PCSFE Online Practice Questions and Answers

Correct Answer: CD

Explanation: To deploy a VM-Series firewall on NSX, you need to enable communication between Panorama and the NSX Manager. This allows Panorama to receive information about the virtual machines and services in the NSX

environment. You also need to register the VM-Series firewall as a service on the NSX Manager. This allows NSX to redirect traffic to the VM-Series firewall for inspection3. References: VM-Series Deployment Guide for VMware NSX

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: Deployment of the NSX Distributed Firewall (DFW) must be configured in an NSX environment to ensure proper operation of a VM-Series firewall in order to secure east-west traffic. East-west traffic is the traffic that flows between applications or workloads within a network or a cloud environment. NSX environment is a private cloud environment that provides software-defined networking (SDN) and security for heterogeneous endpoints and workloads across multiple hypervisors, containers, bare metal servers, or clouds. NSX DFW is a feature that provides distributed stateful firewalling at the hypervisor level for every virtual machine (VM) in an NSX environment. Deployment of the NSX DFW must be configured in an NSX environment to ensure proper operation of a VM-Series firewall in order to secure east-west traffic by enabling features such as service insertion, policy redirection, service chaining, orchestration, monitoring, logging, and automation for VM- Series firewalls and Panorama on NSX environment. VMware Information Sources, User- ID agent on a Windows domain server, and device groups within VMware Services Manager do not need to be configured in an NSX environment to ensure proper operation of a VM-Series firewall in order to secure east-west traffic, as those are not required or relevant components for NSX integration. References: [Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE)], [Deploy the VM-Series Firewall on VMware NSX-T], [What is VMware NSX-T?], [What is NSX Distributed Firewall?]

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: TLS decryption is the offering that inspects encrypted outbound traffic. TLS decryption is a feature that allows the firewall to decrypt and inspect outbound SSL/TLS traffic from internal clients to external servers. TLS decryption can inspect encrypted outbound traffic by applying threat prevention technologies, such as antivirus, anti-spyware, vulnerability protection, URL filtering, file blocking, data filtering, and WildFire analysis, to the decrypted traffic and blocking any malicious content or activity. WildFire, Content-ID, and Advanced URL Filtering (AURLF) are not offerings that inspect encrypted outbound traffic, but they are related solutions that can enhance security and visibility. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [TLS Decryption Overview], [Threat Prevention Datasheet]

Correct Answer: AC

Explanation: The two factors that lead to improved return on investment for prospects interested in Palo Alto Networks virtualized next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) are: Decreased likelihood of data breach Reduced time to deploy Palo Alto Networks virtualized NGFWs are virtualized versions of the Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewall that can be deployed on various cloud or virtualization platforms. Palo Alto Networks virtualized NGFWs provide comprehensive security and visibility across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, protecting applications and data from cyberattacks. By using Palo Alto Networks virtualized NGFWs, prospects can decrease the likelihood of data breach by applying granular security policies based on application, user, content, and threat information, and by leveraging cloud-delivered services such as Threat Prevention, WildFire, URL Filtering, DNS Security, and Cortex Data Lake. By using Palo Alto Networks virtualized NGFWs, prospects can also reduce the time to deploy by taking advantage of automation and orchestration tools such as Terraform, Ansible, CloudFormation, ARM templates, and Panorama plugins that simplify and accelerate the deployment and configuration of firewalls across different cloud platforms. Reduced operational expenditures and reduced insurance premiums are not factors that lead to improved return on investment for prospects interested in Palo Alto Networks virtualized NGFWs, but they may be potential benefits or outcomes of using them. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [VM-Series Datasheet], [CN-Series Datasheet], [Cloud Security Solutions]

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Microsegmentation is a technology that allows for granular control of east- west traffic in a software-defined network. Microsegmentation divides the network into smaller segments or zones based on application or workload characteristics, and applies security policies to each segment. This reduces the attack surface and prevents unauthorized access or lateral movement within the network. Routing, MAC Access Control List, and Virtualization are not technologies that provide microsegmentation, but they are related concepts that can be used in conjunction with microsegmentation. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [Microsegmentation with Palo Alto Networks], [Microsegmentation for Dummies]

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]

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]

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]

Correct Answer: AC

Explanation: The two actions that can be performed for VM-Series firewall licensing by an orchestration system are: Creating a license Registering an authorization code An orchestration system is a software tool that automates and coordinates complex tasks across multiple devices or platforms. An orchestration system can perform various actions for VM-Series firewall licensing by using the Palo Alto Networks Licensing API. The Licensing API is a RESTful API that allows programmatic control of license management for VM-Series firewalls. Creating a license is an action that can be performed for VM-Series firewall licensing by an orchestration system using the Licensing API. Creating a license involves generating a license key for a VM-Series firewall based on its CPU ID and the license type. Registering an authorization code is an action that can be performed for VM- Series firewall licensing by an orchestration system using the Licensing API. Registering an authorization code involves activating a license entitlement for a VM-Series firewall based on its authorization code and CPU ID. Renewing a license and downloading a content update are not actions that can be performed for VM-Series firewall licensing by an orchestration system using the Licensing API, but they are related tasks that can be done manually or through other methods. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [Licensing API Overview], [Licensing API Reference Guide]

Correct Answer: BC

Explanation: The two deployment modes of VM-Series firewalls that are supported across NSX-T are: Bootstrap Service Cluster NSX-T is a software-defined network (SDN) solution that provides network virtualization, automation, and security for cloud-native applications. Bootstrap is a method of deploying and configuring VM-Series firewalls in NSX-T using a bootstrap package that contains the initial setup information, such as licenses, certificates, software updates, and configuration files. Service Cluster is a mode of deploying VM-Series firewalls in NSX-T as a group of firewalls that act as a single logical firewall to provide scalability and high availability. Prism Central, Host-based, and Service Insertion are not deployment modes of VM-Series firewalls in NSX-T, but they are related concepts that can be used for other purposes. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [Deploy the VM-Series Firewall on NSX-T], [Bootstrap the VM-Series Firewall for NSX-T], [Deploy the VM-Series Firewall as a Service Cluster on NSX-T]

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: Address groups are the type of groups that allow sharing cloud-learned tags with on-premises firewalls. Address groups are dynamic objects that can include IP addresses or tags as members. Cloud-learned tags are tags that are assigned to cloud resources by cloud providers or third-party tools. By using address groups with cloud- learned tags, you can apply consistent security policies across your hybrid cloud environment. References: [Address Groups]

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]

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: 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]

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: 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]

Correct Answer: AC

Explanation: 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?]