PCCSE Prisma Certified Cloud Security Engineer Questions and Answers

To retrieve compliance policies for images scanned in a continuous integration (CI) pipeline via Prisma Cloud's API, the correct endpoint to use is GET /api/v22.01/policies/compliance (A). This endpoint provides access to the comprehensive list of compliance policies defined within Prisma Cloud, including those applicable to images in the CI pipeline. It allows administrators to programmatically retrieve and review the policies to ensure that images meet the organization's compliance standards before they are deployed. The other options (B, C, D) specify endpoints that do not match the standard API endpoint format used by Prisma Cloud for accessing compliance policies, making them incorrect.

In Prisma Cloud, when anomalies are detected and the security team chooses to Relearn on a specific image, the existing behavioral model for that image is not deleted. Instead, the system retains the model and enters a new learning period, during which it observes the behavior of the container based on the image. If new behaviors are observed during this period, they are added to the existing model, thereby refining and updating the model to reflect the current operational profile of the container. This approach allows for dynamic adaptation to changes in container behavior while preserving the valuable insights and patterns already established in the model. The Relearn function is part of Prisma Cloud's adaptive capabilities, enabling it to maintain accurate and up-to-date behavioral models that reflect the evolving nature of containerized applications.

In Prisma Cloud, the Defender type responsible for performing registry scanning is the Container Defender. Registry scanning is crucial for ensuring that container images stored in registries are free from vulnerabilities and compliance issues before they are deployed. Container Defenders scan images within container registries, identifying security risks and ensuring that only secure container images are used in deployment, thereby maintaining the integrity and security of containerized applications.

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When an open alert from the previous day has been resolved without any configured auto-remediation, the change in alert status could be due to A. a user manually changing the alert status, indicating a manual intervention where someone reviewed and updated the alert status, and C. resource was deleted, implying that the resolution of the alert could be due to the removal of the resource associated with the alert, hence nullifying the alert condition.

The Adoption Advisor is a feature within Prisma Cloud that aims to improve product operationalization. It provides visibility into how features are utilized, identifies unused capabilities, and suggests ways to leverage the full potential of the platform. Therefore, Option A: Adoption Advisor is the correct answer.

Build Image, Scan Image, Publish Scan, Commit to Registry (if scan result is passed)

1. click on compliance standard.

2. add custom compliance standard.

3. edit policies.

4. add compliance standard from drop-down menu

https://docs.prismacloudcompute.com/docs/enterprise_edition/compliance/custom_compliance_checks.html#creating-a-new-custom-check

The process of mapping a policy to a custom compliance standard in a security platform like Prisma Cloud by Palo Alto Networks involves several specific steps. Firstly, one must access the compliance standards, which is typically done by clicking on the "Compliance Standards" section within the platform's interface. This is where all standards, including custom and predefined ones, are listed.

Next, if the custom compliance standard does not already exist, it must be created. This step involves defining the criteria and controls that make up the standard, tailored to the organization's specific requirements.

Once the custom compliance standard is in place, the policy in question needs to be edited. This editing process would involve configuring the policy to align with the compliance controls outlined in the custom standard, ensuring that the policy will enforce or check for the necessary requirements as defined by the standard.

Finally, the last step is to formally associate or map the edited policy with the custom compliance standard. This is typically done by adding the policy to the standard, which may involve selecting the custom compliance standard from a drop-down menu within the policy settings, confirming that this particular policy should be enforced as part of the compliance checks for that standard.

This ordered process ensures that policies are properly aligned with the organization's compliance goals and can be enforced and reported on accurately within the security platform.

Prisma Cloud supports different scanning modes for its agentless scanning feature. Based on the context of cloud environments and typical terminology used in Prisma Cloud documentation, "Spoke Account Mode" and "Hub Account Mode" are plausible modes supported for agentless scanning. These modes allow for the extension of scanning capabilities across multiple accounts, with 'Spoke' typically referring to linked accounts and 'Hub' referring to the central account in a hub-and-spoke architecture. Hence, the correct answers are A and B.

When an administrator adds a Cloud account to Prisma Cloud and then deletes it, if the deleted account is added back to Prisma Cloud within a 24-hour period, the existing alerts associated with that account will be displayed again. This behavior ensures continuity in monitoring and alerting, allowing security teams to retain visibility into potential security issues or compliance violations associated with the cloud account. Re-displaying existing alerts helps maintain a consistent security posture and ensures that no critical alerts are overlooked during the re-addition process.

When configuring Kubernetes to use Prisma Cloud Compute as an admission controller, a crucial step involves D. copy the admission controller configuration from the Console and apply it to Kubernetes. This step is essential for integrating Prisma Cloud Compute's security controls directly into the Kubernetes admission process, enabling real-time security assessments and policy enforcement for new or modified resources within the cluster.

https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/prisma/prisma-cloud/20-04/prisma-cloud-compute-edition-admin/access_control/open_policy_agent.html step 2

In Prisma Cloud, compliance reports can be generated on a one-time basis or on a recurring schedule. The option for a one-time report allows users to generate a specific report instantly based on the current state of the environment. The recurring option enables users to set up automatic generation of reports at regular intervals, such as weekly or monthly, to track compliance over time. This functionality ensures continuous compliance monitoring and helps in maintaining security standards across cloud resources.

