156-215.81 Check Point Certified Security Administrator R81.20 CCSA (156-215.81.20) Question and Answers

The Status Attention means that at least one Software Blade has a minor issue, but the gateway works1. For example, this could indicate a license expiration warning, a policy installation failure, or a blade activation problem2. References: Check Point R81 SmartConsole Guide, Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide

A central license is automatically attached to a Security Gateway when it is installed. A local license requires an administrator to designate a gateway for attachment1, p. 8. References: Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation

NAT (Network Address Translation) is a technique that modifies the IP addresses or ports of packets that pass through a security gateway. NAT can be configured in two ways: Automatic or Manual. Automatic NAT means that the NAT rules are generated automatically by the security gateway based on the NAT properties of network objects. Manual NAT means that the NAT rules are defined explicitly by the administrator in the NAT policy. Proxy ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) is a technique that allows a security gateway to answer ARP requests on behalf of other hosts. Proxy ARP is needed when a host on one network segment tries to communicate with a host on another network segment that has a different IP address than its own. In some scenarios, an administrator will need to manually define Proxy ARP for NAT to work properly. One such scenario is when they configure a Manual Static NAT which translates to an IP address that does not belong to one of the firewall’s interfaces2. References: Check Point R81 Network Address Translation Administration Guide

Application Control is a blade that enables administrators to control access to applications and web sites by users, groups, machines, and time. Application Control can eliminate unknown and unwanted applications in your network to reduce IT complexity and application risk, identify and control which applications are in your IT environment and which to add to the IT environment, and automatically identify trusted software that has authorization to run1. However, Application Control cannot scan the content of files being downloaded by users in order to make policy decisions. That is the function of another blade called Content Awareness, which can inspect files based on their type, size, name, and data2. References: Check Point R81 Application Control Administration Guide, Check Point R81 Content Awareness Administration Guide

References: Threat Emulation is not a policy type available for each policy package. Threat Emulation is a software blade that is part of the Threat Prevention policy type. The other options are valid policy types that can be configured for each policy package. References: [Threat Prevention Administration Guide R80.40], [Security Policies Administration Guide R80.40]

This answer is correct because a standalone deployment is a valid option for installing a Check Point Security Gateway and a Security Management Server on the same machine1. This option is suitable for small or medium-sized networks that do not require high availability or load balancing1.

The other answers are not correct because they are either invalid or irrelevant options for deployment. CloudSec deployment is not a valid option, but it might be confused with CloudGuard, which is a Check Point solution for securing cloud environments2. Disliked deployment is not a valid option, but it might be a typo for Distributed deployment, which is a valid option for installing a Check Point Security Gateway and a Security Management Server on separate machines1. Router only deployment is not a valid option, but it might be confused with Router mode, which is a configuration option for a Check Point Security Gateway that enables it to act as a router and forward packets between interfaces3.

Gaia R81.20 Administration Guide

CloudGuard Network Security

Configuring Router Mode in Gaia Clish

SmartEvent is a unified security management solution that provides real-time visibility into security events across the network. SmartEvent shows correlated logs and aggregated data to provide an overview of potential threats and attack patterns, as well as generate reports and alerts based on predefined or customized indicators. SmartView Tracker, SmartLog, and SmartView Monitor are other SmartConsole applications that can show logs, search queries, and network statistics respectively, but they do not provide the same level of correlation and analysis as SmartEvent. References: [Check Point R81 SmartEvent Administration Guide]

Rugged appliances are small appliances with ruggedized hardware and like Quantum Spark appliance they use Gaia embedded as the operating system. Gaia embedded is a lightweight version of Gaia that is designed for small and medium businesses1. Centos Linux, Gaia, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux version 5 are not the operating systems used by Rugged appliances.

The correct answer is A because the fwd daemon is responsible for the FW CLI commands3. The fwm daemon handles the communication between the Security Management server and the GUI clients. The cpm daemon handles the communication between the Security Management server and SmartConsole. The cpd daemon monitors the status of critical processes on the Security Gateway. References: Check Point Firewall Processes and Daemons

 RADIUS Accounting gets identity data from requests generated by the accounting client. RADIUS Accounting is a feature that allows tracking and measuring resource usage of network services by users. The accounting client, which is usually a network access server (NAS), sends accounting requests to a RADIUS server with information about user sessions, such as start and stop times, bytes transmitted and received, IP addresses, etc. The RADIUS server records this information in a database for billing, auditing, or reporting purposes. One of the mandatory attributes that the accounting client must include in every accounting request is the User-Name attribute, which identifies the user who is accessing the network service.

To view the policy installation history for each gateway, an administrator would use the Installation history tool1, p. 22. The Installation history tool shows the date and time of each policy installation, the name of the administrator who installed it, and the status of the installation3. Revisions, Gateway installations, and Gateway history are not valid tools in SmartConsole. References: Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation, Check Point SmartConsole R81 Help

 The GUI tool that can be used to view and apply Check Point licenses is SmartUpdate. SmartUpdate is a centralized tool that allows you to manage licenses, software packages, and hotfixes for multiple gateways and clusters12. cpconfig, Management Command Line, and SmartConsole are not tools for license management. References: Check Point R81 SmartUpdate Administration Guide, Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation | Udemy

When using Monitored circuit VRRP, the priority delta is the value that is subtracted from the priority of a cluster member when one of its monitored interfaces fails2. For example, if the priority of a cluster member is 100 and the priority delta is 10, then when one of its monitored interfaces fails, its priority becomes 90. References: Check Point R81 ClusterXL Administration Guide

Threat Extraction is the Security Blade that needs to be enabled in order to sanitize and remove potentially malicious content from files, before those files enter the network. It can strip out active content, embedded objects, and other risky elements from documents and deliver a safe version of the file to the user. References: Remote Access VPN R81.20 Administration Guide, page 18.

