Paloalto Networks PCCET Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician Exam Practice Test

Playbooks are collections of workflows that automate and orchestrate tasks, alerts, and responses to incidents. Playbooks are triggered by rules or incidents and can coordinate across technologies, security teams, and external users for centralized data visibility and action. Playbooks can help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of security operations by reducing manual work, streamlining processes, and enhancing collaboration. References: What Is SOAR? - Palo Alto Networks, What Is SOAR? Technology and Solutions | Microsoft Security, How SecOps can help solve these 6 key MSSP conundrums - Google Cloud

Virtualization improves the availability of IT systems and resources by enabling features such as12:

• Resource optimization: Virtualization allows multiple virtual instances to share the same physical infrastructure, reducing hardware costs and increasing resource utilization.
• Scalability: Virtualization enables rapid provisioning and deprovisioning of virtual instances, allowing organizations to scale up or down their IT capacity according to demand.
• Disaster recovery: Virtualization facilitates backup and replication of virtual instances, allowing organizations to restore their IT systems and data in the event of a disaster or outage.
• Fault tolerance: Virtualization supports high availability and load balancing of virtual instances, ensuring that IT systems and services remain operational even if one or more virtual instances fail. References: Virtualization Benefits: How Virtualization Improves Efficiency and Security | VMware, Virtualization Security - A Complete Guide - CyberExperts.com

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

Personally identifiable information (PII) is any data that can be used to identify someone. All information that directly or indirectly links to a person is considered PII1. Among PII, some pieces of information are more sensitive than others. Sensitive PII is sensitive information that directly identifies an individual and could cause significant harm if leaked or stolen2. Birthplace and name are examples of sensitive PII, as they can be used to distinguish or trace an individual’s identity, either alone or when combined with other information3. Login 10 and profession are not considered sensitive PII, as they are not unique to a person and do not reveal their identity. Login 10 is a non-sensitive PII that is easily accessible from public sources, while profession is not a PII at all, as it does not link to a specific individual4. References:

• 1: What is PII (personally identifiable information)? - Cloudflare
• 2: What is Personally Identifiable Information (PII)? | IBM
• 3: personally identifiable information - Glossary | CSRC
• 4: What Is Personally Identifiable Information (PII)? Types and Examples

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.

In cloud computing, there are three main service models: Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Each model defines the level of responsibility and control that the cloud provider and the cloud customer have over the cloud resources and services. The cloud provider is responsible for vulnerability and patch management of the underlying operating system in SaaS and PaaS models, while the cloud customer is responsible for it in IaaS model. In SaaS, the cloud provider delivers software applications over the internet and manages all aspects of the cloud infrastructure, platform, and application. The cloud customer only needs to access the software through a web browser or an API. In PaaS, the cloud provider offers a platform for developing, testing, and deploying applications and manages the cloud infrastructure and operating system. The cloud customer can use the platform tools and services to create and run their own applications. In IaaS, the cloud provider supplies the basic cloud infrastructure, such as servers, storage, and networking, and the cloud customer can provision and configure their own operating system, middleware, and applications. References: Cloud Computing Service Models, Cloud Security Fundamentals - Module 2: Cloud Computing Models, Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET)

 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

Routing Information Protocol (RIP) is an example of a distance-vector routing protocol that uses hop count as its routing metric. To prevent routing loops, in which packets effectively get stuck bouncing between various router nodes, RIP implements a hop limit of 15, which limits the size of networks that RIP can support. After a data packet crosses 15 router nodes (hops) between a source and a destination, the destination is considered unreachable.

