets can be created, but the fewer hosts can be assigned to each subnet. The formula to calculate the number of hosts per subnet is

2(32−n)−2

, where

n

is the number of bits in the network portion of the subnet mask. For example, a /30 subnet mask has 30 bits in the network portion, so the number of hosts per subnet is

2(32−30)−2=2

A /25 subnet mask has 25 bits in the network portion, so the number of hosts per subnet is

2(32−25)−2=126

The subnet 192.168.6.0/25 can accommodate 126 hosts, which is enough for the network with 120 hosts. The subnet 192.168.6.168/30 can only accommodate 2 hosts, which is not enough. The subnet 192.168.6.160/29 can accommodate 6 hosts, which is also not enough. The subnet 192.168.6.128/27 can accommodate 30 hosts, which is enough, but it wastes more IP addresses than the /25 subnet. Therefore, the best option is B. 192.168.6.0/25. References:

Getting Started: Layer 3 Subinterfaces - Palo Alto Networks Knowledge Base

DotW: Multiple IP Addresses on an Interface - Palo Alto Networks Knowledge Base

Configure NAT - Palo Alto Networks | TechDocs

Web 2.0 applications provide the type of service known as Software as a Service (SaaS). SaaS is a cloud computing model that allows users to access and use web-based applications over the internet, without having to install or maintain any software on their own devices. SaaS applications are hosted and managed by a third-party provider, who is responsible for the security, performance, availability, and updates of the software. SaaS applications are typically accessed through a web browser or a mobile app, and offer features such as user-generated content, social networking, collaboration, and interoperability. Examples of Web 2.0 SaaS applications include Facebook, X, Wikipedia, Gmail, and Salesforce. References:

What Is Web 2.0? Definition, Impact, and Examples - Investopedia

Web 2.0 - Wikipedia

[What is SaaS? Software as a service (SaaS) definition - Salesforce.com]

Multiple attack vectors – APTs often use various methods (phishing, malware, lateral movement) to infiltrate and maintain access to a target.

Repeated pursuit of objective – APTs are known for their persistent nature, involving continuous efforts over time to achieve their goals, such as data theft or surveillance.

Signature-based antivirus software is a type of security software that uses signatures to identify malware. Signatures are bits of code that are unique to a specific piece of malware. When signature-based antivirus software detects a piece of malware, it compares the signature to its database of known signatures12. If a match is found, the software can do three things to provide protection:

Alert system administrators: The software can notify the system administrators or the users about the malware detection, and provide information such as the name, type, location, and severity of the malware. This can help the administrators or the users to take appropriate actions to prevent further damage or infection3.

Quarantine the infected file: The software can isolate the infected file from the rest of the system, and prevent it from accessing or modifying any other files or processes. This can help to contain the malware and limit its impact on the system4.

Delete the infected file: The software can remove the infected file from the system, and prevent it from running or spreading. This can help to eliminate the malware and restore the system to a clean state4.

What is a signature-based antivirus? - Info Exchange

What is a Signature and How Can I detect it? - Sophos

How Does Heuristic Analysis Antivirus Software Work?

What Is Signature-based Malware Detection? | RiskXchange

Data security is the only type of security that the customer is fully responsible for when using a SaaS application. Data security refers to the protection of data from unauthorized access, use, modification, deletion, or disclosure. Data security includes aspects such as encryption, backup, recovery, access control, and compliance12. The customer is responsible for ensuring that their data is secure in transit and at rest, and that they comply with any applicable regulations or policies regarding their data.

The other types of security - physical, platform, and infrastructure - are the responsibility of the SaaS provider. Physical security refers to the protection of the hardware and facilities that host the SaaS application. Platform security refers to the protection of the software and services that run the SaaS application. Infrastructure security refers to the protection of the network and systems that support the SaaS application. The SaaS provider is responsible for ensuring that these layers of security are maintained and updated, and that they meet the required standards and certifications34. References:

SaaS and the Shared Security Model

A Guide to SaaS Shared Responsibility Model

The Shared Responsibility Model for Security in The Cloud (IaaS, PaaS & SaaS)

Shared responsibility in the cloud

App-ID™ technology leverages the power of the broad global community to provide continuous identification, categorization, and granular risk-based control of known and previously unknown SaaS applications, ensuring new applications are discovered automatically as they become popular.

