156-215.81 Check Point Certified Security Administrator R81.20 Questions and Answers

By default, the WebUI listens on port 80. The WebUI is a web-based interface that allows administrators to configure and monitor Gaia OS settings and features from a web browser. The WebUI uses the HTTP protocol to communicate with the Gaia machine, which by default uses port 80 as the standard port number. The other port numbers are not used by the WebUI by default, but they can be changed by modifying the Gaia configuration file or using CLISH commands. 

The best sync method in the ClusterXL deployment is to use one dedicated sync interface56. This method provides optimal performance and reliability for synchronization traffic. Using multiple sync interfaces is not recommended as it increases CPU load and does not provide 100% sync redundancy5. Using multiple clusters is not a sync method, but a cluster topology. References: Sync Redundancy in ClusterXL, Best Practice for HA sync interface

According to the Learn More About Threat Signatures4, to quickly review when Threat Prevention signatures were last updated, you can use the IPS Protections tool. This tool shows you the date and time of the last update, as well as the number of signatures and their categories. References: Learn More About Threat Signatures

 From the Gaia web interface, the operation that CANNOT be performed on a Security Management Server is Verify a Security Policy. This operation can only be done from SmartConsole4. References: Check Point R81 SmartConsole Online Help

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]

Two basic rules that Check Point recommends for building an effective security policy are Cleanup Rule and Stealth Rule. A Cleanup Rule is a rule that is placed at the end of the rule base and drops or logs any traffic that does not match any of the previous rules2. A Stealth Rule is a rule that is placed at the top of the rule base and protects the Security Gateway from direct access by unauthorized users3. The other options are not basic rules for building a security policy, but rather types or categories of rules.

The types of VPN communities are Meshed, Star, and Combination. A Meshed community is a group of Security Gateways that have VPN connections between every pair of members. A Star community has one Security Gateway as the center and other Security Gateways or hosts as satellites. A Combination community is a group of Meshed and Star communities. References: [Check Point R81 Site-to-Site VPN Administration Guide]

 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

Most Check Point deployments use Gaia, which is a unified operating system for all Check Point appliances, open servers, and virtualized gateways. However, some product deployments utilize special Check Point code, such as Scalable Platforms (formerly known as Maestro), which are high-performance security gateways that can scale up to 1.5 Tbps of firewall throughput. Scalable Platforms use a special version of Gaia OS called Gaia Embedded, which is planned to be unified with Gaia OS in R81.102. References: Check Point R81 Release Notes

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]

Stateful Inspection is a firewall technology that inspects both the header and the payload of each packet and keeps track of the state and context of each connection. Packet Filtering is a firewall technology that inspects only the header of each packet and does not keep track of the state or context of each connection. A benefit that Stateful Inspection offers over Packet Filtering is that only one rule is required for each connection, whereas Packet Filtering requires two rules for each connection (one for each direction). Stateful Inspection also offers other benefits over Packet Filtering, such as enhanced security, performance, and flexibility. Stateful Inspection does not offer unlimited connections because of virtual memory usage, nor does it avoid using memory to record the protocol used by the connection.References: [Stateful Inspection], [Packet Filtering], [Firewall Technologies]

The statement that is TRUE of anti-spoofing is that it is BEST Practice to have anti-spoofing groups in sync with the routing table. Anti-spoofing prevents attackers from sending packets with a false source IP address. Anti-spoofing groups define which IP addresses are expected on each interface of the Security Gateway. If the routing table changes, the anti-spoofing groups should be updated accordingly34. References: Check Point R81 ClusterXL Administration Guide, Network Defined by Routes: Anti-Spoofing

 It is Best Practice to have an Explicit CleanUp rule at the end of each policy layer. This rule will log and drop any traffic that does not match any of the preceding rules in the layer1, p. 23. References: Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation

The fwm process is responsible for managing the communication between the SmartConsole and the Security Management Server. It can only be seen on a Management Server12. References: Check Point Processes and Daemons, Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation

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]

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

 Check Point technologies that deny or permit network traffic are packet filtering, stateful inspection, and application layer firewall1, p. 15-16. Packet filtering is a basic firewall technique that examines packets based on their source and destination addresses and ports2, p. 13. Stateful inspection is an advanced firewall technique that tracks the state and context of network connections and inspects packets based on their content and sequence2, p. 13. Application layer firewall is a firewall technique that operates at the application layer of the OSI model and inspects packets based on their application protocols and data2, p. 14. References: Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation, 156-315.81 Checkpoint Exam Info and Free Practice Test

