Palo Alto Networks PCSFE Online Practice Questions and Exam Preparation

Palo Alto Networks PCSFE Online Questions & Answers

• Question 1:

  Which two design options address split brain when configuring high availability (HA)? (Choose two.)

  A. Adding a backup HA1 interface
  B. Using the heartbeat backup
  C. Bundling multiple interfaces in an aggregated interface group and assigning HA2
  D. Sending heartbeats across the HA2 interfaces
  A. Adding a backup HA1 interface
  B. Using the heartbeat backup

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  explanation:

  Explanation/Reference:

  The two design options that address split brain when configuring high availability (HA) are: Adding a backup HA1 interface Using the heartbeat backup Split brain is a condition that occurs when both firewalls in an HA pair assume the active role and start processing traffic independently, resulting in traffic duplication, policy inconsistency, or session disruption. Split brain can be caused by network failures, device failures, or configuration errors that prevent the firewalls from communicating their HA status and synchronizing their configurations and sessions. Adding a backup HA1 interface is a design option that addresses split brain when configuring HA. The HA1 interface is used for exchanging HA state information and configuration synchronization between the firewalls. Adding a backup HA1 interface provides redundancy and failover protection for the HA1 interface, ensuring that the firewalls can maintain their HA communication and avoid split brain. Using the heartbeat backup is a design option that addresses split brain when configuring HA. The heartbeat backup is a mechanism that allows the firewalls to send additional heartbeat messages through an alternate path, such as a management interface or a data interface, to verify the health of the peer firewall. Using the heartbeat backup prevents split brain caused by network failures or device failures that affect the primary HA interfaces. Bundling multiple interfaces in an aggregated interface group and assigning HA2, and sending heartbeats across the HA2 interfaces are not design options that address split brain when configuring HA, but they are related features that can enhance performance and reliability. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [High Availability Overview], [Configure HA Backup Links], [Configure Heartbeat Backup]

• Question 2:

  Which two public cloud platforms does the VM-Series plugin support? (Choose two.)

  A. Azure
  B. llBM Cloud
  C. Amazon Web Services
  D. lOCI
  A. Azure
  C. Amazon Web Services

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  explanation:

  Explanation/Reference:

  The two public cloud platforms that the VM-Series plugin supports are: Azure Amazon Web Services (AWS) A public cloud platform is a cloud computing service that provides infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), or software as a service (SaaS) to customers over the internet. A public cloud platform requires network security that can protect the traffic between different cloud services or regions from cyberattacks and enforce granular security policies based on application, user, content, and threat information. VM-Series firewall is a virtualized version of the Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewall that can be deployed on various cloud or virtualization platforms. VM-Series plugin is a software component that extends the functionality of the VM-Series firewall and Panorama to support specific features and capabilities of different cloud platforms. Azure and AWS are two public cloud platforms that the VM-Series plugin supports. Azure is a public cloud platform that provides a range of cloud services, such as compute, storage, networking, databases, analytics, artificial intelligence, and more. AWS is a public cloud platform that provides a range of cloud services, such as EC2, S3, VPC, Lambda, and more. The VM- Series plugin supports Azure and AWS by enabling features such as bootstrapping, dynamic address groups, scaling, load balancing, high availability, monitoring, logging, and automation for VM-Series firewalls and Panorama on these platforms. IBM Cloud and OCI are not public cloud platforms that the VM-Series plugin supports, but they are related platforms that can be used for other purposes. References: [Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE)], [VM-Series Plugin Overview], [VM-Series Plugin for Azure], [VM-Series Plugin for AWS], [What is Azure?], [What is AWS?]

• Question 3:

  What must be enabled when using Terraform templates with a Cloud next-generation firewall (NGFW) for Amazon Web Services (AWS)?

