PCCET Sample Questions Answers

Knowledge-based systems and behavior-based systems are two types of artificial intelligence systems that can be used for security purposes. Knowledge-based systems use a predefined database of rules, facts, and patterns that distinguish “bad” or malicious activities from normal ones. They compare the incoming data with the stored knowledge and flag any anomalies or matches. Behavior-based systems, on the other hand, learn from the observed data and establish a baseline of normal behavior. They then monitor the data for any deviations or changes from the baseline and alert on any suspicious or abnormal activities. References:

•Types of Knowledge-Based Systems - Springer

•Difference between Knowledge-based IDS and behavior-based IDS

•Behaviour-based Knowledge Systems: An Epigenetic Path from Behaviour to …

Software patches are updates that fix bugs, vulnerabilities, or performance issues in applications. Applying software patches regularly is one of the best practices to secure applications against exploits, as it prevents attackers from taking advantage of known flaws in the software. Software patches can also improve the functionality and compatibility of applications, as well as address any security gaps that may arise from changes in the operating system or other software components. Endpoint security solutions, such as Cortex XDR, can help organizations automate and streamline the patch management process, ensuring that all endpoints are up to date and protected from exploits. References:

• Endpoint Protection - Palo Alto Networks
• Endpoint Security - Palo Alto Networks
• Patch Management - Palo Alto Networks

Phishing is a type of email attack where the attacker sends a lot of malicious emails in an untargeted way, pretending to be a trusted source, such as a bank or an online retailer, to trick users into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers. Attackers use the information to steal money or to launch other attacks. A fake email from a bank asking you to click a link and verify your account details is an example of phishing1 References:

• 1: Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician - Palo Alto Networks
• 2: 10 Palo Alto Networks PCCET Exam Practice Questions - CBT Nuggets
• 3: Types of Email Attacks - Examples and Consequences - Tessian
• 4: What Is a Phishing Attack? Definition and Types - Cisco

NAT stands for Network Address Translation, which is a process that allows devices on a private network to communicate with devices on a public network, such as the Internet. NAT translates the private IP addresses of the devices on the private network to public IP addresses that can be routed on the public network. This way, multiple devices on the private network can share a single public IP address and access the Internet. NAT also provides security benefits, as it hides the internal network structure and IP addresses from the outside world. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET), Fundamentals of Network Security, Network Address Translation (NAT)

 A sanctioned application is an application that is approved by the IT department and meets the security and compliance requirements of the organization. Sanctioned applications are allowed to access the organization’s network and data and are monitored and protected by the IT department. Examples of sanctioned applications are Office 365, Salesforce, and Zoom. Sanctioned applications are different from unsanctioned, prohibited, and tolerated applications, which are not approved by the IT department and may pose security risks to the organization. Unsanctioned applications are applications that are used by the employees without the IT department’s knowledge or consent, such as Dropbox, Gmail, or Facebook. Prohibited applications are applications that are explicitly forbidden by the IT department, such as BitTorrent, Tor, or malware. Tolerated applications are applications that are not approved by the IT department, but are not blocked or restricted, such as Skype, Spotify, or YouTube. References: Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET), Cloud Security Fundamentals - Module 4: Cloud Security Best Practices, Application Visibility and Control

Tunneling is a method of transporting data across a network using protocols that are not supported by that network. Tunneling works by encapsulating packets: wrapping packets inside of other packets. Tunneling within commonly used services is a technique that uses file sharing or an instant messenger client such as Meebo running over HTTP to bypass firewalls or other network restrictions. The data packets are encapsulated within HTTP packets and sent as normal web traffic. This way, the data packets can reach their destination without being blocked or detected by the network. References: What is tunneling? | Tunneling in networking | Cloudflare, What Is Network Tunneling & How Is It Used? | Traefik Labs, networking - What is HTTP tunneling? - Stack Overflow

Examples of serverless environments include Amazon Lambda and Azure Functions. Many PaaS offerings, such as Pivotal Cloud Foundry, also are effectively serverless even if they have not historically been marketed as such. Although serverless may appear to lack the container-specific, cloud native attribute, containers are extensively used in the underlying implementations, even if those implementations are not exposed to end users directly.