 DLP and Geo Policy are examples of Shared Policies. Shared Policies are policies that can be shared with other policy packages to save time and effort when managing multiple gateways with similar security requirements. Shared Policies can be applied to Access Control, Threat Prevention, and HTTPS Inspection layers. Other types of policies include Inspection Policies, Unified Policies, and Standard Policies. References: [Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide], [Check Point R81 SmartConsole R81 Resolved Issues]

 A Security Policy is created in SmartConsole, stored in the Security Management Server, and distributed to the various Security Gateways. SmartConsole is a graphical user interface that allows administrators to create and edit security policies. The Security Management Server is a central server that stores and manages the security policies. The Security Gateways are devices that enforce the security policies on the network traffic.

References: : Check Point R81 Security Gateway Administration Guide, page 9.

The CDT utility supports all upgrades, including major version upgrades, Jumbo HFA’s, and hotfixes3. References: Check Point Upgrade Service Engine (CPUSE) - Gaia Deployment Agent

The destination server for Security Gateway logs depends on a Security Management Server configuration. This is true because the Security Management Server defines the log servers that receive logs from the Security Gateways. The log servers can be either the Security Management Server itself or a dedicated Log Server12. References: Check Point R81 Logging and Monitoring Administration Guide, Check Point R81 Quantum Security Gateway Guide

This answer is correct because for a certificate-based VPN tunnel, both gateways need to have a certificate issued by a certificate authority (CA) that they trust1. A CA is a trusted entity that verifies the identity of the gateways and signs their certificates2. The gateways can either use the same CA or different CAs, as long as they trust each other’s CA3. This way, the gateways can authenticate each other using their certificates and establish a secure VPN tunnel.

The other answers are not correct because they are either irrelevant or incompatible with certificate-based VPN tunnel. Shared secret passwords and unique passwords are used for pre-shared key (PSK) authentication, which is a different method than certificate authentication4. PSK authentication is less secure and more vulnerable to brute force attacks than certificate authentication. Shared user certificates are not used for gateway authentication, but for user authentication, which is a different level of authentication than gateway authentication. User authentication is optional and can be used in addition to gateway authentication to provide more granular access control.

Configure server settings for P2S VPN Gateway connections - certificate authentication

VPN certificates and how they work

Create Certificate Based Site to Site VPN between 2 Check Point Gateways

HowTo Set Up Certificate Based VPNs with Check Point Appliances

The scenario where it is a valid option to transfer a license from one hardware device to another is from a 4400 Appliance to a 2200 Appliance. This is because both appliances are Check Point products and have the same license type (Central License). You can transfer a license from one hardware device to another if they have the same license type and vendor3. Therefore, the correct answer is A. From a 4400 Appliance to a 2200 Appliance. 

Permanent VPN tunnels can be set on all tunnels in the community, on all tunnels for specific gateways, or on specific tunnels in the community. This option allows the administrator to select which tunnels should be permanent and which should be established on demand. The other options are not valid, as they do not match the available choices in the VPN community settings.

References: [VPN Administration Guide], [Check Point R81.10]

 Bridge Mode Check Point Security Gateway does not support NAT. Bridge Mode is a deployment option that allows the Security Gateway to inspect traffic without being a routing hop. In Bridge Mode, the Security Gateway does not have an IP address and cannot perform NAT1. Therefore, the correct answer is C. NAT. 

According to the Managing and Installing license via SmartUpdate2, there are two repositories installed on the Security Management Server by SmartUpdate: License & Contract and Package Repository. The License & Contract repository stores all licenses available and all of the assigned licenses. The Package Repository stores all packages downloaded from the Check Point Cloud or uploaded from a local device. References: Managing and Installing license via SmartUpdate

There are three types of software containers: security management, Security Gateway, and endpoint security. A software container is a set of software blades that provide specific functionality. A security management container manages the security policy and configuration for one or more Security Gateways. A Security Gateway container enforces the security policy on the network traffic. An endpoint security container protects the data and network access of an endpoint device2. The other options are not valid types of software containers. References: Software Containers

The command to restore a backup of Check Point configurations without the OS information is restore_backup4. This command restores the Gaia OS configuration and the firewall database from a compressed file. The other commands are not valid for this purpose. import backup is not a valid command. cp_merge is a command to merge policies or objects from different databases. migrate import is a command to import a previously exported database using migrate export. References: System Backup and Restore feature in Gaia, [cp_merge], [migrate import]

 To use Application objects in a rule, the “Applications & URL Filtering” blade should be enabled on the policy layer where the rule is being created. Enabling the “Application Control” blade on a gateway is not enough3.

References: 3: Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide, page 102.

You should generate new licenses when the existing license expires, license is upgraded or the IP-address where the license is tied changes13. These scenarios require a new license to be generated and activated on the Security Gateway or Management Server13. Therefore, the correct answer is C. When the existing license expires, license is upgraded or the IP-address where the license is tied changes

A security zone is a group of one or more network interfaces from different centrally managed gateways that have the same security requirements. The zone is based on the network topology and determined according to where the interface leads to. For example, a zone can be defined as internal, external, DMZ, VPN, etc. Security zones are supported by Check Point firewalls and can be used to simplify security policies and network segmentation. The firewall rule can be configured to include one or more zones as source or destination objects. The local directly connected subnet defined by the subnet IP and subnet mask is not considered part of the zone, but rather a property of the interface.References: [Security Zones], [Security Zones Best Practices]

Specific VPN Communities is the option that would only match and allow traffic to VPN gateways for one Community in common. This option allows you to define a specific VPN community that includes the VPN gateways that are allowed to communicate with each other. The other options are either too broad or too narrow for this scenario. References: [Site to Site VPN in R80.x - Tutorial for Beginners]

Threat Extraction delivers PDF versions of original files with active content removed, such as macros, embedded objects, and scripts. This ensures that users receive clean and safe files in seconds12. References: Check Point SandBlast Zero-Day Protection, Check Point Threat Extraction

In order to install a license, it must first be added to the License and Contract repository. The License and Contract repository is a centralized database that stores all the licenses and contracts for Check Point products. It allows you to manage, activate, and attach licenses to your Check Point products.

