Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks Certifications PCSFE Questions & Answers

• Question 31:

  What is the appropriate file format for Kubernetes applications?

  A. .yaml

  B. .exe

  C. .json

  D. .xml

  Correct Answer: A

  Explanation: The appropriate file format for Kubernetes applications is .yaml. YAML is a human-readable data serialization language that is commonly used for configuration files. Kubernetes applications are defined and deployed using YAML files that specify the desired state and configuration of the application components, such as pods, services, deployments, or ingresses. YAML files for Kubernetes applications follow a specific syntax and structure that adhere to the Kubernetes API specifications. .exe, .json, and .xml are not appropriate file formats for Kubernetes applications, but they are related formats that can be used for other purposes. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [What is YAML?], [Kubernetes Basics], [Kubernetes API Overview]

• Question 32:

  A customer in a VMware ESXi environment wants to add a VM-Series firewall and partition an existing group of virtual machines (VMs) in the same subnet into two groups. One group requires no additional security, but the second group requires substantially more security.

  How can this partition be accomplished without editing the IP addresses or the default gateways of any of the guest VMs?

  A. Edit the IP address of all of the affected VMs. www*

  B. Create a new virtual switch and use the VM-Series firewall to separate virtual switches using virtual wire mode. Then move the guests that require more security into the new virtual switch.

  C. Create a Layer 3 interface in the same subnet as the VMs and then configure proxy Address Resolution Protocol (ARP).

  D. Send the VLAN out of the virtual environment into a hardware Palo Alto Networks firewall in Layer 3 mode. Use the same IP address as the old default gateway, then delete it.

  Correct Answer: B

  Explanation: The partition can be accomplished without editing the IP addresses or the default gateways of any of the guest VMs by creating a new virtual switch and using the VM-Series firewall to separate virtual switches using virtual wire mode. Then move the guests that require more security into the new virtual switch. A virtual switch is a software- based switch that connects virtual machines (VMs) in a VMware ESXi environment. A virtual wire is a deployment mode of the VM-Series firewall that allows it to act as a bump in the wire between two network segments, without requiring an IP address or routing configuration. By creating a new virtual switch and using the VM-Series firewall to separate virtual switches using virtual wire mode, the customer can isolate the group of VMs that require more security from the rest of the network, and apply security policies to the traffic passing through the firewall. The partition cannot be accomplished without editing the IP addresses or the default gateways of any of the guest VMs by editing the IP address of all of the affected VMs, creating a Layer 3 interface in the same subnet as the VMs and then configuring proxy Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), or sending the VLAN out of the virtual environment into a hardware Palo Alto Networks firewall in Layer 3 mode. Use the same IP address as the old default gateway, then delete it, as those methods would require changing the network configuration of the guest VMs or introducing additional complexity and latency. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [Deploying Virtual Switches], [Virtual Wire Deployment], [Deploying Virtual Wire on VMware ESXi]

• Question 33:

  Which solution is best for securing an EKS environment?

  A. VM-Series single host

  B. CN-Series high availability (HA) pair

  C. PA-Series using load sharing

  D. API orchestration

  Correct Answer: B

  Explanation: CN-Series high availability (HA) pair is the best solution for securing an EKS environment. EKS is a managed service that allows users to run Kubernetes clusters on AWS. CN-Series is a containerized firewall that integrates with Kubernetes and provides visibility and control over container traffic. CN-Series HA pair consists of two CN-Series firewalls deployed in active-passive mode to provide redundancy and failover protection. VM-Series single host, PA-Series using load sharing, and API orchestration are not optimal solutions for securing an EKS environment, as they do not offer the same level of integration, scalability, and automation as CN-Series. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [CN-Series Deployment Guide for AWS EKS], [CN-Series Datasheet]

• Question 34:

  How are Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) deployed within a Cisco ACI architecture?

  A. SDN code hooks can help detonate malicious file samples designed to detect virtual environments.

  B. Traffic can be automatically redirected using static address objects.

  C. Service graphs are configured to allow their deployment.

  D. VXLAN or NVGRE traffic is terminated and inspected for translation to VLANs.

  Correct Answer: C

  Explanation: Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) are deployed within a Cisco ACI architecture using service graphs. Service graphs are logical representations of how traffic flows through different network services, such as firewalls, load balancers, or routers. By configuring service graphs, you can insert NGFWs into the traffic path and apply security policies to the traffic. References: [Palo Alto Networks NGFW Integration with Cisco ACI]

• Question 35:

  Which two elements of the Palo Alto Networks platform architecture enable security orchestration in a software-defined network (SDN)? (Choose two.)

  A. Full set of APIs enabling programmatic control of policy and configuration

  B. VXLAN support for network-layer abstraction

  C. Dynamic Address Groups to adapt Security policies dynamically

  D. NVGRE support for advanced VLAN integration

  Correct Answer: AC

  Explanation: The two elements of the Palo Alto Networks platform architecture that enable security orchestration in a software-defined network (SDN) are: Full set of APIs enabling programmatic control of policy and configuration Dynamic Address Groups to adapt Security policies dynamically The Palo Alto Networks platform architecture consists of four key elements: natively integrated security technologies, full set of APIs, cloud-delivered services, and centralized management. The full set of APIs enables programmatic control of policy and configuration across the platform, allowing for automation and integration with SDN controllers and orchestration tools. Dynamic Address Groups are objects that represent groups of IP addresses based on criteria such as tags, regions, interfaces, or user-defined attributes. Dynamic Address Groups allow Security policies to adapt dynamically to changes in the network topology or workload characteristics without requiring manual updates. VXLAN support for network-layer abstraction and NVGRE support for advanced VLAN integration are not elements of the Palo Alto Networks platform architecture, but they are features that support SDN deployments. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [Palo Alto Networks Platform Architecture], [API Overview], [Dynamic Address Groups Overview]

• Question 36:

  What is a benefit of network runtime security?