Phishing is a type of attack that involves sending fraudulent emails that appear to be from legitimate sources, such as banks, companies, or individuals, in order to trick recipients into clicking on malicious links, opening malicious attachments, or providing sensitive information12. The link to a malware website in the email is an example of a malicious link, which may lead to the installation of malware, ransomware, spyware, or other malicious software on the user’s device, or the redirection to a fake website that mimics a legitimate one, where the user may be asked to enter their credentials, personal information, or financial details34. Phishing emails often use social engineering techniques, such as creating a sense of urgency, curiosity, or fear, to persuade the user to click on the link or attachment, or to reply to the email5. Phishing emails may also spoof the sender’s address, domain, or logo, to make them look more authentic and trustworthy6.

Whaling, pharming, and spam are not the correct answers for this question. Whaling is a specific type of phishing that targets high-profile individuals, such as executives, celebrities, or politicians, with the aim of stealing their confidential information or influencing their decisions7. Pharming is a type of attack that involves redirecting the user’s web browser to a fake website, even if they enter the correct URL, by modifying the DNS server or the user’s hosts file. Spam is the unsolicited or unwanted electronic messages, such as emails, texts, or instant messages, that are sent in bulk to a large number of recipients, usually for advertising, marketing, or scamming purposes. References:

• What is phishing? | Malwarebytes
• Phishing - Wikipedia
• Don’t Panic! Here’s What To Do If You Clicked On A Phishing Link
• How can Malware spread through Email and How to Protect
• What is phishing? How this cyber attack works and how to prevent it …
• Identifying Illegitimate Email Links | Division of Information Technology
• What is whaling? | NortonLifeLock
• [What is pharming? | NortonLifeLock]
• [What is spam? | NortonLifeLock]

Multiple policies, no policy reconciliation tools: Sequential traffic analysis (stateful inspection, application control, intrusion prevention system (IPS), anti-malware, etc.) in traditional data center security solutions requires a corresponding security policy or profile, often using multiple management tools. The result is that your security policies become convoluted as you build and manage a firewall policy with source, destination, user, port, and action; an application control policy with similar rules; and any other threat prevention rules required. Multiple security policies that mix positive (firewall) and negative (application control, IPS, and anti-malware) control models can cause security holes by missing traffic and/or not identifying

Cortex XSOAR enhances Security Operations Center (SOC) efficiency with the world’s most comprehensive operating platform for enterprise security. Cortex XSOAR unifies case management, automation, real-time collaboration, and native threat intel management in the industry’s first extended security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) offering.

 A switch is a network device that connects multiple devices on a local area network (LAN) and forwards data packets between them. A switch can be identified by its icon, which is a rectangle with four curved lines on each side. In the attached network diagram, device D is the switch, as it matches the icon and connects three computers to device A, which is another network device. References:

• [What is a Network Switch and How Does it Work?]
• [Network Diagram Symbols and Icons | Lucidchart]

Endpoint antivirus software is a type of software designed to help detect, prevent, and eliminate malware on devices, such as laptops, desktops, smartphones, and tablets. Endpoint antivirus software can block viruses that are not seen and blocked by the perimeter firewall, which is a network security device that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined security rules. Perimeter firewall can block some known viruses, but it may not be able to detect and stop new or unknown viruses that use advanced techniques to evade detection. Endpoint antivirus software can provide an additional layer of protection by scanning the files and processes on the devices and using various methods, such as signatures, heuristics, behavior analysis, and cloud-based analysis, to identify and remove malicious code123. References:

• What Is Endpoint Antivirus? Key Features & Solutions Explained - Trellix
• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | Microsoft Security
• Download ESET Endpoint Antivirus | ESET

East-West traffic is the lateral movement of data packets between servers within a data center, or across private and public clouds1. This type of traffic has grown substantially with the proliferation of data centers and cloud adoption, and it now surpasses the conventional North-South traffic that goes in or out of the network2. Therefore, it is important to protect East-West traffic from potential malicious actors and breaches, as threats can arise internally and move laterally without ever touching the traditional network perimeter12. By inspecting and monitoring all East-West traffic, organizations can effectively block the lateral movement of threat actors, increase network visibility, protect vital applications and data, and lower costs and risks for distributed operations23. References:

• East-West Traffic: Everything You Need to Know | Gigamon Blog
• What is East-West Security? | VMware Glossary
• How to Harness East-West Visibility for a Stronger Defensive Security …

2G/2.5G: 2G connectivity remains a prevalent and viable IoT connectivity option due

to the low cost of 2G modules, relatively long battery life, and large installed base of

2G sensors and M2M applications.

