Palo Alto Networks Systems Engineer Professional - Software Firewall PSE-SWFW-Pro-24 Exam Practice Test

Answer : D

The scenario describes a need for programmatic and automated updating of a custom URL category on a Palo Alto Networks firewall. The XML API is specifically designed for this kind of task. It allows external systems and scripts to interact with the firewall's configuration and operational data.

Here's why the XML API is the appropriate solution and why the other options are not:

D . XML API: The XML API provides a well-defined interface for making changes to the firewall's configuration. This includes creating, modifying, and deleting URL categories and adding or removing URLs within those categories. A script can be written to retrieve the list of 'bad sites' from the company's application and then use the XML API to push those URLs into the custom URL category on the firewall. This process can be automated on a schedule. This is the most efficient and recommended method for this type of integration.

Why other options are incorrect:

A . Dynamic User Groups: Dynamic User Groups are used to dynamically group users based on attributes like username, group membership, or device posture. They are not relevant for managing URL categories.

B . SNMP SET: SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is primarily used for monitoring and retrieving operational data from network devices. While SNMP can be used to make some configuration changes, it is not well-suited for complex configuration updates like adding multiple URLs to a category. The XML API is the preferred method for configuration changes.

C . Dynamic Address Groups: Dynamic Address Groups are used to dynamically populate address groups based on criteria like tags, IP addresses, or FQDNs. They are intended for managing IP addresses and not URLs, so they are not applicable to this scenario.

Palo Alto Networks Reference:

The primary reference for this is the Palo Alto Networks XML API documentation. Searching the Palo Alto Networks support site (live.paloaltonetworks.com) for 'XML API' will provide access to the latest documentation. This documentation details the various API calls available, including those for managing URL categories.

Specifically, you would look for API calls related to:

Creating or modifying custom URL categories.

Adding or removing URLs from a URL category.

The XML API documentation provides examples and detailed information on how to construct the XML requests and interpret the responses. This is crucial for developing a script to automate the URL updates.

Answer : A

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Step-by-Step Explanation:

Cloud NGFW and VM-Series firewalls are both Palo Alto Networks solutions for cloud security, but they differ in architecture and deployment models (cloud-native vs. virtualized). The Palo Alto Networks Systems Engineer Professional - Software Firewall documentation compares these solutions, highlighting their unique advantages.

Cloud NGFW integrates natively into the AWS management console (Option A): Cloud NGFW is a cloud-native service specifically designed for AWS and Azure, integrating seamlessly with the native management consoles (e.g., AWS Management Console, Azure Portal). This native integration allows customers to manage Cloud NGFW alongside other AWS services (e.g., VPC, EC2) without requiring additional tools, reducing complexity and enhancing usability. The documentation emphasizes this as a key advantage over VM-Series, which is a virtual machine requiring separate management through Panorama or other tools, not natively integrated into the cloud provider's console.

Options B (The customer maintains complete control of the Cloud NGFW), C (Layer 2 network functionality can be customized on Cloud NGFW), and D (Cloud NGFW can easily be deployed using NGFW Software Credits) are incorrect. Customers do not maintain complete control of Cloud NGFW, as it is a managed service with some automation handled by AWS/Azure, unlike VM-Series, which offers full control as a virtual appliance (Option B is inaccurate). Layer 2 network functionality is not a customizable or primary feature of Cloud NGFW, which focuses on Layer 3--7 security in public clouds, making Option C incorrect. While Cloud NGFW can be deployed using NGFW credits (Option D), this is not a unique advantage over VM-Series, as VM-Series also supports flexible licensing, so it does not distinguish Cloud NGFW as superior in this regard.

Answer : B

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Step-by-Step Explanation:

The CN-Series firewall is a containerized next-generation firewall designed to secure workloads in containerized environments, particularly those running on Kubernetes. According to the Palo Alto Networks Systems Engineer Professional - Software Firewall documentation, the primary tool for deploying CN-Series firewalls is Kubernetes, as it integrates natively with Kubernetes clusters to provide security for containerized applications.

Kubernetes (Option B): Kubernetes is the orchestration platform used to deploy, manage, and scale CN-Series firewalls within containerized environments. It allows for dynamic scaling and integration with container workloads, ensuring security policies are applied consistently across pods and services.

Options A (GCP Automated Deployment Services), C (Docker Swarm), and D (Terraform Automated Deployment Services) are incorrect. While GCP Automated Deployment Services and Terraform can be used for automation, they are not specific to CN-Series deployment in the context of Kubernetes. Docker Swarm, while a container orchestration platform, is not supported for CN-Series firewalls, as Palo Alto Networks focuses on Kubernetes for CN-Series deployment.