There are two default users on Gaia Platform and neither can be deleted. The two default users are admin and monitor. The admin user has full access to the Gaia configuration and management tools, such as CLI and WebUI. The monitor user has read-only access to the Gaia configuration and management tools, and can only view the system status and settings. These two users cannot be deleted, but their passwords can be changed.References: [Gaia Administration Guide], [Gaia Overview]

 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

Plug-and-play (Trial) and Evaluation licenses are considered temporary because they expire after a certain period of time3. Plug-and-play licenses are valid for 15 days, while Evaluation licenses are valid for 30 days. References: Check Point Licensing and Contract Operations User Guide

R80 is supported by Gaia only, which is Check Point’s unified security operating system for all Check Point appliances, open servers, and virtualized gateways1, p. 14. Windows and SecurePlatform are not supported by R80. References: Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation, [Check Point Learning and Training Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)]

Suspicious Activity Monitoring (SAM) is the utility that is used to block activities that appear to be suspicious. SAM allows administrators to block connections from specific IP addresses or network objects for a specified period of time3. Penalty Box is a feature of SAM that automatically blocks connections from sources that generate too many log entries. Drop Rule in the rulebase is a firewall action that discards packets that match certain criteria. Stealth rule is a firewall rule that prevents direct access to the Security Gateway from external sources.

The three main components of Check Point security management architecture are SmartConsole, Security Management, and Security Gateway5. SmartConsole is the graphical user interface that allows administrators to manage and monitor Check Point products. Security Management is the server that stores the security policy and configuration data. Security Gateway is the device that enforces the security policy on the network traffic. References: Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide

The Access Role object type is used to grant network access to an LDAP user group. It defines a set of users and machines that can access a specific network resource34 References: Access Role, LDAP User Group

The default port numbers for an LDAP server are 389 for standard connections and 636 for SSL connections. LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is a protocol that allows access to directory services over TCP/IP. Therefore, the correct answer is B. 389, 636. 

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

The BEST way to tune the profile in order to lower the CPU load still maintaining security at good level is to set the Performance Impact to Medium or lower. This will reduce the number of packets that are inspected by the Threat Prevention blades, while still providing a high level of protection . Setting High Confidence to Low and Low Confidence to Inactive will lower the security level, as it will allow more traffic that may be malicious. The problem is likely with the Threat Prevention Profile, as it can have a significant impact on the CPU utilization of the Security Gateway. Adding more memory to the appliance will not solve the problem, as memory is not the bottleneck in this case. Setting the Performance Impact to Very Low Confidence to Prevent will increase the CPU load, as it will inspect more packets and block more traffic that may be false positives.

References: Threat Prevention Administration Guide, Check Point R81.10

The default shell of Gaia CLI is clish, which stands for Check Point command line interface shell1. It provides a user-friendly interface to configure and manage Check Point products. References: Check Point Gaia Administration Guide

The default shell of the Gaia CLI is cli.sh, which provides a limited set of commands for basic configuration and troubleshooting. To change from the cli.sh shell to the advanced shell (also known as expert mode) to run Linux commands, the administrator needs to execute the command ‘expert’ in the cli.sh shell

The Next Generation Threat Emulation software blade package uses CPU-level and OS-level sandboxing in order to detect and block malware1, p. 41. It emulates files in a virtual environment and inspects their behavior for malicious activity3. References: Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation, Check Point Threat Emulation Administration Guide R81

 Snapshot is the backup utility that captures the most information and tends to create the largest archives. Snapshot creates an image of the entire system, including operating system files, configuration files, databases, and logs. It can be used to restore the system in case of a failure or corruption. Backup creates a compressed file that contains configuration files and databases, but not operating system files or logs. It can be used to restore configuration settings and policies. Database Revision creates a backup of only the database files that store policies and objects. It can be used to revert to a previous revision of the database. Migrate export creates a compressed file that contains configuration files, databases, and logs, but not operating system files. It can be used to migrate data from one machine to another with different hardware or software versions.References: [Backup and Restore], [Database Revision Control], [Migrate Tools], [Hewlett Packard Enterprise Support Center]

The default layers that are included when creating a new policy layer are Access Control, Threat Prevention, and HTTPS Inspection. Access Control is the layer that defines the basic firewall rules. Threat Prevention is the layer that enables the protection against various types of attacks, such as IPS, Anti-Virus, Anti-Bot, etc. HTTPS Inspection is the layer that allows the inspection of encrypted traffic1. The other options are not the default layers that are included when creating a new policy layer.