References: Check Point Security Management Administration Guide R81, p. 19-20

Certificate is the most secure means of authentication among the given options2. A certificate is a digital document that contains information about the identity of a user or a device, and is signed by a trusted authority. A certificate can be used to prove the identity of a user or a device without revealing any sensitive information, such as passwords or tokens. Password, token, and pre-shared secret are less secure means of authentication because they can be easily compromised, stolen, or guessed by attackers. References: Secure User Authentication Methods - freeCodeCamp.org, What is the Most Secure Authentication Method for Your Organization …

The tracking actions that can be selected when configuring Spoof Tracking are Log, alert, none. Spoof Tracking is a feature that detects packets with spoofed source IP addresses and logs them in SmartView Tracker. The administrator can choose to log only, log and alert, or do nothing when spoofed packets are detected. The other options are not valid tracking actions for Spoof Tracking, as they are either not available or not relevant for this feature.

References: [Spoof Tracking], [Firewall Administration Guide]

Gaia can be managed through CLI, WebUI, and SmartDashboard1, p. 17-18. CLI is a command-line interface that allows administrators to configure and monitor Gaia using commands and scripts. WebUI is a web-based interface that allows administrators to configure and monitor Gaia using a browser. SmartDashboard is a graphical user interface that allows administrators to manage security policies and objects for Gaia devices. References: Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation, [Check Point Gaia Administration Guide R81], [Check Point Security Management Administration Guide R81]

The backups are stored in Check Point appliances as *.tgz files under /var/CPbackup. This is the default location for backup files created by the backup command. Therefore, the correct answer is B. Saved as *.tgz under /var/CPbackup

An Endpoint identity agent uses a username/password or Kerberos ticket for user authentication3, p. 28. An Endpoint identity agent is a lightweight client installed on endpoint computers that communicates with Identity Awareness gateways and provides reliable identity information. An Endpoint identity agent does not use a shared secret, a token, or a certificate for user authentication. References: Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation, [Check Point Identity Awareness Administration Guide R81]

URL Filtering is a blade that enables administrators to control access to millions of websites by category, users, groups, and machines. URL Filtering can be used to improve organizational security, decrease legal liability, and control data security by preventing users from accessing malicious or inappropriate websites. However, URL Filtering cannot be used to control bandwidth issues, such as limiting the amount of traffic or prioritizing certain applications over others3. For that purpose, other blades such as QoS (Quality of Service) or SecureXL are more suitable. References: Check Point R81 URL Filtering Administration Guide

 The Check Point Upgrade Service Engine (CPUSE) is a tool that automates the process of upgrading and installing Check Point products on Gaia OS1. It can also be used to update the Gaia OS itself2. The other options are not valid tools for this purpose. References: Check Point Upgrade Service Engine (CPUSE) - Gaia Deployment Agent, Check Point R81 Gaia Installation and Upgrade Guide

The Sticky Decision Function (SDF) is required to prevent failovers in an Active-Active cluster. The SDF ensures that the same cluster member handles all connections that belong to a certain session. If the SDF is not enabled, different cluster members may handle different connections of the same session, which may cause a failover or a drop12. References: ClusterXL Administration Guide R81, Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation

According to the Check Point R81.10 SmartConsole for Windows1, to restore a backup, you need to supply the following data: Server, Protocol, Username, Password, and Path. The Server is the IP address or hostname of the Security Management Server. The Protocol is either SCP or SFTP. The Username and Password are the credentials for the Security Management Server. The Path is the location of the backup file on the Security Management Server. References: Check Point R81.10 SmartConsole for Windows

The Full Identity Agent allows packet tagging and computer authentication2. Packet tagging is a feature that enables the Security Gateway to identify the source user and machine of each packet, regardless of NAT or routing. Computer authentication is a feature that enables the Security Gateway to authenticate machines that are not associated with any user, such as servers or unattended workstations. The other options are incorrect. Endpoint Security Client is not an Identity Agent, but a software that provides endpoint security features such as firewall, antivirus, VPN, etc. Light Agent is an Identity Agent that does not require installation and runs on a web browser, but it does not support packet tagging or computer authentication. System Agent is not an Identity Agent, but a software that provides system information and health monitoring for endpoints. References: Check Point Identity Agent for Microsoft Windows 10

Clish is the default shell for the command line interface. It is a user-friendly shell that provides a menu-based and a command-line mode. Admin, Normal, and Expert are not valid shell names1.

The three types of UserCheck messages are inform, ask, and block. Inform messages notify users about security events and do not require any user action. Ask messages prompt users to choose whether to allow or block an action. Block messages prevent users from performing an action and display a reason1. References: Check Point R81 Logging and Monitoring Administration Guide

The Security Management Server and the Security Gateway are the components that can store logs in the Check Point Security Management Architecture. The Security Management Server stores logs in a database and can also forward them to external log servers. The Security Gateway can store logs locally in a buffer or a local log file, and can also send them to the Security Management Server or a log server.

References: Check Point Security Management Administration Guide R81, p. 11-12

SmartLog is a unified log viewer that provides fast and easy access to logs from all Check Point components3. It allows the administrator to query for any log field, such as the IP address of the tablet, and filter the results by time, severity, blade, action, and more4. SmartView Tracker is a legacy tool that displays network activity logs from Security Gateways and other Check Point devices. It does not support remote connection to the wireless controller or querying for specific IP addresses. References: SmartLog, SmartLog Queries, [SmartView Tracker]

The statement that a Sectional Title can be used to disable multiple rules by disabling only the sectional title is false. A Sectional Title is a visual divider that helps organize and navigate large rule bases. It does not affect the rule enforcement order or the rule functionality. Disabling a Sectional Title does not disable the rules under it. To disable multiple rules, you need to select them individually or use Shift+Click or Ctrl+Click to select them in bulk, and then right-click and choose Disable Rule(s). The other statements are true. Section titles are not sent to the gateway side, they are only displayed in SmartConsole. These sections are simple visual divisions of the Rule Base and do not hinder the order of rule enforcement. Sectional Titles do not need to be created in SmartConsole, they can also be created using SmartConsole CLI or API commands.References: [Sectional Titles], [SmartConsole CLI Guide], [SmartConsole API Reference Guide]

The two ordered layers that make up the Access Control Policy Layer are Network and Threat Prevention. Network layer contains rules that define how traffic is inspected and handled by the Security Gateway. Threat Prevention layer contains rules that define how traffic is inspected by the Threat Prevention Software Blades2. References: Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide

Stateful Inspection is true about looking at both the headers of packets, as well as deeply examining their content. Stateful Inspection inspects packets at all layers of the OSI model and maintains information about the state and context of each connection in a state table. References: Certified Security Administrator (CCSA) R81.20 Course Overview, page 6.

