Palo Alto Networks PCNSA Exam Practice Questions (P. 2)

GPT-4o - Answer

The correct approach when dealing with environments where users do not authenticate to Active Directory is using the Captive Portal. The Captive Portal mandates that all users, regardless of their operating system or domain status, authenticate to access network resources. This method ensures that even users on non-domain systems, like Linux, are accounted for and can securely access the necessary applications and data.

GPT-4o - Answer

Absolutely, option A is spot on for flexibility in a dynamic environment. An Application Filter, unlike a group, allows for the dynamic inclusion of applications as they match predefined categories and subcategories. By setting up a filter for the "office-programs" subcategory under the "business-systems" category, you ensure that any current and future office applications fitting this criteria are automatically covered without the need for manual updates. This setup is ideal for environments where new applications might be incorporated frequently. This approach provides a powerful way to manage changing application usage securely and efficiently.

GPT-4o - Answer

Absolutely spot-on! In a Virtual Wire setup, neither MAC nor IP addresses are essential because these interfaces act as a transparent bridge, allowing traffic to pass without any alterations or routing decisions. This feature distinctly sets it apart from Layer 3 and Layer 2 interfaces, which rely on MAC and IP addresses for routing and switching operations respectively.

GPT-4o - Answer

The correct utility for identifying out-of-date or unused rules in a recently upgraded Palo Alto Networks NGFW is found under Policies > Policy Optimizer > Unused in 90 days. This functionality is designed to identify rules that have not triggered for a specified period of time, helping in optimizing the ruleset by removing outdated or unnecessary rules. However, considering that the firewall installation is relatively new (60 days old), selecting a period exceeding this installation duration (like 90 days) would not yield any results because the firewall has not been in operation long enough to meet this criterion. Thus, a shorter duration such as 30 days would be more practical in this specific scenario.

GPT-4o - Answer

In App-ID, implicit dependencies mean that the application identified as dependent does not need to be explicitly listed in the security policy for the main application to function correctly. On the other hand, explicit dependencies require that dependent applications be explicitly defined and added to the security policy to ensure proper functioning. This distinction is crucial when configuring and managing security policies in Palo Alto Networks firewalls.