Answer : A

Software NGFW credits and deployment profiles manage licenses for VM-Series firewalls.

A . Edit the current deployment profile to remove the Advanced URL Filtering license: This is the correct approach. Deployment profiles are used to define the licenses associated with VM-Series firewalls. Modifying the profile directly updates the licensing for all firewalls using that profile.

B . On the firewall, issue this command: > delete url subscription license: This command does not exist. Licenses are managed through the deployment profile, not directly on the firewall via CLI in this context.

C . Add a new deployment profile with all the licenses selected except Advanced URL Filtering: While this would work, it's less efficient than simply editing the existing profile.

D . Delete the current deployment profile from the cloud service provider: This is too drastic. Deleting the profile would remove all licensing and configuration associated with it, not just the Advanced URL Filtering license.

Answer : B

The init-cfg.txt file configures the management interface during bootstrapping.

Why B is correct: The init-cfg.txt file is the primary configuration file used during the bootstrap process. It contains settings for the management interface (IP address, netmask, gateway, DNS), as well as other initial configurations.

Why A, C, and D are incorrect:

A . init-mgmt-cfg.txt: This file does not exist in the standard bootstrap process.

C . init-cfg.bat: This is a batch file, not a configuration file. Batch files are sometimes used to automate the deployment process, but the actual configuration is in init-cfg.txt.

D . bootstrap.bat: Similar to C, this is a batch file, not the configuration file itself.

Palo Alto Networks Reference: VM-Series deployment guides provide detailed instructions on the bootstrapping process and the contents of the init-cfg.txt file.

Answer : C

The default interzone rule in PAN-OS is typically set to 'deny.' While this is generally secure, the logging is not enabled by default. In public cloud deployments, enabling logging for the interzone-default rule is crucial for visibility and troubleshooting.

Why C is correct: Overriding the action of the interzone-default rule is generally not recommended (unless you have very specific requirements). The default 'deny' action is a core security principle. However, overriding the logging is essential. By enabling logging, you gain visibility into any traffic that is denied by this default rule, which is vital for security auditing and troubleshooting connectivity issues.

Why A, B, and D are incorrect:

A: The intrazone-default rule allows traffic within the same zone by default. While logging is always good practice, it's less critical than logging denied interzone traffic.

B: The default service for the interzone rule is 'any,' which is appropriate given the default action is 'deny.' Changing the service doesn't inherently improve security in the context of a default deny rule.

D: Similar to B, changing the service on the intrazone rule is not the primary security concern in cloud deployments.

Palo Alto Networks Reference:

While there isn't one specific document stating 'always enable logging on the interzone-default rule in the cloud,' this is a best practice emphasized in various Palo Alto Networks resources related to cloud security and VM-Series deployments.

Look for guidance in:

VM-Series Deployment Guides for your cloud provider (AWS, Azure, GCP): These guides often contain security best practices, including recommendations for logging.

Best Practice Assessment (BPA) checks: The BPA tool often flags missing logging on interzone rules as a finding.

Live Online training for VM-Series and Cloud Security: Palo Alto Networks training courses frequently emphasize the importance of logging for visibility and troubleshooting in cloud environments.

The core principle is that in cloud environments, network visibility is paramount. Logging denied traffic is a critical component of that visibility.

Answer : D

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Step-by-Step Explanation:

Credit-based flexible licensing is a licensing model introduced by Palo Alto Networks to simplify the deployment and management of software firewalls, including VM-Series, CN-Series, and Cloud NGFW. The Palo Alto Networks Systems Engineer Professional - Software Firewall documentation outlines the benefits of this model, particularly its flexibility and scalability across different firewall types in cloud and virtualized environments.

Creating Cloud NGFWs (Option D): Credit-based flexible licensing allows customers to use a pool of NGFW credits to deploy and manage Cloud NGFWs in public cloud environments like AWS and Azure. This licensing model provides the flexibility to allocate credits dynamically to create Cloud NGFW instances as needed, without requiring separate licenses for each instance. It simplifies procurement, reduces administrative overhead, and ensures scalability, making it a key benefit for customers adopting cloud-native security solutions.

Options A, B, and C are incorrect. Permanently setting the capabilities of software firewalls (Option A) contradicts the flexible nature of credit-based licensing, which is designed for dynamic allocation. Adding Cloud-Delivered Security Services (CDSS) to CN-Series firewalls (Option B) is not a direct benefit of flexible licensing; CDSS subscriptions are separate and can be applied independently of the licensing model. Adding subscriptions to PA-Series firewalls (Option C) is irrelevant, as PA-Series firewalls are physical appliances with fixed licensing, not covered under the credit-based flexible licensing model for software firewalls.