Pass the Paloalto Networks Network Security Administrator NetSec-Generalist Questions and answers with ExamsMirror

InStrata Cloud Manager (SCM), the most efficient way to apply a Security policy to multiple firewalls in a single data center is to group the firewalls together into a folder and create the Security policy at that configuration scope.

Grouping Firewalls: By organizing the ten firewalls into a folder, administrators can manage them as a single entity, reducing configuration time and ensuring consistency.

Configuration Scope: SCM allows you to create policies at different scopes, such as Global, Device Group, or Folder level. By applying the policy at the folder scope, it is automatically propagated to all firewalls within the group.

Efficiency: This approach eliminates the need to individually configure each firewall or manually clone policies, which can be time-consuming and error-prone.

References:

Strata Cloud Manager Policy Management

Best Practices for Multi-Firewall Management

To incorporate custom vulnerability signatures into current Security policies, administrators must create custom objects. These objects define the specific signature patterns for vulnerabilities, and they can then be applied to security profiles or policies.

Custom Objects: Allow administrators to define and configure unique vulnerability signatures tailored to the organization's specific needs.

Integration into Security Policies: Once created, these custom objects can be referenced in Security policies to detect and mitigate the specified vulnerabilities effectively.

This approach ensures that custom threats not covered by default threat signatures are adequately addressed, enhancing the firewall's threat prevention capabilities.

References:

Custom Vulnerability Signatures in Palo Alto Networks

Threat Prevention Customization

In this DNAT setup, HTTP and SSH traffic are directed to specific servers in the DMZ. The configuration ensures precise policy rules align with the DNAT mapping.

Rule C: Allows HTTP (web-browsing application) traffic from the Untrust zone to the DMZ. The NAT configuration maps this to Host A (10.1.1.100).

Rule D: Allows SSH traffic from the Untrust zone to the DMZ. The NAT configuration maps this to Host B (10.1.1.101).

This design segments and secures traffic while ensuring the correct mapping of applications to the servers. Both rules work in conjunction with the destination NAT policy to ensure seamless traffic flow and application-specific routing.

References:

Palo Alto Networks DNAT Configuration

Security Policies Best Practices

AnNGFW (Next-Generation Firewall)determines whethernew session setups are legitimate or illegitimateby usingSYN flood protection, which is a key component ofDoS/DDoS mitigation.

Detects High SYN Traffic Rates– SYN flood attacks occur when a large number ofhalf-open TCP connectionsare created, overwhelming a server or firewall.

Implements SYN Cookies or Rate-Limiting– To mitigate attacks, the NGFW appliesSYN cookiesorconnection rate limitsto filter out illegitimate connection attempts.

Maintains a Secure State Table– The firewall trackslegitimate and suspicious SYN requests, ensuring onlygenuine connectionsare allowed through.

Protects Against TCP-Based Attacks– Preventsresource exhaustioncaused byattackers flooding SYN packetswithout completing the TCP handshake.

B. SYN bit❌

Incorrect, because theSYN bitis just aflag in the TCP headerused to initiate a connection—it does not helpdistinguish between legitimate and illegitimate sessions.

C. Random Early Detection (RED)❌

Incorrect, becauseRED is used in congestion avoidancefor queuing mechanisms, not forTCP session validation.

D. SYN cookies❌

Incorrect, becauseSYN cookies are a method used within SYN flood protection, but they are justone part of the larger SYN flood protection mechanismimplemented in NGFWs.

Firewall Deployment– SYN flood protection is acore featureof Palo Alto NGFWs.

Security Policies– Helps enforcerate-limiting and SYN cookie mechanismsto prevent DoS attacks.

VPN Configurations– Prevents SYN flood attacks from affectingIPsec VPN gateways.

Threat Prevention– Works alongsideintrusion prevention systems (IPS) to block TCP-based attacks.

WildFire Integration– Not directly related but ensuresmalware-infected botsdon’t launch SYN flood attacks.

Zero Trust Architectures– Protectstrusted network zonesby preventingunauthorized connection attempts.

