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PALO ALTO NETWORKS

Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Professional

NETWORK-SECURITY-PROFESSIONALNetwork Security Professional

The Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Professional certification validates your ability to implement, administer, and maintain Palo Alto Networks network security solutions, including Next-Generation Firewalls and SASE technologies. It is designed for professionals who manage network security operations and want to demonstrate hands-on expertise with the industry's leading security platform. Earning this credential signals that you can effectively protect your organization's network infrastructure against evolving threats.

Practice Free Questions

540 practice questions · Updated 2026-07-30

6Domains
22Objectives
144Concepts
540Questions

NETWORK-SECURITY-PROFESSIONAL Curriculum

Every domain, objective, and concept the NETWORK-SECURITY-PROFESSIONAL exam measures.

1.1 Explain Application Layer inspection for Strata and SASE products

8 concepts · 29 questions
  1. Application Layer inspection overview
  2. Application identification
  3. Application decoding and signatures
  4. Application Layer inspection in Strata
  5. Application Layer inspection in SASE
  6. Inspection of encrypted traffic
  7. Application Layer inspection policies
  8. Benefits and limitations

1.2 Explain the functionality of slow path and fast path for packet inspection

7 concepts · 27 questions
  1. Slow Path vs Fast Path Overview
  2. Fast Path Processing
  3. Slow Path Processing
  4. Session Setup and Lookup
  5. Packet Inspection Functions in Each Path
  6. Performance Implications
  7. Traffic Classification Criteria

1.3 Explain the use of decryption on Strata and SASE products (e.g., SSL Forward Proxy, SSL Inbound Inspection, SSH Proxy, no decrypt)

9 concepts · 21 questions
  1. SSL Forward Proxy
  2. SSL Inbound Inspection
  3. SSH Proxy
  4. No Decrypt
  5. Decryption on Strata Products
  6. Decryption on SASE Products
  7. Decryption Policy and Placement
  8. Certificate Management for Decryption
  9. Decryption Exceptions and Bypass

1.4 Explain the application of network hardening methods for enhanced security on Strata and SASE products (e.g., Content-ID, Zero Trust, User-ID, Device-ID, Zones)

7 concepts · 27 questions
  1. Network Hardening Principles
  2. Content-ID
  3. Zero Trust Architecture
  4. User-ID
  5. Device-ID
  6. Zones
  7. Integration of Hardening Methods

2.1 Explain the function of Cloud NGFWs, PA-Series, CN-Series, and VM-Series firewalls (e.g., perimeter and core security, zone security and segmentation, high availability [HA], security and NAT policy implementation, monitoring and logging)

10 concepts · 35 questions
  1. Cloud NGFW Functionality
  2. PA-Series Firewall Functionality
  3. CN-Series Firewall Functionality
  4. VM-Series Firewall Functionality
  5. Perimeter and Core Security
  6. Zone Security and Segmentation
  7. High Availability (HA)
  8. Security Policy Implementation
  9. NAT Policy Implementation
  10. Monitoring and Logging

2.2 Explain the function of Prisma SD-WAN (e.g., WAN optimization, path and NAT policies, Zone-based firewalls, monitoring and logging)

5 concepts · 18 questions
  1. WAN optimization
  2. Path policies
  3. NAT policies
  4. Zone-based firewalls
  5. Monitoring and logging

2.3 Explain the function of Prisma Access (e.g., remote user configuration, remote network configuration, public and private application access, security and NAT policy implementation, monitoring and logging)

8 concepts · 31 questions
  1. Prisma Access Overview
  2. Remote User Configuration
  3. Remote Network Configuration
  4. Public Application Access
  5. Private Application Access
  6. Security Policy Implementation
  7. NAT Policy Implementation
  8. Monitoring and Logging

2.4 Explain the functionality of Panorama and Strata Cloud Manager (SCM) for managing Strata and SASE solutions

9 concepts · 34 questions
  1. Panorama vs SCM Management Scope
  2. Centralized Policy Management
  3. Device and Template Management
  4. Log Collection and Reporting
  5. Administration and Role-Based Access
  6. Software and Content Updates
  7. High Availability and Redundancy
  8. Integration with SASE Components
  9. Migration and Coexistence

3.2 Explain the functionality of Cloud-Delivered Security Services (CDSS) components

7 concepts · 25 questions
  1. IoT Security Fundamentals
  2. Enterprise DLP Capabilities
  3. SaaS Security Integration
  4. PAN-OS SD-WAN Functionality
  5. Premium GlobalProtect Features
  6. Advanced WildFire and Threat Prevention
  7. Advanced URL Filtering and DNS Security