During the creation of a custom config query in Prisma Cloud, the "api.name" field is required. This field specifies the API endpoint that the query will target, essentially defining the scope of the query within the cloud environment. The "api.name" serves as a critical identifier that allows the query to retrieve specific information or perform actions related to the chosen API endpoint. By specifying the "api.name," users can create tailored queries that address their specific security, compliance, or governance needs, enabling more precise and effective management of cloud resources and security posture.

When creating a Config policy in Prisma Cloud and incorporating a JSON query, the correct place to add this query is under the "Build Your Rule (Build tab)" (Option E). This section allows users to define the criteria and conditions for the policy, including specifying JSON or RQL (Resource Query Language) queries that articulate the policy's logic. The "Details" (Option A) tab is typically used for general information about the policy, such as its name and description. The "Compliance Standards" (Option B) tab is for associating the policy with specific compliance frameworks. The "Remediation" (Option C) tab provides guidance on how to remediate any issues detected by the policy. The "Build Your Rule (Run tab)" (Option D) is not a standard option in Prisma Cloud policy configuration.

Enabling the "block" option under compliance checks on a host in Prisma Cloud signifies a strict enforcement policy, where any container that violates specified compliance checks will be prevented from starting on that host. This preventive measure is crucial for maintaining a secure and compliant cloud environment, ensuring that only containers that meet the organization's compliance and security standards are allowed to run. This approach aligns with Prisma Cloud's proactive security posture management, where potential risks are mitigated before they can impact the cloud environment​​.

In a Prisma Cloud environment where both agentless scanning and Defender-based scans (Host and Container Defenders) are configured, there is no inherent conflict between these two scanning methods. Both agentless scans and Defender scans are designed to complement each other, providing comprehensive coverage and depth in the security analysis of the environment. Agentless scans offer a broad, less intrusive overview, while Defender scans provide deep, detailed insights into the security posture. Therefore, both types of scans will run concurrently, enhancing the overall security visibility and protection of the environment without disabling or interfering with each other's operations.

Under Web-Application and API Security (WAAS) bot protection in Prisma Cloud, unknown bots are categorized based on their behavior and characteristics. Web scrapers and HTTP libraries fall into the category of unknown bots. Web scrapers are automated scripts or programs that extract data from websites, often without permission, while HTTP libraries are tools used for making HTTP requests. Both can be used benignly but may also be employed in malicious activities, hence their classification as unknown bots requiring further analysis.

When a role is deleted in Prisma Cloud, it directly impacts any integrations that rely on the access key associated with that role. These integrations use the access key to authenticate and make API calls to Prisma Cloud for various operations. Deleting the role invalidates the access key, causing these integrations to lose their ability to communicate with Prisma Cloud, leading to a cessation of their functionality until a new role with a valid access key is configured. This underscores the importance of carefully managing roles and access keys to avoid disrupting integrated systems and services.

To deploy a single container Defender on an EC2 node in Prisma Cloud Enterprise, the correct steps involve pulling the Defender image to the EC2 node, executing the provided curl | bash script to install the Defender, and then starting the Defender to ensure it is actively running. This process allows the Defender to integrate with the Prisma Cloud platform and provide real-time monitoring and protection for the EC2 instance it is deployed on, aligning with Prisma Cloud's approach to extending security coverage to individual cloud resources​​.

To detect and alert on cryptominer network activity, the policy type that should be used is an Anomaly policy. Anomaly policies in Prisma Cloud are designed to identify unusual and potentially malicious activities, including the network patterns typical of cryptomining operations. These policies leverage behavioral analytics to spot deviations from normal operations, making Option B the correct answer.

In Prisma Cloud, the Resource Query Language (RQL) is used as a sophisticated querying language that enables deep inspection and analysis of cloud resources, configurations, and metadata. RQL is particularly adept at scanning Infrastructure as Code (IaC) templates because it allows for granular querying of cloud resources and their attributes, including those defined within IaC templates such as Terraform and CloudFormation. This capability is essential for identifying potential security risks, misconfigurations, and compliance issues within the infrastructure code before it's deployed, ensuring that cloud environments are secure from the outset.

Upon enabling alarms in Prisma Cloud, two critical alarm types that are registered are Onboarded Cloud Accounts status (A) and External integrations status (D). These alarms are pivotal for maintaining the health and security of the cloud environment. The Onboarded Cloud Accounts status alarms alert administrators about the connectivity and health of cloud accounts integrated with Prisma Cloud, ensuring continuous monitoring and security coverage. The External integrations status alarms provide notifications regarding the operational status of third-party services and tools integrated with Prisma Cloud, such as SIEMs, ticketing systems, or other security tools, ensuring that these integrations function correctly to support comprehensive security and incident response workflows.

