Pass the Paloalto Networks Security Operations XDR-Analyst Questions and answers with CertsForce

The WSS (WebSocket Secure) protocol is an extension of the WebSocket protocol that provides a secure communication channel over the internet. It is used to establish a persistent, full-duplex communication channel between a client (in this case, the Cortex XDR agent) and a server (such as the Cortex XDR management console or other components). The Cortex XDR agent uses the WSS protocol to establish a secure and real-time bidirectional communication channel with the Cortex XDR management console or other components in the Palo Alto Networks security ecosystem. This communication channel allows the agent to send data, such as security events, alerts, and other relevant information, to the management console, and receive commands, policy updates, and responses in return. By using the WSS protocol, the Cortex XDR agent can maintain a persistent connection with the management console, which enables timely communication of security-related information and allows for efficient incident response and remediation actions. It’s important to note that the other options mentioned in the question also involve communication between the Cortex XDR agent and various components, but they do not specifically mention the use of the WSS protocol. For example:

A. The Cortex XDR agent downloading new security content typically utilizes protocols like HTTP or HTTPS.

B. When the Cortex XDR agent uploads alert data, it may use protocols like HTTP or HTTPS to transmit the data securely.

C. When the Cortex XDR agent connects to WildFire to upload files for analysis, it typically uses protocols like HTTP or HTTPS. Therefore, the correct answer is D, when the Cortex XDR agent establishes a bidirectional communication channel. References:

Device communication protocols – AWS IoT Core

WebSocket – Wikipedia

Palo Alto Networks Certified Detection and Remediation Analyst (PCDRA) – Palo Alto Networks

[What are WebSockets? | Web Security Academy]

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 The policy exception that applies to the following description is B, local file threat examination exception. A local file threat examination exception is an exception that allows you to exclude specific files or folders from being scanned by the Cortex XDR agent for malware or threats. You can use this exception to prevent false positives, performance issues, or compatibility problems with legitimate files or applications. You can define the local file threat examination exception by file name, file path, file hash, or digital signer. For example, you can create a local file threat examination exception for specific PHP files by entering their file names or paths in the exception configuration. References:

Local File Threat Examination Exceptions

Create a Local File Threat Examination Exception

The Windows Registry is a hierarchical database that stores settings for the operating system and for applications that run on Windows. The registry contains information, settings, options, and other values for programs and hardware installed on all versions of Microsoft Windows operating systems. The registry is organized into five main sections, called hives, each of which contains keys, subkeys, and values. The Cortex XDR agent uses the registry to store its configuration, status, and logs, as well as to monitor and control the endpoint’s security features. The Cortex XDR agent also allows you to run scripts that can read, write, or delete registry keys and values on the endpoint. References:

Windows Registry - Wikipedia

Registry Operations

 Live terminal session is a feature of Cortex XDR that allows you to remotely access and control endpoints from the Cortex XDR console. With live terminal session, you can execute various actions on the endpoints, such as:

Manage Processes: You can view, start, or kill processes on the endpoint, and monitor their CPU and memory usage.

Manage Files: You can view, create, delete, or move files and folders on the endpoint, and upload or download files to or from the endpoint.

Run Operating System Commands: You can run commands on the endpoint using the native command-line interface of the operating system, such as cmd.exe for Windows, bash for Linux, or zsh for macOS.

Run Python Commands and Scripts: You can run Python commands and scripts on the endpoint using the Python interpreter embedded in the Cortex XDR agent. You can use the Python commands and scripts to perform advanced tasks or automation on the endpoint.

To filter the display to only show incidents that were “starred”, you need to click the star in the widget. This will apply a filter that shows only the incidents that contain a starred alert, which is an alert that matches a specific condition that you define in the incident starring configuration. You can use the incident starring feature to prioritize and focus on the most important or relevant incidents in your environment1.

Let’s briefly discuss the other options to provide a comprehensive explanation:

A. Create a custom XQL widget: This is not the correct answer. Creating a custom XQL widget is not necessary to filter the display to only show starred incidents. A custom XQL widget is a widget that you create by using the XQL query language to define the data source and the visualization type. You can use custom XQL widgets to create your own dashboards or reports, but they are not required for filtering incidents by stars2.

B. This is not currently supported: This is not the correct answer. Filtering the display to only show starred incidents is currently supported by Cortex XDR. You can use the star icon in the widget to apply this filter, or you can use the Filter Builder to create a custom filter based on the Starred field1.