 A static route is a manually configured route that specifies the destination network and the next hop IP address or interface to reach it. A static route does not depend on any routing protocol and remains in the routing table until it is removed or overridden. Static routes are useful for defining default routes, reaching stub networks, or providing backup routes in case of link failures. To configure a static route in a virtual router on a Palo Alto Networks firewall, you need to specify the name, destination, interface, and next hop IP address or virtual router of the route. References: Configure a Static Route in Virtual Routers, Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET), FREE Cybersecurity Education Courses

● Reduce the attack surface: Best-of-breed technologies that are natively integrated provide a prevention architecture that inherently reduces the attack surface. This type of architecture allows organizations to exert positive control based on applications, users, and content, with support for open communication, orchestration, and visibility.

● Prevent all known threats, fast: A coordinated security platform accounts for the full scope of an attack across the various security controls that compose the security posture, thus enabling organizations to quickly identify and block known threats.

● Detect and prevent new, unknown threats with automation: Security that simply detects

threats and requires a manual response is too little, too late. Automated creation and

delivery of near-real-time protections against new threats to the various security solutions in the organization’s environments enable dynamic policy updates. These updates are

designed to allow enterprises to scale defenses with technology, rather than people.

Automation in SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) is the process of programming tasks, alerts, and responses to security incidents so that they can be executed without human intervention. Automation in SOAR helps security teams to handle the huge amount of information generated by various security tools, analyze it through machine learning processes, and take appropriate actions based on predefined rules and workflows. Automation in SOAR also reduces the manual effort and time required for security operations, improves the accuracy and efficiency of threat detection and response, and provides consistency in handling security issues across different environments and scenarios. References: What is SOAR (security orchestration, automation and response)? | IBM, What Is SOAR? Technology and Solutions | Microsoft Security, Security orchestration - Wikipedia.

DNS tunneling is an attack technique where data packets are disguised as DNS queries and sent to a remote server. That server, often under the attacker's control, responds with additional data or instructions, effectively creating a covert command-and-control (C2) channel over DNS.

Detection of threats using data analysis – SIEM platforms analyze collected data to identify suspicious patterns and detect threats.

Ingestion of log data – SIEM systems collect and centralize log data from various sources, which is essential for analysis, correlation, and alerting.

Automation and prevention are more aligned with SOAR and firewall/EDR functionalities, not the core operations of SIEM.

Host Intrusion Prevention Systems (HIPS) operate on endpoints to enforce security policies by monitoring system calls, file integrity, and configuration settings. HIPS can validate device compliance, including operating system versions and patch levels, before permitting network access. This capability prevents vulnerable or outdated devices from becoming attack vectors. Palo Alto Networks integrates HIPS functionalities in its endpoint security solutions, providing granular control to enforce organizational security standards and reduce risk from non-compliant endpoints. Unlike network-based inspection, HIPS works locally on hosts to stop threats at their origin.

Prisma Access is a cloud-delivered security platform that provides policy enforcement, secure access, and threat prevention for mobile users and remote networks, ensuring consistent security regardless of location.

page 173 "AutoFocus makes over a billion samples and sessions, including billions of artifacts, immediately actionable for security analysis and response efforts. AutoFocus extends the product portfolio with the global threat intelligence and attack context needed to accelerate analysis, forensics, and hunting workflows. Together, the platform and AutoFocus move security teams away from legacy manual approaches that rely on aggregating a growing number of detectionbased alerts and post-event mitigation, to preventing sophisticated attacks and enabling proactive hunting activities."