○ 3G: IoT devices with 3G modules use either Wideband Code Division Multiple Access

(W-CDMA) or Evolved High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+ and Advanced HSPA+) to

achieve data transfer rates of 384Kbps to 168Mbps.

○ 4G/Long-Term Evolution (LTE): 4G/LTE networks enable real-time IoT use cases, such

as autonomous vehicles, with 4G LTE Advanced Pro delivering speeds in excess of

3Gbps and less than 2 milliseconds of latency.

○ 5G: 5G cellular technology provides significant enhancements compared to 4G/LTE

networks and is backed by ultra-low latency, massive connectivity and scalability for

IoT devices, more efficient use of the licensed spectrum, and network slicing for

application traffic prioritization.

Identity and access management (IAM) is a software service or framework that allows organizations to define user or group identities within software environments, then associate permissions with them. The identities and permissions are usually spelled out in a text file, which is referred to as an IAM policy.

Data security is the only type of security that the customer is fully responsible for when using a SaaS application. Data security refers to the protection of data from unauthorized access, use, modification, deletion, or disclosure. Data security includes aspects such as encryption, backup, recovery, access control, and compliance12. The customer is responsible for ensuring that their data is secure in transit and at rest, and that they comply with any applicable regulations or policies regarding their data.

The other types of security - physical, platform, and infrastructure - are the responsibility of the SaaS provider. Physical security refers to the protection of the hardware and facilities that host the SaaS application. Platform security refers to the protection of the software and services that run the SaaS application. Infrastructure security refers to the protection of the network and systems that support the SaaS application. The SaaS provider is responsible for ensuring that these layers of security are maintained and updated, and that they meet the required standards and certifications34. References:

• SaaS and the Shared Security Model
• A Guide to SaaS Shared Responsibility Model
• The Shared Responsibility Model for Security in The Cloud (IaaS, PaaS & SaaS)
• Shared responsibility in the cloud

A Type 1 hypervisor, also known as a bare-metal hypervisor, is a software layer that runs directly on the hardware of a physical host computer, without requiring an underlying operating system. A Type 1 hypervisor can create and manage multiple isolated virtual machines (VMs), each with its own virtual (or guest) operating system and applications. A Type 1 hypervisor is hardened against cyber attacks, as it has a smaller attack surface and fewer vulnerabilities than a Type 2 hypervisor, which runs within an operating system. A Type 1 hypervisor also offers better performance, scalability, and resource utilization than a Type 2 hypervisor. References: 10 Palo Alto Networks PCCET Exam Practice Questions, Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician v1.0, FREE Cybersecurity Education Courses.

A meddler-in-the-middle (MITM) attack is a type of Wi-Fi attack where the attacker intercepts and redirects the victim’s web traffic to serve content from a web server it controls. The attacker can use various techniques, such as ARP spoofing, DNS spoofing, or SSL stripping, to trick the victim into connecting to a rogue access point or a proxy server that acts as a middleman between the victim and the legitimate website. The attacker can then modify, inject, or drop the packets that are exchanged between the victim and the website, and perform malicious actions, such as stealing credentials, injecting malware, or displaying fake or misleading content. A MITM attack can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the victim’s web traffic and expose them to various risks and threats. References:

• What is a man-in-the-middle attack?
• The 5 most dangerous Wi-Fi attacks, and how to fight them
• What Are Sniffing Attacks, and How Can You Protect Yourself?

"Weaponization: Next, attackers determine which methods to use to compromise a target endpoint. They may choose to embed intruder code within seemingly innocuous files such as a PDF or Microsoft Word document or email message."

An encoded string is a common technique used by attackers to obfuscate their malicious code or data. By decoding the string, a security operations engineer can reveal the true nature and intent of the attacker, and potentially discover indicators of compromise (IOCs) such as IP addresses, domain names, file names, etc. Decoding the string can also help the engineer to determine the type and severity of the incident, and the appropriate response actions. Therefore, decoding the string and continuing the investigation is the best option among the given choices. Saving the string to a new file and running it in a sandbox may be risky, as it could execute the malicious code and cause further damage. Running the string against VirusTotal may not yield any useful results, as the string may not be recognized by any antivirus engines. Appending the string to the investigation notes but not altering it may not provide any additional insight into the incident, and may delay the response process. References:

• 1: SANS Digital Forensics and Incident Response Blog | Strings, Strings, Are Wonderful Things
• 2: 5 Minute Forensics: Decoding PowerShell Payloads - Tevora
• 3: Known plaintext analysis of encoded strings - SANS Institute
• 4: Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician - Palo Alto Networks
• 5: 10 Palo Alto Networks PCCET Exam Practice Questions - CBT Nuggets

SOAR tools ingest aggregated alerts from detection sources (such as SIEMs, network security tools, and mailboxes) before executing automatable, process-driven playbooks to enrich and respond to these alerts.

https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/security-operations-automation

SIEM stands for security information and event management. It is a technology that collects, analyzes, and reports on security-related data from various sources within an organization’s network. The purpose of SIEM is to provide real-time monitoring and analysis of security events, such as user logins, file access, and changes to critical system files. SIEM helps security teams to detect and respond to potential threats, as well as to meet compliance requirements and improve their cybersecurity posture. References: What Is Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)? - Palo Alto Networks, What is a SIEM Solution? - Palo Alto Networks, Integrate IoT Security with SIEM - Palo Alto Networks

Least privileges access control is the capability of a Zero Trust network security architecture that leverages the combination of application, user, and content identification to prevent unauthorized access. Least privileges access control means that users and devices are only granted the permissions they need to perform their tasks, and nothing more. This helps reduce the attack surface and makes it more difficult for attackers to gain access to sensitive data or resources. Least privileges access control is based on the principle of Zero Trust, which assumes that there are attackers both within and outside of the network, so no users or devices should be automatically trusted. Zero Trust verifies user identity and privileges as well as device identity and security, and requires end-to-end encryption. Least privileges access control also involves careful management of user permissions and network segmentation, which limit the amount of information and length of time people can access something, and contain the damage if someone does get unauthorized access. References: What Is Zero Trust Architecture? | Microsoft Security, Zero Trust security | What is a Zero Trust network? | Cloudflare, What is Zero Trust Architecture? | SANS Institute, What Is a Zero Trust Architecture? | Zscaler, What is Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)? - CrowdStrike.

An evil twin is a type of Wi-Fi attack that involves setting up a fake malicious Wi-Fi hotspot with the same name as a legitimate network to trick users into connecting to it. The attacker can then intercept the user’s data, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal information. The victim initiates the connection by choosing the fake network from the list of available Wi-Fi networks, thinking it is the real one. The attacker can also use a deauthentication attack to disconnect the user from the legitimate network and force them to reconnect to the fake one. References:

• Types of Wi-Fi Attacks You Need to Guard Your Business Against - TechGenix
• Types of Wireless and Mobile Device Attacks - GeeksforGeeks
• The 5 most dangerous Wi-Fi attacks, and how to fight them
• What are Wi-Fi Attacks & How to Fight - Tech Resider

Automation in SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) is the process of programming tasks, alerts, and responses to security incidents so that they can be executed without human intervention. Automation in SOAR helps security teams to handle the huge amount of information generated by various security tools, analyze it through machine learning processes, and take appropriate actions based on predefined rules and workflows. Automation in SOAR also reduces the manual effort and time required for security operations, improves the accuracy and efficiency of threat detection and response, and provides consistency in handling security issues across different environments and scenarios. References: What is SOAR (security orchestration, automation and response)? | IBM, What Is SOAR? Technology and Solutions | Microsoft Security, Security orchestration - Wikipedia.

To find the subnet that the host 192.168.19.36/27 belongs to, we need to convert the IP address and the subnet mask to binary form and perform a logical AND operation. The /27 notation means that the subnet mask has 27 bits of ones and 5 bits of zeros. In decimal form, the subnet mask is 255.255.255.224. The binary form of the IP address and the subnet mask are:

IP address: 11000000.10101000.00010011.00100100 Subnet mask: 11111111.11111111.11111111.11100000

The logical AND operation gives us the network prefix:

Network prefix: 11000000.10101000.00010011.00100000

To get the subnet address, we convert the network prefix back to decimal form:

Subnet address: 192.168.19.32

The subnet address is the first address in the subnet range. To find the last address in the subnet range, we flip the bits of the subnet mask and perform a logical OR operation with the network prefix:

Flipped subnet mask: 00000000.00000000.00000000.00011111 Logical OR: 11000000.10101000.00010011.00111111

The last address in the subnet range is:

Last address: 192.168.19.63

The subnet range is from 192.168.19.32 to 192.168.19.63. The host 192.168.19.36 belongs to this subnet. Therefore, the correct answer is B. 192.168.19.16, which is the second address in the subnet range.

