Palo Alto Networks PSE-SASE Exam Dumps & Practice Test Questions

Question 1:

A client currently uses a third-party proxy to protect endpoint traffic and is considering switching to Prisma Access to secure mobile users' traffic heading to the internet. 

What should the Systems Engineer advise as the appropriate deployment method?

A. With the explicit proxy license add-on, set up GlobalProtect
B. With the mobile user license, set up explicit proxy
C. With the explicit proxy license, set up a service connection
D. With the mobile user license, set up a corporate access node

Correct Answer:  A

Explanation:

Organizations that depend on third-party proxy tools to filter and secure web traffic for mobile endpoints often look to upgrade or consolidate their security infrastructure. When transitioning to Palo Alto Networks’ Prisma Access, the focus is on maintaining strong security coverage for internet-bound traffic, especially from mobile users. Prisma Access provides cloud-based security services including threat prevention, URL filtering, and data protection, which are particularly beneficial for mobile workforce protection.

Option A, which involves deploying GlobalProtect along with the explicit proxy license add-on, is the most comprehensive and correct approach. GlobalProtect is Palo Alto Networks’ client-based VPN and endpoint security agent that allows mobile users to securely connect to Prisma Access. When GlobalProtect is deployed, it ensures that user traffic is securely tunneled to Prisma Access regardless of the user’s location.

The explicit proxy license add-on further enhances this by enabling Prisma Access to act as a direct proxy for internet traffic—especially useful for customers who are transitioning from legacy or third-party proxy solutions and want to retain similar functionality like policy enforcement, traffic logging, and visibility.

This combination ensures mobile users’ web traffic is directed through Prisma Access for inspection, logging, and enforcement—mimicking and improving on the previous proxy service while leveraging advanced Palo Alto security capabilities.

Let’s now analyze why the other options are not ideal:

• Option B is incorrect because the mobile user license alone does not automatically include explicit proxy capabilities. The explicit proxy license is a separate add-on and is necessary to match the behavior of legacy proxy deployments.

• Option C, which mentions setting up a service connection, is more appropriate for linking Prisma Access with branch offices or HQ data centers—not for securing mobile endpoint traffic. It doesn’t help with client endpoint internet-bound protection.

• Option D, involving a corporate access node, applies more to secure connectivity from corporate infrastructure to Prisma Access. It does not address the need for endpoint-level internet traffic protection for mobile users.

In conclusion, to provide a seamless and secure transition from a third-party proxy to Prisma Access while preserving advanced traffic inspection and policy enforcement, the recommended method is to use GlobalProtect along with the explicit proxy license add-on—making Option A the best solution.

Question 2:

What is one advantage of implementing a SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) architecture that includes a Secure Web Gateway (SWG) over a SASE solution without an SWG component?

A. A heartbeat mechanism between firewalls ensures high availability
B. It assists with configuring decryption profiles and port mirroring
C. It delivers cloud-based visibility and control of web access while protecting users from malicious content
D. It creates secure tunnels for communication as though users are connected via a LAN

Correct Answer:  C

Explanation:

A Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) framework consolidates wide area networking and network security services into a single cloud-delivered model. This convergence includes technologies such as FWaaS (Firewall as a Service), ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access), CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker), and SWG (Secure Web Gateway). Among these components, the SWG plays a crucial role in providing fine-grained visibility and threat protection specifically for web traffic.

Option C is correct because the inclusion of an SWG in a SASE solution offers cloud-native protection that enforces web security policies and filters internet-bound traffic. It ensures that users—whether remote, mobile, or on-premises—are shielded from unsafe content, such as malware, phishing websites, and inappropriate domains, by inspecting and controlling web traffic in real time. This is a foundational capability of SWG that is missing in a SASE deployment without it.

By incorporating an SWG, organizations benefit from centralized policy enforcement, real-time threat detection, and robust data protection mechanisms like DLP (Data Loss Prevention). Additionally, the cloud-based nature of SASE ensures these protections apply regardless of the user's location, which is particularly valuable for today’s hybrid and remote workforces.

Let’s explore why the other choices fall short:

• Option A refers to a heartbeat mechanism used in firewall high availability (HA) setups. While essential for redundancy and uptime, this feature is not exclusive to nor enhanced by an SWG component in a SASE model.

• Option B deals with TLS/SSL decryption and port mirroring, which is indeed important for traffic visibility. However, this is generally a broader security platform function and not a unique benefit of integrating an SWG into SASE.

• Option D describes VPN or ZTNA functionality, which allows secure remote access as though a user were on the local network. While important within SASE, this feature doesn't provide the web traffic filtering and inspection that an SWG uniquely offers.