C. Create a custom report and filter on starred incidents: This is not the correct answer. Creating a custom report and filtering on starred incidents is not the only way to filter the display to only show starred incidents. A custom report is a report that you create by using the Report Builder to define the data source, the layout, and the schedule. You can use custom reports to generate and share periodic reports on your Cortex XDR data, but they are not the only option for filtering incidents by stars3.

In conclusion, clicking the star in the widget is the simplest and easiest way to filter the display to only show incidents that were “starred”. By using this feature, you can quickly identify and focus on the most critical or relevant incidents in your environment.

If you have an isolated network that is prevented from connecting to the Cortex Data Lake, you can use the Local Agent Proxy setup to facilitate the communication. The Local Agent Proxy is a type of Broker VM that acts as a proxy server for the Cortex XDR agents that are deployed on the isolated network. The Local Agent Proxy enables the Cortex XDR agents to communicate securely with the Cortex Data Lake and the Cortex XDR management console over the internet, without requiring direct access to the internet from the isolated network. The Local Agent Proxy also allows the Cortex XDR agents to download installation packages and content updates from the Cortex XDR management console. To use the Local Agent Proxy setup, you need to deploy a Broker VM on the isolated network and configure it as a Local Agent Proxy. You also need to deploy another Broker VM on a network that has internet access and configure it as a Remote Agent Proxy. The Remote Agent Proxy acts as a relay between the Local Agent Proxy and the Cortex Data Lake. You also need to install a strong cipher SHA256-based SSL certificate on both the Local Agent Proxy and the Remote Agent Proxy to ensure secure communication. You can read more about the Local Agent Proxy setup and how to configure it here1 and here2. References:

Local Agent Proxy

Configure the Local Agent Proxy Setup

The kind of malware that uses encryption, data theft, denial of service, and possibly harassment to take advantage of a victim is ransomware. Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts the victim’s files or blocks access to their system, and then demands a ransom for the decryption key or the restoration of access. Ransomware can also threaten to expose or delete the victim’s data if the ransom is not paid. Ransomware can cause significant damage and disruption to individuals, businesses, and organizations, and can be difficult to remove or recover from. Some examples of ransomware are CryptoLocker, WannaCry, Ryuk, and REvil.

 The minimum Cortex XDR agent version required for Kubernetes Cluster is Cortex XDR 7.5. This version introduces the Cortex XDR agent for Kubernetes hosts, which provides protection and visibility for Linux hosts that run on Kubernetes clusters. The Cortex XDR agent for Kubernetes hosts supports the following features:

Anti-malware protection

Behavioral threat protection

Exploit protection

File integrity monitoring

Network security

Audit and remediation

Live terminal

To install the Cortex XDR agent for Kubernetes hosts, you need to deploy the Cortex XDR agent as a DaemonSet on your Kubernetes cluster. You also need to configure the agent settings profile and the agent installer in the Cortex XDR management console. References:

Cortex XDR Agent Release Notes: This document provides the release notes for Cortex XDR agent versions, including the new features, enhancements, and resolved issues.

Install the Cortex XDR Agent for Kubernetes Hosts: This document explains how to install and configure the Cortex XDR agent for Kubernetes hosts using the Cortex XDR management console and the Kubernetes command-line tool.

The Host Insights module provides the best visibility to view vulnerabilities on your endpoints. The Host Insights module is an add-on feature for Cortex XDR that combines vulnerability management, application and system visibility, and a Search and Destroy feature to help you identify and contain threats. The vulnerability management feature allows you to scan your Windows endpoints for known vulnerabilities and missing patches, and view the results in the Cortex XDR console. You can also filter and sort the vulnerabilities by severity, CVSS score, CVE ID, or patch availability. The Host Insights module helps you reduce your exposure to threats and improve your security posture. References:

Host Insights

Vulnerability Management

Ransomware is a type of malicious software, or malware, that encrypts user files and prevents them from accessing their data until they pay a ransom. Ransomware can affect individual users, businesses, and organizations of all kinds. Ransomware attacks can cause costly disruptions, data loss, and reputational damage. Ransomware can spread through various methods, such as phishing emails, malicious attachments, compromised websites, or network vulnerabilities. Some ransomware variants can also self-propagate and infect other devices or networks. Ransomware authors typically demand payment in cryptocurrency or other untraceable methods, and may threaten to delete or expose the encrypted data if the ransom is not paid within a certain time frame. However, paying the ransom does not guarantee that the files will be decrypted or that the attackers will not target the victim again. Therefore, the best way to protect against ransomware is to prevent infection in the first place, and to have a backup of the data in case of an attack123456