The steps to configure the HTTPS Inspection Policy are as follows34:

Go to Manage & Settings > Blades > HTTPS Inspection > Policy.

Click on New HTTPS Inspection Rule or select an existing rule and click on Edit Rule.

Define the Source, Destination, and Action for the rule. The action can be either Inspect, Bypass, or Ask.

Click on OK and then on Install Policy to apply the changes. References: HTTPS Inspection R81 Administration Guide, Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation

 Application Control is the software blade that enables Access Control policies to accept, drop, or limit web site access based on user, group, and/or machine. Application Control allows you to define granular rules for applications, web sites, web categories, web content types, and users. You can also use Application Control to monitor and block risky applications and web usage. References: [Application Control Administration Guide R80.40]

An Access Role Object has four configuration screens: Users, Machines, Networks, and Identity Tags1, p. 27. Time is not a valid configuration screen of an Access Role Object. References: Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation

The default Gaia user that has full read/write access is admin3. The admin user is the superuser that can perform any administrative task on the Gaia system, such as configuring network settings, installing software updates, managing licenses, creating snapshots, and more. The admin user can also access the Gaia Portal, which is a web-based interface for managing Gaia settings and features. References: Check Point R81 Gaia Administration Guide

The options that are not tracking options are Partial log, Network log, and Full log. Tracking options are settings that determine how the Security Gateway handles traffic that matches a rule in the security policy. The valid tracking options are Log, Detailed Log, Extended Log, Alert, Mail, SNMP trap, User Defined Alert, and None. The other options are incorrect. Log is a tracking option that records basic information about the traffic, such as source, destination, service, action, etc. Detailed Log is a tracking option that records additional information about the traffic, such as NAT details, data amount, etc. Extended Log is a tracking option that records even more information about the traffic, such as matched IPS protections, application details, etc. References: [Logging and Monitoring Administration Guide R80 - Check Point Software]

The commands you could use to set the IP to 192.168.80.200/24 and default gateway to 192.168.80.1 after the initial installation on Check Point appliance are:

set interface Mgmt ipv4-address 192.168.80.200 mask-length 24. This command sets the IPv4 address and subnet mask of the Management interface.

set static-route default nexthop gateway address 192.168.80.1 on. This command sets the default gateway for IPv4 routing.

save config. This command saves the configuration changes.

References: [Check Point R81 Gaia CLI Reference Guide], [Check Point R81 Gaia Administration Guide]

Gaia can be configured using the command line interface (CLI) or the WebUI. The CLI is a text-based interface that allows you to configure and manage Gaia settings using commands and scripts. The WebUI is a graphical interface that allows you to configure and manage Gaia settings using a web browser. Gaia Interface and GaiaUI are not valid terms for Gaia configuration tools.References: [Gaia Administration Guide], [Gaia Overview]

The option that is NOT an advantage of Stateful Inspection is No Screening above Network layer. Stateful Inspection is a firewall technology that inspects packets at all layers of the OSI model, from layer 3 (Network) to layer 7 (Application). Stateful Inspection provides screening above Network layer, such as checking TCP flags, sequence numbers, ports, and application protocols . The other options are advantages of Stateful Inspection, as it provides high performance, good security, and transparency for legitimate traffic.

References: Stateful Inspection Technology, Firewall Administration Guide

 Log, Alert, and None are the tracking options that an Administrator can select when configuring Anti-Spoofing. Log means that the packet will be logged in SmartView Tracker. Alert means that the packet will trigger an alert in SmartView Monitor. None means that no action will be taken2. The other options are not valid tracking options.

 The best upgrade method when the management server is not connected to the Internet is CPUSE offline upgrade . This method allows you to download the upgrade package from another source and install it manually on the management server. The other methods require Internet connection or are not supported for R80.10. References: [R80.10 Upgrade Verification and FAQ], [Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation]

Aggressive Mode in IKEv1 uses three packets for negotiation, with all data required for the SA passed by the initiator1. The responder sends the proposal, key material, and ID, and authenticates the session in the next packet. The initiator replies and authenticates the session1.

The other answers are not correct because they either refer to the Main Mode in IKEv1, which uses six packets for negotiation2, or they are irrelevant to the number of packets used in Aggressive Mode.

Understand IPsec IKEv1 Protocol - Cisco

Negotiation modes for phase 1 - IBM

FAQ-What are the differences between IKEv1 and IKEv2- Huawei

 The SIC Status “Unknown” means that there is no connection between the gateway and Security Management Server. This can happen if the gateway is down, unreachable, or has not been initialized yet12. References: Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide, Free Check Point CCSA Sample Questions and Study Guide

The three components for Check Point Capsule are Capsule Workspace, Capsule Docs, and Capsule Cloud123. Capsule Workspace provides a secure container on the mobile device that isolates business data and applications from personal data and applications2. Capsule Docs protects business documents everywhere they go with encryption and access control1. Capsule Cloud provides cloud-based security services to protect mobile users from threats3. References: Check Point Capsule, Check Point Capsule Workspace, Mobile Secure Workspace with Capsule

 A stateful inspection firewall works by registering connection data and compiling this information in state tables. State tables are data structures that store information about the state and context of each connection, such as source, destination, service, protocol, sequence number, flags, etc. State tables enable the firewall to inspect both the header and the payload of each packet and apply security policies accordingly.References: [Stateful Inspection], [State Tables]

The answer is A because an identity server uses a shared secret for user authentication. A shared secret is a passphrase that is known by both the identity server and the user. The identity server sends a challenge to the user, who encrypts it with the shared secret and sends it back. The identity server then verifies the response and authenticates the user12 References: Check Point R81 Identity Awareness Administration Guide, Check Point R81 Identity Server

 Browser-based Authentication sends users to a web page to acquire identities using Captive Portal and Transparent Kerberos Authentication. Captive Portal is a web page that prompts users to enter their credentials. Transparent Kerberos Authentication is a method that automatically authenticates users who have a valid Kerberos ticket from the Active Directory domain controller2. UserCheck is a feature that allows users to interact with the security policy, not a method of authentication. User Directory is a component that integrates with external user databases, not a web page for authentication. Captive Portal alone is not enough to fill in the blank, as it is only one of the methods used by Browser-based Authentication.