How SYN Flood Protection Works in an NGFW:Why Other Options Are Incorrect?References to Firewall Deployment and Security Features:Thus, the correct answer is:✅A. SYN flood protection

Advanced DNS Securityin Palo Alto Networks providesreal-time protection against DNS-based threatsusingmachine learning (ML) and threat intelligence.

Detects and Blocks Malicious Domains in Real-Time–

Identifiesphishing, malware command-and-control (C2), and data exfiltration attemptsusingML models.

Preventszero-day DNS attacksthat traditional static methods fail to detect.

Analyzes DNS Traffic to Identify Malicious Patterns–

Monitors DNS queriesfor suspicious behaviors, such asalgorithm-generated domain names (DGAs)used by botnets.

Enhances Network Security Without Affecting Performance–

DNS Security operates inlineto block threatsbefore malicious domains can be accessed.

Workswithout disrupting legitimate DNS traffic.

A. It replaces traditional DNS servers with more reliable and secure ones.❌

Incorrect, becauseAdvanced DNS Security does not replace DNS servers—itanalyzes DNS traffic for threats.

B. It centralizes all DNS management and simplifies policy creation.❌

Incorrect, becauseAdvanced DNS Security is not a DNS management solution, but athreat prevention feature.

C. It automatically redirects all DNS traffic through encrypted tunnels.❌

Incorrect, becauseit does not encrypt DNS traffic, butanalyzes it for malicious activity.

Firewall Deployment– Protects againstDNS-based attacksvia inline inspection.

Security Policies– Enforcesmalicious domain blocking.

VPN Configurations– SecuresDNS queries even from remote users.

Threat Prevention– Blocksmalicious DNS requests before they resolve.

WildFire Integration– IdentifiesDNS-based malware C2 communication.

Zero Trust Architectures– Preventsthreat actors from leveraging DNS tunneling for data exfiltration.

Why Machine Learning-Based Detection is Critical?Why Other Options Are Incorrect?References to Firewall Deployment and Security Features:Thus, the correct answer is:✅D. It uses machine learning (ML) to detect and block malicious domains in real-time.

ACN-Series firewallis acontainer-native firewalldesigned to provide security inside Kubernetes environments. It is usedin addition toaVM-Series firewall, which primarily protectscloud and virtualized workloads.

Themain security benefit of CN-Seriesis that itprevents lateral movement of threats within the container itselfby enforcing:

Microsegmentation within Kubernetes clusters

Deep packet inspection for inter-container communication

Zero Trust enforcement inside containerized applications

Containers are highly dynamic, and traditional firewallscannot inspect intra-container traffic.

TheCN-Series firewall enforces microsegmentation, blocking unauthorized communication between compromised containers.

Prevents malware or attackers from spreading within the Kubernetes environment.

(A) Provides perimeter threat detection outside the container–

This describesVM-Series firewalls, not CN-Series.

(C) Monitors and logs traffic outside the container–

CN-Seriesmonitors intra-container traffic, not just traffic outside the container.

(D) Enables core zone segmentation within the container–

The correct term ismicrosegmentation, but the key benefit is preventing lateral movement.

Zero Trust Architectures– Enforces least-privilege accesswithin containers.

Threat Prevention & WildFire– Preventsmalware from spreading between containers.

Why Preventing Lateral Threat Movement is the Correct Answer?Other Answer Choices AnalysisReferences and Justification:Thus,CN-Series Firewall (B) is the correct answer, as it preventslateral threat movement within the container itself.

A company usingPrisma Accesstosecure Google Workspace accesswhileblocking unsanctioned Google tenantsmust implementTenant Restrictions.

Restricts Google Workspace Access to Approved Tenants

Tenant restrictions allow only authorized Google Workspace tenants(e.g., the company’s official domain) andblock access to personal or unauthorized instances.

Prevents Data Exfiltration & Shadow IT Risks

Without tenant restrictions, users could log intopersonal Google accountsandtransfer corporate datatoexternal environments.

