Paloalto Networks PCCP Palo Alto Certified Cybersecurity Practitioner (PCCP) Exam Practice Test

A TLS handshake occurs after the TCP handshake is complete. The TLS handshake is responsible for establishing a secure, encrypted session between client and server, including the negotiation of encryption algorithms and exchange of keys.

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.

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.

A Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system collects data from various sources (logs, events, etc.) and uses correlation rules to analyze this data and trigger alarms when suspicious or predefined patterns are detected.

Cloud-hosted refers to the deployment of traditional on-premises software on cloud-based servers. This approach allows organizations to run their applications in the cloud without re-architecting them for cloud-native environments.

SSL/TLS decryption allows security tools to inspect encrypted traffic, enabling them to detect hidden malware, command-and-control communication, or data exfiltration that would otherwise bypass inspection if left encrypted.

Signature-based systems struggle with polymorphic or obfuscated malware, which changes its code to avoid detection. Signature-based detection relies on static databases of known threat signatures, limiting its ability to identify new or unknown threats.

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.

Pharming is an attack that redirects traffic from a legitimate website to a malicious fake website, typically by corrupting the DNS system or modifying host files, with the intent of stealing user credentials or sensitive data.

Code security focuses on identifying vulnerabilities and misconfigurations early in the development process. It uses tools like static code analysis and infrastructure-as-code (IaC) scanning to ensure secure coding and configuration before deployment.

Workload security in a Cloud-Native Security Platform (CNSP) focuses on protecting VMs, containers, and serverless deployments against application-level attacks during runtime. It ensures that workloads remain secure by monitoring behavior, enforcing policies, and detecting threats in real time.

An Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) is a long-term, targeted cyberattack where data exfiltration is often the primary objective. Attackers maintain a covert presence in the network to steal sensitive information over time.

Log normalization – SIEMs standardize log formats from various sources, making it easier to analyze and correlate security events.

Incident response – Integration enables faster detection, investigation, and automated or guided response to security incidents by using correlated data from multiple tools.

Hardware procurement and security team training are not directly influenced by SIEM integration.

Advanced WildFire is a Cloud-Delivered Security Service (CDSS) that detects zero-day malware using inline cloud machine learning (ML) and sandboxing techniques. It analyzes unknown files in real-time to identify and block new threats before they can cause harm.

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.

An application allow list prevents malware from executing by only permitting approved applications to run on an endpoint. Any unauthorized or unknown software, including malicious programs, is automatically blocked from executing.

Determining system health using unaltered system data – Active monitoring collects real-time data to assess the current health and performance of systems.

Using probes to establish potential load issues – Active monitoring uses synthetic transactions or probes to simulate user interactions and identify performance or load-related issues before they affect users.

IoT devices often have constant internet connectivity and increased data sharing, making them more vulnerable to command-and-control (C2) attacks. Their limited security features and exposure to external networks provide attackers more opportunities to compromise and control them remotely.

Signature-based malware detection relies on a constantly updated database of known threat signatures to identify malicious files or activity. Without frequent updates, it becomes ineffective against newly emerging threats.

Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) platforms are designed to automate the remediation of confirmed cybersecurity breaches by executing predefined response playbooks, reducing response time and manual effort during incidents.

Morphing code, also known as polymorphism, allows advanced malware to change its code structure with each iteration or infection. This makes it extremely difficult for traditional signature-based detection tools to recognize and block the malware consistently.