References:

• IP Subnet Calculator
• Subnet Calculator - IP and CIDR
• Which subnet does the host 192.168.19.36/27 belong? - VCEguide.com

Application (Layer 4 or L4): This layer loosely corresponds to Layers 5 through 7 of the OSI model.

Transport (Layer 3 or L3): This layer corresponds to Layer 4 of the OSI model.

Internet (Layer 2 or L2): This layer corresponds to Layer 3 of the OSI model.

Network Access (Layer 1 or L1): This layer corresponds to Layers 1 and 2 of the OSI model

● Type 1 (native or bare metal). Runs directly on the host computer’s hardware

● Type 2 (hosted). Runs within an operating system environment

Local systems can eliminate vulnerabilities by patching systems and software effectively and continuously. Patching is the process of applying updates or fixes to software or hardware components that have known vulnerabilities or bugs. Patching can prevent attackers from exploiting these vulnerabilities and compromising the security or functionality of the systems. Patching should be done regularly and promptly, as new vulnerabilities are constantly discovered and exploited by cybercriminals. Patching should also be done effectively, meaning that the patches are tested and verified before deployment, and that they do not introduce new vulnerabilities or issues. Patching should also be done continuously, meaning that the systems are monitored for new vulnerabilities and patches are applied as soon as they are available. Continuous patching can reduce the window of opportunity for attackers to exploit unpatched vulnerabilities and cause damage or data breaches. References:

•1: What is Patch Management? | Palo Alto Networks

•2: Patch Management Best Practices: How to Keep Your Systems Secure | Snyk

•3: Vulnerability Remediation Process - 4 Steps to Remediation | Snyk

Prisma Cloud comprises four pillars:

● Visibility, governance, and compliance. Gain deep visibility into the security posture of

multicloud environments. Track everything that gets deployed with an automated asset

inventory, and maintain compliance with out-of-the-box governance policies that

enforce good behavior across your environments.

● Compute security. Secure hosts, containers, and serverless workloads throughout the

application lifecycle. Detect and prevent risks by integrating vulnerability intelligence into

your integrated development environment (IDE), software configuration management

(SCM), and CI/CD workflows. Enforce machine learning-based runtime protection to

protect applications and workloads in real time.

● Network protection. Continuously monitor network activity for anomalous behavior,

enforce microservice-aware micro-segmentation, and implement industry-leading

firewall protection. Protect the network perimeter and the connectivity between

containers and hosts.

● Identity security. Monitor and leverage user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA) across

your environments to detect and block malicious actions. Gain visibility into and enforce

governance p

TCP stands for Transmission Control Protocol, and it is one of the main protocols used in the internet. TCP provides reliable, ordered, and error-free delivery of data between applications 1. In terms of the OSI model, TCP is a transport-layer protocol. The transport layer is the fourth layer of the OSI model, and it is responsible for establishing end-to-end connections, segmenting data into packets, and ensuring reliable and efficient data transfer 2. The transport layer also provides flow control, congestion control, and error detection and correction mechanisms 2. TCP is not the only transport-layer protocol; another common one is UDP (User Datagram Protocol), which is faster but less reliable than TCP 3. References: 1: TCP/IP TCP, UDP, and IP protocols - IBM 2: Transport Layer | Layer 4 | The OSI-Model 3: TCP/IP Model vs. OSI Model | Similarities and Differences - Fortinet

A “ports first” data security solution is a traditional approach that relies on port numbers to identify and filter network traffic. This approach has several limitations and security weaknesses, such as12:

• Port numbers are not reliable indicators of the type or content of network traffic, as they can be easily spoofed or changed by malicious actors.
• Port numbers do not provide any visibility into the application layer, where most of the attacks occur.
• Port numbers do not account for the dynamic and complex nature of modern applications, which often use multiple ports or protocols to communicate.
• Port numbers do not support granular and flexible policies based on user identity, device context, or application behavior. One of the security weaknesses that is caused by implementing a “ports first” data security solution in a traditional data center is that you may have to open up multiple ports and these ports could also be used to gain unauthorized entry into your datacenter. For example, if you have a web server that runs on port 80, you may have to open up port 80 on your firewall to allow incoming traffic. However, this also means that any other service or application that uses port 80 can also access your datacenter, potentially exposing it to attacks. Moreover, opening up multiple ports increases the attack surface area of your network, as it creates more entry points for attackers to exploit34. References: Common Open Port Vulnerabilities List - Netwrix, Optimize security with Azure Firewall solution for Azure Sentinel | Microsoft Security Blog, Which item accurately describes a security weakness that is caused by …, Which item accurately describes a security weakness … - Exam4Training