The best way to restrict access to a network resource only allowing certain users to access it, and only when they are on a specific network, is to create an Access Role object, with specific users or user groups specified, and specific networks defined. Then, use this access role as the “Source” of an Access Control rule. This allows for granular control over network traffic based on user identity and location3.

References: 3: Check Point R81 Security Gateway Administration Guide, page 13.

The three deployment considerations for a secure network are Remote, Standalone, and Distributed3. Remote deployment means that the Security Management Server and Security Gateway are installed on different machines. Standalone deployment means that the Security Management Server and Security Gateway are installed on the same machine. Distributed deployment means that there are multiple Security Gateways managed by one or more Security Management Servers3. Therefore, the correct answer is C. Remote, Standalone, and Distributed.

SmartView Monitor is the tool that allows you to monitor the top bandwidth on SmartConsole. SmartView Monitor is a graphical tool that displays real-time network and security performance data, such as traffic, throughput, connections, CPU usage, memory usage, etc. You can use SmartView Monitor to identify the top bandwidth consumers and optimize your network performance.References: [SmartView Monitor], [Monitoring Network Traffic]

 The command cplic print displays the installed licenses and their expiration dates on the CLI1. References: Check Point CLI Reference Card

 The padlock sign next to the DNS rule in the Rule Base indicates that another administrator is logged into the Management and currently editing the DNS Rule1. This is a feature of R80 that allows multiple administrators to work on the same policy simultaneously. The padlock sign prevents other administrators from modifying the same rule until the editing administrator publishes or discards the changes2. The other options are not valid explanations for the padlock sign. References: 156-215.80 : Check Point Certified Security Administrator (CCSA R80) : Part 19, Multi-User Policy Editing

 A security gateway is a device that enforces the security policy on the traffic that passes through it. There are three deployment options available for a security gateway: Standalone, Distributed, and Bridge Mode. Standalone means that the security gateway and the security management server are installed on the same machine. Distributed means that the security gateway and the security management server are installed on separate machines. Bridge Mode means that the security gateway acts as a transparent bridge between two network segments, without changing the IP addressing scheme1. References: Check Point R81 Security Gateway Technical Administration Guide

The User Directory is used to obtain identification and security information about network users. It can be integrated with external user databases such as LDAP, RADIUS, or TACACS+. References: Certified Security Administrator (CCSA) R81.20 Course Overview, page 9.

Back up and restores can be accomplished through SmartConsole, WebUI, or CLI12. These are the methods to perform system backup and restore, which save and restore the Gaia OS configuration and the Security Management Server database1. WebUI, CLI, or SmartUpdate are not valid methods, as SmartUpdate is used to install software packages and patches, not to back up or restore the system3. CLI, SmartUpdate, or SmartBackup are not valid methods, as SmartBackup is a feature of SmartProvisioning that allows backing up and restoring the configuration of Security Gateways and VSX clusters4. SmartUpdate, SmartBackup, or SmartConsole are not valid methods, as SmartConsole is used to configure and manage the Security Policy, not to back up or restore the system5.

References: System Backup and Restore feature in Gaia, Check Point R81.10, INSTALLATION AND UPGRADE GUIDE R81.10, SmartProvisioning R81.10 Administration Guide, QUANTUM SECURITY MANAGEMENT R81

 The purpose of the CPCA process is generating and modifying certificates. CPCA stands for Check Point Certificate Authority and it is a process that runs on the Security Management Server or Log Server. It is responsible for creating and managing certificates for internal communication between Check Point components, such as SIC . References: [Check Point R81 Quantum Security Management Administration Guide], [Check Point R81 Quantum Security Gateway Guide]

Automatic Hide NAT enables Source Port Address Translation by default1. This means that the source IP address and port number are translated to a different IP address and port number. This allows multiple hosts to share a single IP address for outbound connections. References: Check Point R81 Firewall Administration Guide

Threat Prevention is a comprehensive solution that protects networks from malicious attacks by using multiple security blades, such as Anti-Bot, Anti-Virus, IPS, Threat Emulation, and Threat Extraction. These are the Threat Prevention software components available on the Check Point Security Gateway. IPS (Intrusion Prevention System) is a blade that detects and prevents network attacks by using signatures and behavioral patterns. Anti-Bot is a blade that detects and blocks botnet communications by using reputation services and heuristics. Anti-Virus is a blade that scans files and web content for malware by using signatures and emulation. Threat Emulation is a blade that analyzes suspicious files in a sandbox environment and blocks malicious files from entering the network. Threat Extraction is a blade that removes exploitable content from files and delivers clean files to users2. References: Check Point R81 Threat Prevention Administration Guide

When URL Filtering is set, only the host part of the URL is sent to the Check Point Online Web Service for analysis. The host part is the part of the URL that identifies the web server, such as www.example.com. The Check Point Online Web Service uses this information to categorize the URL and return the appropriate action to the Security Gateway. The other options are not sent to the Check Point Online Web Service for analysis, as they may contain sensitive or irrelevant data.

References: 1: Policy Layers 2: Adding a New Log Server 3: Suspicious Activity Monitoring : [URL Filtering]

With URL Filtering, only the host portion of the URL is sent to the Check Point Online Web Service for analysis. The host portion is the part of the URL that identifies the web server, such as www.example.com.  The Check Point Online Web Service uses this information to categorize the URL and return the appropriate action to the Security Gateway3. The other options are not sent to the Check Point Online Web Service for analysis, as they may contain sensitive or irrelevant data.