B --> Anomaly Trusted List—Exclude trusted IP addresses when conducting tests for PCI compliance or penetration testing on your network. Any addresses included in this list do not generate alerts against the Prisma Cloud Anomaly Policies that detect unusual network activity such as the policies that detect internal port scan and port sweep activity, which are enabled by default. C --> Trusted Alert IP Addresses—If you have internal networks that connect to your public cloud infrastructure, you can add these IP address ranges (or CIDR blocks) as trusted ... Prisma Cloud default network policies that look for internet exposed instances also do not generate alerts when the source IP address is included in the trusted IP address list and the account hijacking anomaly policy filters out activities from known IP addresses. Also, when you use RQL to query network traffic, you can filter out traffic from known networks that are included in the trusted IP address list.

For a customer who does not want alerts to be generated from network traffic originating from trusted internal networks, the appropriate setting is C. Trusted Alert IP Addresses. This setting allows for specifying certain IP addresses as trusted, meaning alerts will not be triggered by activities from these IPs, ensuring that internal network traffic is not flagged as potentially malicious.

To add AWS accounts to the Prisma Cloud Enterprise tenant, the correct API endpoint is option C: https://api.prismacloud.io/cloud/aws. This endpoint is specifically designed for integrating cloud accounts with Prisma Cloud, enabling centralized visibility and security posture management across multiple cloud environments. By using this API endpoint, each AWS account can be individually onboarded to the Prisma Cloud platform, allowing for immediate posture visibility and consistent security policy enforcement across the newly acquired company's extensive AWS footprint. This process aligns with Prisma Cloud's capabilities for multi-cloud security and compliance management, ensuring that the onboarding of cloud accounts is both efficient and aligned with the platform's best practices for cloud security.

While agentless scanning in Prisma Cloud can effectively assess various risks in cloud environments, including host compliance and vulnerabilities, it does not extend to container runtime risks. To inspect risks associated with container runtimes, such as real-time threat detection, behavioral monitoring, and deep visibility into container activity, deploying Prisma Cloud Defenders is necessary. These Defenders are lightweight agents that provide an additional layer of security by monitoring containerized applications in real-time, thereby offering comprehensive protection against threats that may arise during the runtime phase of containers.

To receive notifications about alerts generated when the operator is away from the Prisma Cloud Console, a Notification rule must be created. Notification rules in Prisma Cloud are designed to define the conditions under which notifications are sent and to specify the recipients of these notifications. These rules can be configured to trigger notifications based on various criteria, such as the severity of alerts, specific types of security incidents, or compliance violations. By setting up notification rules, operators can ensure that they are promptly informed of critical security events, even when they are not actively monitoring the Prisma Cloud Console, enabling timely investigation and response to potential security issues.

To determine if AWS EC2 instances are running without encryption enabled, the appropriate RQL (Resource Query Language) type to use is CONFIG. CONFIG queries in Prisma Cloud are designed to inspect the configuration states of cloud resources and identify compliance with best practices or specific security requirements. By running a CONFIG query, administrators can assess the configuration settings of EC2 instances, including whether encryption features are enabled or not. This type of query allows for deep inspection of resource configurations within cloud environments, making it the ideal choice for identifying unencrypted EC2 instances and thereby helping to ensure data protection and compliance with security policies.

To onboard an AWS account into Prisma Cloud for the purpose of monitoring resource configurations, the necessary information includes the Role ARN (Amazon Resource Name) and CloudTrail setup. The Role ARN (Option E) is crucial because Prisma Cloud requires permission to access and monitor resources within the AWS account, which is facilitated through an IAM role that Prisma Cloud can assume. This IAM role must have the necessary permissions to access AWS services and resources that Prisma Cloud needs to monitor. CloudTrail (Option A) is essential for auditing and monitoring API calls within the AWS environment, including those related to resource configurations. It provides visibility into user and resource activity by recording API calls made on the account. CloudTrail logs are used by Prisma Cloud to detect changes in resource configurations and ensure compliance with security policies. Subscription ID (Option B) and Active Directory ID (Option C) are more relevant to Azure cloud environments, not AWS. External ID (Option D) is used in a cross-account role trust relationship to prevent the "confused deputy" problem, but it's not specifically required just to onboard the account for resource configuration monitoring.

In the Prisma Cloud Software Release 22.06, referred to as the Kepler release, the addition of Google Artifact Registry as a supported Registry type was a significant update. Google Artifact Registry is designed to store, manage, and secure your container images and language packages (such as Maven and npm). It provides a single place for teams to manage their artifacts and dependencies, improving consistency and security across software development and deployment processes. This update in Prisma Cloud reflects the platform's commitment to supporting the latest cloud-native technologies and services, enhancing its capabilities in securing modern cloud environments.

