Pass the Splunk SOAR Certified Automation Developer SPLK-2003 Questions and answers with ExamsMirror

DECIDED process is a core component of the SOAR automation engine that handles the execution of playbooks and actions. The DECIDED process can be restarted by restarting the automation service, which can be done from the command line using the service phantom restart command2. Restarting the automation service also restarts the playbook daemon, which is another core component of the SOAR automation engine that handles the loading and unloading of playbooks3. Therefore, option D is the correct answer, as it restarts both the DECIDED process and the playbook daemon. Option A is incorrect, because restarting the playbook daemon alone does not restart the DECIDED process. Option B is incorrect, because the System Health page does not provide an option to restart the DECIDED process or the automation service. Option C is incorrect, because the Administration > Server Settings page does not provide an option to restart the DECIDED process or the automation service.

In Splunk SOAR, if the DECIDED process, which is responsible for playbook execution, needs to be restarted, this can typically be done by restarting the automation (or phantom) service. This service manages the automation processes, including playbook execution. Restarting it can reset the DECIDED process, resolving issues related to playbook execution or process hangs.

In Splunk SOAR, an event is a security occurrence that may require a response. It is ingested from a third-party source and can be labeled to group related events together. The default label for containers is “Events,” which signifies potential threats13. A case, on the other hand, is a container that holds several containers, consolidating multiple events into one logical management unit. Cases can include artifacts and external evidence such as screen captures, analyst notes, and event data from third-party products22. They are used to manage and analyze investigation data tied to specific security events and incidents, providing a structured approach to incident response34.

References:

Manage the status, severity, and resolution of events in Splunk SOAR (Cloud) - Splunk Documentation

Managing cases in SOAR - Splunk Lantern

What is Splunk Phantom (Renamed to Splunk SOAR)? - BlueVoyant

Overview of cases - Splunk Documentation

ROI Settings dashboard allows you to configure the parameters used to estimate the data displayed in the Automation ROI Summary dashboard. One of the settings that can be configured is the FTE Gained, which is the number of full time employees (FTEs) that are freed up by automation. To calculate this value, Splunk SOAR divides the number of actions run by automation by the number of expected actions an analyst would take, based on minutes per action and analyst hours per day. Therefore, option A is the correct answer, as it is one of the settings that can be configured in the ROI Settings dashboard. Option B is incorrect, because time lost is not a setting that can be configured in the ROI Settings dashboard, but a metric that is calculated by Splunk SOAR based on the difference between the analyst minutes per action and the actual minutes per action. Option C is incorrect, because analyst hours per month is not a setting that can be configured in the ROI Settings dashboard, but a value that is derived from the analyst hours per day setting. Option D is incorrect, because annual analyst salary is a setting that can be configured in the ROI Settings dashboard, but not the one that is asked in the question.

1: Configure the ROI Settings dashboard in Administer Splunk SOAR (On-premises)

ROI (Return on Investment) Settings within Splunk SOAR are used to estimate the efficiency and financial impact of the SOAR platform. One of the configurable parameters in these settings is the 'Analyst hours per month'. This parameter helps in calculating the time saved through automation, which in turn can be translated into cost savings and efficiency gains. It reflects the direct contribution of the SOAR platform to operational productivity.

The primary objective of using the I2A2 playbook design methodology in Splunk SOAR is to create playbooks that are simple, reusable, and modular. This design philosophy emphasizes the creation of playbooks that can be easily understood and maintained, encourages the reuse of playbook components in different scenarios, and fosters the development of playbooks that can be modularly connected or used independently as needed.

I2A2 design methodology is a framework for designing playbooks that consists of four components:

•Inputs: The data that is required for the playbook to run, such as artifacts, parameters, or custom fields.

•Interactions: The blocks that allow the playbook to communicate with users or other systems, such as prompts, comments, or emails.

•Actions: The blocks that execute the core logic of the playbook, such as app actions, filters, decisions, or utilities.

•Artifacts: The data that is generated or modified by the playbook, such as new artifacts, container fields, or notes.

The I2A2 design methodology helps you to plan, structure, and test your playbooks in a modular and efficient way. The primary objective of using the I2A2 design methodology is to create simple, reusable, modular playbooks that can be easily maintained, shared, and customized. Therefore, option D is the correct answer, as it states the primary objective of using the I2A2 design methodology. Option A is incorrect, because creating detailed playbooks is not the primary objective of using the I2A2 design methodology, but rather a possible outcome of following the framework. Option B is incorrect, because creating playbooks that customers will not edit is not the primary objective of using the I2A2 design methodology, but rather a potential risk of not following the framework. Option C is incorrect, because meeting customer requirements using a single playbook is not the primary objective of using the I2A2 design methodology, but rather a challenge that can be overcome by using the framework.

1: Use a playbook design methodology in Administer Splunk SOAR (Cloud).

In Splunk SOAR, the Investigation page is where users can delve into the details of containers, artifacts, and actions. It provides a comprehensive view of the incident or event under investigation, including the JSON data associated with containers. This JSON data represents the structured information about the container, including its attributes, artifacts, and actions taken within the playbook. Options A, C, and D do not typically provide a direct view of the container's JSON data, making option B the correct answer for where a user can view this information within SOAR.

