Which methodology does Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) use?
A
Explanation:
Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) leverages behavior analysis to identify suspicious or
anomalous activities associated with user identities. This methodology involves continuously
monitoring user authentication patterns, access events, and privilege escalations to build a baseline
of “normal” behavior. By detecting deviations—such as unusual login locations, timeframes, or
excessive access attempts—ITDR can flag potential identity compromises or insider threats that
traditional signature or rule-based systems often miss. Palo Alto Networks’ ITDR integrates
behavioral analytics with threat intelligence to deliver real-time alerts and automated response
capabilities, essential in mitigating credential abuse and lateral movement within networks. This
behavioral approach is crucial for adapting to sophisticated identity attacks that evolve constantly.
Which technology grants enhanced visibility and threat prevention locally on a device?
A
Explanation:
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) technologies provide comprehensive visibility and real-time
threat prevention directly on endpoint devices. EDR continuously monitors process activities, file
executions, and system calls to detect malware, suspicious behaviors, and zero-day threats at the
source. Palo Alto Networks’ Cortex XDR platform exemplifies this by correlating endpoint telemetry
with network and cloud data to provide a holistic defense against attacks. Operating locally on
endpoints allows EDR to prevent lateral movement and respond to threats quickly, filling security
gaps that network-centric tools alone cannot address. This endpoint-level insight is critical to
identifying sophisticated threats that initiate or manifest on user devices.
What are two examples of an attacker using social engineering? (Choose two.)
A, C
Explanation:
Social engineering attacks manipulate human trust to gain unauthorized access or information.
Convincing an employee that an attacker is also an employee builds rapport, lowering defenses for
information disclosure or credential sharing. Similarly, impersonating a company representative and
requesting unrelated personal data exploits authority bias to deceive victims. These tactics exploit
psychological vulnerabilities rather than technical flaws and are prevalent initial steps in multi-stage
attacks. Palo Alto Networks highlights the importance of training, multi-factor authentication, and
behavior-based threat detection to mitigate social engineering risks effectively.
Which two services does a managed detection and response (MDR) solution provide? (Choose two.)
B, D
Explanation:
Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services combine incident impact analysis and proactive
threat hunting to enhance organizational security posture. Incident impact analysis assesses the
severity, scope, and potential damage of identified threats, helping prioritize responses. Proactive
threat hunting involves skilled analysts searching for hidden threats that automated detection may
miss, leveraging threat intelligence and behavioral analytics. Palo Alto Networks’ MDR integrates
Cortex XDR and human expertise to detect, investigate, and remediate sophisticated threats early.
Unlike routine firewall updates or development processes, MDR is focused on active threat discovery
and comprehensive incident management.
What role do containers play in cloud migration and application management strategies?
A
Explanation:
Containers encapsulate applications and their dependencies into lightweight, portable units that can
run consistently across multiple environments. This abstraction supports cloud-native development
by enabling microservices architectures, rapid deployment, and scaling within orchestration
platforms like Kubernetes. Containers accelerate cloud migration by decoupling applications from
infrastructure, facilitating automation, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD)
workflows. Palo Alto Networks addresses container security by integrating runtime protection,
vulnerability scanning, and compliance enforcement within its Prisma Cloud platform, ensuring safe
adoption of cloud-native tools and methodologies.
An administrator finds multiple gambling websites in the network traffic log.
What can be created to dynamically block these websites?
A
Explanation:
URL categories classify websites based on content type or risk, enabling dynamic policy enforcement
such as blocking or allowing access. Administrators can create custom URL categories to group sites
like gambling domains and apply blocking rules across the firewall infrastructure. Palo Alto Networks
firewalls leverage URL categorization combined with threat intelligence to provide granular web
filtering, reducing exposure to malicious or unwanted sites. This dynamic grouping approach is more
manageable and scalable than creating individual signatures or static lists and allows for automated
policy application aligned with organizational compliance requirements.
Which security function enables a firewall to validate the operating system version of a device before
granting it network access?
C
Explanation:
Host Intrusion Prevention Systems (HIPS) operate on endpoints to enforce security policies by
monitoring system calls, file integrity, and configuration settings. HIPS can validate device
compliance, including operating system versions and patch levels, before permitting network access.