Cortex XDR is a cloud-based, advanced endpoint protection solution that combines multiple methods of prevention against known and unknown malware, ransomware, and exploits. Cortex XDR uses behavioral threat protection, exploit prevention, and local analysis to stop the execution of malicious programs before an endpoint can be compromised. Cortex XDR also enables remediation on the endpoint following an alert or investigation, giving administrators the option to isolate, terminate, block, or quarantine malicious files or processes. Cortex XDR is part of the Cortex platform, which provides unified visibility and detection across the network, endpoint, and cloud. References:

• Cortex XDR - Palo Alto Networks
• Endpoint Protection - Palo Alto Networks
• Endpoint Security - Palo Alto Networks
• Preventing Malware and Ransomware With Traps - Palo Alto Networks

A static routing protocol requires that routes be created and updated manually on a router or other network device. If a static route is down, traffic can’t be automatically rerouted unless an alternate route has been configured. Also, if the route is congested, traffic can’t be automatically rerouted over the less congested alternate route. Static routing is practical only in very small networks or for very limited, special-case routing scenarios (for example, a destination that’s used as a backup route or is reachable only via a single router). However, static routing has low bandwidth requirements (routing information isn’t broadcast across the network) and some built-in security (users can route only to destinations that are specified in statically defined routes).

 A zero-day threat is an attack that takes advantage of a security vulnerability that does not have a fix in place. It is referred to as a “zero-day” threat because once the flaw is eventually discovered, the developer or organization has “zero days” to then come up with a solution. A zero-day threat can compromise a system or network by exploiting the unknown vulnerability, and can cause data loss, unauthorized access, or other damages. Zero-day threats are difficult to detect and prevent, and require advanced security solutions and practices to mitigate them. References:

• Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET)
• Zero-day (computing) - Wikipedia
• What is a zero-day exploit? | Zero-day threats | Cloudflare

Local organization security policies are the rules and guidelines that define how a SaaS application can be used by the employees, contractors, and partners of an organization. These policies cover aspects such as authentication, authorization, data access, data protection, data sharing, and compliance. Local organization security policies aim to ensure that the SaaS application is used in a secure, ethical, and legal manner, and that the organization’s data and assets are not compromised or misused123. References:

• Securing SaaS tools for your organisation - GOV.UK
• SaaS Security: A Complete Best Practices Guide - BetterCloud
• Security policy document examples for B2B SaaS apps

Cortex XDR is a security analytics platform that converges logs from network, identity, endpoint, application, and other security relevant sources to generate high-fidelity behavioral alerts and facilitate rapid incident analysis, investigation, and response1. Cortex XDR uses machine learning algorithms to automate data analysis and apply modeling in real time, helping organizations to reduce analyst workloads and improve security1. Cortex XDR also integrates with Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewalls and other security tools to streamline and speed network security response2. References: Security Analytics - Palo Alto Networks, Network Security Automation - Palo Alto Networks

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.

In addition to local analysis, Cortex XDR can send unknown files to WildFire for discovery and deeper analysis to rapidly detect.

Signature-based antivirus software is a type of security software that uses signatures to identify malware. Signatures are bits of code that are unique to a specific piece of malware. When signature-based antivirus software detects a piece of malware, it compares the signature to its database of known signatures12. If a match is found, the software can do three things to provide protection:

• Alert system administrators: The software can notify the system administrators or the users about the malware detection, and provide information such as the name, type, location, and severity of the malware. This can help the administrators or the users to take appropriate actions to prevent further damage or infection3.
• Quarantine the infected file: The software can isolate the infected file from the rest of the system, and prevent it from accessing or modifying any other files or processes. This can help to contain the malware and limit its impact on the system4.
• Delete the infected file: The software can remove the infected file from the system, and prevent it from running or spreading. This can help to eliminate the malware and restore the system to a clean state4.

References:

• What is a signature-based antivirus? - Info Exchange
• What is a Signature and How Can I detect it? - Sophos
• How Does Heuristic Analysis Antivirus Software Work?
• What Is Signature-based Malware Detection? | RiskXchange

page 173 "AutoFocus makes over a billion samples and sessions, including billions of artifacts, immediately actionable for security analysis and response efforts. AutoFocus extends the product portfolio with the global threat intelligence and attack context needed to accelerate analysis, forensics, and hunting workflows. Together, the platform and AutoFocus move security teams away from legacy manual approaches that rely on aggregating a growing number of detectionbased alerts and post-event mitigation, to preventing sophisticated attacks and enabling proactive hunting activities."

