Palo Alto Firewall Terms (reverse) Flashcards
PAN-OS (Palo Alto Networks Operating System)
The proprietary operating system developed by Palo Alto Networks for their firewall devices. PAN-OS powers the functionality of Palo Alto Networks’ next-generation firewalls.
NGFW (Next-Generation Firewall)
A type of firewall that combines traditional firewall capabilities with advanced features, such as intrusion prevention, application awareness, and user identification, to provide enhanced security.
Threat Prevention
A feature in Palo Alto firewalls that includes a set of security measures designed to identify, block, and mitigate various types of cyber threats, including malware, exploits, and other malicious activities.
App-ID (Application Identification)
Palo Alto Networks’ technology for identifying and controlling applications on the network. It allows administrators to create policies based on specific applications rather than just traditional port and protocol information.
User-ID (User Identification)
The capability to associate network activity with specific users, allowing for user-based policies and monitoring. It integrates with directory services like Active Directory for user authentication.
Security Policies
Rules configured in a Palo Alto firewall that dictate how traffic should be handled based on various factors such as source, destination, application, and user. Security policies are used to enforce the security posture of the network.
Zone
A logical grouping of network segments in a Palo Alto firewall, used for defining security policies. Traffic is allowed or denied between zones based on configured security policies.
URL Filtering
A feature that enables the firewall to control access to websites based on predefined categories. It allows administrators to enforce policies regarding web content and restrict access to specific types of websites.
WildFire
A cloud-based threat analysis service provided by Palo Alto Networks. WildFire analyzes unknown files and links to identify and block new and sophisticated threats, including malware and zero-day exploits.
Decryption
The process of inspecting and decrypting SSL/TLS-encrypted traffic to identify potential threats or policy violations. Palo Alto firewalls can decrypt and inspect encrypted traffic for enhanced security.
GlobalProtect
Palo Alto Networks’ remote access VPN solution that provides secure connectivity for users connecting to the network from remote locations. It includes features such as VPN tunnels and endpoint protection.
SSL/TLS Decryption
The capability to decrypt and inspect traffic that is secured with SSL/TLS encryption. It allows the firewall to analyze the content of encrypted communications for potential threats.
Threat Intelligence
Information about current cybersecurity threats, including indicators of compromise (IoCs) and contextual data. Threat intelligence is used to enhance the firewall’s ability to detect and prevent threats.
Logging and Reporting
The process of capturing and recording log data related to firewall activity. Reporting involves analyzing log data to generate insights into network behavior and security events.
Policy Based Forwarding (PBF)
A feature that allows the firewall to make forwarding decisions based on policies rather than traditional routing. It enables more granular control over the flow of traffic.
Security Profiles
Collections of security settings that define the behavior of various threat prevention features, such as antivirus, anti-spyware, and vulnerability protection.
IPS (Intrusion Prevention System)
A security feature that monitors and analyzes network and/or system activities for malicious or unwanted behavior. IPS can take preventive action to block or allow traffic based on predefined rules.
DoS Protection (Denial of Service Protection)
Measures implemented to defend against and mitigate the impact of Denial of Service (DoS) attacks, which attempt to disrupt the normal functioning of a network or service.
LDAP Integration (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol)
The process of integrating Palo Alto firewalls with LDAP servers, such as Microsoft Active Directory, to authenticate users and retrieve user information.
XML API (Application Programming Interface)
An interface that allows external programs to interact with and control the Palo Alto firewall using XML-based commands. It facilitates automation and integration with other systems.
High Availability (HA)
A configuration that ensures continuous operation and minimal downtime by using redundant hardware or virtual firewalls. In HA, one device takes over if the other fails.
QoS (Quality of Service)
A set of techniques used to manage network resources and prioritize traffic to ensure that critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth and experience optimal performance.
Packet Capture
The process of capturing and storing network packets for analysis and troubleshooting. Packet captures provide detailed information about the contents of network traffic.
Panorama
Palo Alto Networks’ centralized management platform for managing and configuring multiple Palo Alto firewalls from a single interface. It simplifies the management of large and distributed networks.
Threat Landscape
The current state of cybersecurity threats, including emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and attack trends. Understanding the threat landscape helps organizations adapt their security measures accordingly.
Virtual System (VSYS)
A feature that allows a single physical Palo Alto firewall to be divided into multiple logical firewalls, each with its own configuration, policies, and network interfaces.
Dynamic Updates
Regular updates provided by Palo Alto Networks to refresh threat prevention databases, application signatures, and other security components. Dynamic updates ensure the firewall has the latest information to protect against emerging threats.
BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) and OSPF (Open Shortest Path First)
Routing protocols supported by Palo Alto firewalls for dynamic routing and exchange of routing information with other devices in the network.
Botnet Tracking
The capability to identify and block communications with known botnets. Botnet tracking helps prevent infected devices from participating in malicious activities.
Security Rules
Individual rules within a security policy that define specific actions for traffic based on criteria such as source, destination, application, and user.
Log Forwarding
The process of sending firewall logs to external systems, such as SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) solutions, for centralized log management and analysis.
IPv6 Support
The ability of Palo Alto firewalls to handle and process Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) traffic, supporting the next generation of IP addressing.
WildFire Analysis Reports: Detailed reports generated by the WildFire service, providing information about files ana
Detailed reports generated by the WildFire service, providing information about files analyzed for threats, including verdicts and associated behaviors.
Malware Signature Updates
Regular updates to the firewall’s malware signature database, ensuring that it can identify and block the latest known malware strains.
Custom Reports
Tailored reports generated by Palo Alto firewalls based on specific criteria and requirements defined by administrators.
Threat Prevention Policy
Configuration that specifies how the firewall should handle and respond to different types of threats, including antivirus, anti-spyware, and vulnerability protection.
Syslog Integration
The process of sending syslog messages generated by the firewall to external syslog servers for storage, analysis, and auditing.
SAML Authentication (Security Assertion Markup Language)
A standard for exchanging authentication and authorization data between parties, commonly used for single sign-on (SSO) scenarios.
SSL VPN (Secure Socket Layer Virtual Private Network)
A secure method for remote users to connect to the network over an encrypted SSL connection, providing secure access to internal resources.
NAT Policies (Network Address Translation)
NAT Policies in Palo Alto firewalls define rules for translating source or destination IP addresses and ports, enabling the firewall to modify network address information as traffic traverses between different network segments, facilitating secure and efficient communication. These policies play a crucial role in preserving private IP spaces, managing address shortages, and ensuring seamless connectivity across diverse network environments.
File Blocking
A feature that prevents the transfer of specified file types, helping to control the types of files that can be transmitted through the network.
Policy Evaluation
The process by which a firewall determines which security policy should be applied to incoming or outgoing traffic based on configured rules and conditions.
Threat Prevention Profiles
Predefined sets of security settings that encompass various threat prevention features, allowing administrators to apply consistent security measures.
URL Categories
Classifications used in URL filtering policies to categorize websites based on content, allowing for more granular control over web access.