Works with Prisma Access Security Policies

Prisma Accessenforces tenant restrictionsat the cloud level, ensuring compliancewithout requiring local device policies.

(A) Dynamic Address Groups

Used togroup IPs dynamicallybased on tags but doesnot control SaaS tenant access.

(C) Dynamic User Groups

Used forrole-based access control(RBAC),not for restricting Google Workspace tenants.

(D) URL Category

Canfilter web categories, butcannot differentiate between different Google Workspace tenants.

Firewall Deployment & Security Policies– Tenant restrictions enforceGoogle Workspace access policies.

Threat Prevention & WildFire– Prevents data exfiltration viaunauthorized Google accounts.

Zero Trust Architectures– Ensuresonly authorized cloud tenantsare accessible.

Why are Tenant Restrictions the Right Choice?Other Answer Choices AnalysisReferences and Justification:Thus,Tenant Restrictions (B) is the correct answer, as it effectivelyblocks access to unsanctioned Google Workspace environmentswhile allowing corporate-approved tenants.

Both Panorama and Strata Cloud Manager (SCM) offer the Policy Optimizer feature, which assists administrators in refining and enhancing security policies. Policy Optimizer identifies overly permissive or unused security rules and provides recommendations to convert them into more specific, application-based rules, thereby strengthening the organization's security posture.

In Panorama, Policy Optimizer analyzes traffic logs to detect security rules that are too broad or unused. It then suggests modifications to these rules, enabling administrators to implement more precise policies that align with actual network traffic patterns.

Similarly, Strata Cloud Manager incorporates Policy Optimizer to help organizations clean up and streamline their security policies. It offers insights into rule usage and provides actionable recommendations to replace broad rules with more specific ones, ensuring that security policies are both effective and efficient.

References:

docs.paloaltonetworks.com

Prisma Access providessecure remote accessformobile users, but by default, mobile userscannot access internal sites unless explicitly configured.

Service Connection establishes a secure tunnelbetween Prisma Access and the internal network.

Allows direct routing between mobile users and internal applications.

Enables access without requiring additional VPN connections.

Ensures that Prisma Access can securely route trafficbetween mobile users and the internal site.

A. Interconnect license❌

Interconnect provides higher bandwidth connectionsbetween Prisma Access and multiple regions, but itdoes not create routing to internal networks.

C. Autonomous Digital Experience Manager (ADEM)❌

ADEM is used for network experience monitoring, not for routing or connectivity.

D. Security Processing Node❌

Security processing nodes handle threat inspection, but theydo not create routing connectionsbetween Prisma Access and internal networks.

Firewall Deployment– Service connectionsextend internal network access.

Security Policies– Enforces policies on traffic betweenmobile users and internal resources.

VPN Configurations– Ensuressecure IPsec/GRE tunnelsbetween Prisma Access and on-prem networks.

Threat Prevention– Inspects mobile-to-internal traffic for threats.

WildFire Integration– Scans transferred files betweenmobile users and internal sites.

Zero Trust Architectures– Ensuressecure access control for mobile users accessing internal applications.

How Service Connection Enables Routing Between Mobile Users and Internal Sites:Why Other Options Are Incorrect?References to Firewall Deployment and Security Features:Thus, the correct answer is:✅B. Service connection

Based on the image and default rulestack settings of theCloud NGFW for AWS, the source IP address seen in the data filtering logs will be20.10.10.15, which is the IP address of the load balancer.

Default Rulestack Behavior: By default, the rulestack settings do not inspect or preserve the original client IP (e.g., 10.1.1.2) in the "X-Forwarded-For" header. Instead, the load balancer's IP (20.10.10.15) is recorded as the source IP.

Logging Mechanism: Unless explicitly configured to parse the "X-Forwarded-For" header, the firewall's logs will reflect the IP address of the device directly sending the traffic to the NGFW (the load balancer in this case).

References:

Cloud NGFW for AWS Documentation

Data Filtering Logs and Source IP Behavior