According to the NIST definition of cloud computing1, there are three service models for cloud computing: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). In the SaaS model, the cloud provider delivers the software applications over the internet, and the users access them from various devices through a web browser or a program interface. The cloud provider manages the underlying infrastructure, including the servers, databases, and code of the applications. The users do not need to install, update, or maintain the software, and they only pay for the service they use. The scenario described in the question is an example of the SaaS model, as the user is provided access over the internet to an application running on a cloud infrastructure, and the vendor hosts and maintains the servers, databases, and code of that application. References:

• SP 800-145, The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing | CSRC
• Final Version of NIST Cloud Computing Definition Published
• NIST Cloud Computing Program - NCCP | NIST

SaaS - User responsible for only the data, vendor responsible for rest

To maximize the use of a network address, the administrator should use the subnet that can accommodate the required number of hosts with the least amount of wasted IP addresses. The subnet mask determines how many bits are used for the network portion and the host portion of the IP address. The more bits are used for the network portion, the more subnets can be created, but the fewer hosts can be assigned to each subnet. The formula to calculate the number of hosts per subnet is

2(32−n)−2

, where

n

is the number of bits in the network portion of the subnet mask. For example, a /30 subnet mask has 30 bits in the network portion, so the number of hosts per subnet is

2(32−30)−2=2

A /25 subnet mask has 25 bits in the network portion, so the number of hosts per subnet is

2(32−25)−2=126

The subnet 192.168.6.0/25 can accommodate 126 hosts, which is enough for the network with 120 hosts. The subnet 192.168.6.168/30 can only accommodate 2 hosts, which is not enough. The subnet 192.168.6.160/29 can accommodate 6 hosts, which is also not enough. The subnet 192.168.6.128/27 can accommodate 30 hosts, which is enough, but it wastes more IP addresses than the /25 subnet. Therefore, the best option is B. 192.168.6.0/25. References:

• Getting Started: Layer 3 Subinterfaces - Palo Alto Networks Knowledge Base
• DotW: Multiple IP Addresses on an Interface - Palo Alto Networks Knowledge Base
• Configure NAT - Palo Alto Networks | TechDocs

Sanctioned SaaS applications are those that are approved and supported by the organization’s IT department. They provide business benefits such as increased productivity, collaboration, and efficiency. They are fast to deploy because they do not require installation or maintenance on the user’s device. They require minimal cost because they are usually paid on a subscription or usage basis, and they do not incur hardware or software expenses. They are infinitely scalable because they can adjust to the changing needs and demands of the organization without affecting performance or availability12. References: 8 Types of SaaS Solutions You Must Know About in 2024, What is SaaS (Software as a Service)? | SaaS Types | CDW, Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician

Cortex XDR breaks the silos of traditional detection and response by natively integrating network, endpoint, and cloud data to stop sophisticated attacks

● Application (Layer 7 or L7): This layer identifies and establishes availability of communication partners, determines resource availability, and synchronizes communication.

● Presentation (Layer 6 or L6): This layer provides coding and conversion functions (such as data representation, character conversion, data compression, and data encryption) to ensure that data sent from the Application layer of one system is compatible with the Application layer of the receiving system.

● Session (Layer 5 or L5): This layer manages communication sessions (service requests and service responses) between networked systems, including connection establishment, data transfer, and connection release.

● Transport (Layer 4 or L4): This layer provides transparent, reliable data transport and

end-to-end transmission control.

