PSE-SWFW-Pro-24 VCE Exam Download

Cloud-native load balancing with Palo Alto Networks firewalls in public clouds involves understanding the distinct approaches for VM-Series and Cloud NGFW:

A. Cloud NGFW’s distributed architecture model requires deployment of a single centralized firewall and will force all traffic to the firewall across pre-built VPN tunnels: This is incorrect. Cloud NGFW uses a distributed architecture where traffic is steered to the nearest Cloud NGFW instance, often using Gateway Load Balancers (GWLBs) or similar services. It does not rely on a single centralized firewall or force all traffic through VPN tunnels.

B. VM-Series firewall deployments in the public cloud will require the deployment of a cloud-native load balancer if high availability (HA) or redundancy is needed: This is correct. VM-Series firewalls, when deployed for HA or redundancy, require a cloud-native load balancer (e.g., AWS ALB/NLB/GWLB, Azure Load Balancer) to distribute traffic across the active firewall instances. This ensures that if one firewall fails, traffic is automatically directed to a healthy instance.

C. Cloud NGFW in AWS or Azure has load balancing built into the underlying solution and does not require the deployment of a separate load balancer: This is also correct. Cloud NGFW integrates with cloud-native load balancing services (e.g., Gateway Load Balancer in AWS) as part of its architecture. This provides automatic scaling and high availability without requiring you to manage a separate load balancer.

D. VM-Series firewall load balancing is automated and is handled by the internal mechanics of the NGFW software without the need for a load balancer: This is incorrect. VM-Series firewalls do not have built-in load balancing capabilities for HA. A cloud-native load balancer is essential for distributing traffic and ensuring redundancy.

References:

Cloud NGFW documentation: Look for sections on architecture, traffic steering, and integration with cloud-native load balancing services (like AWS Gateway Load Balancer).

VM-Series deployment guides for each cloud provider: These guides explain how to deploy VM-Series firewalls for HA using cloud-native load balancers.

These resources confirm that VM-Series requires external load balancers for HA, while Cloud NGFW has load balancing integrated into its design.

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Step-by-Step Explanation:The customer’s AWS environment currently uses the native AWS cloud service provider (CSP) firewall (e.g., AWS Network Firewall or Security Groups), which offers limited application visibility and advanced threat prevention compared to next-generation firewalls (NGFWs). The customer requires a solution that enhances security with application-layer visibility, advanced threat prevention, and integration with the native AWS management interface. The Palo Alto Networks Systems Engineer Professional - Software Firewall documentation provides guidance on selecting the appropriate solution for AWS cloud security.

Cloud NGFW for AWS (Option B): Cloud NGFW for AWS is a cloud-native firewall service designed specifically for AWS environments, providing advanced application visibility (via App-ID), threat prevention (via WildFire, Threat Prevention, and URL Filtering), and scalable security for cloud applications. It integrates natively with the AWS Management Console, allowing customers to manage the firewall using familiar AWS tools (e.g., VPC, Route 53, CloudWatch) without requiring additional management platforms like Panorama. The documentation emphasizes Cloud NGFW’s ability to leverage AWS-native services for deployment, scalability, and management, meeting the customer’s need for enhanced visibility, advanced threat protection, and native AWS integration. This solution addresses the limitations of the native AWS firewall by offering Layer 7 inspection and comprehensive security features while maintaining simplicity through AWS’s management interface.

Options A (Palo Alto Networks CDSS bundle for AWS firewalls), C (AWS VPC VM-Series firewalls), and D (AWS Software credits) are incorrect. The Palo Alto Networks CDSS bundle (Option A) refers to Cloud-Delivered Security Services (e.g., Threat Prevention, WildFire), but it is not a standalone firewall solution; it enhances existing firewalls (e.g., Cloud NGFW or VM-Series) and does not integrate natively with the AWS Management Console as a primary firewall. “AWS VPC VM-Series firewalls” (Option C) is not a standard term; VM-Series firewalls are deployed in AWS VPCs, but they require separate management (e.g., via Panorama) and do not natively integrate with the AWS Management Console for full management, introducing complexity the customer wants to avoid. AWS Software credits (Option D) are a licensing model, not a firewall solution, and do not address the customer’s need for visibility, protection, or native management, making it irrelevant for this use case.

References: Palo Alto Networks Systems Engineer Professional - Software Firewall, Section: Cloud NGFW for AWS Deployment, AWS Integration Guide, Application Visibility and Threat Prevention Documentation, Native Cloud Management Documentation.

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Step-by-Step Explanation:Palo Alto Networks offers a range of firewall solutions designed to secure various environments, including public cloud deployments. The Systems Engineer Professional - Software Firewall documentation specifies the following firewalls as suitable for public cloud environments:

CN-Series firewall (Option A): The CN-Series firewall is specifically designed for containerized environments and is deployable in public cloud environments like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). It integrates with Kubernetes to secure container workloads in the cloud.

Cloud NGFW (Option C): Cloud NGFW is a cloud-native firewall service tailored for public cloud environments such as AWS and Azure. It provides advanced security features like application visibility, threat prevention, and scalability without requiring traditional hardware or virtual machine management.

VM-Series firewall (Option D): The VM-Series firewall is a virtualized next-generation firewall that can be deployed in public cloud environments (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) to protect workloads, applications, and data. It offers flexibility and scalability for virtualized and cloud-based infrastructures.

Options B (PA-Series firewall) and E (Cloud ION Blade firewall) are incorrect. The PA-Series firewalls are physical appliances designed for on-premises data centers and do not natively protect public cloud environments. The Cloud ION Blade firewall is not a recognized Palo Alto Networks product in this context, as it is not part of the software firewall portfolio for public clouds.

References: Palo Alto Networks Systems Engineer Professional - Software Firewall, Section: Public Cloud Security Solutions, VM-Series Deployment Guide, CN-Series Deployment Guide, and Cloud NGFW Documentation.

Automating VM-Series firewall deployment in public clouds is crucial for efficient and consistent deployments. Here's a breakdown of the options:

A. GitHub PaloAltoNetworks Terraform SWFW modules: This is a VALID method. Palo Alto Networks maintains Terraform modules on GitHub specifically designed for deploying VM-Series firewalls in various cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP). These modules provide pre-built configurations and best practices, simplifying and automating the infrastructure provisioning.