Event Viewer is a native Windows application that can be used to inspect actions taken at a specific time. Event Viewer displays detailed information about significant events on your computer, such as application, security, system, and setup events. You can use Event Viewer to monitor and troubleshoot problems with your computer, such as hardware failures, software errors, security breaches, network issues, etc. Event Viewer allows you to filter, sort, and search events by various criteria, such as date and time, event level, event source, event ID, etc. You can also view the event properties, which provide more details about the event, such as the event description, user name, computer name, event data, etc. Event Viewer can help you identify the root cause of a problem, or provide evidence of a malicious activity, by inspecting the actions taken at a specific time on your computer. References:

• Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET) - Palo Alto Networks
• WinAppDriver and Desktop UI Test Automation - Microsoft Tech Community
• Palo Alto Networks PCCET Quiz 1 Topic 14 Questions 1-5 - Buddy4Exam
• Paloalto Networks Exam PCCET Questions and Answers - DumpsMate
• Event Viewer - Windows 10 - Microsoft Docs

A CI/CD platform is a comprehensive set of tools that help developers, engineers, and DevOps practitioners package and deliver software to the end users. A CI/CD platform automates the process of software testing and deployment, and enables faster and more reliable software releases. Jenkins is a popular open source CI/CD platform that supports a wide range of plugins and integrations to build, test, and deploy various types of applications. Jenkins can be configured to run on different platforms, such as Linux, Windows, or Docker, and can work with various version control systems, such as Git, SVN, or Mercurial. Jenkins can also orchestrate complex workflows, such as parallel or sequential execution, conditional branching, or parameterized triggering, using a graphical interface or a declarative syntax. Jenkins can help developers and DevOps teams achieve continuous integration and continuous delivery/deployment, by providing features such as:

•Pipeline as code: Jenkins allows users to define and manage their pipelines as code, using a domain-specific language (DSL) called Jenkinsfile. This enables users to store, version, and reuse their pipeline configurations, and to apply best practices such as code review and testing.

•Distributed builds: Jenkins can scale up or down to meet the demand of concurrent builds, by distributing the workload across multiple agents or nodes. This improves the performance and efficiency of the CI/CD process, and allows users to leverage different environments and resources for different stages of the pipeline.

•Plugin ecosystem: Jenkins has a rich and active community that contributes to its plugin ecosystem, which extends its functionality and compatibility with various tools and technologies. Users can find and install plugins from the Jenkins Plugin Manager, or create their own custom plugins using Java or Groovy.

•Blue Ocean: Jenkins offers a modern and user-friendly web interface called Blue Ocean, which simplifies the creation and visualization of pipelines. Blue Ocean provides features such as real-time feedback, interactive editing, branch and pull request support, and integration with popular chat platforms, such as Slack or Microsoft Teams.

References:

•Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET) - Palo Alto Networks

•What Is a CI/CD Platform and Why Should I Care? | Harness

•What is CI/CD? - Red Hat

•Jenkins Documentation

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

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.

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

Static routing is a form of routing that occurs when a router uses a manually-configured routing entry, rather than information from dynamic routing traffic 1. Static routing has some advantages, such as simplicity, low overhead, and full control, but it also has some disadvantages, such as:

•Manual reconfiguration: Static routes require manual effort to configure and maintain. This can be time-consuming and error-prone, especially in large networks with many routes. If there is a change in the network topology or a link failure, the static routes need to be updated manually by the network administrator 23.

•Single point of failure: Static routing is not fault tolerant. This means that if the path used by the static route stops working, the traffic will not be rerouted automatically. The network will be unreachable until the failure is repaired or the static route is changed manually. Dynamic routing, on the other hand, can adapt to network changes and find alternative paths 23.