Manual NAT can offer more flexibility than Automatic NAT because it allows the administrator to define the NAT rules in any order and position1. Automatic NAT creates the NAT rules automatically and places them at the top or bottom of the NAT Rule Base2. References: Check Point R81 Firewall Administration Guide, Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide

 To enforce the Security Policy correctly, a Security Gateway requires awareness of the network topology. This means that the gateway knows which networks and interfaces are internal and external, and how to route packets between them . References: [Check Point R81 Security Gateway Technical Administration Guide], Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation

One of the major features in R80.x SmartConsole is concurrent administration, which allows multiple administrators to work on the same Security Policy at the same time12. However, only one administrator can edit a rule at a time. If AdminA and AdminB are editing the same rule at the same time, it will cause a conflict and prevent them from saving their changes12. Therefore, the correct answer is B. AdminA and AdminB are editing the same rule at the same time.

The command that shows the installed licenses is cplic print. This command displays the license information on a Check Point server or Security Gateway. It shows the license type, expiration date, attached blades, etc. The other options are incorrect. print cplic is not a valid command. fwlic print is not a valid command. show licenses is not a valid command. References: [How to check license status on SecurePlatform / Gaia from CLI]

RADIUS protocol uses UDP (User Datagram Protocol) to communicate with the gateway. UDP is a connectionless protocol that does not require a handshake or acknowledgment before sending or receiving data2.

References: 2: [Check Point R81 Identity Awareness Administration Guide], page 14.

Tom’s changes will have been stored on the Management when he reconnects and he will not lose any of his work. This is because SmartConsole uses a session mechanism that allows users to work offline and save their changes locally until they are ready to publish them to the Management13. If Tom loses connectivity, he can resume his session when he reconnects and continue working on his Rule Base changes. He does not need to reboot his SmartConsole computer, clear the cache, or restore changes. His changes will not be lost since he lost connectivity. References: Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide, Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation | Udemy

Identity Sharing is a feature that allows Security Gateways to acquire and share identities with other Security Gateways, enabling identity-based access control across different network segments or domains13. Management servers, users, and administrators do not share identities with Security Gateways.

References: Identity Awareness R81.10 Administration Guide, Check Point R81.10

The type of Endpoint Identity Agent that includes packet tagging and computer authentication is Full. The Full Identity Agent is a client-side software that provides full identity awareness features, such as user authentication, computer authentication, packet tagging, identity caching, and identity sharing. The other types of Endpoint Identity Agents are Custom, Complete, and Light, which have different features and capabilities. 

 It is possible to have more than one administrator connected to a Security Management Server at once, but objects edited by one administrator will be locked for editing by others until the session is published. This feature is called concurrent administration and it allows multiple administrators to work on the same security policy at the same time. However, when one administrator edits an object, such as a gateway, a rule, or a network, that object is locked for other administrators until the change is published or discarded. The lock icon shows which objects are being edited by other administrators and prevents conflicts or overwrites.References: [Concurrent Administration], [SmartConsole Overview]

 In order to modify Security Policies, the administrator can use SmartConsole or mgmt_cli (API) on any computer where SmartConsole is installed. SmartConsole is a graphical tool that allows the administrator to create, edit, and manage security policies using a web browser. mgmt_cli (API) is a command-line tool that allows the administrator to perform the same tasks using commands and scripts. Both tools can connect to the Security Management Server remotely from any computer that has SmartConsole installed.References: [SmartConsole Overview], [mgmt_cli (API)]

 When you upload a package or license to the appropriate repository in SmartUpdate, the package or license is stored on the Security Management Server. SmartUpdate is a tool that allows you to centrally manage software updates and licenses for all Check Point products on your network.

References: : Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide, page 16.

The correct answer is D because the command save configuration  stores the Gaia configuration in a file for later reference1. The other commands are not valid in Gaia Clish1. References: Gaia R81.10 Administration Guide

SmartView is the web application for real-time event monitoring in SmartEvent R80 and above. It provides a unified view of security events across the network and allows for quick investigation and response34. References: SmartEvent R80.40 Administration Guide, SmartView

To provide updated malicious data signatures to all Threat Prevention blades, the Threat Prevention gateway does share the data to the ThreatCloud for use by other Threat Prevention blades. The ThreatCloud is a collaborative network and cloud-driven knowledge base that delivers real-time dynamic security intelligence to security gateways. The Threat Prevention gateway can send and receive updates from the ThreatCloud about new threats and malicious data signatures. References: [Check Point R81 Threat Prevention Administration Guide]

 Identity Captive Portal is a Check Point Identity Awareness web portal, to which users connect with their web browser to log in and authenticate, when using Browser-Based Authentication2. To enable Identity Captive Portal for a specific rule, you need to right click Accept in the rule, select “More”, and then check “Enable Identity Captive Portal”3. References: Identity Awareness Administration Guide R80, Identity awareness with captive portal in Checkpoint R80

This answer is correct because these are the software components that are used by the pre-defined Autonomous Threat Prevention Profiles in R81.20 and higher1. These profiles provide zero-maintenance protection from zero-day threats and continuously and autonomously ensure that your protection is up-to-date with the latest cyber threats and prevention technologies2.

The other answers are not correct because they either include software components that are not part of the Autonomous Threat Prevention Profiles, such as Sandbox, ThreatCloud, Zero Phishing, Sanitization, C&C Protection, JPS, File and URL Reputation, or they omit some of the software components that are part of the Autonomous Threat Prevention Profiles, such as Anti-Bot, Anti-Virus, and Macro Extraction.

Autonomous Threat Prevention Management - Check Point Software

Check Point Quantum R81.20 (Titan) Release

Threat Prevention R81.20 Best Practices - Check Point Software

Check Point R81

 Anti-Virus is the single Security Blade that can be turned on to block both malicious files from being downloaded as well as block websites known to host malware. Anti-Virus scans files and email attachments for viruses, worms, trojans, and other types of malware. It also uses ThreatCloud, a collaborative network that delivers real-time dynamic security intelligence, to detect unknown malware based on their behavior3. Anti-Bot is a Security Blade that detects and blocks botnet communications, but it does not scan files or block websites. URL Filtering is a Security Blade that enables administrators to control access to web applications, but it does not scan files or detect malware.