To summarize, including a Secure Web Gateway in a SASE deployment significantly enhances protection and policy control over web traffic. It ensures organizations maintain visibility into user behavior, enforce compliance, and block access to malicious or unauthorized websites. Without SWG, a SASE solution may lack this depth of web-specific inspection and control—making Option C the most appropriate and complete answer.

Question 3:

What is the most effective measure a network administrator can implement to defend against port scanning attacks originating from the internet?

A. Enforce App-ID security policy rules to block traffic coming from the untrust zone
B. Attach Security profiles to rules managing traffic from the untrust zone
C. Use a Zone Protection profile on the ingress zone of the interface
D. Apply an Interface Management profile to the zone of the ingress interface

Answer: C

Explanation:

Port scanning is a reconnaissance technique commonly used by attackers to identify which ports are open and which services are running on a system. This technique helps adversaries detect vulnerable points for further exploitation. The best proactive defense to mitigate such scanning attempts is to deploy security mechanisms that can detect, limit, or block this probing activity early in the traffic flow—ideally, at the network perimeter.

Option C, applying a Zone Protection profile on the ingress zone, is the most appropriate and effective choice for preventing port scans. Zone Protection profiles are designed to monitor and defend network zones—such as the untrust zone or any public-facing interface—against various reconnaissance and flood-based attacks. These profiles specifically include protection mechanisms for TCP and UDP port scanning, ICMP flooding, SYN flood attacks, and more.

When configured correctly, a Zone Protection profile can track behavior such as repeated connection attempts to multiple ports over a short period. Once the traffic matches the scanning signature or exceeds a defined threshold, the system automatically blocks or drops the traffic, effectively preventing the scan from succeeding. This ensures that malicious scanning activity is stopped at the ingress point before it reaches sensitive internal systems.

Now let's review why the other options are incorrect:

• Option A, enforcing App-ID rules, is helpful for application-level control and policy enforcement. However, App-ID works after session establishment, meaning it doesn’t block port scans, which typically occur before a session is even created.

• Option B, assigning Security profiles to policy rules (like antivirus, vulnerability protection, etc.), provides important payload and content inspection. Still, these profiles don’t specialize in defending against reconnaissance methods like port scanning.

• Option D, configuring an Interface Management profile, controls management-plane access (e.g., SSH, HTTPS) for device administrators. While it protects the device from unauthorized admin access, it does not defend against scanning or probing from the data plane.

In conclusion, only Zone Protection profiles offer a layer of defense that specifically targets scanning behavior, which makes Option C the best and most effective answer for stopping port scans at the perimeter.

Question 4:

Which solution is specifically designed to continuously track application performance across all network segments, from the endpoint to the app, while establishing baseline behavior to optimize both performance and security?

A. App-ID Cloud Engine (ACE)
B. Autonomous Digital Experience Management (ADEM)
C. CloudBlades
D. WildFire

Answer: B

Explanation:

Maintaining optimal performance and security across a distributed digital infrastructure requires constant visibility into user experiences, application behavior, and network conditions. The tool designed to meet this demand is Autonomous Digital Experience Management (ADEM).

ADEM provides end-to-end monitoring that spans the complete path—from the user endpoint (e.g., laptop or mobile device), across the network, and into the application's cloud or data center location. This solution continuously evaluates every segment involved in delivering application services. It uses AI and machine learning to establish baseline metrics for performance, such as latency, jitter, packet loss, and application responsiveness.

These baselines are then used to detect anomalies—any deviation from normal behavior is flagged, enabling faster diagnosis of issues, whether they stem from the endpoint, network, or application infrastructure. This level of visibility ensures proactive issue resolution, enhances user experience, and strengthens security posture by detecting unusual patterns that might signal compromised performance or potential attacks.

Let’s compare this to the other choices:

• Option A, App-ID Cloud Engine (ACE), specializes in identifying and categorizing cloud application traffic. It enhances security visibility and control but doesn’t perform holistic or continuous monitoring across network segments or baseline tracking.

• Option C, CloudBlades, provides a plug-in architecture for third-party services and API integration with cloud services. While it facilitates automation and feature expansion, it’s not designed to measure or analyze application performance end-to-end.

• Option D, WildFire, focuses on advanced threat detection by analyzing files and traffic for malware and zero-day exploits. It plays a critical role in security, but doesn’t track user experience or application performance from the endpoint to the app.