References: 1: Static routing - Wikipedia 2: Explain the benefits and drawbacks of static routing - Cisco Community 3: Dynamic versus Static Routing (3.1.2) - Cisco Press

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

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

 A SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) is a system that collects, analyzes, and correlates security logs from multiple sources, such as endpoints, firewalls, servers, etc. A SIEM can provide a centralized and comprehensive view of the security posture of an organization, as well as detect and respond to threats. Configuring endpoints to forward logs to a SIEM is the recommended method for collecting security logs from multiple endpoints, as it reduces the network bandwidth and storage requirements, simplifies the log management process, and enables faster and more effective security analysis. Leveraging an EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) solution to request the logs from endpoints is not recommended, as it may cause performance issues on the endpoints, increase the network traffic, and create a dependency on the EDR solution. Connecting to the endpoints remotely and downloading the logs is not recommended, as it is a manual and time-consuming process, prone to errors and inconsistencies, and may expose the endpoints to unauthorized access. Building a script that pulls down the logs from all endpoints is not recommended, as it requires technical skills and maintenance, may not be compatible with different endpoint platforms, and may introduce security risks if the script is compromised or misconfigured. References:

• Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET) - Palo Alto Networks
• Fundamentals of Security Operations Center (SOC)
• 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.

Containers are portable and lightweight alternatives to virtual machines that allow developers to package, isolate, and deploy applications across different cloud environments. Containers simplify the building and deploying of cloud native applications by providing consistent and efficient development, testing, and production environments. Containers also offer benefits such as rapid provisioning, high scalability, resource optimization, and security isolation. References:

• What are containerized applications? from Google Cloud
• What are containers and why do you need them? from IBM Developer
• Embracing containers for software-defined cloud infrastructure from Red Hat

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

Cybercriminals are attackers who act independently or as part of an unlawful organization, such as a crime syndicate or a hacker group. Their main motivation is to make money by exploiting vulnerabilities in systems, networks, or applications. They use various methods, such as ransomware, phishing, identity theft, fraud, or botnets, to steal data, extort victims, or disrupt services. Cybercriminals often target individuals, businesses, or institutions that have valuable or sensitive information, such as financial, personal, or health data. Cybercriminals are constantly evolving their techniques and tools to evade detection and countermeasures. They may also collaborate with other cybercriminals or hire hackers to perform specific tasks. References:

• Cybersecurity Threats: Cybercriminals
• Attackers Profile

DevOps is not:

● A combination of the Dev and Ops teams: There still are two teams; they just operate

in a communicative, collaborative way.

● Its own separate team: There is no such thing as a “DevOps engineer.” Although some

companies may appoint a “DevOps team” as a pilot when trying to transition to a

DevOps culture, DevOps refers to a culture where developers, testers, and operations

personnel cooperate throughout the entire software delivery lifecycle.

● A tool or set of tools: Although there are tools that work well with a DevOps model or

help promote DevOps culture, DevOps ultimately is a strategy, not a tool.

● Automation: Although automation is very important for a DevOps culture, it alone does

not define DevOps.

The six pillars include:

1. Business (goals and outcomes)

2. People (who will perform the work)

3. Interfaces (external functions to help achieve goals)

4. Visibility (information needed to accomplish goals)

5. Technology (capabilities needed to provide visibility and enable people)

6. Processes (tactical steps required to execute on goals)

All elements must tie back to the business itself and the goals of the security operations

A layer 2 switch will break up collision domains but not broadcast domains. To break up broadcast domains you need a Layer 3 switch with vlan capabilities.

A knowledge-based system uses a database of known vulnerabilities and attack profiles

to identify intrusion attempts. These types of systems have lower false-alarm rates than

behavior-based systems but must be continually updated with new attack signatures to

be effective.

● A behavior-based system uses a baseline of normal network activity to identify unusual

patterns or levels of network activity that may be indicative of an intrusion attempt.

These types of systems are more adaptive than knowledge-based systems and therefore

may be more effective in detecting previously unknown vulnerabilities and attacks, but

they have a much higher false-positive rate than knowledge-based systems.

Prisma SaaS connects directly to the applications themselves, therefore providing continuous silent monitoring of the risks within the sanctioned SaaS applications, with detailed visibility that is not possible with traditional security solutions.