 Threat Prevention is a comprehensive solution that protects networks from malicious attacks by using multiple security blades, such as Anti-Bot, Anti-Virus, IPS, Threat Emulation, and Threat Extraction. A Threat Prevention profile defines the actions and settings for each blade and can be applied to different network segments or scenarios. The Perimeter profile is one of the predefined profiles that uses sanitization technology to protect users from malicious files and links. Sanitization technology includes Threat Emulation and Threat Extraction blades, which can detect and remove malware from files and web content. References: [Check Point R81 Threat Prevention Administration Guide]

While enabling the Identity Awareness blade, the Identity Awareness wizard does not automatically detect the Windows domain because the SmartConsole machine is not part of the domain. The SmartConsole machine needs to be a member of the Windows domain or have access to a domain controller in order to detect the domain automatically2.

References: 2: Check Point R81 Identity Awareness Administration Guide, page 10.

The Application Layer Firewalls inspect traffic through the Lower layer(s) of the TCP/IP model and up to and including the Application layer. The lower layers are the Physical, Data Link, and Network layers, which deal with the transmission and routing of packets. The Application layer is the highest layer of the TCP/IP model, which provides services and protocols for specific applications such as HTTP, FTP, SMTP, etc. The Application Layer Firewalls can inspect the content and context of the traffic and enforce granular security policies based on various criteria such as user identity, application identity, content type, etc. References: [Check Point R81 Firewall Administration Guide]

This answer is correct because the vpn tu command is used for VPN tunnel management and shows detailed information about VPN tunnels, such as the tunnel ID, peer IP, encryption domain, and status1. This command will bring up a menu for you to choose from, such as list all IPsec SAs, delete all IPsec SAs, or delete IPsec SA for given peer1.

The other answers are not correct because they either show different information or do not exist as commands. The cat $FWDlR/conf/vpn.conf command shows the VPN configuration file, which contains the VPN domains, communities, and encryption settings2. The vpn tu tlist command does not exist, but it might be confused with the vpn tunnelutil tlist command, which shows the tunnel utilization statistics3. The cpview command shows the Check Point real-time performance monitoring tool, which displays various system and network parameters, such as CPU, memory, disk, interfaces, and VPN4.

How to use the “vpn tu” command for VPN tunnel management

New VPN daemons in R81.10 / R81.20 - Check Point CheckMates

Remote Access VPN R81.20 Administration Guide - Check Point Software

Remote Access VPN R81 Administration Guide - Check Point Software

Bridge Mode is a deployment option for Check Point Security Gateway that allows it to act as a transparent bridge between two network segments, without changing the IP addressing scheme. Bridge Mode supports most of the security features, such as Data Loss Prevention, Antivirus, Application Control, etc. However, Bridge Mode does not support NAT, because NAT requires modifying the IP addresses or ports of the packets, which contradicts the transparent nature of Bridge Mode1. References: Check Point R81 Security Gateway Technical Administration Guide

Capsule Connect provides a Layer 3 VPN that allows users to access corporate resources securely from their mobile devices2. Capsule Workspace provides a secure container on the mobile device that isolates business data and applications from personal data and applications3. Capsule Workspace also provides a desktop with usable applications such as email, calendar, contacts, documents, and web applications3. References: Check Point Capsule Connect, Check Point Capsule Workspace

The four policy types available for each policy package are Access Control, Threat Prevention, NAT, and HTTPS Inspection. Access Control is the policy type that defines the basic firewall rules. Threat Prevention is the policy type that enables the protection against various types of attacks, such as IPS, Anti-Virus, Anti-Bot, etc. NAT is the policy type that defines the network address translation rules. HTTPS Inspection is the policy type that allows the inspection of encrypted traffic1. The other options are not valid policy types for each policy package.

The BEST object type to represent an LDAP group in a Security Policy is an Access Role. An Access Role object defines a set of users, machines, or networks that can access a resource or service1, p. 27. An Access Role object can include LDAP groups as one of its components2, p. 10. References: Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation, Check Point Identity Awareness Administration Guide R81

Multiple administrators can connect to a Security Management Server at the same time, and each administrator has their own username and works in a session that is independent of other administrators1. This allows concurrent administration and prevents conflicts between different administrators. The other options are incorrect. Only one administrator can be connected is false. All administrators can modify a network object at the same time is false, as only one administrator can lock and edit an object at a time. Only one has the right to write is false, as all administrators have write permissions unless they are restricted by roles or permissions. References: Security Management Server - Check Point Software

Browser-Based Authentication is the best method for enabling Identity Awareness on the Check Point firewalls for users who use company issued or personal laptops. Browser-Based Authentication redirects users to a web page where they enter their credentials to access the network resources. This method does not require any installation or configuration on the user’s device and supports any operating system and browser. AD Query is a method that queries Active Directory servers for user login events and maps them to IP addresses. This method does not work for personal laptops that are not joined to the domain. Identity Agents are software agents that run on Windows or macOS devices and provide user and machine identity information to the firewall. This method requires installation and management of the agents on each device, which may not be feasible for personal laptops. Terminal Servers Agent is a method that identifies users who connect to Windows Terminal Servers or Citrix servers via RDP or ICA protocols. This method does not apply to laptops that connect directly to the network910 References: Identity Awareness Reference Architecture and Best Practices, Part 10 - Identity

 A one-time password is used to initially create trust between a Gateway and Security Management Server. The administrator generates a one-time password from SmartConsole and enters it on the gateway command line interface using the cpconfig command. This establishes a Secure Internal Communication (SIC) between the gateway and the server . The other options are not used for this purpose. References: [Configuring Secure Internal Communication (SIC)], [Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation]

Access roles allow the firewall administrator to configure network access according to remote access clients, a combination of computer or computer groups and networks, and users and user groups12. Therefore, the correct answer is D.