After upgrading the Prisma Cloud Console (formerly Twistlock Console), the steps outlined in option A are essential to ensure the entire Prisma Cloud ecosystem is updated and functioning correctly. Uninstalling Defenders, updating the Jenkins Plugin, and upgrading the TwistCLI tool are critical steps to align with the new Console version's capabilities and security enhancements. This process ensures that Defenders (the agents deployed to protect various resources) are compatible with the upgraded Console, and that the development and CI/CD tools integrated with Prisma Cloud, such as Jenkins, continue to operate effectively with the updated platform. The final step, allowing the Console to redeploy the Defender, ensures that all components are synchronized and that the security posture is maintained across the environment. This approach is consistent with best practices for maintaining cloud security tools and ensuring that updates do not disrupt the protected environment's security posture.

To detect and alert on activities performed by a root account, an audit event policy should be used. An audit event policy is a type of policy that can be used to detect suspicious activities or events that may be related to security threats. This type of policy will allow the administrator to monitor and alert on any activities performed by a root account.

https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/prisma/prisma-cloud/prisma-cloud-admin/prisma-cloud-policies/prisma-cloud-threat-detection

The correct policy type to use in order to detect and alert on any activities performed by a root account is an "audit event" policy. An audit event policy is designed to monitor and record a series of chronological events in the order they occur, typically used to track user activities and changes within the system. When a root account performs any actions, an audit event policy will log these events, allowing the administrator to review and potentially set up alerts if suspicious or unauthorized activities are detected. This type of policy is crucial for security and compliance purposes as it helps ensure that all actions performed with root privileges are legitimate and authorized.

Reference to this can be found in most cloud security platforms that offer CSPM (Cloud Security Posture Management) solutions. For example, within Prisma Cloud by Palo Alto Networks, audit events are a part of the Activity Monitoring features, which track user activities and system changes to facilitate investigations into suspicious or unauthorized actions.

To protect the pods hosting a web front end from Layer 7 attacks, the development team should create a Web Application and API Security (WAAS) rule targeted at the image name of the pods. This approach allows the policy to specifically protect the applications running within the pods against sophisticated attacks that target the application layer.

In Prisma Cloud, to automatically enable all severity levels for alerts, a user would need to navigate to the Policies section, then to Settings. Within this area, there is an option for "auto-enable default policies," which, when checked for all severity levels, ensures that any default policies related to those severities are automatically activated. This is a configuration setting that streamlines the alerting process by ensuring that all relevant severity levels are covered by the default policies without the need for manual intervention.

SSH Events in Host Observations within Prisma Cloud focus on activities related to Secure Shell (SSH) usage, which is critical for secure communication and remote management of cloud resources. The elements that are part of SSH Events include the User involved in the SSH session, the Process path that indicates the executable or command invoked during the session, and the Command itself that was executed. These elements are crucial for security monitoring and forensic analysis as they provide detailed context about SSH activities, helping security teams to identify unauthorized access, potential breaches, or malicious activities within their cloud environments. Startup process and System calls, while important in other contexts, are not directly associated with SSH Events in Host Observations.

To assign a new policy to a compliance standard in Prisma Cloud, the administrator needs to edit the policy and navigate to the step where compliance standards are managed. By clicking the '+' button, the administrator can add the policy to a specific compliance standard, provide necessary details, and confirm the assignment. This integrates the custom policy into the chosen compliance standard, ensuring that compliance checks include the newly defined policy criteria.

In Prisma Cloud, roles with access to view policies include Auditor and Dev SecOps. The Auditor role is typically focused on compliance and oversight, allowing users to review configurations, policies, and compliance status without making changes. The Dev SecOps role bridges the gap between development, security, and operations, focusing on integrating security practices within the CI/CD pipeline. Both roles require access to Prisma Cloud policies to perform their functions effectively, ensuring that security and compliance are maintained throughout the cloud environment and application lifecycle.

Associating Prisma Cloud policies with compliance frameworks is done through the Custom Compliance feature in Prisma Cloud. This feature allows teams to map Prisma Cloud's out-of-the-box (OOTB) policies to various compliance standards and frameworks, thereby enabling organizations to tailor their compliance reporting and management according to specific regulatory requirements or internal compliance mandates.

• Option A: Custom Compliance is the correct choice as it provides the flexibility to customize and align Prisma Cloud policies with an organization's specific compliance needs. It enables the compliance team to create custom compliance standards, map existing Prisma Cloud policies to these standards, and generate compliance reports that reflect the organization's unique compliance posture.

References:

• Prisma Cloud Compliance Documentation: Offers detailed guidance on setting up and managing custom compliance standards within Prisma Cloud, including how to associate policies with these standards.
• Compliance Management Best Practices: Provides insights into effective compliance management strategies in cloud environments, emphasizing the role of customizable compliance frameworks to meet diverse regulatory requirements.

• Log in to your Okta administrator panel.
• Add an administrator role.
• Generate an API token.
• Configure Okta with Prisma Cloud.
• Run the IAM queries for Okta.