The diagram displays a mesh topology, where each device is connected to every other device in the network. This topology is characterized by the multiple connections each node has, ensuring there is no single point of failure and providing redundant paths for data transmission, enhancing the reliability and resilience of the network. Mesh topology is one of the types of LAN technology that uses ethernet or Wi-Fi to connect devices12. References:

What Is Local Area Network (LAN)? Definition, Types, Architecture, and Best Practices from Spiceworks

Types of LAN | Introduction and Classification of LAN from EDUCBA

Workload security in a Cloud Native Security Platform (CNSP) is designed to secure containers, VMs, and serverless functions throughout the entire application lifecycle — from development to runtime — by detecting and blocking vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and runtime threats.

Least privileges access control is the capability of a Zero Trust network security architecture that leverages the combination of application, user, and content identification to prevent unauthorized access. Least privileges access control means that users and devices are only granted the permissions they need to perform their tasks, and nothing more. This helps reduce the attack surface and makes it more difficult for attackers to gain access to sensitive data or resources. Least privileges access control is based on the principle of Zero Trust, which assumes that there are attackers both within and outside of the network, so no users or devices should be automatically trusted. Zero Trust verifies user identity and privileges as well as device identity and security, and requires end-to-end encryption. Least privileges access control also involves careful management of user permissions and network segmentation, which limit the amount of information and length of time people can access something, and contain the damage if someone does get unauthorized access. References: What Is Zero Trust Architecture? | Microsoft Security, Zero Trust security | What is a Zero Trust network? | Cloudflare, What is Zero Trust Architecture? | SANS Institute, What Is a Zero Trust Architecture? | Zscaler, What is Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)? - CrowdStrike.

 A zero-day threat is an attack that takes advantage of a security vulnerability that does not have a fix in place. It is referred to as a “zero-day” threat because once the flaw is eventually discovered, the developer or organization has “zero days” to then come up with a solution. A zero-day threat can compromise a system or network by exploiting the unknown vulnerability, and can cause data loss, unauthorized access, or other damages. Zero-day threats are difficult to detect and prevent, and require advanced security solutions and practices to mitigate them. References:

Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET)

Zero-day (computing) - Wikipedia

What is a zero-day exploit? | Zero-day threats | Cloudflare

Cortex XSOAR enhances Security Operations Center (SOC) efficiency with the world’s most comprehensive operating platform for enterprise security. Cortex XSOAR unifies case management, automation, real-time collaboration, and native threat intel management in the industry’s first extended security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) offering.

An Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) is a long-term, targeted cyberattack where data exfiltration is often the primary objective. Attackers maintain a covert presence in the network to steal sensitive information over time.

Application allow listing is a security practice that permits only pre-approved (trusted) applications, files, and processes to run on a system. This approach helps prevent unauthorized or malicious software from executing, thereby reducing the attack surface.

Phishing is a type of attack that involves sending fraudulent emails that appear to be from legitimate sources, such as banks, companies, or individuals, in order to trick recipients into clicking on malicious links, opening malicious attachments, or providing sensitive information12. The link to a malware website in the email is an example of a malicious link, which may lead to the installation of malware, ransomware, spyware, or other malicious software on the user’s device, or the redirection to a fake website that mimics a legitimate one, where the user may be asked to enter their credentials, personal information, or financial details34. Phishing emails often use social engineering techniques, such as creating a sense of urgency, curiosity, or fear, to persuade the user to click on the link or attachment, or to reply to the email5. Phishing emails may also spoof the sender’s address, domain, or logo, to make them look more authentic and trustworthy6.

Whaling, pharming, and spam are not the correct answers for this question. Whaling is a specific type of phishing that targets high-profile individuals, such as executives, celebrities, or politicians, with the aim of stealing their confidential information or influencing their decisions7. Pharming is a type of attack that involves redirecting the user’s web browser to a fake website, even if they enter the correct URL, by modifying the DNS server or the user’s hosts file. Spam is the unsolicited or unwanted electronic messages, such as emails, texts, or instant messages, that are sent in bulk to a large number of recipients, usually for advertising, marketing, or scamming purposes. References:

What is phishing? | Malwarebytes

Phishing - Wikipedia

Don’t Panic! Here’s What To Do If You Clicked On A Phishing Link

How can Malware spread through Email and How to Protect

What is phishing? How this cyber attack works and how to prevent it …

Identifying Illegitimate Email Links | Division of Information Technology

What is whaling? | NortonLifeLock

[What is pharming? | NortonLifeLock]