In short, ADEM is purpose-built to ensure seamless user experiences by constantly monitoring performance and security across every link in the digital delivery chain. It delivers actionable insights by comparing live data to historical baselines and enabling IT teams to quickly address performance degradation or suspicious behavior. That makes Option B the correct answer.

Question 5:

Which feature serves as a major differentiator for Palo Alto Networks' SASE solution compared to its industry competitors?

A. Path Analysis
B. Playbooks
C. Ticketing Systems
D. Inspections

Correct Answer:  A

Explanation:

Palo Alto Networks’ Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) platform stands out in the crowded cybersecurity market due to its advanced capabilities designed to optimize both performance and security. Among these, Path Analysis is a distinctive feature that sets it apart from competing SASE providers. This functionality offers intelligent, real-time monitoring and adjustment of traffic routing, ensuring that data travels the most efficient and secure paths across the network.

Path Analysis works by continuously evaluating various metrics such as network latency, packet loss, jitter, and congestion across different routes. By leveraging this data, the system dynamically selects the optimal path for user traffic. This is especially valuable in modern IT environments where users are often working remotely and accessing cloud-based applications. Ensuring a high-quality digital experience while maintaining security policies is critical—and Path Analysis enables just that.

This capability becomes even more vital when considering the rise of hybrid workforces. Employees may connect from home, branch offices, or while mobile. A SASE solution must ensure consistent performance and security regardless of the user’s location, and Palo Alto Networks achieves this through advanced traffic telemetry and route optimization. This is not a standard feature in many SASE products, making it a clear competitive advantage.

Now let’s examine the other options.
B. Playbooks refer to scripted incident response procedures, usually found in Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) platforms. While useful, they are not specific or central to SASE frameworks and are available across many cybersecurity solutions.
C. Ticketing Systems are essential for IT service management but are not core components of SASE. Most vendors integrate with third-party systems like ServiceNow or Jira. Their presence is not a unique selling point.
D. Inspections, including deep packet inspection or malware scanning, are fundamental elements of most security platforms. These are table stakes in the SASE market and do not offer the same competitive edge as Path Analysis.

In summary, Path Analysis provides real-time visibility and adaptive optimization for traffic routing, offering a consistent, secure, and high-performance user experience. This innovative feature elevates Palo Alto Networks' SASE above others, making it a defining factor in selecting a provider.

Question 6:

Within a SASE architecture, which component is specifically tasked with scanning web traffic to enforce secure connections between users and cloud-based applications?

A. Proxy
B. SD-WAN
C. Secure Web Gateway (SWG)
D. Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

In the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) model, a Secure Web Gateway (SWG) plays a crucial role in safeguarding web-based communications. It is specifically engineered to inspect, filter, and secure HTTP and HTTPS traffic, making it an essential component in enabling secure user access to online and cloud-hosted applications.

SWGs operate as advanced checkpoints between users and web resources. They examine web traffic in real-time to detect and block malicious content, enforce organizational usage policies, and prevent unauthorized data exfiltration. This includes features such as URL filtering, SSL/TLS decryption, malware scanning, and application control. By inspecting encrypted traffic and enforcing granular policies, SWGs ensure that employees can safely browse the internet and access cloud services without introducing risks to the organization.

One of the standout attributes of an SWG within a SASE framework is its ability to deliver consistent security controls regardless of user location. Whether a user is working in a corporate office or remotely, the SWG applies the same policies, ensuring uniform protection and compliance. Additionally, modern SWGs are cloud-delivered, offering scalability and centralized management—two key tenets of the SASE philosophy.

Now let’s evaluate the other options:
A. Proxy servers do act as intermediaries between users and the internet, but traditional proxies are not equipped with the full suite of security capabilities that SWGs offer. While they can cache content or block specific URLs, they typically lack deep inspection and behavioral analysis features.
B. SD-WAN, or Software-Defined Wide Area Networking, is responsible for optimizing network connectivity across distributed sites. Though it enhances performance, especially for branch offices, it is not designed to inspect or secure web traffic directly. Its focus is more on connectivity and bandwidth efficiency.
D. Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) helps organizations manage and secure user access to cloud applications by monitoring behavior, enforcing compliance, and protecting data. However, CASBs don’t specialize in inspecting web protocols or handling general internet traffic like an SWG does.

To summarize, the Secure Web Gateway (SWG) is the cornerstone of web traffic security in SASE. It inspects encrypted and unencrypted web traffic, enforces policies, and protects against threats—all while delivering a seamless user experience. This function is distinct from SD-WAN, CASB, or proxies, making SWG the correct choice for web protocol inspection in a SASE environment.