With the User Directory Software Blade, you can create user definitions on a(n) LDAP Server2. LDAP stands for Lightweight Directory Access Protocol and is a protocol for accessing and managing user information stored in a directory service. The User Directory Software Blade enables integration with LDAP servers such as Microsoft Active Directory, Novell eDirectory, and OpenLDAP. References: Check Point R81 Identity Awareness Administration Guide

The answer is D because in R80 and above, the first administrator to connect to the Management Server using SmartConsole gets a lock on only the objects being modified in his session of the Management Database. Other administrators can connect to make changes using different sessions, but they cannot modify the same objects as the first administrator until he publishes his changes. This is called concurrent administration and it allows multiple administrators to work on the same policy package simultaneously12 References: Check Point R80.10 Concurrent Administration, Check Point R80.40 Security Management Administration Guide

 Check Point licenses are divided into two types: central and local. Central licenses are managed by a Security Management Server and can be attached to any Security Gateway managed by that server. Local licenses are tied to the IP address of a specific Security Gateway and cannot be transferred to a gateway that has a different IP address. Formal and corporate are not types of Check Point licenses. References: [Check Point R81 Licensing and Contract Administration Guide]

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]

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

 src:192.168.1.1 AND dst:172.26.1.1 AND action:Drop is the correct log query to show only dropped packets with source address of 192.168.1.1 and destination address of 172.26.1.1. The AND operator means that all conditions must be true for the query to match. The OR operator means that any condition can be true for the query to match3. The other queries will either show packets that are not dropped or packets that have different source or destination addresses.

The Publish operation sends the modifications made via SmartConsole in the private session and makes them public is the correct answer. This is because publishing is the process of saving your changes to the database and making them available to other administrators. Publishing also allows you to install policies on Security Gateways. References: [Publishing Changes]

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

The snapshot option would allow you to make a backup copy of the OS and Check Point configuration, without stopping Check Point processes. A snapshot is a full system backup, including network interfaces, routing tables, and Check Point products and configuration. The other options require stopping Check Point processes or do not backup the OS.

References: Check Point Security Management Administration Guide R81, p. 15-16

 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

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]

UserCheck is a communication tool used to inform a user about a website or application they are trying to access. UserCheck allows administrators to define actions that require user interaction, such as asking for confirmation, informing about risks, or blocking access3, p. 38. UserCheck is not a messaging tool, an administrator tool, or a notification tool. References: Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation, [Check Point UserCheck Administration Guide R81]

A main component of the Check Point security management architecture is SmartConsole2. SmartConsole is a unified graphical user interface that allows administrators to manage multiple security functions such as firewall, VPN, IPS, application control, URL filtering, identity awareness, and more. SmartConsole connects to the Security Management Server and interacts with other Check Point components such as Security Gateways and Endpoint Security Servers. References: Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide

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 Security Gateways collect logs and send them to the log server. The Security Gateways are the components that enforce the security policy on network traffic and generate logs for each connection that matches a rule with a tracking option. The log server is the component that receives and stores the logs from the Security Gateways and provides a centralized interface for viewing and analyzing them. The log server can be either a dedicated server or integrated with the Security Management Server. References: [Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide]

SecurID is a Check Point supported authentication scheme that typically requires a user to possess a token. A token is a physical device that generates a one-time password that changes periodically. The user must enter the password along with their username to authenticate. References: Remote Access VPN R81.20 Administration Guide, page 30.

The command show cluster state is used to monitor cluster members in CLI. It displays information such as the cluster mode, the cluster members, their status, their priority, and their interfaces.References: [ClusterXL Administration Guide], [Check Point CLI Reference Card]

The correct syntax for adding a host using GAiA management CLI is mgmt add host name ip-address 2. References: Check Point GAiA R81 Command Line Interface Reference Guide

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]

 Security questions are not an authentication scheme used for accounts created through SmartConsole4. The available authentication schemes are Check Point password, RADIUS, TACACS, SecurID, LDAP, and Certificate. References: Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide

When using Automatic Hide NAT, Source Port Address Translation (PAT) is enabled 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

