Free Paloalto Networks PCCP Practice Exam with Questions & Answers | Set: 2

Detection of threats using data analysis – SIEM platforms analyze collected data to identify suspicious patterns and detect threats.

Ingestion of log data – SIEM systems collect and centralize log data from various sources, which is essential for analysis, correlation, and alerting.

Automation and prevention are more aligned with SOAR and firewall/EDR functionalities, not the core operations of SIEM.

Authentication is the component of the AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting) framework that verifies user identities (e.g., via passwords, certificates, or biometrics) before granting access to network resources.

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 This capability prevents vulnerable or outdated devices from becoming attack vectors.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.

Prisma SD-WAN is a key component of a SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) solution. It provides intelligent routing, traffic optimization, and secure connectivity between users and applications, supporting the networking part of SASE alongside security services like those in Prisma Access.

Attack Surface Management (ASM) platforms focus on continuous discovery and monitoring of all internet-facing assets, both internal and external, to identify attack vectors, vulnerabilities, and exposures that could be exploited by threat actors.

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.

A containerized architecture packages software along with its dependencies, libraries, and configuration into an isolated unit called a container. This ensures consistent behavior across environments and simplifies deployment and scaling.

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.

XDR (Extended Detection and Response) uses machine learning (ML) to detect threats by identifying patterns and anomalies. XDR ingests data from multiple sources — including endpoints, networks, servers, and cloud workloads — to provide a unified and correlated view of threats across the environment.

An effective Attack Surface Management (ASM) process requires a real-time, data-rich inventory of all internet-facing assets. This enables continuous visibility, timely detection of vulnerabilities, and identification of exposures that attackers could exploit.