[What is spam? | NortonLifeLock]

 A routed protocol is a protocol by which data can be routed. It provides appropriate addressing information in its internet layer or network layer to allow a packet to be forwarded from one network to another network. Examples of routed protocols are the Internet Protocol (IP) and Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX). IP is the most widely used routed protocol on the Internet and other networks. It assigns a unique logical address to each device and enables data to be fragmented, reassembled, and routed across multiple networks. References:

Routing v/s Routed Protocols in Computer Network

Routing protocol - Wikipedia

CCNA Certification: Routed Protocols vs Routing Protocols

What is the difference between Routing Protocols and Routed Protocols

From a business perspective, XDR platforms enable organizations to prevent successful cyberattacks as well as simplify and strengthen security processes.

The Privilege Escalation tactic in the MITRE ATT&CK framework involves techniques used by attackers to gain higher-level permissions on a system or network, allowing greater access to internal servers and sensitive data.

SOAR tools ingest aggregated alerts from detection sources (such as SIEMs, network security tools, and mailboxes) before executing automatable, process-driven playbooks to enrich and respond to these alerts.

https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/security-operations-automation

Full-disk encryption is a method of protecting data on a laptop that has been stolen by encrypting the entire hard drive, making it unreadable without the correct password or key. This prevents unauthorized access to the proprietary data stored on the laptop, even if the thief removes the hard drive and connects it to another device. Full-disk encryption can be enabled using built-in features such as BitLocker on Windows or FileVault on macOS, or using third-party software such as Absolute Home & Office12. References: How to Protect your Data if a Laptop is Lost or Stolen, What to do when your laptop is stolen, Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician

Layer 4 of the TCP/IP model is the transport layer, which is responsible for providing reliable and efficient data transmission between hosts. The transport layer can use different protocols, such as TCP or UDP, depending on the requirements of the application. The transport layer also performs functions such as segmentation, acknowledgement, flow control, and error recovery. 1

The transport layer of the TCP/IP model corresponds to three layers of the OSI model: the transport layer, the session layer, and the presentation layer. The session layer of the OSI model manages the establishment, maintenance, and termination of sessions between applications. The session layer also provides services such as synchronization, dialogue control, and security. The presentation layer of the OSI model handles the representation, encoding, and formatting of data for the application layer. The presentation layer also performs functions such as compression, encryption, and translation. 23

"In serverless apps, the developer uploads only the app package itself, without a full container image or any OS components. The platform dynamically packages it into an image, runs the image in a container, and (if needed) instantiates the underlying host OS and VM and the hardware required to run them."

SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) differs from SIEM by adding automated incident response and workflow orchestration to the detection and alerting capabilities found in SIEM. This enables faster and more efficient handling of security incidents.

Software patches are updates that fix bugs, vulnerabilities, or performance issues in applications. Applying software patches regularly is one of the best practices to secure applications against exploits, as it prevents attackers from taking advantage of known flaws in the software. Software patches can also improve the functionality and compatibility of applications, as well as address any security gaps that may arise from changes in the operating system or other software components. Endpoint security solutions, such as Cortex XDR, can help organizations automate and streamline the patch management process, ensuring that all endpoints are up to date and protected from exploits. References:

Endpoint Protection - Palo Alto Networks

Endpoint Security - Palo Alto Networks

Patch Management - Palo Alto Networks

Signature-based systems struggle with polymorphic or obfuscated malware, which changes its code to avoid detection. Signature-based detection relies on static databases of known threat signatures, limiting its ability to identify new or unknown threats.

Attack communication traffic is usually hidden with various techniques and

tools, including:

● Encryption with SSL, SSH (Secure Shell), or some other custom or proprietary encryption

● Circumvention via proxies, remote access tools, or tunneling. In some instances, use of

cellular networks enables complete circumvention of the target network for attack C2 traffic.