  A. It more narrowly focuses on one security area and requires careful customization integration and maintenance

  B. It removes vulnerabilities that have been baked into containers.

  C. It is siloed to enhance workload security.

  D. It identifies unknown vulnerabilities that cannot be identified by known Common Vulnerability and Exposure (CVE) lists.

  Correct Answer: D

  Explanation: A benefit of network runtime security is that it identifies unknown vulnerabilities that cannot be identified by known Common Vulnerability and Exposure (CVE) lists. Network runtime security is a type of security that monitors and analyzes network traffic in real time to detect and prevent malicious activities or anomalous behaviors. Network runtime security can identify unknown vulnerabilities that cannot be identified by known CVE lists, such as zero-day exploits, advanced persistent threats, or custom malware. Network runtime security can also provide visibility and context into network activity, such as application dependencies, user identities, device types, or threat intelligence. Network runtime security does not more narrowly focus on one security area and requires careful customization, integration, and maintenance, remove vulnerabilities that have been baked into containers, or is siloed to enhance workload security, as those are not benefits or characteristics of network runtime security. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [Network Runtime Security], [What is CVE?]

• Question 37:

  Which element protects and hides an internal network in an outbound flow?

  A. DNS sinkholing

  B. User-ID

  C. App-ID

  D. NAT

  Correct Answer: D

  Explanation: NAT is the element that protects and hides an internal network in an outbound flow. NAT is a feature that translates the source or destination IP address or port of a packet as it passes through the firewall. NAT can protect and hide an internal network in an outbound flow by replacing the private IP addresses of the internal hosts with a public IP address of the firewall or another device, making them appear as a single entity to the external network. This prevents external hosts from directly accessing or identifying the internal hosts, and also conserves the public IP address space. DNS sinkholing, User-ID, and App-ID are not elements that protect and hide an internal network in an outbound flow, but they are related features that can enhance security and visibility. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [NAT Overview], [DNS Sinkholing Overview], [User-ID Overview], [App-ID Overview]

• Question 38:

  Which component can provide application-based segmentation and prevent lateral threat movement?

  A. DNS Security

  B. NAT

  C. URL Filtering

  D. App-ID

  Correct Answer: D

  Explanation: App-ID is the component that can provide application-based segmentation and prevent lateral threat movement. Application-based segmentation is a method of dividing the network into smaller segments or zones based on application or workload characteristics, such as function, dependency, owner, or security posture. Lateral threat movement is a technique used by attackers to move across the network from one compromised host to another, looking for sensitive data or assets. App-ID is a feature that identifies and classifies applications and protocols based on their content and characteristics, regardless of port, encryption, or evasion techniques. App-ID can provide application-based segmentation and prevent lateral threat movement by applying granular security policies based on application information to each segment or connection, blocking unauthorized access or data exfiltration. DNS Security, NAT, and URL Filtering are not components that can provide application-based segmentation and prevent lateral threat movement, but they are related features that can enhance security and visibility. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [App-ID Overview], [Microsegmentation with Palo Alto Networks], [Lateral Movement]

• Question 39:

  Which service, when enabled, provides inbound traffic protection?

  A. Advanced URL Filtering (AURLF)

  B. Threat Prevention

  C. Data loss prevention (DLP)

  D. DNS Security

  Correct Answer: D

  Explanation: DNS Security is a service that provides inbound traffic protection by preventing DNS-based attacks. DNS Security uses machine learning and threat intelligence to identify and block malicious domains, command and control (C2) traffic, and DNS tunneling. References: [DNS Security]

• Question 40:

  How does a CN-Series firewall prevent exfiltration?

  A. It employs custom-built signatures based on hash

  B. It distributes incoming virtual private cloud (VPC) traffic across the pool of VM-Series firewalls.

  C. It provides a license deactivation API key.

  D. It inspects outbound traffic content and blocks suspicious activity.

  Correct Answer: D

  Explanation: CN-Series firewall prevents exfiltration by inspecting outbound traffic content and blocking suspicious activity. Exfiltration is a technique used by attackers to steal sensitive data or assets from a compromised network or system, usually by sending them to an external destination, such as a command and control server, a drop zone, or an email address. CN-Series firewall is a containerized firewall that integrates with Kubernetes and provides visibility and control over container traffic. CN-Series firewall prevents exfiltration by inspecting outbound traffic content and blocking suspicious activity using threat prevention technologies, such as antivirus, anti-spyware, vulnerability protection, URL filtering, file blocking, data filtering, and WildFire analysis. CN-Series firewall does not prevent exfiltration by employing custom-built signatures based on hash, distributing incoming virtual private cloud (VPC) traffic across the pool of VM-Series firewalls, or providing a license deactivation API key, as those are not valid or relevant methods for exfiltration prevention. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [CN-Series Concepts], [CN-Series Deployment Guide for Native K8], [Threat Prevention Datasheet], [What is Exfiltration?]