Question 7:

Which major advantage does Palo Alto Networks' SASE solution offer by delivering visibility into SD-WAN and network security metrics, especially when managing multiple tenants?

A. It changes the signature delivery model by updating and streaming them to firewalls within seconds after analysis.
B. It secures inbound, outbound, and east-west traffic in Kubernetes workloads without impeding development.
C. It enables automated workflows with hundreds of ready-made playbooks.
D. It supports managed service providers (MSPs) in quickly diagnosing issues and fulfilling service level agreements (SLAs) for all customers.

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

Palo Alto Networks’ Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution provides a unified cloud-native architecture that merges network and security capabilities, including SD-WAN, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), secure web gateways, and cloud firewalls. A standout feature of this solution is its ability to deliver deep visibility into both SD-WAN and network security metrics across multiple managed tenants. This capability is especially crucial for Managed Service Providers (MSPs), who are responsible for ensuring the performance, security, and reliability of services across numerous clients.

With real-time monitoring and granular visibility, MSPs can detect network degradations, security breaches, or performance anomalies as they arise across all customer environments. This early identification of issues helps reduce the time it takes to troubleshoot and resolve problems, thereby improving operational efficiency and maintaining high service standards.

The visibility provided by SASE is instrumental in helping MSPs uphold Service Level Agreements (SLAs). These agreements often stipulate minimum thresholds for uptime, response times, and network performance. The ability to monitor metrics and detect irregularities before they escalate into major problems enables MSPs to respond proactively, rather than reactively.

Additionally, managing multiple tenants in a single dashboard simplifies comparisons and trend analysis. It helps MSPs prioritize resources, prevent future issues, and ensure consistency in service delivery across all clients.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

• A. While rapid signature delivery is a benefit of Palo Alto’s firewalls, it pertains to threat detection and not to SASE’s tenant-wide visibility or troubleshooting capabilities.

• B. This choice describes container security within Kubernetes, which is more relevant to cloud workload protection, not SASE's ability to monitor SD-WAN or aid MSPs with multiple tenants.

• C. Automating workflows via playbooks is related to security orchestration and automation (SOAR), not the visibility and monitoring benefits specific to SASE.

The key benefit of SASE’s SD-WAN and network security visibility is its ability to help MSPs streamline troubleshooting processes and reliably meet SLAs across their client base. This visibility acts as a force multiplier, enabling faster issue resolution, better performance oversight, and proactive service management.

Question 8:

Which element of a SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) solution is designed to safeguard user sessions at all times, whether users are inside or outside the corporate network?

A. Zero Trust
B. Threat Prevention
C. Single-Pass Architecture (SPA)
D. DNS Security

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

The Zero Trust model is a foundational component of modern SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) architecture. It’s designed to enforce a rigorous security posture that does not automatically trust any user or device—whether they are inside or outside the traditional network perimeter. Instead, it applies continuous verification, ensuring that every request to access resources is authenticated, authorized, and encrypted.

Zero Trust enables complete session protection, meaning that all data exchanges between users and enterprise resources are validated and secured throughout their duration. This is critical in an age where users frequently access cloud-based applications from remote locations and unmanaged devices.

The approach relies on several principles: verifying user identity and device posture, enforcing least privilege access, and maintaining session integrity with ongoing security checks. These processes ensure that even if a user is working from a remote location, the security measures remain the same as if they were within the corporate LAN.

What makes Zero Trust particularly effective in a SASE context is that it applies consistent policies across both cloud and on-premises environments. It secures SaaS apps, private apps, and internet access under a unified framework. Continuous session protection is maintained by dynamically adjusting access based on behavior or changes in device health or location.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

• B. Threat Prevention is critical for identifying and blocking known threats such as malware or exploits, but it doesn’t handle session-level access control or continuous authentication.

• C. Single-Pass Architecture (SPA) improves performance by processing traffic once for all security functions, which enhances efficiency—but it’s not responsible for securing user sessions or enforcing access controls.

• D. DNS Security focuses on protecting against threats like DNS tunneling or spoofing but doesn’t manage user or device authentication, nor does it secure entire user sessions.

Zero Trust is the key SASE component that guarantees session protection by enforcing strict identity verification and access controls, regardless of user location. It ensures secure, authenticated communication at all times, making it essential for modern, perimeter-less networks.

Question 9:

At which stage in the Zero Trust Five-Step Methodology are decisions made about who can access specific applications and systems?