● Port evasion using network anonymizers or port hopping to traverse over any available open

ports

● Fast Flux (or Dynamic DNS) to proxy through multiple infected endpoints or multiple,

ever-changing C2 servers to reroute traffic and make determination of the true destination

or attack source difficult

● DNS tunneling is used for C2 communications and data infiltration

Cloud-native security is the integration of security strategies into applications and systems designed to be deployed and to run in cloud environments. It involves a layered approach that considers security at every level of the cloud-native application architecture. The four C’s of cloud-native security are123:

Code: This layer refers to the application code and its dependencies. Security at this layer involves ensuring the code is free of vulnerabilities, using secure coding practices, and implementing encryption, authentication, and authorization mechanisms.

Container: This layer refers to the lightweight, isolated units that encapsulate the application and its dependencies. Security at this layer involves scanning and verifying the container images, enforcing policies and rules for container deployment and runtime, and isolating and protecting the containers from unauthorized access.

Cluster: This layer refers to the group of nodes that host the containers and provide orchestration and management capabilities. Security at this layer involves securing the communication between the nodes and the containers, monitoring and auditing the cluster activity, and applying security patches and updates to the cluster components.

Cloud: This layer refers to the underlying infrastructure and services that support the cloud-native applications. Security at this layer involves configuring and hardening the cloud resources, implementing identity and access management, and complying with the cloud provider’s security standards and best practices.

The correct order of the four C’s from the top (surface) layer to the bottom (base) layer is code, container, cluster, cloud, as each layer depends on the security of the next outermost layer. References: What Is Cloud-Native Security? - Palo Alto Networks, What is Cloud-Native Security? An Introduction | Splunk, The 4C’s of Cloud Native Kubernetes security - Medium

● Benign: Safe and does not exhibit malicious behavior

● Grayware: No security risk but might display obtrusive behavior (for example, adware,

spyware, and browser helper objects)

● Malware: Malicious in nature and intent and can pose a security threat (for example,

viruses, worms, trojans, root kits, botnets, and remote-access toolkits)

● Phishing: Malicious attempt to trick the recipient into revealing sensitive data

The basic DNS record types are as follows:

● A (IPv4) or AAAA (IPv6) (Address): Maps a domain or subdomain to an IP address or

multiple IP addresses

● CNAME (Canonical Name): Maps a domain or subdomain to another hostname

● MX (Mail Exchanger): Specifies the hostname or hostnames of email servers for a domain

● PTR (Pointer): Points to a CNAME; commonly used for reverse DNS lookups that map an

IP address to a host in a domain or subdomain

● SOA (Start of Authority): Specifies authoritative information about a DNS zone such as

primary name server, email address of the domain administrator, and domain serial

number

● NS (Name Server): The NS record specifies aan authoritative name server for a given host.

● TXT (Text): Stores text-based information

The URL Filtering service complements App-ID by enabling you to configure the next-generation firewall to identify and control access to websites and to protect your organization from websites that host malware and phishing pages.

Routing protocols are defined at the network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model. The network layer is responsible for routing packets across different networks using logical addresses (IP addresses). Routing protocols are used to exchange routing information between routers and to determine the best path for data delivery. Some examples of routing protocols are BGP, OSPF, RIP, and EIGRP. Palo Alto Networks devices support advanced routing features using the Advanced Routing Engine1. References: Advanced Routing - Palo Alto Networks | TechDocs, What Is Layer 7? - Palo Alto Networks, How to Configure Routing Information Protocol (RIP)

Signature-based malware detection relies on a constantly updated database of known threat signatures to identify malicious files or activity. Without frequent updates, it becomes ineffective against newly emerging threats.