A container is the top-level data structure that SOAR playbook APIs operate on. Every container is a structured JSON object which can nest more arbitrary JSON objects, that represent artifacts. A container is the top-level object against which automation is run. To view the JSON data for a container, you need to navigate to the Investigation page, which shows the details of a container, such as its name, label, owner, status, severity, and artifacts. On the Investigation page, you can click on the JSON tab, which displays the JSON representation of the container and its artifacts. Therefore, option B is the correct answer, as it states where in SOAR a user can view the JSON data for a container. Option A is incorrect, because the analyst queue is not where a user can view the JSON data for a container, but rather where a user can view the list of containers assigned to them or their team. Option C is incorrect, because the data ingestion display is not where a user can view the JSON data for a container, but rather where a user can view the status and configuration of the data sources that ingest data into SOAR. Option D is incorrect, because the audit log is not where a user can view the JSON data for a container, but rather where a user can view the history of actions performed on the SOAR system, such as creating, updating, or deleting objects.

1: Understanding containers in Splunk SOAR (Cloud)

In Splunk SOAR, playbooks can execute actions either synchronously (waiting for one action to complete before starting the next) or asynchronously (allowing actions to run concurrently). If a playbook starts executing before the previous one has completed, it indicates that synchronous execution has not been properly configured between these playbooks. This is crucial when the output of one playbook is a dependency for the subsequent playbook. Options B, C, and D do not directly address the observed behavior of concurrent playbook execution, making option A the most accurate explanation for why the second playbook starts before the completion of the first.

synchronous execution is a feature of the SOAR automation engine that allows you to control the order of execution of playbook blocks. Synchronous execution ensures that a playbook block waits for the completion of the previous block before starting its execution. Synchronous execution can be enabled or disabled for each playbook block in the playbook editor, by toggling the Synchronous Execution switch in the block settings. Therefore, option A is the correct answer, as it states the cause of the behavior where the second playbook starts executing before the first one completes. Option B is incorrect, because the first playbook performing poorly is not the cause of the behavior, but rather a possible consequence of the behavior. Option C is incorrect, because the sleep option for the second playbook is not the cause of the behavior, but rather a workaround that can be used to delay the execution of the second playbook. Option D is incorrect, because the join configuration on the second playbook is not the cause of the behavior, but rather a way of merging multiple paths of execution into one.

the default embedded search engine used by SOAR is the SOAR search engine, which is powered by the PostgreSQL database built-in to Splunk SOAR (Cloud). A Splunk SOAR (Cloud) Administrator can configure options for search from the Home menu, in Search Settings under Administration Settings. The SOAR search engine has been modified to accept the * wildcard and supports various operators and filters. For search syntax and examples, see Search within Splunk SOAR (Cloud)2.

Option A is incorrect, because the embedded Splunk search engine was used in earlier releases of Splunk SOAR (Cloud), but not in the current version. Option C is incorrect, because Django is a web framework, not a search engine. Option D is incorrect, because Elastic is a separate search engine that is not embedded in Splunk SOAR (Cloud).

1: Configure search in Splunk SOAR (Cloud) 2: Search within Splunk SOAR (Cloud)

Splunk SOAR utilizes its own embedded search engine by default, which is tailored to its security orchestration and automation framework. While Splunk SOAR can integrate with other search engines, like the Embedded Splunk search engine, for advanced capabilities and log analytics, its default setup comes with an embedded search engine optimized for the typical data and search patterns encountered within the SOAR platform.

Decision blocks are most useful when selecting one (or zero) possible paths in the playbook. Decision blocks allow the user to define one or more conditions based on action results, artifacts, or custom expressions, and execute the corresponding path if the condition is met. If none of the conditions are met, the playbook execution ends. Decision blocks are not used for processing different data in parallel, evaluating complex, multi-value results or artifacts, or modifying downstream data in one or more paths in the playbook. Decision blocks within Splunk Phantom playbooks are used to control the flow of execution based on certain criteria. They are most useful when you need to select one or potentially no paths for the playbook to follow, based on the evaluation of specified conditions. This is akin to an if-else or switch-case logic in programming where depending on the conditions met, a particular path is chosen for further actions. Decision blocks evaluate the data and direct the playbook to different paths accordingly, making them a fundamental component for creating dynamic and responsive automation workflows.

In Splunk SOAR, tasks within workbooks can be performed by any user whose role has the 'Perform Task' capability enabled. This capability is assigned within the role configuration and allows users with the appropriate permissions to execute tasks. It is not limited to users with write access or the container owner; rather, it is based on the specific permissions granted to the role with which the user is associated.

Within Splunk SOAR, containers (which represent incidents, cases, or events) have a lifecycle that is tracked through their status. The default statuses available without any customization are "New", "In Progress", and "Closed". These statuses help in organizing and managing the incident response process, allowing users to easily track the progress of investigations and responses from initial detection through to resolution.