When integrating Okta with Prisma Cloud, especially in the context of Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) or Single Sign-On (SSO) integration, the process must be conducted in a sequence that establishes the necessary permissions and configurations for successful integration.

The first step is to log in to the Okta administrator panel. This is where you will manage your Okta settings and begin the integration process.

Once logged in, the next step is to add an administrator role. This involves assigning a role within Okta that has the appropriate permissions to create and manage API tokens and to perform integration tasks.

After setting up the correct administrative role, the third step is to generate an API token. This token will be used to authenticate the communications between Okta and Prisma Cloud. The API token acts as a secure method of verifying that requests made to Prisma Cloud are authorized.

With the API token generated, the fourth step is to configure Okta with Prisma Cloud. This step typically involves entering the API token into Prisma Cloud and setting up the necessary configurations within Prisma Cloud to recognize and accept authentication requests from Okta.

The final step is to run the Identity and Access Management (IAM) queries for Okta within Prisma Cloud. This step is crucial for CIEM, as it allows Prisma Cloud to query Okta for identity information, user roles, and entitlements, ensuring that the correct permissions are enforced across the cloud environment and that SSO is functioning correctly.

Following these steps in order will ensure that Okta is properly integrated with Prisma Cloud, providing a secure and efficient method for managing cloud access and entitlements.

Prisma Cloud integrates with various secret managers to manage sensitive information such as passwords, tokens, and keys. However, it cannot integrate with IBM Secret Manager. The other options, Azure Key Vault, HashiCorp Vault, and AWS Secret Manager, are supported for integration with Prisma Cloud, providing secure storage and handling of secrets.

When the Console is unreachable during upgrades, Defenders continue to alert and enforce using the policies and settings most recently cached before the upgrade (option D). This behavior ensures that security enforcement remains active and consistent, even when the central management console is temporarily unavailable. The cached policies enable Defenders to maintain the security posture based on the last known configuration, ensuring continuous protection against threats and compliance with established security policies. This approach reflects Prisma Cloud's design principle of ensuring uninterrupted security enforcement, thereby safeguarding the environment against potential vulnerabilities during maintenance periods.

Onboarding an account for Data Security involves several critical steps to ensure comprehensive coverage and effective monitoring. The steps involved include B. Create a Cloudtrail with SNS Topic to track and manage API calls and relevant notifications, D. Enter the RoleARN and SNSARN to provide necessary access and integration points for data security functions, and E. Create a S3 bucket which serves as a storage solution for logging and data capture essential for security analysis.

In the context of associating Prisma Cloud policies with compliance frameworks, the most appropriate option is "Custom compliance." Prisma Cloud provides a comprehensive set of security and compliance policies that can be applied to cloud environments. While predefined policies cover a wide range of compliance standards and best practices, every organization has unique requirements and may follow specific compliance frameworks that are not directly included in the predefined policies. Custom compliance allows organizations to define their own compliance frameworks and associate specific Prisma Cloud policies with these custom frameworks. This flexibility ensures that organizations can maintain compliance with their specific regulatory and industry standards, tailoring the Prisma Cloud policies to meet their unique compliance needs. Custom compliance frameworks can be created within Prisma Cloud to include a collection of policies that address the specific controls and requirements of the organization's chosen compliance standards, providing a tailored approach to cloud security and compliance.

To onboard an AWS account for monitoring by Prisma Cloud, specifically for resource configuration monitoring, the required pieces of information include:

• A. External ID: The External ID is a unique identifier used in the trust relationship between Prisma Cloud and the AWS account, ensuring secure access, making it a correct choice.
• D. RoleARN: The Role Amazon Resource Name (RoleARN) is necessary to grant Prisma Cloud the required permissions to access and monitor the AWS account resources, making it a correct choice. Option B (CloudTrail) is related to AWS logging but is not required solely for onboarding. Option C (Active Directory ID) is not relevant to AWS account onboarding for Prisma Cloud.

The alert "AWS S3 buckets are accessible to public" is generated due to the configuration of the S3 bucket, which has been set in a way that allows public access. The policy definition provided checks for various conditions that would make an S3 bucket publicly accessible, such as grants to 'AllUsers', the absence of a 'publicAccessBlockConfiguration', or specific configurations that do not restrict public access. Therefore, the alert is triggered by the configuration settings of the S3 bucket that violate the policy's criteria for public accessibility.

The correct RQL (Resource Query Language) that detected the vulnerability is:

config from cloud.resource where cloud.type = 'aws' and api.name = 'aws-iam-get-credential-report' AND json.rule = '(access_key_1_active is true and access_key_1_last_rotated != N/A and DateTime. ageInDays (access_key_1_last_rotated) > 90) or (access_key_2_active is true and access_key_2_last_rotated != N/A and _DateTime. ageInDays (access_key_2_last_rotated) > 90)'

This RQL is designed to check the age of the AWS IAM user's access keys to ensure that they are rotated within a recommended period, typically 90 days. If the access keys have not been rotated within this timeframe, it would be considered a security risk or vulnerability, as old keys may potentially be compromised. By enforcing access key rotation, it minimizes the risk of unauthorized access.

