PSE-Strata Professional PSE-Strata-Pro-24 Paloalto Networks Study Notes

Segregating a network into unique BGP environments requires the ability to configure separateeBGP autonomous systems(AS) within the NGFW. Palo Alto Networks firewalls support advanced BGP features, including the ability to create and manage multiple autonomous systems.

Why "It can be addressed by creating multiple eBGP autonomous systems" (Correct Answer B)?PAN-OS supports the configuration of multiple eBGP AS environments. By creating unique eBGP AS numbers for different parts of the network, traffic can be segregated and routed separately. This feature is commonly used in multi-tenant environments or networks requiring logical separation for administrative or policy reasons.

Each eBGP AS can maintain its own routing policies, neighbors, and traffic segmentation.

This approach allows the NGFW to address the customer’s need for segregated internal BGP environments.

Why not "It cannot be addressed because PAN-OS does not support it" (Option A)?This statement is incorrect because PAN-OS fully supports BGP, including eBGP, iBGP, and features like route reflectors, confederations, and autonomous systems.

Why not "It can be addressed with BGP confederations" (Option C)?While BGP confederations can logically group AS numbers within a single AS, they are generally used to simplify iBGP designs in very large-scale networks. They are not commonly used for segregating internal environments and are not required for the described use case.

Why not "It cannot be addressed because BGP must be fully meshed internally to work" (Option D)?Full mesh iBGP is only required in environments without route reflectors. The described scenario does not mention the need for iBGP full mesh; instead, it focuses on segregated environments, which can be achieved with eBGP.

When preparing for a customer meeting, it’s important to understand their specific challenges and align solutions accordingly. The notes suggest that the customer is facing difficulties securing their cloud apps and remote users, which are core areas addressed by Palo Alto Networks’ Zero Trust and SASE solutions. However, jumping directly into a pitch or product demonstration without validating the customer's specific challenges may fail to build trust or fully address their needs.

Option A:Leading with a pre-structured pitch about Zero Trust principles may not resonate with the customer if their challenges are not fully understood first. The team needs to gather insights into the customer's security pain points before presenting a solution.

Option B (Correct):Discovery questionsare a critical step in the sales process, especially when addressing complex topics like Zero Trust. By designing targeted questions about the customer’s challenges with identity, devices, data, and access, the SE can identify specific pain points. These insights can then be used to tailor a Zero Trust strategy that directly addresses the customer’s concerns. This approach ensures the meeting is customer-focused and demonstrates that the SE understands their unique needs.

Option C:While a product demonstration of GlobalProtect, Prisma Access, and SaaS security is valuable, it should come after discovery. Presenting products prematurely may seem like a generic sales pitch and could fail to address the customer’s actual challenges.

Option D:Prisma SASEis an excellent solution for addressing cloud security and remote user challenges, but recommending it without first understanding the customer’s specific needs may undermine trust. This step should follow after discovery and validation of the customer’s pain points.

Examples of Discovery Questions:

What are your primary security challenges with remote users and cloud applications?

Are you currently able to enforce consistent security policies across your hybrid environment?

How do you handle identity verification and access control for remote users?

What level of visibility do you have into traffic to and from your cloud applications?

References:

Palo Alto Networks Zero Trust Overview: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/zero-trust

Best Practices for Customer Discovery: https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/sales-playbooks

LDAP Query (Answer B):

Palo Alto Networks NGFWs can queryLDAP directories(such as Active Directory) to validate whether submitted credentials match the corporate directory.

Domain Credential Filter (Answer C):

TheDomain Credential Filterfeature ensures that submitted credentials are checked against valid corporate credentials, preventing credential misuse.

Why Not A:

Group mappingis used to identify user groups for policy enforcement but does not validate submitted credentials.

Why Not D:

WMI client probingis used for user identification but is not a method for validating submitted credentials.

References from Palo Alto Networks Documentation:

Credential Theft Prevention

Firewall Sizing Tool (Answer B):

Thefirewall sizing toolis the most accurate way to determine the suitable firewall model based on specific customer requirements, such as throughput, connections per second, and enabled features like App-ID and Threat Prevention.

By inputting traffic patterns, feature requirements, and performance needs, the sizing tool provides tailored recommendations.

Why Not A:

While uploading traffic logs to the calculator tool may help analyze traffic trends, it is not the primary method for determining firewall sizing.

Why Not C or D:

Theproduct configurator toolandproduct selector toolare not designed for detailed performance analysis based on real-world requirements like connections per second or enabled features.

References from Palo Alto Networks Documentation:

Firewall Sizing Guide