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

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

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]

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]

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

The tool that is used to enable ClusterXL is cpconfig. ClusterXL is a software-based Load Sharing and High Availability solution that distributes network traffic between clusters of redundant Security Gateways1. To enable ClusterXL, you need to run the cpconfig command on each cluster member and select Enable Cluster membership for this gateway2. Therefore, the correct answer is B. cpconfig. 

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

If a network administrator has identified a malicious host on the network and instructed you to block it, but you cannot make any firewall policy changes at this time, you can use Suspicious Activity Monitoring (SAM) rules to block this traffic. SAM rules are temporary rules that allow you to block or limit traffic from specific sources or destinations without modifying the security policy. SAM rules are created and managed by SmartView Monitor and are enforced by the security gateway for a specified duration. Anti-Bot protection, Anti-Malware protection, and Policy-based routing are not tools that can be used to block traffic without changing the firewall policy. References: [Check Point R81 SmartView Monitor Administration Guide]

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 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 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 command fwaccel stat shows the status of SecureXL, including whether Drop Templates are enabled or not1. References: Check Point SecureXL R81 Administration Guide

 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.

When a Security Gateway sends its logs to an IP address other than its own, it means that the Security Gateway and the Log Server are installed on different machines. This is a characteristic of a Distributed deployment3. Therefore, the correct answer is A

The following is considered a “Subscription Blade”, requiring renewal every 1-3 years: IPS blade4. The IPS blade is a software blade that provides protection against network attacks and exploits by inspecting traffic and blocking malicious packets. The IPS blade requires a subscription license that includes updates for the IPS signatures and Geo Protection database. Other subscription blades include Anti-Bot, Anti-Virus, URL Filtering, Application Control, Threat Emulation, and Threat Extraction. References: Check Point Licensing and Contract Operations User Guide

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

Central licensing is the preferred licensing model because it ties the package license to the IP-address of the Security Management Server and has no dependency on the gateway. This allows for easier management and distribution of licenses across multiple gateways1.

References: 1: Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide, page 14.

The correct answer is B because Threat Extraction always delivers a file and takes less than a second to complete2. Threat Extraction removes exploitable content from files and delivers a clean and safe file to the user2. Threat Emulation analyzes files in a sandbox environment and delivers a verdict of malicious or benign2. Threat Emulation can take more than 3 minutes to complete depending on the file size and complexity2. References: Check Point R81 Threat Prevention Administration Guide

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

The answer is B because Geo policy shared policy is used to create policy for traffic to or from a particular location based on the source or destination country. DLP shared policy is used to prevent data loss by inspecting files and data for sensitive information. Mobile Access software blade is used to provide secure remote access to corporate resources from various devices. HTTPS inspection is used to inspect encrypted web traffic for threats and compliance4References: Check Point R81 Geo Policy Administration Guide, [Check Point R81 Data Loss Prevention Administration Guide], [Check Point R81 Mobile Access Administration Guide], [Check Point R81 HTTPS Inspection 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 correct answer is D because the recommended size of the root partition for a dedicated R80 SmartEvent server is at least 20GB2. Any size, less than 20GB, or more than 10GB and less than 20GB are not sufficient for the SmartEvent server. References: Check Point R80.40 Installation and Upgrade Guide

 In Logging and Monitoring, the tracking options are Log, Detailed Log and Extended Log. You can add Accounting and/or Suppression to each of these options1. Accounting enables you to track the amount of data that is sent or received by a specific rule. Suppression enables you to reduce the number of logs that are generated by a specific rule. Therefore, the correct answer is C. Accounting/Suppression. References: Logging and Monitoring Administration Guide R80 - Check Point Software

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

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. 

Manage and Command Line is not a valid application navigation tab in the R80 SmartConsole, as it does not exist in the interface. The image shows the navigation toolbar of the R80 SmartConsole, which has four tabs: Security Policies, Logs & Monitor, Gateways & Servers, and Manage & Settings1. The Command Line Interface button is located in the system information area, not in the navigation toolbar1.

References: Application Control and URL Filtering - Check Point Software

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

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

 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

The difference between the Install Policy button on the SmartConsole’s tab and the Install Policy within a specific policy is that the former installs all the policies that are selected in the Install Policy window, while the latter pre-selects the installation for only the current policy and for the applicable gateways5 . The other options are not accurate differences. References: Installing Policies, [Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation]

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

 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.

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

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

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 GAiA Portal is the WebUI for Check Point security appliances. By default, it uses the HTTPS protocol for secure communication. The default port for HTTPS-based web access is port 443.

Port 4434 (A) is not the default port for GAiA Portal.

Port 80 (B) is the default for standard HTTP, but GAiA Portal requires HTTPS.

Port 8080 (C) is sometimes used for alternative web services, but not for GAiA Portal.

Port 443 (D) is the correct default port for GAiA Portal access.

Thus, the correct answer is D. 443.