The reference for this type of policy check can be seen in cloud security best practices that advocate for regular rotation of access keys to minimize the potential impact of key compromise. CSPM tools like Prisma Cloud include such checks to automate compliance with these best practices.

In Prisma Cloud Enterprise, for alerts to be generated for configuration assets in an onboarded public cloud account, it is essential that the account is associated with an alert rule that matches the enabled config policies. If the account is not linked to an alert rule or if the existing alert rules do not match the config policies, no alerts will be generated even though configuration resource ingestion is visible, and RQL statements return config resource results. This requirement emphasizes the need for a well-structured alerting mechanism to ensure that security incidents are promptly identified and addressed​​.

Prisma Cloud Compute Compliance enforcement for hosts covers several aspects to ensure a secure and compliant host environment, particularly within containerized environments. These include:

• Docker daemon configuration files: Ensuring that Docker daemon configuration files are set up according to best security practices is crucial. These files contain various settings that control the behavior of the Docker daemon, and misconfigurations can lead to security vulnerabilities.
• Docker daemon configuration: Beyond just the configuration files, the overall configuration of the Docker daemon itself is critical. This encompasses runtime settings and command-line options that determine how Docker containers are executed and managed on the host.
• Host configuration: The security of the underlying host on which Docker and other container runtimes are installed is paramount. This includes the configuration of the host's operating system, network settings, file permissions, and other system-level settings that can impact the security of the containerized applications running on top.

By focusing on these areas, Prisma Cloud ensures that not just the containers but also the environment they run in is secure, adhering to compliance standards and best practices to mitigate risks associated with containerized deployments.

The external ID plays a crucial role when onboarding a new Amazon Web Services (AWS) account in Prisma Cloud. It serves as a UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) that establishes a trust relationship between the Prisma Cloud account and the AWS account. This trust relationship is essential for allowing Prisma Cloud to securely extract data and perform security monitoring and compliance checks within the AWS environment. The use of an external ID ensures that Prisma Cloud can access the necessary information from the AWS account without compromising the security of the AWS account's credentials, adhering to the principle of least privilege and enhancing the overall security posture.

Prisma Cloud's API documentation and extensive developer resources are primarily hosted on prisma.pan.dev, which is Palo Alto Networks' developer portal. This site offers comprehensive guides, API references, and resources for developers to integrate, automate, and extend the capabilities of Prisma Cloud within their applications and workflows. While docs.paloaltonetworks.com provides official product documentation, and Prisma Cloud Administrator’s Guide offers in-depth administrative guidance, prisma.pan.dev is specifically designed to serve as the hub for API documentation and developer resources. The Live Community is another valuable resource for peer support and discussions but is not the primary source for API documentation.

Adoption Advisor is a feature within Prisma Cloud that provides organizations with guidance on adopting various security capabilities based on their unique needs and the stage they are at in their cloud security journey. It doesn't enforce a fixed pace but rather suggests a tailored path for enhancing security posture, taking into account the organization's specific requirements and the complexity of their cloud environment. The Adoption Advisor supports a broad range of security capabilities, encompassing Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM), Cloud Workload Protection (CWP), Cloud Code Security (CCS), Out-of-Band (OEM), and Data Security. This comprehensive approach ensures that organizations can secure their cloud environments effectively across different phases of the application lifecycle, from development to deployment, and across various cloud resources and services.

The data security dashboard in Prisma Cloud provides a comprehensive overview of the security posture related to cloud data storage. However, certain information types, such as the identity of the bucket owner and the actual content within an object, are not typically displayed on such dashboards. This is because the dashboard focuses more on aggregated data profiles, exposure levels, and compliance-related information rather than individual ownership details or the specific content of objects, which may require separate detailed analysis or are managed through different security mechanisms.

When the administrator wants twistcli to communicate with the Console over HTTPS in a Kubernetes cluster, and considering the load balancer is configured in TCP passthrough mode, A. 8084 is typically the port used for secure HTTPS communication with the Prisma Compute Console. This port will allow twistcli to access the Prisma Compute APIs securely.

https://docs.prismacloudcompute.com/docs/compute_edition_21_04/tools/twistcli.html#connectivity-to-console

To authenticate to Prisma Cloud Enterprise programmatically, the use of an access key is the most suitable method among the given options. Access keys, typically consisting of an Access Key ID and Secret Access Key, are used for programmatic calls to the Prisma Cloud API. This method enables secure, authenticated API requests to Prisma Cloud services without requiring manual user intervention, which is essential for automation and integration with CI/CD pipelines.

Reference to the use of access keys for programmatic access can often be found in the API documentation of cloud security platforms like Prisma Cloud. While specific documentation from Prisma Cloud is not directly quoted here, the general practice across cloud services (AWS, Azure, GCP) supports the use of access keys for API authentication, making it a verified approach for Prisma Cloud as well.