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

The default tracking option of a rule is Log3. This means that the Security Gateway will generate a log entry for every connection that matches the rule. The log entry will contain information such as source, destination, service, action, and time. Other tracking options include None, Alert, Mail, SNMP Trap, User Alert, and Accounting. References: Check Point R81 Firewall Administration Guide

The answer is B because bridge mode deployment adds a Security Gateway to an existing environment without changing IP routing. Bridge mode is a transparent mode that does not require assigning IP addresses to the Security Gateway interfaces. Distributed deployment is a deployment where the Security Management Server and the Security Gateway are installed on separate machines. Remote deployment is a deployment where the Security Gateway is installed on a remote site and connects to the Security Management Server over a VPN tunnel. Standalone deployment is a deployment where the Security Management Server and the Security Gateway are installed on the same machine.References: [Check Point R81 Bridge Mode], [Check Point R81 Deployment Scenarios]

 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.

To increase security, the administrator has modified the Core protection ‘Host Port Scan’ from ‘Medium’ to ‘High’ Predefined Sensitivity. The administrator should install the Threat Prevention Policy after Publishing the changes3. The Threat Prevention Policy defines how the Security Gateway inspects and protects against threats such as port scans, bot attacks, and zero-day exploits4. References: Check Point R81 Firewall Administration Guide, Check Point R81 Threat Prevention Administration Guide

Backup and restores can be accomplished through SmartConsole, WebUI, or CLI. SmartUpdate and SmartBackup are not valid options1.

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

LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is a protocol that allows accessing and maintaining distributed directory information services over a network. User Directory integration is a feature of Identity Awareness that allows Check Point products to use LDAP servers as identity sources. When configuring LDAP with User Directory integration, changes applied to a User Directory template are reflected immediately for all users who are using that template. A User Directory template defines the settings for connecting to an LDAP server and retrieving user information3. References: Check Point R81 Identity Awareness Administration Guide

Correlation Unit is the SmartEvent component that creates events. It analyzes logs received from Security Gateways and Servers, and generates security events according to the definitions in the Consolidation Policy. References: [SmartEvent R80.40 Administration Guide], [Correlation Unit]

To optimize drops, you can use Priority Queues and fully enable Dynamic Dispatcher on the Security Gateway23. Priority Queues are a mechanism that prioritizes part of the traffic when the Security Gateway is stressed and needs to drop packets. Dynamic Dispatcher is a feature that dynamically assigns new connections to a CoreXL FW instance based on the utilization of CPU cores. To enable both features, you need to run the command fw ctl multik set_mode 9 on the Security Gateway4. Therefore, the correct answer is C. fw ctl multik set_mode 9. References: CoreXL Dynamic Dispatcher - Check Point Software, Firewall Priority Queues in R80.x / R81.x - Check Point Software, Separate Config for Dynamic Dispatcher and Priority Queues

 To ensure that VMAC mode is enabled, you should run the command fw ctl get int fwha_vmac_global_param_enabled on all cluster members and check that the result of the command returns the value 11. This command shows the current value of the global kernel parameter fwha_vmac_global_param_enabled, which controls whether VMAC mode is enabled or disabled. VMAC mode is a feature that associates a Virtual MAC address with each Virtual IP address of the cluster, which reduces the need for Gratuitous ARP packets and improves failover performance1. The other options are incorrect. Option A is not a valid command. Option C is a command to show the status of cluster interfaces, not VMAC mode2. Option D is a command to show the value of a different global kernel parameter, fwha_vmac_global_param_enabled, which controls whether VMAC mode is enabled for all interfaces or only for non-VLAN interfaces1. References: How to enable ClusterXL Virtual MAC (VMAC) mode, cphaprob

 A firewall can NOT prevent a network bandwidth saturation attack, which is a type of denial-of-service (DoS) attack that aims to consume all the available bandwidth of a target network or device1, p. 9. A firewall can prevent other types of attacks, such as buffer overflow, SYN flood, and SQL injection, by inspecting packets and applying security rules2, p. 11-12. References: Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation, 156-315.81 Checkpoint Exam Info and Free Practice Test

 Identity Awareness allows the Security Administrator to configure network access based on network location, identity of a user, and identity of a machine1. These are the three main identity sources that Identity Awareness supports1. References: Identity Awareness R80.40 Administration Guide

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. 

