A great way to start the Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Architect (NetSec-Architect) preparation is to begin by properly appreciating the role that syllabus and study guide play in the Palo Alto NetSec-Architect certification exam. This study guide is an instrument to get you on the same page with Palo Alto and understand the nature of the Palo Alto NetSec-Architect exam.
Our team of experts has composed this Palo Alto NetSec-Architect exam preparation guide to provide the overview about Palo Alto Network Security Architect exam, study material, sample questions, practice exam and ways to interpret the exam objectives to help you assess your readiness for the Palo Alto NetSec-Architect exam by identifying prerequisite areas of knowledge. We recommend you to refer the simulation questions and practice test listed in this guide to determine what type of questions will be asked and the level of difficulty that could be tested in the Palo Alto NetSec-Architect certification exam.
Palo Alto NetSec-Architect Exam Overview:
| Exam Name | Palo Alto Network Security Architect |
| Exam Number | NetSec-Architect |
| Exam Price | $300 USD |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Number of Questions | 80 |
| Passing Score | 860 on a scale of 300 to 1000 |
| Exam Registration | PEARSON VUE |
| Sample Questions | Palo Alto NetSec-Architect Sample Questions |
| Practice Exam | Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Architect Practice Test |
Palo Alto NetSec-Architect Exam Topics:
| Section | Weight | Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Zero Trust Enterprise | 8% |
- Design User-ID and device health, host information profile (HIP) and security posture, and Device-IDbased least privilege access Security policy controls - Design and differentiate between network segmentation and microsegmentation - Differentiate access to specific applications - Implement continuous security scanning of allowed traffic to stop malware and exploits - Implement continuous monitoring and analytics of zero trust environment |
| AI Security | 11% |
- Differentiate between and explain the specific Palo Alto Networks products that make up Prisma AI Runtime Security (AIRS) and AI Access
- Determine recommended standard architectures for AI security
- Identify and explain the classification and attributes of AI applications and apply security controls
|
| Centralized Management and IAM | 13% |
- Architect Panorama and log collectors
- Architect Strata Cloud Manager (SCM), Strata Logging Service, and Cloud Identity Engine
- Recommend Strata Logging Service log forwarding methods and integrations (e.g., syslog over TLS, HTTP, email)
|
| SSE Private Application Access | 11% |
- Architect Prisma Access in regional and global deployments - Differentiate between on-ramp and off-ramp architectures
- Determine private application access through Prisma Browser |
| Mobile User Security | 7% |
- Evaluate Prisma Browser, Prisma Access Agent, explicit proxy, and GlobalProtect use cases - Architect GlobalProtect connection methods: On-demand, User-logon (Always On), Pre logon (Always On) - Architect Prisma Access Mobile Users - Design AI-Powered Autonomous Digital Experience Manager (ADEM) |
| Modernizing Branches | 11% |
- Compare and design branch architectures for SASE security and HA
- Evaluate advanced security for Prisma SD-WAN
|
| Data Security | 7% |
- Differentiate between SaaS Security Inline and SaaS API Security
- Determine the most secure approach for SaaS application usage control
|
| Securing IoT Environments | 11% |
- Architect Device Security
- Differentiate between IoT sensor placement options |
| Public Cloud | 11% |
- Explain NGFW standard integrations, including AWS, Azure, GCP, and OCI - Design for maintenance and security across CSP environments
- Design to AWS NGFW standards
- Design to Azure NGFW standards
- Design to GCP NGFW standards
- Justify VM-Series and Cloud NGFW solutions
|
| Private Cloud (PA-Series, VM-Series, Hypervisors) | 10% |
- Assess private cloud scope and capacity requirements
- Design VM-Series deployments across hypervisors (e.g., AHV, KVM, ESXi)
- Evaluate SSL decryption versus performance trade-offs
- Explain Layer 3 deployment routing considerations
- Evaluate systems management options and considerations |
Palo Alto NetSec-Architect Exam Description:
The Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Architect certification is designed to validate an experienced network security architect’s competencies, skills, and abilities in understanding technical and business requirements and then architecting secure, highly available, and scalable systems with Palo Alto Networks network security portfolio solutions and relevant third-party integrations. This certification goes beyond technical knowledge to confirm a candidate’s ability to design, develop, and oversee complex security blueprints using industry frameworks that align with an organization's compliance requirements and business objectives.