The given RQL (Resource Query Language) query is looking for specific audit events related to cryptographic key actions and snapshot creation. The snippet that matches this query is Option C, which contains the statement indicating permissions that allow any action ("Action": "*") and the reference to the version date "2012-10-17" that corresponds to the policy within the audit log.

This can be cross-referenced with cloud provider documentation, such as AWS CloudTrail or Google Cloud Audit Logs, which record user activities and API usage. The RQL provided would be used in a CSPM tool to query these audit logs for the specified events.

The Defender type "Container Defender - Linux" in Prisma Cloud is typically deployed as a container. This deployment method allows the Defender to integrate seamlessly into containerized environments, providing runtime protection and monitoring for container activities. By running as a container, the Container Defender can leverage the native capabilities of the container orchestration platform, such as Kubernetes, to provide security features like threat detection, vulnerability management, and compliance enforcement within the containerized environment. This approach ensures that the security protections are closely aligned with the dynamic and scalable nature of containerized applications.

Prisma Cloud Data Security (PCDS) supports malware scanning across various file types to protect against malicious code embedded in files stored in cloud environments. Among the listed options, .py (Python scripts) is a supported file extension type for malware scanning. Python files can contain executable scripts, which makes them potential vectors for malware. Prisma Cloud’s ability to scan .py files ensures that Python-based applications and scripts are free from malicious code, enhancing the overall security posture.

To specifically target running containers with a Cloud Native Application Framework (CNAF) policy in Prisma Cloud, the administrator should scope the policy to Image names. By doing so, the policy will apply to containers based on the images they were created from, allowing for precise targeting of security policies to specific containers. This approach is part of Prisma Cloud's capabilities to provide granular security controls for containerized environments, ensuring that policies are effectively applied to the relevant containers​​.

https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/prisma/prisma-cloud/prisma-cloud-admin/prisma-cloud-data-security.html

In the Data Security module of Prisma Cloud, the classifications available focus on the types of sensitive data that need protection. These classifications include Personally Identifiable Information (PII), which involves data that can be used on its own or with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single person. Compliance standards pertain to data that must be protected to meet specific regulatory requirements, such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS. Financial information classification is concerned with data related to financial transactions, accounts, and credit card numbers, which are critical to secure due to their sensitive nature. These classifications are integral to data security strategies, ensuring that sensitive information is adequately protected according to its nature and the regulatory requirements governing it.

In the deployment scenario described, where an NGINX container is listening on port 8080 and mapped to host port 80, the Cloud Native Application Firewall (CNAF) rule should specify host port 80 (option B) to protect the application. This is because the external traffic directed towards the containerized application will be accessing it through the host port 80, which is the exposed port to the outside network. Specifying port 80 in the CNAF rule ensures that the firewall can inspect and protect the incoming traffic to the application effectively.

To create a custom Identity and Access Management (IAM) policy that alerts on Lambda functions with permissions to terminate EC2 instances, the correct RQL query structure involves specifying the source service (Lambda), the destination service (EC2), and the specific action of interest ('ec2:TerminateInstances'). The query should identify configurations where a Lambda function ('source.cloud.service.name = 'lambda' and 'source.cloud.resource.type = 'function') has been granted permissions that allow it to perform the 'ec2:TerminateInstances' action on EC2 instances ('dest.cloud.service.name = 'ec2'). This query helps in identifying and mitigating potential risks associated with overly permissive functions that could inadvertently or maliciously impact the availability of EC2 resources.

When automated remediation is enabled in Prisma Cloud, it is designed to address all applicable open alerts, regardless of when they were generated. The system automatically applies remediation actions to resolve the identified security issues or compliance violations that triggered the alerts. Once the remediation actions are successfully completed, the system updates the status of the affected alerts to "resolved," indicating that the security issues have been addressed. This feature helps streamline the remediation process, reducing the manual effort required by security teams and ensuring that security issues are promptly resolved to maintain the integrity and security of the cloud environment.

In the context of setting anomaly alert intensities in Prisma Cloud, an intensity setting of "Medium" could be used for the measurement of 100 events over 30 days. This setting indicates a moderate level of anomaly detection sensitivity, which is suitable for environments where there is a need to balance between detecting potential security issues and minimizing false positives.

Configuring Single Sign-On (SSO) in Prisma Cloud requires the Identity Provider Issuer (Option B) and Certificate (Option C). The Identity Provider Issuer is a unique identifier for the SSO identity provider and is used by Prisma Cloud to establish trust and validate SSO responses. The Certificate, typically an X.509 certificate, is used to sign SSO assertions and ensure the security of the SSO communication. The Prisma Cloud Access SAML URL (Option A) is provided by Prisma Cloud to configure the SSO on the identity provider's side, not the other way around. The Identity Provider Logout URL (Option D) is used for single logout configurations but is not a required field for basic SSO configuration in Prisma Cloud.