This capability prevents vulnerable or outdated devices from becoming attack vectors. Palo Alto
Networks integrates HIPS functionalities in its endpoint security solutions, providing granular control
to enforce organizational security standards and reduce risk from non-compliant endpoints. Unlike
network-based inspection, HIPS works locally on hosts to stop threats at their origin.
Which scenario highlights how a malicious Portable Executable (PE) file is leveraged as an attack?
C
Explanation:
Malicious Portable Executable (PE) files hidden inside PDFs represent a stealthy delivery tactic where
attackers embed executable payloads within seemingly benign documents. When a user opens the
PDF, the embedded PE executes, potentially installing malware. This approach combines social
engineering with file obfuscation to bypass traditional detection methods. Palo Alto Networks’
Advanced WildFire sandboxing inspects such files by detonating them in isolated environments to
observe behavior and identify hidden threats. This detection technique is critical for uncovering
evasive malware concealed within common file types before they reach end-users.
Which statement describes advanced malware?
C
Explanation:
Advanced malware employs sophisticated techniques such as polymorphism, encryption, and stealth
to evade detection by traditional signature-based tools. It adapts to different environments, modifies
its code to avoid static analysis, and maintains persistence through obfuscation and anti-forensic
measures. Palo Alto Networks’ threat prevention technologies use machine learning, behavior
analysis, and sandboxing to detect these evasive malware strains. Such adaptive capabilities
distinguish advanced malware from simpler threats that are easily identified and removed,
underscoring the need for modern, layered security controls capable of dynamic threat detection.
Which technology helps Security Operations Center (SOC) teams identify heap spray attacks on
company-owned laptops?
C
Explanation:
Heap spray attacks exploit memory management vulnerabilities by injecting malicious code into a
program’s heap to manipulate execution flow. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) platforms
monitor memory and process behavior on endpoints, enabling the detection of such memory-based
exploits through anomaly and behavior analysis. Palo Alto Networks’ Cortex XDR equips SOC teams
with the tools to detect, analyze, and respond to heap spray and other in-memory attacks on
company laptops in real time. EDR’s endpoint-centric visibility is crucial since heap spray attacks
operate below network layers and often bypass traditional perimeter defenses.
What are two common lifecycle stages for an advanced persistent threat (APT) that is infiltrating a
network? (Choose two.)
A, D
Explanation:
Lateral movement is a key stage where the attacker moves across the network to find valuable
targets.
Privilege escalation involves gaining higher access rights to expand control within the compromised
environment.
Communication with covert channels is a tactic used during persistence or exfiltration, while deletion
of critical data is not a standard APT lifecycle stage — it’s more characteristic of destructive attacks.
A high-profile company executive receives an urgent email containing a malicious link. The sender
appears to be from the IT department of the company, and the email requests an update of the
executive's login credentials for a system update.
Which type of phishing attack does this represent?
A
Explanation:
Whaling is a targeted phishing attack aimed at high-profile individuals, such as executives. The
attacker impersonates a trusted entity (e.g., IT department) to trick the executive into revealing
sensitive credentials. This is a form of spear phishing specifically focused on “big fish” targets.
Which next-generation firewall (NGFW) deployment option provides full application visibility into
Kubernetes environments?
B
Explanation:
A container-based NGFW is specifically designed to integrate with Kubernetes environments,
providing full application visibility and control within containerized workloads. It operates at the pod
level, making it ideal for securing dynamic microservices architectures.
Which type of firewall should be implemented when a company headquarters is required to have
redundant power and high processing power?
B
Explanation:
A physical firewall is ideal for environments like a company headquarters that require redundant
power, high throughput, and dedicated hardware for maximum reliability and performance. It
supports more robust failover and scalability compared to virtual or containerized options.
Which statement describes the process of application allow listing?
A
Explanation:
Application allow listing is a security practice that permits only pre-approved (trusted) applications,
files, and processes to run on a system. This approach helps prevent unauthorized or malicious
software from executing, thereby reducing the attack surface.