 An exploit is a type of malware that takes advantage of a vulnerability on an endpoint or server to execute malicious code, gain unauthorized access, or perform other malicious actions. Exploits can be categorized into known and unknown (i.e., zero-day) exploits, depending on whether the vulnerability is publicly disclosed or not12. Exploits can target various types of software, such as operating systems, browsers, applications, or network devices3. References: Malware vs. Exploits, Top Routinely Exploited Vulnerabilities, 12 Types of Malware + Examples That You Should Know, Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician

Micro-segmentation is a VM-Series virtual firewall cloud deployment use case that reduces your environment’s attack surface. Micro-segmentation is the process of dividing a network into smaller segments, each with its own security policies and controls. This helps to isolate and protect workloads from lateral movement and unauthorized access, as well as to enforce granular trust zones and application dependencies. Micro-segmentation can be applied to virtualized data centers, private clouds, and public clouds, using software-defined solutions such as VMware NSX, Cisco ACI, and Azure Virtual WAN. References: Micro-Segmentation - Palo Alto Networks, VM-Series Deployment Guide - Palo Alto Networks, VM-Series on VMware NSX - Palo Alto Networks, VM-Series on Cisco ACI - Palo Alto Networks, VM-Series on Azure Virtual WAN - Palo Alto Networks

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.

CaaS, or Containers-as-a-Service, is a cloud service that allows users to manage and deploy applications using containers and clusters. CaaS can be situated between IaaS and PaaS in the spread of cloud computing services, based on how much is managed by the vendor. IaaS, or Infrastructure-as-a-Service, provides the lowest level of abstraction, where users have to manage the servers, storage, network, and operating system. PaaS, or Platform-as-a-Service, provides a higher level of abstraction, where users only have to manage the application code and data. FaaS, or Function-as-a-Service, provides the highest level of abstraction, where users only have to manage the functions or logic of the application. CaaS falls in between IaaS and PaaS, as it provides users with more control over the container orchestration and configuration than PaaS, but also simplifies the infrastructure management and scaling than IaaS123. References:

• What is CaaS? from Red Hat
• Containers as a Service from Atlassian
• Container as a Service (CaaS) from GeeksforGeeks

Security Operations (SecOps) is the process of coordinating and aligning security teams and IT teams to improve the security posture of an organization. SecOps involves implementing and maintaining security controls, technologies, policies, and procedures to protect the organization from cyber threats and incidents. When dealing with a known attack, SecOps must take the following action: document, monitor, and track the incident. This action is important because it helps SecOps to:

•Record the details of the attack, such as the source, target, impact, timeline, and response actions.

•Monitor the status and progress of the incident response and recovery efforts, as well as the ongoing threat activity and indicators of compromise.

•Track the performance and effectiveness of the security controls and technologies, as well as the lessons learned and improvement opportunities. References:

•Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET)

•6 Incident Response Steps to Take After a Security Event - Exabeam

•Dealing with Cyber Attacks–Steps You Need to Know | NIST

Command and Control: Attackers establish encrypted communication channels back to command-and-control (C2) servers across the internet so that they can modify their attack objectives and methods as additional targets of opportunity are identified within the victim network, or to evade any new security countermeasures that the organization may attempt to deploy if attack artifacts are discovered.

PCI DSS stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, which is a set of requirements intended to ensure that all companies that process, store, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment1. The standard is administered by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council, and its use is mandated by the major card brands2. PCI DSS covers 12 requirements for compliance, organized into six control objectives, such as building and maintaining a secure network and systems, protecting cardholder data, and implementing strong access control measures3. References: Payment Card Industry Security Standards, PCI Security Standards Council – Protect Payment Data with Industry-driven Security Standards, Training, and Programs, What is PCI Compliance? 12 Requirements & More - Digital Guardian

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

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

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.

Routing protocols are defined at the network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model. The network layer is responsible for routing packets across different networks using logical addresses (IP addresses). Routing protocols are used to exchange routing information between routers and to determine the best path for data delivery. Some examples of routing protocols are BGP, OSPF, RIP, and EIGRP. Palo Alto Networks devices support advanced routing features using the Advanced Routing Engine1. References: Advanced Routing - Palo Alto Networks | TechDocs, What Is Layer 7? - Palo Alto Networks, How to Configure Routing Information Protocol (RIP)