  A. AWS CloudWatch logging
  B. Access to the Cloud NGFW for AWS console
  C. Access to the Palo Alto Networks Customer Support Portal
  D. AWS Firewall Manager console access
  B. Access to the Cloud NGFW for AWS console

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  explanation:

  Explanation/Reference:

  Access to the Cloud NGFW for AWS console must be enabled when using Terraform templates with a Cloud next-generation firewall (NGFW) for Amazon Web Services (AWS). Terraform is an open-source tool that allows users to define and provision infrastructure as code using declarative configuration files. Terraform templates are files that specify the resources and configuration for deploying and managing infrastructure components, such as firewalls, load balancers, networks, or servers. Cloud NGFW for AWS is a cloud-native solution that provides comprehensive security and visibility across AWS environments, including VPCs, regions, accounts, and workloads. Cloud NGFW for AWS is deployed and managed by Palo Alto Networks as a service, eliminating the need for customers to provision, configure, or maintain any infrastructure or software. Access to the Cloud NGFW for AWS console must be enabled when using Terraform templates with a Cloud NGFW for AWS, as the console is the web-based interface that allows customers to view and manage their Cloud NGFW for AWS instances, policies, logs, alerts, and reports. The console also provides the necessary information and credentials for integrating with Terraform, such as the API endpoint, access key ID, secret access key, and customer ID. AWS CloudWatch logging, access to the Palo Alto Networks Customer Support Portal, and AWS Firewall Manager console access do not need to be enabled when using Terraform templates with a Cloud NGFW for AWS, as those are not required or relevant components for Terraform integration. References: [Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE)], [Terraform Overview], [Cloud Next-Generation Firewall Datasheet], [Cloud Next-Generation Firewall Deployment Guide], [Cloud Next- Generation Firewall Console Guide]

• Question 4:

  What Palo Alto Networks software firewall protects Amazon Web Services (AWS) deployments with network security delivered as a managed cloud service?

  A. VM-Series
  B. Cloud next-generation firewall
  C. CN-Series
  D. Ion-Series Ion-Series
  B. Cloud next-generation firewall

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  explanation:

  Explanation/Reference:

  Cloud next-generation firewall is the Palo Alto Networks software firewall that protects Amazon Web Services (AWS) deployments with network security delivered as a managed cloud service. Cloud next-generation firewall is a cloud-native solution that provides comprehensive security and visibility across AWS environments, including VPCs, regions, accounts, and workloads. Cloud next-generation firewall is deployed and managed by Palo Alto Networks as a service, eliminating the need for customers to provision, configure, or maintain any infrastructure or software. VM-Series, CN-Series, and Ion-Series are not Palo Alto Networks software firewalls that protect AWS deployments with network security delivered as a managed cloud service, but they are related solutions that can be deployed on AWS or other platforms. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [Cloud Next-Generation Firewall Datasheet], [VM-Series Datasheet], [CN-Series Datasheet], [Ion-Series Datasheet]

• Question 5:

  Which two subscriptions should be recommended to a customer who is deploying VM- Series firewalls to a private data center but is concerned about protecting data-center resources from malware and lateral movement? (Choose two.)

  A. Intelligent Traffic Offload
  B. Threat Prevention
  C. WildFire
  D. SD-WAN
  B. Threat Prevention
  C. WildFire

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  explanation:

  Explanation/Reference:

  Threat Prevention and WildFire are the two subscriptions that provide protection against malware and lateral movement in a private data center. Threat Prevention blocks known threats using antivirus, anti-spyware, and vulnerability protection. WildFire analyzes unknown files and links in a cloud-based sandbox and generates signatures for new threats. Intelligent Traffic Offload is a feature that reduces the load on the firewall by offloading traffic that does not need inspection. SD-WAN is a feature that optimizes the performance and availability of WAN connections. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [Threat Prevention Datasheet], [WildFire Datasheet], [Intelligent Traffic Offload], [SD-WAN]

• Question 6:

  What is a benefit of CN-Series firewalls securing traffic between pods and other workload types?

  A. It protects data center and internet gateway deployments.
  B. It allows for automatic deployment, provisioning, and immediate policy enforcement without any manual intervention.
  C. It ensures consistent security across the entire environment.
  D. It allows extension of Zero Trust Network Security to the most remote locations and smallest branches.
  B. It allows for automatic deployment, provisioning, and immediate policy enforcement without any manual intervention.

