Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks Certifications PCSFE Questions & Answers

• Question 51:

  How does Prisma Cloud Compute offer workload security at runtime?

  A. It automatically builds an allow-list security model for every container and service.

  B. It quarantines containers that demonstrate increased CPU and memory usage.

  C. It automatically patches vulnerabilities and compliance issues for every container and service.

  D. It works with the identity provider (IdP; to identify overprivileged containers and services and it restricts network access

  Correct Answer: A

  Explanation: Prisma Cloud Compute offers workload security at runtime by automatically building an allow-list security model for every container and service. Workload security is a type of security that protects applications and data from cyberattacks across different stages of the software development lifecycle, such as development, testing, staging, and production. Runtime security is a type of security that monitors and analyzes workload behavior in real time to detect and prevent malicious activities or anomalous behaviors. Prisma Cloud Compute is a cloud-native solution that provides comprehensive security and visibility across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, covering hosts, containers, serverless functions, and web applications. Prisma Cloud Compute offers workload security at runtime by automatically building an allow-list security model for every container and service, which defines the expected network connections, processes, file system activity, and system calls for each workload based on its baseline behavior. Prisma Cloud Compute then enforces the allow-list security model and blocks any deviations or violations from the expected behavior. Prisma Cloud Compute does not quarantine containers that demonstrate increased CPU and memory usage, automatically patch vulnerabilities and compliance issues for every container and service, or work with the identity provider (IdP) to identify overprivileged containers and services and restrict network access, as those are not methods or features of Prisma Cloud Compute for workload security at runtime. References: [Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE)], [Prisma Cloud Compute Datasheet], [Prisma Cloud Compute Overview], [Prisma Cloud Compute Runtime Defense]

• Question 52:

  Which software firewall would assist a prospect who is interested in securing extensive DevOps deployments?

  A. CN-Series

  B. Ion-Series

  C. Cloud next-generation firewall

  D. VM-Series

  Correct Answer: D

  Explanation: VM-Series firewall is the software firewall that would assist a prospect who is interested in securing extensive DevOps deployments. DevOps is a set of practices that combines software development and IT operations to deliver software products faster and more reliably. DevOps deployments require network security that can protect the traffic between different stages of the software development lifecycle, such as development, testing, staging, and production, as well as between different cloud or virtualization platforms, such as public clouds, private clouds, or on-premises data centers. 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 firewall can assist a prospect who is interested in securing extensive DevOps deployments by providing comprehensive security and visibility across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, protecting applications and data from cyberattacks, and supporting automation and orchestration tools that simplify and accelerate the deployment and configuration of firewalls across different platforms. CN-Series, Ion-Series, and Cloud next-generation firewall are not software firewalls that would assist a prospect who is interested in securing extensive DevOps deployments, but they are related solutions that can be deployed on specific platforms or environments. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [VM-Series Datasheet], [VM-Series Deployment Guide], [What is DevOps?]

• Question 53:

  What helps avoid split brain in active-passive high availability (HA) pair deployment?

  A. Using a standard traffic interface as the HA2 backup

  B. Enabling preemption on both firewalls in the HA pair

  C. Using the management interface as the HA1 backup link

  D. Using a standard traffic interface as the HA3 link

  Correct Answer: C

  Explanation: Using the management interface as the HA1 backup link helps avoid split brain in active-passive high availability (HA) pair deployment. High availability (HA) is a feature that provides redundancy and failover protection for firewalls in case of hardware or software failure. Active-passive HA is a mode of HA that consists of two firewalls in a pair, where one firewall is active and handles all traffic, while the other firewall is passive and acts as a 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. Using the management interface as the HA1 backup link helps avoid split brain in active-passive HA pair deployment. The HA1 interface is used for exchanging HA state information and configuration synchronization between the firewalls. Using the management interface as the HA1 backup link provides redundancy and failover protection for the HA1 interface, ensuring that the firewalls can maintain their HA communication and avoid split brain. Using a standard traffic interface as the HA2 backup, enabling preemption on both firewalls in the HA pair, or using a standard traffic interface as the HA3 link do not help avoid split brain in active-passive HA pair deployment, 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 54:

  Which two statements apply to the VM-Series plugin? (Choose two.)

  A. It can manage capabilities common to both VM-Series firewalls and hardware firewalls.

  B. It can be upgraded independently of PAN-OS.

  C. It enables management of cloud-specific interactions between VM-Series firewalls and supported public cloud platforms.

  D. It can manage Panorama plugins.

  Correct Answer: BC

  Explanation: The two statements that apply to the VM-Series plugin are:

  It can be upgraded independently of PAN-OS.

  It enables management of cloud-specific interactions between VM-Series firewalls and supported public cloud platforms.

  The VM-Series plugin is a software component that extends the functionality of the PAN- OS operating system to support cloud-specific features and APIs. The VM-Series plugin can be upgraded independently of PAN-OS to provide faster

  access to new cloud capabilities and integrations. The VM-Series plugin enables management of cloud-specific interactions between VM-Series firewalls and supported public cloud platforms, such as AWS, Azure, GCP, Alibaba Cloud, and

  Oracle Cloud. These interactions include bootstrapping, licensing, scaling, high availability, load balancing, and tagging. The VM- Series plugin cannot manage capabilities common to both VM-Series firewalls and hardware firewalls, as those

  are handled by PAN-OS. The VM-Series plugin cannot manage Panorama plugins, as those are separate software components that extend the functionality of the Panorama management server to support cloud-specific features and APIs.

  References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [VM- Series Plugin Overview], [VM-Series Plugin Release Notes]

• Question 55:

  What do tags allow a VM-Series firewall to do in a virtual environment?

  A. Enable machine learning (ML).

  B. Adapt Security policy rules dynamically.

  C. Integrate with security information and event management (SIEM) solutions.

  D. Provide adaptive reporting.

  Correct Answer: B

  Explanation: Tags allow a VM-Series firewall to adapt Security policy rules dynamically in a virtual environment. Tags are labels or identifiers that can be assigned to virtual machines (VMs), containers, or other resources in a virtual environment. Tags can be used to group resources based on various criteria, such as application, function, location, owner, or security posture. A VM-Series firewall can leverage tags to populate Dynamic Address Groups and update Security policies accordingly, without requiring manual changes. Tags do not enable machine learning (ML), integrate with security information and event management (SIEM) solutions, or provide adaptive reporting, but they are related features that can enhance security and visibility. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [Tagging Overview], [Dynamic Address Groups Overview]

• Question 56:

  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

  Correct Answer: D

  Explanation: 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]

• Question 57:

  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

  Correct Answer: C

  Explanation: 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 58:

  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

  Correct Answer: A

  Explanation: 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 59:

  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

  Correct Answer: AD

  Explanation: 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 60:

  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.

  Correct Answer: B

  Explanation: 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]