DevSecOps takes the concept behind DevOps that developers and IT teams should work together closely, instead of separately, throughout software delivery and extends it to include security and integrate automated checks into the full CI/CD pipeline. The integration of the CI/CD pipeline takes care of the problem of security seeming like an outside force and instead allows developers to maintain their usual speed without compromising data security

Micro-segmentation is a VM-Series virtual firewall cloud deployment use case that reduces your environment’s attack surface. Micro-segmentation is the process of dividing a network into smaller segments, each with its own security policies and controls. This helps to isolate and protect workloads from lateral movement and unauthorized access, as well as to enforce granular trust zones and application dependencies. Micro-segmentation can be applied to virtualized data centers, private clouds, and public clouds, using software-defined solutions such as VMware NSX, Cisco ACI, and Azure Virtual WAN. References: Micro-Segmentation - Palo Alto Networks, VM-Series Deployment Guide - Palo Alto Networks, VM-Series on VMware NSX - Palo Alto Networks, VM-Series on Cisco ACI - Palo Alto Networks, VM-Series on Azure Virtual WAN - Palo Alto Networks

Wireshark is a network analysis tool that can capture packets from various network interfaces and protocols. It can display the captured packets in a human-readable format, as well as filter, analyze, and export them. Wireshark is widely used for network troubleshooting, security testing, and education purposes12. References: Wireshark · Go Deep, How to Use Wireshark to Capture, Filter and Inspect Packets, Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician

 A SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) is a system that collects, analyzes, and correlates security logs from multiple sources, such as endpoints, firewalls, servers, etc. A SIEM can provide a centralized and comprehensive view of the security posture of an organization, as well as detect and respond to threats. Configuring endpoints to forward logs to a SIEM is the recommended method for collecting security logs from multiple endpoints, as it reduces the network bandwidth and storage requirements, simplifies the log management process, and enables faster and more effective security analysis. Leveraging an EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) solution to request the logs from endpoints is not recommended, as it may cause performance issues on the endpoints, increase the network traffic, and create a dependency on the EDR solution. Connecting to the endpoints remotely and downloading the logs is not recommended, as it is a manual and time-consuming process, prone to errors and inconsistencies, and may expose the endpoints to unauthorized access. Building a script that pulls down the logs from all endpoints is not recommended, as it requires technical skills and maintenance, may not be compatible with different endpoint platforms, and may introduce security risks if the script is compromised or misconfigured. References:

Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET) - Palo Alto Networks

Fundamentals of Security Operations Center (SOC)

10 Palo Alto Networks PCCET Exam Practice Questions - CBT Nuggets

A host-based architecture uses virtual machines (VMs) to run workloads on a shared host, commonly found in public cloud environments. Each VM operates independently with its own OS, making this model suitable for traditional and isolated application deployments.

SOAR stands for security orchestration, automation and response. It is a software solution that enables security teams to integrate and coordinate separate tools into streamlined threat response workflows. SOAR systems allow for accelerated incident response through the execution of standardized and automated playbooks that work upon inputs from security technology and other data flows. SOAR systems can also help ensure consistency, reduce human errors, and improve efficiency and scalability of security operations. References:

Security Operations Infrastructure from Palo Alto Networks

What is SOAR (security orchestration, automation and response)? from IBM

Security Operations Fundamentals (SOF) Flashcards from Quizlet

Examples of serverless environments include Amazon Lambda and Azure Functions. Many PaaS offerings, such as Pivotal Cloud Foundry, also are effectively serverless even if they have not historically been marketed as such. Although serverless may appear to lack the container-specific, cloud native attribute, containers are extensively used in the underlying implementations, even if those implementations are not exposed to end users directly.

A meddler-in-the-middle (MITM) attack is a type of Wi-Fi attack where the attacker intercepts and redirects the victim’s web traffic to serve content from a web server it controls. The attacker can use various techniques, such as ARP spoofing, DNS spoofing, or SSL stripping, to trick the victim into connecting to a rogue access point or a proxy server that acts as a middleman between the victim and the legitimate website. The attacker can then modify, inject, or drop the packets that are exchanged between the victim and the website, and perform malicious actions, such as stealing credentials, injecting malware, or displaying fake or misleading content. A MITM attack can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the victim’s web traffic and expose them to various risks and threats. References:

What is a man-in-the-middle attack?

The 5 most dangerous Wi-Fi attacks, and how to fight them

What Are Sniffing Attacks, and How Can You Protect Yourself?