3.3 Explain the alignment of AIOps to Palo Alto Networks best practices (e.g., dashboards, Best Practice Assessment [BPA], administration)

4 concepts · 24 questions
  1. AIOps Overview
  2. AIOps Dashboards
  3. Best Practice Assessment (BPA) Integration
  4. Administration and Workflow Alignment

3.4 Explain how Next-Generation Trust Security (NGTS) supports identity governance, trust relationships, and adaptive security decisions across the enterprise platform

4 concepts · 22 questions
  1. NGTS Identity Governance
  2. Trust Relationships in NGTS
  3. Adaptive Security Decisions
  4. NGTS Integration with Enterprise Platform

3.5 Identify and describe quantum security risks (e.g., harvest now, decrypt later attacks) and Palo Alto Networks platform capabilities to address them (e.g., post-quantum readiness, hybrid cryptography)

7 concepts · 32 questions
  1. Quantum computing basics
  2. Harvest now, decrypt later attacks
  3. Quantum threats to cryptography
  4. Post-quantum cryptography
  5. Palo Alto Networks post-quantum readiness
  6. Hybrid cryptography in Palo Alto Networks
  7. Assessing organizational quantum risk

4.1 Explain the configuration and maintenance of Palo Alto Networks hardware firewalls, VM-Series firewalls, CN-Series firewalls, and Cloud NGFWs (e.g., Security policies, profiles, updates, upgrades)

9 concepts · 26 questions
  1. Hardware Firewall Configuration
  2. VM-Series Firewall Configuration
  3. CN-Series Firewall Configuration
  4. Cloud NGFW Configuration
  5. Security Policy Management
  6. Security Profile Management
  7. Content and Software Updates
  8. Firewall Upgrades
  9. Maintenance Tasks

4.2 Explain the configuration and maintenance of Prisma Access (e.g., Security policies, profiles, updates, upgrades, monitoring and logging)

4 concepts · 8 questions
  1. Prisma Access Security Policy Configuration
  2. Prisma Access Security Profiles
  3. Prisma Access Updates and Upgrades
  4. Prisma Access Monitoring and Logging

5.1 Explain the function of Security policies, profiles, and updates in the configuration and maintenance of CDSS

6 concepts · 20 questions
  1. Security Policy Fundamentals
  2. Policy Configuration and Ordering
  3. Security Profiles Overview
  4. Profile Application and Best Practices
  5. Content and Threat Updates
  6. Update Management and Verification

5.2 Explain the function of Security policies, Device-IDs, and monitoring and logging in the configuration and maintenance of IoT security

5 concepts · 21 questions
  1. Security Policy Fundamentals
  2. Device-ID Functionality
  3. Monitoring IoT Traffic
  4. Logging for IoT Security
  5. Integration of Policies, Device-IDs, and Logging

5.3 Explain the function of data encryption, access control, and monitoring and logging in the configuration and maintenance of Enterprise DLP and Enterprise SaaS Security

6 concepts · 27 questions
  1. Data encryption in Enterprise DLP
  2. Access control in Enterprise DLP
  3. Monitoring and logging in Enterprise DLP
  4. Data encryption in Enterprise SaaS Security
  5. Access control in Enterprise SaaS Security
  6. Monitoring and logging in Enterprise SaaS Security

5.4 Explain the function of supported products, new device addition, reporting, and configuration management in SCM and Panorama in network security environments

5 concepts · 20 questions
  1. Supported Products in SCM and Panorama
  2. New Device Addition to SCM and Panorama
  3. Reporting in SCM and Panorama
  4. Configuration Management in SCM and Panorama
  5. Role of SCM and Panorama in Network Security Environments

6.2 Identify and describe the components used to maintain connectivity and security of remote users (e.g., remote access solutions, network segmentation, Security policy tuning, monitoring and logging, certificates)

5 concepts · 23 questions
  1. Remote access solutions
  2. Network segmentation for remote access
  3. Security policy tuning for remote users
  4. Monitoring and logging for remote access
  5. Certificates for remote access
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Practice Free Questions

Percentages reflect share of the current practice bank, not official exam weightings — no structured per-skill weight is published for NETWORK-SECURITY-PROFESSIONAL, so none is invented.