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  explanation:

  Explanation/Reference:

  A benefit of CN-Series firewalls securing traffic between pods and other workload types is that it allows for automatic deployment, provisioning, and immediate policy enforcement without any manual intervention. CN-Series

  firewalls are integrated with Kubernetes and use the Kubernetes API server to get information about pod labels, namespaces, services, and network policies. CN-Series firewalls can also use Panorama or Terraform to automate the

  configuration and management of security policies.

  References: [CN-Series Deployment Guide]

• Question 7:

  Which two mechanisms could trigger a high availability (HA) failover event? (Choose two.)

  A. Heartbeat polling
  B. Ping monitoring
  C. Session polling
  D. Link monitoring
  A. Heartbeat polling
  D. Link monitoring

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  explanation:

  Explanation/Reference:

  Heartbeat polling and link monitoring are two mechanisms that can trigger an HA failover event. Heartbeat polling is a method of verifying the health of the peer firewall by sending periodic heartbeat messages. If the heartbeat messages are not received within a specified interval, the firewall assumes that the peer is down and initiates a failover. Link monitoring is a method of verifying the connectivity of the interfaces on the firewall by sending link state packets. If the link state packets are not received on a specified number of interfaces, the firewall assumes that the network is down and initiates a failover. Ping monitoring and session polling are not HA mechanisms, but they are used for path monitoring and session synchronization respectively. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [High Availability Overview], [Configure HA Link Monitoring], [Configure HA Path Monitoring], [Configure Session Synchronization]

• Question 8:

  Which of the following can provide application-level security for a web-server instance on Amazon Web Services (AWS)?

  A. VM-Series firewalls
  B. Hardware firewalls
  C. Terraform templates
  D. Security groups
  A. VM-Series firewalls

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  explanation:

  Explanation/Reference:

  VM-Series firewalls can provide application-level security for a web-server instance on Amazon Web Services (AWS). VM-Series firewalls are virtualized versions of the Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewall that can be deployed on various cloud platforms, including AWS. VM-Series firewalls can protect web servers from cyberattacks by applying granular security policies based on application, user, content, and threat information. Hardware firewalls, Terraform templates, and security groups are not solutions that can provide application-level security for a web-server instance on AWS, but they are related concepts that can be used in conjunction with VM-Series firewalls. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [VM-Series on AWS], [VM-Series Datasheet], [Terraform for VM-Series on AWS], [Security Groups for Your VPC]

• Question 9:

  Which feature provides real-time analysis using machine learning (ML) to defend against new and unknown threats?

  A. Advanced URL Filtering (AURLF)
  B. Cortex Data Lake
  C. DNS Security
  D. Panorama VM-Series plugin
  C. DNS Security

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  explanation:

  Explanation/Reference:

  DNS Security is the feature that provides real-time analysis using machine learning (ML) to defend against new and unknown threats. DNS Security leverages a cloud-based service that applies predictive analytics, advanced ML, and automation to block malicious domains and stop attacks in progress. Advanced URL Filtering (AURLF), Cortex Data Lake, and Panorama VM-Series plugin are not features that provide real-time analysis using ML, but they are related solutions that can enhance security and visibility. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [DNS Security Datasheet], [Advanced URL Filtering Datasheet], [Cortex Data Lake Datasheet], [Panorama VM-Series Plugin]

• Question 10:

  Which component allows the flexibility to add network resources but does not require making changes to existing policies and rules?

  A. Content-ID
  B. External dynamic list
  C. App-ID
  D. Dynamic address group
  D. Dynamic address group

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  explanation:

  Explanation/Reference:

  Dynamic address group is the component that allows the flexibility to add network resources but does not require making changes to existing policies and rules. Dynamic address group is an object that represents a group of IP addresses based on criteria such as tags, regions, interfaces, or user-defined attributes. Dynamic address group allows Security policies to adapt dynamically to changes in the network topology or workload characteristics without requiring manual updates. Content-ID, External dynamic list, and App-ID are not components that allow the flexibility to add network resources but do not require making changes to existing policies and rules, but they are related features that can enhance security and visibility. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [Dynamic Address Groups Overview], [Content-ID Overview], [External Dynamic Lists Overview], [App-ID Overview]