Sub Policies are a new feature in R80.10 Gateway that allow creating and attaching sets of rules to specific rules in the main policy4. Sub Policies are useful for delegating permissions, managing large rule bases, and applying different inspection profiles4. The other options are not new features in R80.10 Gateway. References: Check Point R80.10 Security Management Administration Guide

Verification Error. Rule 4 (Web Inbound) hides Rule 6 (Webmaster access) is the correct answer. This is because Rule 4 has a broader source and destination than Rule 6, and both rules have the same service (HTTP). Therefore, Rule 6 will never be matched, and the Webmaster access will be denied. References: Check Point R80.10 - Part 3 - Rule Base Order

 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 type of NAT that is a one-to-one relationship where each host is translated to a unique address is Static NAT. Static NAT maps an unregistered IP address to a registered IP address on a one-to-one basis3. This means that for each internal host, there is a corresponding external address that represents it3. Therefore, the correct answer is B

The ports to which the Client Authentication daemon listens on by default are 259 and 900. Client Authentication is a method that allows users to authenticate with the Security Gateway before they are allowed access to protected resources. The Client Authentication daemon (fwauthd) runs on the Security Gateway and listens for authentication requests on TCP ports 259 and 900 . References: [Check Point R81 Remote Access VPN Administration Guide], [Check Point R81 Quantum Security Gateway Guide]

The technologies that are used to deny or permit network traffic are Stateful Inspection, Firewall Blade, and URL/Application Blade. Stateful Inspection is a technology that inspects network traffic at the packet level and maintains the state and context of each connection. Firewall Blade is a software blade that enforces security policy and prevents unauthorized access to protected resources. URL/Application Blade is a software blade that enables administrators to control access to millions of websites and applications based on users, groups, and machines.

References: : Check Point R81 Security Gateway Administration Guide, page 9. : Check Point R81 Security Gateway Administration Guide, page 10. : Check Point R81 Security Gateway Administration Guide, page 12.

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

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]

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

 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 Hide NAT, only the source IP address is translated to a different IP address4. This is used to hide a group of hosts behind a single IP address, usually the external interface of the Security Gateway. References: Check Point R81 Firewall Administration Guide

The main objective when using Application Control is to ensure security and privacy of information4. Application Control enables administrators to control access to web applications and web sites based on risk level, user identity, and other criteria. It also provides visibility into web usage and application activity. References: Check Point R81 Application Control Administration Guide

The Advanced Networking Blade is NOT subscription-based and therefore does not have to be renewed on a regular basis1011. The Advanced Networking Blade provides advanced routing capabilities such as BGP, OSPF, VRRP, and multicast routing10. The other blades are subscription-based and require annual renewal to receive updates and support from Check Point1012.

References: Check Point License Guide, IPS Software Blade contracts, Product Catalog

 The type of Check Point license that ties the package license to the IP address of the Security Management Server is Central license. A Central license is a license that is installed on the Security Management Server and applies to all the Security Gateways that are managed by it. The Central license is based on the IP address of the Security Management Server and cannot be transferred to another Security Management Server with a different IP address.References: [Check Point R81 Licensing Guide], [Managing and Installing license via SmartUpdate]

Accounting is the option in tracking that allows you to see the amount of data passed in the connection. Accounting tracks the number of bytes and packets for each connection and generates reports based on the collected data. References: Certified Security Administrator (CCSA) R81.20 Course Overview, page 14.

The Security Management Server does not display policies and logs on the administrator’s workstation. That is the function of the SmartConsole, which is a separate component that connects to the Security Management Server. References: Certified Security Administrator (CCSA) R81.20 Course Overview, page 4.

Resource is NOT an objects category in SmartConsole1, p. 18. The objects categories in SmartConsole are Network Object, Host, Network, Group, Gateway, Cluster, VPN Community, Service, Time Object, Access Role, Custom Application / Site, Data Center Object, Limit. References: Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation, [Check Point SmartConsole R81 Help]

Application information is included in the “Extended Log” tracking option, but is not included in the “Log” tracking option4. The “Extended Log” option provides additional information about the application, such as name, category, risk, and technology4. References: LOGGINGAND MONITORING R80

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. 