A. Step 4: Create the Zero Trust Policy
B. Step 3: Architect a Zero Trust Network
C. Step 1: Define the Protect Surface
D. Step 5: Monitor and Maintain the Network

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

The Zero Trust Five-Step Methodology is a strategic framework that guides organizations through implementing a robust Zero Trust architecture. It is based on the core principle of "never trust, always verify," meaning that access must be continuously evaluated, regardless of whether it originates inside or outside the network perimeter. Each step in this methodology builds upon the last to create a secure, adaptable, and policy-driven security model.

Step 1: Define the Protect Surface
This initial step involves identifying the organization’s most valuable and vulnerable assets. These typically include sensitive data, critical applications, user identities, and intellectual property. The focus is on determining what needs to be protected, rather than trying to secure the entire attack surface.

Step 2: Map the Transaction Flows
Once the protect surface is established, the organization needs to understand how data moves in and out of these protected resources. This step involves analyzing the communication patterns and dependencies between users, devices, and applications, helping to build visibility and context around asset interactions.

Step 3: Architect a Zero Trust Network
At this stage, the infrastructure to enforce Zero Trust principles is designed. This involves the use of network segmentation and micro-segmentation to isolate sensitive resources. While this step is essential in structuring traffic flow and controlling network boundaries, it does not define specific user or application access policies.

Step 4: Create the Zero Trust Policy
This is the crucial stage where both user access and application access are explicitly defined. Policies are created based on context such as user identity, device health, location, time, and application sensitivity. These policies establish the criteria for granting or denying access, adhering to the principle of least privilege. This ensures that users are only allowed access to the exact resources they need, under specific conditions. The access control rules include how authentication and authorization occur, and are tailored to enforce granular, role-based, and risk-aware access decisions.

Step 5: Monitor and Maintain the Network
After access policies are implemented, continuous monitoring becomes critical. This final step involves real-time inspection of network traffic, user activity, and access patterns. Any anomalies, policy violations, or signs of potential threats are identified and mitigated here. While this step enhances Zero Trust’s effectiveness over time, it does not involve defining access.

Why Option A is Correct:
Step 4 is where user and application access policies are designed and applied. It’s the point in the process where you define "who can access what, when, and how." This step transforms strategic goals into enforceable rules, ensuring strict access control and reducing the risk of lateral movement by unauthorized users.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

• Option B (Step 3) focuses on building the security infrastructure but stops short of specifying access rules.

• Option C (Step 1) only identifies what to protect, not how or who can access it.

• Option D (Step 5) is about monitoring and responding post-implementation, not defining access from the start.

Therefore, the responsibility of clearly defining both application access and user access lies within Step 4: Create the Zero Trust Policy, making A the correct answer.

Question 10:

Which core component of Palo Alto Networks’ Prisma Access solution enables the consistent enforcement of security policies across remote users and branch offices in a SASE architecture?

A. GlobalProtect Agent
B. SD-WAN Controller
C. Cloud Secure Web Gateway (SWG)
D. Cloud Management Portal (Panorama or Prisma Access UI)

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

Palo Alto Networks’ Prisma Access is a cloud-delivered security platform built to implement Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) principles, integrating networking and security services into a unified, cloud-based architecture. A fundamental design goal of SASE is to provide consistent, scalable, and centralized security enforcement across distributed users, devices, applications, and locations.

Among its core components, the Cloud Secure Web Gateway (SWG) plays a critical role in enforcing security policies across both remote users and branch offices. It inspects web traffic in real time, blocks threats, enforces acceptable use policies, and provides visibility into user behavior regardless of location. This functionality aligns closely with SASE's principle of providing security where the user is, instead of routing all traffic back to a central data center.

Unlike traditional SWGs, the cloud-based nature of Prisma Access's SWG ensures policy consistency and scalability across geographies without requiring hardware appliances. This allows organizations to manage access control, URL filtering, data loss prevention (DLP), and advanced threat protection through a single cloud platform.

Here’s a breakdown of the other options:

• A. GlobalProtect Agent: While this agent enables users to connect to Prisma Access securely, it is a client used for initiating secure connections and does not itself enforce policies. It facilitates secure remote access but is not responsible for centralized policy enforcement.

• B. SD-WAN Controller: This component is responsible for managing WAN traffic and optimizing routing between branch offices and the cloud but does not directly handle security policies across users or branches.

• D. Cloud Management Portal (Panorama or Prisma UI): This is used for configuring and monitoring Prisma Access, but the actual enforcement of security policies happens in the underlying security processing components like the SWG.

In summary, the Cloud Secure Web Gateway in Prisma Access is the critical component that ensures uniform security policy enforcement, fulfilling one of the key promises of SASE: secure, cloud-delivered access for all users and locations.