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Which two components of a Security policy, when configured, allow third-party contractors access to internal applications outside business hours? (Choose two.)
To allow third-party contractors access to internal applications outside business hours, the Security Policy must include:
User-ID --
Identifies specific users (e.g., third-party contractors) and applies access rules accordingly.
Ensures that only authenticated users from the contractor group receive access.
Schedule --
Specifies the allowed access time frame (e.g., outside business hours: 6 PM - 6 AM).
Ensures that contractors can only access applications during designated off-hours.
Why Other Options Are Incorrect?
C . Service
Incorrect, because Service defines ports and protocols, not user identity or time-based access control.
D . App-ID
Incorrect, because App-ID identifies and classifies applications, but does not restrict access based on user identity or time.
Reference to Firewall Deployment and Security Features:
Firewall Deployment -- Ensures contractors access internal applications securely via User-ID and Schedule.
Security Policies -- Implements granular time-based and identity-based access control.
VPN Configurations -- Third-party contractors may access applications through GlobalProtect VPN.
Threat Prevention -- Reduces attack risks by limiting access windows for third-party users.
WildFire Integration -- Ensures downloaded contractor files are scanned for threats.
Zero Trust Architectures -- Supports least-privilege access based on user identity and time restrictions.
Thus, the correct answers are: A. User-ID B. Schedule
What is the most efficient way in Strata Cloud Manager (SCM) to apply a Security policy to all ten firewalls in one data center?
In Strata 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.
Strata Cloud Manager Policy Management
Best Practices for Multi-Firewall Management
A hospital system allows mobile medical imaging trailers to connect directly to the internal network of its various campuses. The network security team is concerned about this direct connection and wants to begin implementing a Zero Trust approach in the flat network.
Which solution provides cost-effective network segmentation and security enforcement in this scenario?
In a Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), network segmentation is critical to prevent unauthorized lateral movement within a flat network. Since the hospital system allows mobile medical imaging trailers to connect directly to its internal network, this poses a significant security risk, as these trailers may introduce malware, vulnerabilities, or unauthorized access to sensitive medical data.
The most cost-effective and practical solution in this scenario is:
Creating separate security zones for the imaging trailers.
Applying access control and inspection policies via the hospital's existing core firewalls instead of deploying new hardware.
Implementing strict policy enforcement to ensure that only authorized communication occurs between the trailers and the hospital's network.
Why Separate Zones with Enforcement is the Best Solution?
Network Segmentation for Zero Trust
By placing the medical imaging trailers in their own firewall-enforced zone, they are isolated from the main hospital network.
This reduces attack surface and prevents an infected trailer from spreading malware to critical hospital systems.
Granular security policies ensure only necessary communications occur between zones.
Cost-Effective Approach
Uses existing core firewalls instead of deploying costly additional edge firewalls at every campus.
Reduces complexity by leveraging the current security infrastructure.
Visibility & Security Enforcement
The firewall enforces security policies, such as allowing only medical imaging protocols while blocking unauthorized traffic.
Integration with Threat Prevention and WildFire ensures that malicious files or traffic anomalies are detected.
Logging and monitoring via Panorama helps the security team track and respond to threats effectively.
Other Answer Choices Analysis
(A) Deploy edge firewalls at each campus entry point
This is an expensive approach, requiring multiple hardware firewalls at every hospital location.
While effective, it is not the most cost-efficient solution when existing core firewalls can enforce the necessary segmentation and policies.
(B) Manually inspect large images like holograms and MRIs
This does not align with Zero Trust principles.
Manual inspection is impractical, as it slows down medical workflows.
Threats do not depend on image size; malware can be embedded in small and large files alike.
(D) Configure access control lists (ACLs) on core switches
ACLs are limited in security enforcement, as they operate at Layer 3/4 and do not provide deep inspection (e.g., malware scanning, user authentication, or Zero Trust enforcement).
Firewalls offer application-layer visibility, which ACLs on switches cannot provide.
Switches do not log and analyze threats like firewalls do.
Reference and Justification:
Firewall Deployment -- Firewall-enforced network segmentation is a key practice in Zero Trust.
Security Policies -- Granular policies ensure medical imaging traffic is controlled and monitored.
VPN Configurations -- If remote trailers are involved, secure VPN access can be enforced within the zones.
Threat Prevention & WildFire -- Firewalls can scan imaging files (e.g., DICOM images) for malware.
Panorama -- Centralized visibility into all traffic between hospital zones and trailers.
Zero Trust Architectures -- This solution follows Zero Trust principles by segmenting untrusted devices and enforcing least privilege access.
Thus, Configuring separate zones (C) is the correct answer, as it provides cost-effective segmentation, Zero Trust enforcement, and security visibility using existing firewall infrastructure.
Which tool will help refine a security rule by specifying the applications it has viewed in past weeks?
The Policy Optimizer tool helps refine security rules by analyzing historical traffic data and identifying the applications observed over past weeks. It is designed to:
Improve Security Policies -- Identifies overly permissive rules and suggests specific application-based security policies.
Enhance Rule Accuracy -- Helps replace port-based rules with App-ID-based security rules, reducing the risk of unintended access.
Use Historical Traffic Data -- Analyzes past network activity to determine which applications should be explicitly allowed or denied.
Simplify Rule Management -- Reduces redundant or outdated policies, leading to more effective firewall rule enforcement.
Why Other Options Are Incorrect?
A . Security Lifecycle Review (SLR)
Incorrect, because SLR provides a high-level security assessment, not a tool for refining specific security rules.
It focuses on identifying security gaps rather than optimizing security policies based on past traffic data.
B . Custom Reporting
Incorrect, because Custom Reporting generates security insights and compliance reports, but does not analyze policy rules.
C . Autonomous Digital Experience Management (ADEM)
Incorrect, because ADEM is designed for network performance monitoring, not firewall rule refinement.
It helps measure end-user digital experiences rather than security policy optimizations.
Reference to Firewall Deployment and Security Features:
Firewall Deployment -- Policy Optimizer improves firewall efficiency and accuracy.
Security Policies -- Refines rules based on actual observed application traffic.
VPN Configurations -- Helps optimize security policies for VPN traffic.
Threat Prevention -- Ensures that unused or unnecessary policies do not create security risks.
WildFire Integration -- Works alongside WildFire threat detection to fine-tune application security rules.
Zero Trust Architectures -- Supports least-privilege access control by defining specific App-ID-based rules.
Thus, the correct answer is: D. Policy Optimizer
What are two ways to create an App-ID for unknown applications? (Choose two.)
Providing a Packet Capture to Palo Alto Networks: You can collect traffic data of the unknown application and send it to Palo Alto Networks for App-ID development. The team analyzes the packet capture and creates an official App-ID that can be used by all customers.
Creating a Custom Application Using Signatures: Administrators can define a custom application by developing specific traffic signatures. This approach allows immediate recognition and control of the unknown application without waiting for an official App-ID from Palo Alto Networks.
These methods ensure that unknown or proprietary applications can be identified, monitored, and controlled within the network using App-ID technology.
Palo Alto Networks App-ID Customization
Custom Applications and Signatures
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