Permissions and Administrators are defined on the Manage and Settings tab in SmartConsole3. This tab allows you to create and manage administrator accounts, roles, permissions, and authentication methods for accessing SmartConsole and other Check Point management interfaces. References: Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide

 In hide NAT, the source IP address is translated. Hide NAT is also known as many-to-one NAT or PAT (Port Address Translation). It maps multiple private IP addresses to one public IP address by using different port numbers. Hide NAT allows outbound connections from the private network to the public network, but not inbound connections from the public network to the private network. In static NAT, the source or destination IP address is translated depending on the direction of the traffic. Static NAT is also known as one-to-one NAT or bi-directional NAT. It maps one private IP address to one public IP address and allows both outbound and inbound connections. In simple NAT, there is no translation of IP addresses. Simple NAT is also known as routing mode or transparent mode. It allows traffic to pass through the NAT device without any modification. There is no hide NAT for destination IP address translation5678 References: What Is Network Address Translation (NAT)?, Network address translation, Network Address Translation Definition, Network Address Translation (NAT)

This answer is correct because this is the recommended way to configure a VPN tunnel between two subnets and not all subnets defined in the default VPN domain of your gateway1. By creating a dedicated VPN Community, you can specify the VPN peers and the encryption settings for the VPN tunnel2. By selecting the local gateway in the Community, you can set the VPN Domain to ‘User defined’ and put in the local network that you want to include in the VPN tunnel1. This way, you can limit the VPN traffic to the subnets that you want and avoid unnecessary encryption and decryption of other traffic.

The other answers are not correct because they are either outdated or incorrect ways to configure a VPN tunnel between two subnets. Answer A and C are outdated methods that involve editing the user.def file, which is not recommended and can cause problems with the VPN configuration3. Answer D is incorrect because creating an in-line layer rule with source and destination containing the two networks used for the IKE P2 SA will not affect the VPN tunnel establishment, but only the access control policy4. The VPN column in the rule is used to specify the VPN direction, not the VPN Community name4.

• How to configure a Site-to-Site VPN with a universal tunnel
• Site to Site VPN R81 Administration Guide - Check Point Software
• How to configure a Site-to-Site VPN with a 3rd-party remote gateway
• Access Control Policy R81 Administration Guide - Check Point Software

Active Directory Query is an identity acquisition method that allows a Security Gateway to identify Active Directory users and computers. Active Directory Query enables the Security Gateway to query the Active Directory Domain Controllers for user and computer information, such as IP addresses, group memberships, and login events.

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

The policy type that is used to enforce bandwidth and traffic control rules is QoS. QoS stands for Quality of Service and is a software blade that allows administrators to prioritize network traffic according to various criteria such as source, destination, service, application, user, etc. QoS can also limit the bandwidth consumption of certain traffic types or guarantee a minimum bandwidth for critical applications. References: [Check Point R81 QoS Administration Guide]

The default Threat Prevention Profiles in R80 Management are Basic, Optimized, and Strict1. There is no Recommended profile by default. You can create a custom profile and name it Recommended, but it is not included by default. References: Check Point R81 Threat Prevention Administration Guide

 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

The two Check Point Protocols that are used by are FWD and LEA567. FWD is the Firewall Daemon that handles communication between different Check Point components, such as Security Management Server, Security Gateway, SmartConsole, etc. LEA is the Log Export API that allows external applications to retrieve logs from the Security Gateway or Security Management Server. Therefore, the correct answer is B. FWD and LEA. References: Border Gateway Protocol - Check Point Software, Check Point IPS Datasheet, List of valid protocols for services? - Check Point CheckMates

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.

The Sticky Decision Function (SDF) can only be changed for Load Sharing implementations, not for High Availability implementations4. References: Check Point ClusterXL R81 Administration Guide

 When LDAP is integrated with Check Point Security Management, it is then referred to as User Directory. User Directory is a feature that allows you to import users and groups from an external LDAP server and use them in your security policies. User Center, User Administration, and UserCheck are different features that are not related to LDAP integration.References: [User Directory], [LDAP Integration]

The main difference between Static NAT and Hide NAT is that Static NAT allows incoming and outgoing connections, while Hide NAT only allows outgoing connections4. Static NAT translates a single IP address to another single IP address, while Hide NAT translates a group of IP addresses to a single IP address. Static NAT is used to expose internal servers to external networks, while Hide NAT is used to hide internal hosts from external networks. References: Check Point R81 Firewall Administration Guide

Endpoint Identity Agent and Browser-Based Authentication are the identity sources that provide the highest level of security for sensitive servers, as they require user authentication and can enforce granular access rules based on user identity. AD Query, Terminal Servers Endpoint Identity Agent, and RADIUS and Account Logon are less secure, as they rely on passive methods of identity acquisition or do not support identity-based access control12.

