PSE-SWFW-Pro-24 Leak Questions

The CN-Series firewalls are containerized firewalls designed to protect Kubernetes environments. They offer several deployment methods to integrate with Kubernetes orchestration.

A. Terraform templates: Terraform is an Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) tool that allows you to define and provision infrastructure using declarative configuration files. 1 Palo Alto Networks provides Terraform modules and examples to deploy CN-Series firewalls, enabling automated and repeatable deployments.  

1. prathmeshh.hashnode.dev

prathmeshh.hashnode.dev

B. Panorama plugin for Kubernetes: While Panorama is used to manage CN-Series firewalls centrally, there isn't a direct "Panorama plugin for Kubernetes" for deploying the firewalls themselves. Panorama is used for management after they're deployed using other methods.

C. YAML file: Kubernetes uses YAML files (manifests) to define the desired state of deployments, including pods, services, and other resources. You can deploy CN-Series firewalls by creating YAML files that define the necessary Kubernetes objects, such as Deployments, Services, and ConfigMaps. This is a core method for Kubernetes deployments.

D. Helm charts: Helm is a package manager for Kubernetes. Helm charts package Kubernetes resources, including YAML files, into reusable and shareable units. Palo Alto Networks provides Helm charts for deploying CN-Series firewalls, simplifying the deployment process and managing updates.

E. Docker Swarm: Docker Swarm is a container orchestration tool, but CN-Series firewalls are specifically designed for Kubernetes and are not deployed using Docker Swarm.

References:

The Palo Alto Networks documentation clearly outlines these deployment methods:

CN-Series Deployment Guide: This is the primary resource for deploying CN-Series firewalls. It provides detailed instructions and examples for using Terraform, YAML files, and Helm charts. You can find this on the Palo Alto Networks support portal by searching for "CN-Series Deployment Guide".

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Step-by-Step Explanation:The customer’s requirements involve securing AWS workloads with Palo Alto Networks NGFWs, maintaining consistency with their existing Panorama management for on-premises firewalls, and minimizing management complexity and risk exposure. The Palo Alto Networks Systems Engineer Professional - Software Firewall documentation provides guidance on deploying NGFWs in AWS, focusing on compatibility with existing management tools.

Cloud NGFWs and Panorama (Option B): Cloud NGFW for AWS is a cloud-native firewall service that integrates with Panorama for centralized management, ensuring consistency with the customer’s existing on-premises firewall management. Panorama provides unified policy enforcement, logging, and monitoring for both on-premises firewalls and Cloud NGFW instances in AWS, avoiding additional management complexity. The documentation highlights this as the ideal solution for customers leveraging Panorama, minimizing risk by maintaining a single management platform while providing advanced threat prevention and application visibility for AWS workloads.

Options A (Software NGFW credits and Strata Cloud Manager [SCM]), C (Cloud NGFWs and Strata Cloud Manager [SCM]), and D (Software NGFW credits and Panorama) are incorrect. SCM (Options A, C) is a cloud-delivered management solution but does not integrate as seamlessly with on-premises firewalls managed by Panorama, introducing complexity for the customer. Software NGFW credits (Options A, D) alone do not specify a deployment option; they are a licensing model, not a firewall type, and do not address management needs directly. Option D omits the specific firewall type (Cloud NGFW) needed for AWS, making it incomplete for meeting the customer’s requirements.

References: Palo Alto Networks Systems Engineer Professional - Software Firewall, Section: Multi-Cloud Deployment, Panorama Management Documentation, Cloud NGFW for AWS Deployment Guide.

Several resources are available to assist with planning and implementing Palo Alto Networks NGFW solutions:

A. Technical assistance center (TAC): While TAC provides support for existing deployments, they are generally not directly involved in the initial planning and implementation phases. TAC helps with troubleshooting and resolving issues after the firewall is deployed.

B. Partners / systems Integrators: Partners and system integrators play a crucial role in planning and implementation. They possess expertise in network design, security best practices, and Palo Alto Networks products, enabling them to design and deploy solutions tailored to customer needs.

C. Professional services: Palo Alto Networks professional services offer expert assistance with all phases of the project, from planning and design to implementation and knowledge transfer. They can provide specialized skills and best-practice guidance.

D. Proof of Concept Labs: While valuable for testing and validating solutions, Proof of Concept (POC) labs are more focused on evaluating the technology before a full-scale implementation. They are not the primary resources for the actual planning and implementation process itself, though they can inform it.

E. QuickStart services: QuickStart packages are a type of professional service specifically designed for rapid deployment. They provide a structured approach to implementation, accelerating the time to value.

References:

Information about these resources can be found on the Palo Alto Networks website and partner portal:

Partner locator: The Palo Alto Networks website has a partner locator tool to find certified partners and system integrators.

Professional services: Details about Palo Alto Networks professional services offerings, including QuickStart packages, are available on their website.

These resources confirm that partners/system integrators, professional services (including QuickStart), are key resources for planning and implementation. While TAC and POCs have roles, they are not the primary resources for this phase.

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Step-by-Step Explanation:Increasing throughput for a VM-Series firewall running on VMware ESXi with flexible licensing requires adjusting virtual CPU (vCPU) resources, which impacts performance tiers. The Palo Alto Networks Systems Engineer Professional - Software Firewall documentation outlines the process for modifying VM-Series resources to minimize downtime, particularly for flexible-license models.

Option B (Correct Answer): This order minimizes downtime by ensuring all steps are performed efficiently and safely:

Power-off the VM and increase the vCPUs within the hypervisor: Shutting down the VM-Series firewall on ESXi avoids any risk of corruption or performance issues during resource changes. Increasing vCPUs in the hypervisor (e.g., VMware vSphere) adjusts the hardware resources allocated to the VM, enabling higher throughput.

Increase the vCPU within the deployment profile: After adjusting the hypervisor, update the deployment profile in the Palo Alto Networks Customer Support Portal or Strata Cloud Manager to reflect the new vCPU count, ensuring the flexible license aligns with the updated resources.

Retrieve or fetch license keys on the VM-Series NGFW: With the vCPU change applied, the VM-Series fetches or retrieves new license keys based on the updated deployment profile, activating the higher-tier performance level (e.g., from Tier 1 to Tier 2).

Confirm the correct tier level and vCPU appear on the NGFW dashboard: After powering on and licensing, verify the VM-Series dashboard shows the updated vCPU count and corresponding performance tier, ensuring throughput increases as expected.

Power-on the VM-Series NGFW: Restart the VM to apply changes, minimizing downtime by ensuring all preparatory steps (power-off, resource adjustment, licensing) are completed before rebooting.This sequence minimizes downtime by handling resource changes offline, updating licensing, and validating the configuration before bringing the firewall back online, as recommended in the documentation for flexible licensing and VM resource adjustments.

Options A, C, and D are incorrect because they involve powering off the VM after licensing or resource changes, increasing downtime or risking configuration errors. For example, Option A powers off after increasing vCPUs in the profile and licensing, delaying the physical resource adjustment. Option C powers off after licensing, potentially causing licensing mismatches. Option D powers on the VM before licensing and profile updates, risking operational issues or downtime during reconfiguration. The documentation emphasizes minimizing downtime by completing all preparatory steps before rebooting, making Option B the optimal sequence.

References: Palo Alto Networks Systems Engineer Professional - Software Firewall, Section: VM-Series Flexible Licensing, VMware ESXi Deployment Guide, Performance Tuning and Resource Adjustment Documentation.