The command api status shows the API server status, including whether it is enabled or not, the port number, and the API version1. References: Check Point R81 API Reference Guide

 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]

When a policy package is installed, user and objects databases are also distributed to the target installation Security Gateways14. The user and objects databases contain information about network objects, users, groups, services, VPN domains, and more14. Therefore, the correct answer is A. User and objects databases.

A shared policy is a set of rules that can be used in multiple policy packages. It allows the administrator to create a common security policy for different gateways or domains, and avoid duplication and inconsistency. The other options are not advantages of a shared policy. References: [Shared Policies Overview], [Shared Policies Best Practices]

 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]

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]

 Only one user can have read/write access in Gaia Operating System at one time2. This is to prevent conflicts and errors when multiple users try to modify the same configuration settings. References: Check Point Gaia Administration Guide

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 way that the objects can be manipulated using the new API integration in R80 Management is JSON. JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data-interchange format that is easy for humans and machines to read and write. The R80 Management API uses JSON as the primary data format for requests and responses. Therefore, the correct answer is B. JSON.

In Check Point Gaia OS, the default command-line shell is Clish (B).

Clish (Command Line Shell) is a restricted shell used in Gaia for role-based administration. It controls user access and limits the number of available commands.

Expert mode (C) is an elevated shell that provides full system root access, but it is not the default shell. Users must explicitly enter expert mode.

Bash (D) is the underlying Linux shell, but it is not the default.

Admin (A) is not a shell but rather a user role in Gaia.

Thus, the correct answer is B. Clish.

The order of NAT priorities is Static NAT, IP pool NAT, and hide NAT. Static NAT has the highest priority because it is a one-to-one mapping of a private IP address to a public IP address. IP pool NAT has the second highest priority because it is a one-to-many mapping of a private IP address to a pool of public IP addresses. Hide NAT has the lowest priority because it is a many-to-one mapping of multiple private IP addresses to a single public IP address1.

References: 1: Check Point R81 Security Gateway Administration Guide, page 23.

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 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

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

From SmartConsole, go to the Log & Monitor and filter for the IP address of the tablet is the correct answer. This is because the Log & Monitor view in SmartConsole allows you to view and analyze logs and events from various sources, such as Security Gateways, Security Management Servers, and SmartEvent Servers. You can use filters to search for specific logs and events based on different criteria, such as source IP, destination IP, action, time, etc. References: [Logging and Monitoring Administration Guide R80.20]

 The statement that information on a user is hidden, yet distributed across several servers is not an advantage to using multiple LDAP servers. LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is a protocol that allows access to a centralized directory service that stores information about users, groups, devices, etc. Using multiple LDAP servers can provide advantages such as faster access time, compartmentalization, and high availability, but not hiding information. Information on a user is not hidden by using multiple LDAP servers, but rather replicated or partitioned across them. Replication means that the same information is copied to all LDAP servers, while partitioning means that different information is stored on different LDAP servers. Both methods aim to improve performance and reliability, not security or privacy.References: [LDAP Integration], [LDAP]

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

The option that allows traffic to VPN gateways in specific VPN communities is Specific VPN Communities4. This option enables you to define which VPN communities are allowed in the rule. All Connections (Clear or Encrypted) allows traffic to any destination, regardless of whether it is encrypted or not. Accept all encrypted traffic allows traffic to any encrypted destination, regardless of the VPN community. All Site-to-Site VPN Communities allows traffic to any site-to-site VPN gateway, regardless of the VPN community4. Therefore, the correct answer is C. Specific VPN Communities.

The command that is used to monitor cluster members is cphaprob state. This command shows the state of each cluster member (Active, Standby, Down, etc.) and the reason for the state (OK, HA Failure, CCP Failure, etc.). It also shows the state synchronization status (Synchronized or Not Synchronized) and the uptime of each cluster member. The other options are incorrect. Option B is a command to show the status of cluster services, not cluster members. Option C is not a valid command by itself, as it requires an argument such as state, status, list, etc. Option D is not a valid command at all. References: [cphaprob]

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

 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

When dealing with rule base layers, two layer types can be utilized: Ordered Layers and Inline Layers5. Ordered Layers are executed sequentially according to their order in the policy. Inline Layers are embedded in a parent layer and are executed only if the parent rule matches. References: Check Point R81 Firewall Administration Guide, [Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide]

The tool used to enable cluster membership on a Gateway is cpconfig2. This tool allows you to configure basic settings of Check Point products, such as cluster membership, administrator name and password, GUI clients, and Secure Internal Communication (SIC)2. References: Next Generation Security Gateway Guide R80

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]

When logging in for the first time to a Security Management Server through SmartConsole, a fingerprint is saved to the SmartConsole cache and is available for future Security Management Server authentications. The fingerprint is a unique identifier of the Security Management Server that is used to verify its identity and prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. The SmartConsole cache is a local folder on the client machine that stores temporary files and settings.