The Incident Explorer section in Runtime Defense of a cloud security platform like Prisma Cloud is designed to reflect various types of security incidents that might occur within a containerized environment. Incident types such as Crypto miners, Port Scanning, and SQL Injection are common threats that are actively monitored. Crypto miners indicate unauthorized cryptocurrency mining activities; Port Scanning involves scanning a computer network or a single machine for open ports, which could be a precursor to more serious attacks; and SQL Injection is a code injection technique that might be used to attack data-driven applications. These incident types are critical to monitor for maintaining the security and integrity of cloud and container environments.

Top Critical CVEs for deployed images can be found in the Defend → Vulnerabilities → Images section in the Cloud Security Console. This section provides details of the CVEs associated with the deployed images, such as severity, remediation status, and references to external sources. It also allows users to take action on the identified CVEs and ensure that their environment remains secure.

In Prisma Cloud, the "Defend → Vulnerabilities → Images" path is typically used to find the top critical Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) for deployed container images. This section of the Prisma Cloud Console allows users to view and manage the vulnerabilities associated with container images used in their cloud environment. It provides a comprehensive list of identified vulnerabilities, their severity levels, and detailed information about each vulnerability, such as the CVE ID, description, and potential impact. This enables DevOps and security teams to prioritize and address the most critical vulnerabilities to ensure the security of their containerized applications and services.

Port 8084 is commonly used for accessing the Console's API in Prisma Cloud. This port allows security teams to programmatically interact with the Prisma Cloud Console, pulling data and automating various security and compliance tasks.

The timestamp on the compliance dashboard in a cloud security context typically reflects the point in time when data from various sources is collected, processed, and then consolidated to present the compliance status or results. This aggregation process involves compiling data from multiple scans, logs, and other compliance-related information to provide a comprehensive overview of the current compliance posture. Therefore, the timestamp usually indicates when this aggregation was completed, ensuring that users are viewing the most up-to-date and relevant compliance information based on the latest data compilation.

The question focuses on valid host compliance policies within a cloud environment. Among the given options, the most relevant to host compliance is ensuring compliant Docker daemon configuration. Docker daemon configurations are critical for securing the host environment where containers are run. A compliant Docker daemon configuration involves setting security-related options to ensure the Docker engine operates securely. This can include configurations related to TLS for secure communication, logging levels, authorization plugins, and user namespace remapping for isolation.

Ensuring functions are not overly permissive (Option A) and ensuring images are created with a non-root user (Option C) are more directly related to the security best practices for serverless functions and container images, respectively, rather than host-specific compliance checks. Ensuring host devices are not directly exposed to containers (Option B) is also important for security, but it falls under the broader category of container runtime security rather than host-specific compliance.

Thus, the most valid host compliance policy from the given options is to ensure a compliant Docker daemon configuration, as it directly impacts the security posture of the host environment in a containerized infrastructure. This aligns with best practices for securing Docker environments and is a common recommendation in container security guidelines, including those from Docker and cybersecurity frameworks.

References:

• Docker Documentation: Security configuration and best practices for Docker engine: https://docs.docker.com/engine/security/
• CIS Docker Benchmark: Providing consensus-based best practices for securing Docker environments: https://www.cisecurity.org/benchmark/docker/

To detect port scanning activities within an environment, a "Port Scan" policy type (option B) would be the most appropriate. Port scanning is a technique used to identify open ports and services available on a host, often used by attackers to find vulnerabilities. A Port Scan policy is designed to detect and alert on such scanning activities, allowing security teams to take preventive measures. While Network (option A), Anomaly (option C), and Config (option D) policies play critical roles in cloud security, they do not specifically target the detection of port scanning behavior.

When integrating Okta with Prisma Cloud for managing multiple Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud accounts, two key requirements are:

• Super Administrator permissions: This level of permission is required to ensure that the individual integrating Okta with Prisma Cloud has sufficient rights to make the necessary configurations and integrations across the platform and the AWS accounts. Super Administrator permissions ensure that the integrator can access all required settings, manage roles, and perform the integrations without restrictions.
• Multiple instances of the Okta app: Due to the nature of AWS and the way it manages accounts, each AWS cloud account needs to be treated as a separate entity within Okta. This requires setting up multiple instances of the Okta application, one for each AWS cloud account to be integrated. This approach allows for precise control and management of access and permissions on a per-account basis, aligning with the best practices of least privilege and ensuring that the security configurations are tailored to the specific needs of each AWS account.

These requirements are critical for ensuring a seamless and secure integration process, enabling centralized identity management across multiple AWS accounts through Okta and enhancing the overall security posture of the multicloud environment.

In the SecOps dashboard of a cloud security platform like Prisma Cloud, filters such as Time range and Account Groups are essential for narrowing down the data or security alerts based on specific time periods or organizational structures. The Time range filter allows users to view incidents or compliance data for a particular timeframe, facilitating trend analysis and focusing on recent events. The Account Groups filter enables the segregation of data based on different cloud accounts or organizational units, making it easier for security teams to manage and prioritize security tasks according to the business structure or cloud architecture.