References: Identity Awareness R81.10 Administration Guide, Identity Awareness AD Query

The R80.10 management server can manage gateways with versions R76 and higher34. Versions lower than R76 are not supported by the R80.10 management server. References: Check Point R80.10 Release Notes, Free Check Point CCSA Sample Questions and Study Guide

By default, the SIC certificates issued by R80 Management Server are based on the SHA-256 algorithm1. SHA-256 is a secure hash algorithm that produces a 256-bit digest. SHA-200, MD5, and SHA-128 are not valid algorithms for SIC certificates. References: SHA-1 and SHA-256 certificates in Check Point Internal CA (ICA)

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

 ThreatWiki is a web-based tool that provides statistics on detected threats, such as attack types, sources, destinations, and severity. It also allows the administrator to search for specific threats and view their details and mitigation methods. The other options are not tools for viewing statistics on detected threats. References: [ThreatWiki], [ThreatWiki - Threat Emulation]

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

The TCP/IP model is made up of four layers: Application, Transport, Internet, and Network Interface1, p. 10. The TCP/IP model is a simplified version of the OSI model, which has seven layers: Application, Presentation, Session, Transport, Network, Data Link, and Physical. References: Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation, [TCP/IP Model Explained]

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

 A clean-up rule is a rule that is placed at the end of the security policy to drop any traffic that is not explicitly allowed by the previous rules. It is a best practice to have a clean-up rule to prevent unauthorized access and log the dropped packets for analysis12. The other options are not the purpose of a clean-up rule. References: Clean-up Rule, Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation

 Identity Awareness is the Check Point software blade that provides visibility of users, groups and machines while also providing access control through identity-based policies. Identity Awareness enables administrators to define granular access rules based on user or machine identity, rather than just IP addresses. Identity Awareness also allows administrators to monitor user activity and generate reports based on user or machine identity.

A reason for manual creation of a NAT rule is when the public IP-address is different from the gateway’s external IP. This can happen when the gateway is behind another NAT device or firewall3 . References: Check Point R81 Security Gateway Administration Guide, Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation

 The answer is B because querying logs now is very fast because the Indexing Engine indexes logs for faster search results. The Indexing Engine is a component of the Smart-1 appliance that creates indexes for log fields and values, such as source, destination, action, and time. The indexes enable quick and efficient searches of large amounts of log data.References: [Check Point R81 Logging and Monitoring Administration Guide], [Check Point R81 Indexing Engine]

The file that stores the proxy arp configuration is $FWDIR/conf/local.arp on the gateway3 . The other files are not related to proxy arp configuration. References: How to configure Proxy ARP for Manual NAT on Security Gateway, [Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation]

Application Control/URL filtering database library is known as AppWiki. AppWiki is an application classification and identification database that enables administrators to control access to thousands of applications and millions of websites. References: [Check Point R81 Application Control Administration Guide], [Check Point AppWiki]

Detailed Log is not a valid tracking log option in R80.x3. The tracking log options in R80.x are Log, Full Log, and Extended Log45. References: Where is ‘full log’ option in track column, LOGGINGAND MONITORING R80, Logging and Monitoring Administration Guide R80.20

The user ID (UID) of a user that has all the privileges of a root user is 0. The root user is the superuser account that can perform any action on the system, such as changing file ownership, binding to network ports below 1024, or executing any command. The root user is identified by the UID 0, not by the name “root”, which is just a convention. It is possible to have another user account with the name “root”, but not with the same UID 0. 

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.

When a SAM rule is required on Security Gateway to quickly block suspicious connections which are not restricted by the Security Policy, the administrator needs to take the following action: SmartView Monitor should be opened and then the SAM rule/s can be applied immediately. Installing policy is not required. SAM stands for Suspicious Activity Monitoring and is a feature that allows administrators to block or limit connections from specific sources or destinations without modifying the security policy. SAM rules can be created from SmartView Monitor or SmartEvent based on real-time network activity or security events. References: [Check Point R81 SmartView Monitor Administration Guide]

The answer is C because inline layer can be defined as a rule action in a policy layer. Inline layer is a sub-policy that contains additional rules that are applied only if the parent rule matches. Ordered layer is a policy layer that contains rules that are applied in order, from top to bottom. One policy can be either inline or ordered, but not both. Pre-R80 Gateways do support ordered layers, but not inline layers5 References: Check Point R81 Policy Layers and Sub-Policies, [Check Point R81 Security Gateway 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