A credit card number is an example of PII that you need to prevent from leaving your enterprise network. PII, or personally identifiable information, is any information that can be used to identify an individual, either alone or in combination with other data. PII can be sensitive or non-sensitive, depending on the level of protection required and the potential harm if exposed. Sensitive PII includes data that can directly identify an individual and cause significant harm if leaked or stolen, such as financial information, medical records, or government-issued ID numbers. Non-sensitive PII includes data that is easily accessible from public sources and does not pose a high risk of identity theft, such as zip code, race, or gender. A credit card number is a sensitive PII because it can be used to access the cardholder’s account, make fraudulent transactions, or steal their identity. Therefore, it is important to prevent credit card numbers from leaving the enterprise network, where they could be intercepted by hackers, malicious insiders, or third parties. To protect credit card numbers and other sensitive PII, enterprises should implement data security measures such as encryption, tokenization, masking, access control, auditing, and monitoring. Additionally, enterprises should comply with data privacy laws and standards that regulate the collection, use, and protection of PII, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). References:

• What is PII? Examples, laws, and standards | CSO Online
• What is Personally Identifiable Information (PII)? | IBM
• What Is Personally Identifiable Information (PII)? Types and Examples
• What is PII (personally identifiable information)? - Cloudflare
• What is Personally Identifiable Information (PII)? - Data Privacy Manager

SOAR stands for security orchestration, automation and response. It is a software solution that enables security teams to integrate and coordinate separate tools into streamlined threat response workflows. SOAR systems allow for accelerated incident response through the execution of standardized and automated playbooks that work upon inputs from security technology and other data flows. SOAR systems can also help ensure consistency, reduce human errors, and improve efficiency and scalability of security operations. References:

• Security Operations Infrastructure from Palo Alto Networks
• What is SOAR (security orchestration, automation and response)? from IBM
• Security Operations Fundamentals (SOF) Flashcards from Quizlet

DevSecOps takes the concept behind DevOps that developers and IT teams should work together closely, instead of separately, throughout software delivery and extends it to include security and integrate automated checks into the full CI/CD pipeline. The integration of the CI/CD pipeline takes care of the problem of security seeming like an outside force and instead allows developers to maintain their usual speed without compromising data security

Selective network security virtualization: Intra-host communications and live migrations are architected at this phase. All intra-host communication paths are strictly controlled to ensure that traffic between VMs at different trust levels is intermediated either by an on-box, virtual security appliance or by an off-box, physical security appliance.

 A cloud native security platform (CNSP) is a set of security practices and technologies designed specifically for applications built and deployed in cloud environments. It involves a shift in mindset from traditional security approaches, which often rely on network-based protections, to a more application-focused approach that emphasizes identity and access management, container security and workload security, and continuous monitoring and response. A CNSP offers three main benefits for cloud native applications:

• Agility: A CNSP enables faster and more frequent delivery of software updates, as security is built into the application and infrastructure from the ground up, rather than added on as an afterthought. This allows for seamless integration of security controls into the continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline, reducing the risk of security gaps or delays. A CNSP also leverages automation and orchestration to simplify and streamline security operations, such as configuration, patching, scanning, and remediation.
• Digital transformation: A CNSP supports the adoption of cloud native technologies, such as microservices, containers, serverless, and platform as a service (PaaS), which enable greater scalability, deployability, manageability, and performance of cloud applications. These technologies also allow for more innovation and experimentation, as developers can easily create, test, and deploy new features and functionalities. A CNSP helps to protect these cloud native architectures from threats and vulnerabilities, while also ensuring compliance with regulations and standards.
• Flexibility: A CNSP provides consistent and comprehensive security across different cloud environments, such as public, private, and multi-cloud. It also allows for customization and adaptation of security policies and controls to suit the specific needs and preferences of each application and organization. A CNSP can also integrate with other security tools and platforms, such as firewalls, endpoint protection, threat intelligence, and security information and event management (SIEM), to provide a holistic and unified view of the security posture and risk level of cloud applications.

References:

• What Is a Cloud Native Security Platform?
• What Is Cloud-Native Security?
• All You Need to Know About Cloud Native Security
• Top Five Benefits of Cloud Native Application Security

SecOps is the organizational function that is responsible for security automation and eventual vetting of the solution to help ensure consistency through machine-driven responses to security issues. SecOps is a collaboration between security and operations teams that aims to align their goals, processes, and tools to improve security posture and efficiency. SecOps can leverage automation to simplify and accelerate security tasks, such as threat detection, incident response, vulnerability management, compliance enforcement, and more. Security automation can also reduce human errors, enhance scalability, and free up resources for more strategic initiatives. References:

• SecOps from Palo Alto Networks
• What is security automation? from Red Hat
• What is Security Automation? from Check Point Software