 If AdminB sees a lock icon on a rule, it means that the rule is locked by AdminA and will be made available if the session is published. A session is a set of changes made by an administrator in SmartConsole. A session can be published to save and share the changes with other administrators, or discarded to cancel the changes and unlock the objects1.

References: 1: Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide, page 18.

In a Distributed Environment, a Central License can be installed via CLI on a Security Gateway using the CPLIC command1. This command allows you to install a license from a file or from the User Center1. Therefore, the correct answer is D. True, Central License can be installed with CPLIC command on a Security Gateway. 

When a Security Gateway sends its logs to an IP address other than its own, it means that the deployment option is distributed. In a distributed deployment, the Security Management Server and the Security Gateway are installed on separate machines. The Security Management Server collects logs from one or more Security Gateways and manages them centrally. In a standalone deployment, the Security Management Server and the Security Gateway are installed on the same machine. The Security Gateway sends logs to its own IP address. In a bridge mode deployment, the Security Gateway acts as a transparent bridge between two network segments and does not have an IP address of its own. In a targeted deployment, the Security Gateway sends logs to a specific log server that is configured in the gateway object properties34 References: Part 4 - Installing Security Gateway, Deployment Options

This answer is correct because these are the two forms of Check Point licenses that are used to activate the software blades on the Security Gateways and the Security Management Servers1. A central license is a license that is attached to a Security Management Server and can be used to manage multiple Security Gateways1. A local license is a license that is attached to a specific Security Gateway and can only be used by that gateway1.

The other answers are not correct because they are either irrelevant or inaccurate options for Check Point licenses forms. Security Gateway and Security Management are not license forms, but software components that provide firewall, VPN, and other security features2. On-premise and Public Cloud are not license forms, but deployment options for Check Point products3. Access Control and Threat Prevention are not license forms, but software blades that provide different security functions.

Check Point License Guide

Check Point Software Blade Quick Licensing Guide

Check Point CloudGuard Network Security

[Check Point Software Blades]

SmartConsole, SmartEvent GUI client, and SmartView Web Application allow viewing of billions of consolidated logs and shows them as prioritized security events1. SmartView Web Application is a web-based interface that provides access to SmartEvent reports and dashboards2. References: Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide, Check Point R81 SmartEvent Administration Guide

CloudGuard is not a valid deployment option for R80. CloudGuard is a product name for Check Point’s cloud security solutions, not a deployment mode. The valid deployment options for R80 are all-in-one (stand-alone), distributed, and bridge mode. In an all-in-one deployment, the Security Management Server and Security Gateway are installed on the same machine. In a distributed deployment, the Security Management Server and Security Gateway are installed on separate machines. In a bridge mode deployment, the Security Gateway acts as a transparent bridge between two network segments and does not have an IP address of its own3References: CloudGuard, [Part 4 - Installing Security Gateway], [Deployment Options]

 In Security Gateways R75 and above, SIC uses AES-128 for encryption. SIC stands for Secure Internal Communication, which is a mechanism that establishes trust between Check Point components, such as Security Gateways, Security Management Servers, Log Servers, etc. SIC uses certificates to authenticate and encrypt the communication between the components. AES-128 is an encryption algorithm that uses a 128-bit key to encrypt and decrypt data. The other options are incorrect. AES-256 is an encryption algorithm that uses a 256-bit key, but it is not used by SIC. DES and 3DES are older encryption algorithms that use 56-bit and 168-bit keys respectively, but they are not used by SIC either. References: [Secure Internal Communication (SIC) between Check Point components], AES - Wikipedia, DES - Wikipedia, Triple DES - Wikipedia

 To make John’s changes available to other administrators, and to save the database before installing a policy, John must publish the session. Publishing the session saves the changes to the database and makes them visible to other administrators1. The other options do not achieve this goal. References: Publishing a Session

The path that is available only when CoreXL is enabled is the medium path. The medium path is used to handle packets that require deeper inspection by the Firewall and IPS blades, but do not need to go through the slow path . The slow path is used to handle packets that require stateful or out-of-state inspection by other blades, such as Application Control or VPN . The firewall path and the accelerated path are available regardless of CoreXL status . References: [CoreXL R81 Administration Guide], [Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation], [Check Point Security Gateway Architecture and Packet Flow], [Free Check Point CCSA Sample Questions and Study Guide]

The Shared policies feature allows administrators to share a policy with other policy packages3. This can save time and effort when managing multiple gateways with similar security requirements. Shared policies can be applied to Access Control, Threat Prevention, and HTTPS Inspection layers4. References: Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide, Check Point R81 SmartConsole R81 Resolved Issues

The Security Management Server is the component that changes most often and should be backed up most frequently, because it stores all the security policies and configurations for the Check Point components in your network. The other components are either clients or gateways that do not change as frequently.

References: Check Point Security Management Administration Guide R81, p. 9

The reason why querying logs now are very fast is that Indexing Engine indexes logs for faster search results. Indexing Engine is a component of R81 Management that creates and maintains an index of log data, which enables quick and efficient log searches4. The other options are not related to the speed of log querying. The amount of logs being stored may vary depending on the log retention settings. New Smart-1 appliances may have improved hardware specifications, but they do not affect the log querying process directly. SmartConsole queries results from the Security Management Server, not from the Security Gateway.

References: 1: HTTPS Inspection 2: Browser-Based Authentication 3: URL Filtering 4: Indexing Engine

The actions available in the “Actions” column of a rule in HTTPS Inspection policy are “Inspect” and “Bypass”. “Inspect” means that the HTTPS traffic will be decrypted and inspected according to the Access Control policy. “Bypass” means that the HTTPS traffic will not be decrypted and will be allowed without inspection1. The other options are not valid actions for HTTPS Inspection policy.

You should generate new licenses when the existing license expires, the license is upgraded, or the IP address associated with the license changes. These situations invalidate the current license and require a new one to be obtained from the Check Point User Center and installed on the Security Management Server or Security Gateway. Installing contract files or upgrading devices do not affect the validity of the license12 References: Check Point R81, Managing and Installing license via SmartUpdate