Knowledge-based systems and behavior-based systems are two types of artificial intelligence systems that can be used for security purposes. Knowledge-based systems use a predefined database of rules, facts, and patterns that distinguish “bad” or malicious activities from normal ones. They compare the incoming data with the stored knowledge and flag any anomalies or matches. Behavior-based systems, on the other hand, learn from the observed data and establish a baseline of normal behavior. They then monitor the data for any deviations or changes from the baseline and alert on any suspicious or abnormal activities. References:

•Types of Knowledge-Based Systems - Springer

•Difference between Knowledge-based IDS and behavior-based IDS

•Behaviour-based Knowledge Systems: An Epigenetic Path from Behaviour to …

2G/2.5G: 2G connectivity remains a prevalent and viable IoT connectivity option due

to the low cost of 2G modules, relatively long battery life, and large installed base of

2G sensors and M2M applications.

○ 3G: IoT devices with 3G modules use either Wideband Code Division Multiple Access

(W-CDMA) or Evolved High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+ and Advanced HSPA+) to

achieve data transfer rates of 384Kbps to 168Mbps.

○ 4G/Long-Term Evolution (LTE): 4G/LTE networks enable real-time IoT use cases, such

as autonomous vehicles, with 4G LTE Advanced Pro delivering speeds in excess of

3Gbps and less than 2 milliseconds of latency.

○ 5G: 5G cellular technology provides significant enhancements compared to 4G/LTE

networks and is backed by ultra-low latency, massive connectivity and scalability for

IoT devices, more efficient use of the licensed spectrum, and network slicing for

application traffic prioritization.

page 211 "Consolidating servers within trust levels: Organizations often consolidate servers within the same trust level into a single virtual computing environment: ... ... ... This virtual systems capability enables a single physical device to be used to simultaneously meet the unique requirements of multiple VMs or groups of VMs. Control and protection of inter-host traffic with physical network security appliances that are properly positioned and configured is the primary security focus."

A directory service is a database that contains information about users, resources, and services in a network.

"Weaponization: Next, attackers determine which methods to use to compromise a target endpoint. They may choose to embed intruder code within seemingly innocuous files such as a PDF or Microsoft Word document or email message."

URL categories classify websites based on content type or risk, enabling dynamic policy enforcement such as blocking or allowing access. Administrators can create custom URL categories to group sites like gambling domains and apply blocking rules across the firewall infrastructure. Palo Alto Networks firewalls leverage URL categorization combined with threat intelligence to provide granular web filtering, reducing exposure to malicious or unwanted sites. This dynamic grouping approach is more manageable and scalable than creating individual signatures or static lists and allows for automated policy application aligned with organizational compliance requirements.

 In SecOps, the identify stage is the first step in the security operations lifecycle. It involves gaining knowledge and understanding of the possible security threats and establishing methods to detect, respond and proactively prevent them from occurring1. Two of the components included in the identify stage are:

Initial Research: This component involves gathering information about the organization’s assets, vulnerabilities, risks, and compliance requirements. It also involves identifying the key stakeholders, objectives, and metrics for the SecOps project2.

Content Engineering: This component involves developing and maintaining the security content, such as rules, policies, signatures, and alerts, that will be used by the SecOps tools and processes. It also involves testing and validating the security content for accuracy and effectiveness3.

 What is SecOps? (and what are the benefits and best practices?), SecOps - definition & overview, The Six Pillars of Effective Security Operations

A static routing protocol requires that routes be created and updated manually on a router or other network device. If a static route is down, traffic can’t be automatically rerouted unless an alternate route has been configured. Also, if the route is congested, traffic can’t be automatically rerouted over the less congested alternate route. Static routing is practical only in very small networks or for very limited, special-case routing scenarios (for example, a destination that’s used as a backup route or is reachable only via a single router). However, static routing has low bandwidth requirements (routing information isn’t broadcast across the network) and some built-in security (users can route only to destinations that are specified in statically defined routes).

Mobile Device Management (MDM) enables firewall administrators to remotely and efficiently deploy corporate configurations, such as email accounts and VPN settings, to targeted mobile devices. It ensures consistent policy enforcement and security across all managed devices.

In addition to local analysis, Cortex XDR can send unknown files to WildFire for discovery and deeper analysis to rapidly detect.