References: Check Point Security Management Administration Guide R81, p. 25-26

In Check Point Gaia WebUI, different icons are used to indicate various system states.

Eyeglasses (A) typically represent "view-only" access.

Pencil (B) represents "edit" or read/write access, meaning the user can modify configurations.

Padlock (C) is often used to indicate locked or restricted settings.

Book (D) does not indicate access permissions.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Pencil" (B), which represents that read/write access is enabled in the WebUI.

 Extended Log is a tracking option that enables administrators to see additional information about the traffic that matches a security rule, such as data type, file name, file size, etc. However, to see any data type information, Content Awareness must be enabled on the Security Gateway. Content Awareness is a blade that inspects files based on their type, size, name, and data. Content Awareness is required for Extended Log to work properly3. References: Check Point R81 Content Awareness Administration Guide

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.

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

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]

The communication between different Check Point components is secured in R80 by using SIC. SIC stands for Secure Internal Communication and it is a mechanism that ensures the authenticity and confidentiality of communication between Check Point components, such as Security Gateways, Security Management Servers, Log Servers, etc. SIC uses certificates issued by the Internal CA (ICA) and encryption algorithms such as AES-25634. References: Check Point R81 Quantum Security Gateway Guide, Check Point R81 Quantum Security Management Administration Guide

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 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 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. 

The types of Software Containers are Security Management, Security Gateway, and Endpoint Security. Software Containers are virtual environments that run on top of Gaia OS and allow multiple instances of Check Point products to coexist on the same physical machine. The other options are not valid types of Software Containers.

The answer is A because 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, such as the server name, port, base DN, user filter, and group filter. When a User Directory template is modified, all users who are using that template will inherit the changes without requiring any additional actions3 References: Check Point R81 Identity Awareness Administration Guide, [Check Point R81 User Directory Templates]

 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 command add rba user roles  is used to add users to or from existing roles. RBA stands for Role-Based Administration, which is a feature that allows administrators to assign different permissions and access levels to users based on their roles2.

References: 2: Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide, page 20.

The Threat Prevention Software Blade that provides protection from malicious software that can infect your network computers is Anti-Virus. Anti-Virus is a software blade that scans files and traffic for viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, and other malware. Anti-Virus can block or clean infected files and prevent malware outbreaks. IPS is a software blade that provides protection from network attacks and exploits. Anti-Malware is not a software blade, but rather a term that refers to any software that can detect and remove malware. Content Awareness is a software blade that provides visibility and control over data that enters or leaves the network based on file types, data types, and keywords.

References: [Anti-Virus Software Blade], [IPS Software Blade], [What is Anti-Malware?], [Content Awareness Software Blade]

An explicit rule is created by an administrator and configured to allow or block traffic based on specified criteria. Explicit rules are displayed in the Rule Base and can be modified by the administrator. References: Certified Security Administrator (CCSA) R81.20 Course Overview, page 12.

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 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 option that is used to enforce changes made to a Rule Base is Install policy. Installing policy is the process of sending the security policy and the network objects from the Security Management Server to the Security Gateway1, p. 22. Publishing database and saving changes are options that are used to save changes made to a Rule Base, but they do not enforce them on the Security Gateway2. Activating policy is not a valid option in SmartConsole. References: Check Point CCSA - R81: Practice Test & Explanation, Check Point SmartConsole R81 Help

 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

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)]

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

 Core Protections are installed as part of the Threat Prevention Policy. Core Protections are a set of IPS protections that are essential for securing your network against malicious traffic4. The other policies do not include Core Protections.

References: 1: Check Point CLI Reference Card 2: Anti-Spoofing 3: SmartView Tracker 4: Core Protections

 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]

 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]

 Identity Awareness is a blade that enables administrators to define access rules based on the identity of users and machines, rather than just IP addresses. Identity Awareness allows easy configuration for network access and auditing based on three items: network location, the identity of a user, and the identity of a machine. Network location refers to the source or destination network segment of the traffic. The identity of a user refers to the username or group membership of the user who initiates or receives the traffic. The identity of a machine refers to the hostname or certificate of the machine that initiates or receives the traffic. References: [Check Point R81 Identity Awareness 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

The pen-symbol in the left column means that the rules have been edited by the logged in administrator, but the policy has not been published yet. It indicates that the changes are not yet effective and can be discarded.References: Policy Editor, Publishing Changes

 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

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

The Threat Prevention policy is a unified policy that manages three software blades: IPS, Anti-Virus, and Threat Emulation7. The Threat Prevention policy enables you to configure settings and actions for detecting and preventing various types of threats, such as malware, exploits, botnets, etc. Application Control and URL Filtering are not part of the Threat Prevention policy, but they are part of a separate policy that controls access to applications and websites based on categories, users, groups, and machines

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

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.

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.

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]

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

 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

USB media created with Check Point ISOMorphic is the most recommended installation method for Check Point appliances, as it provides a fast and easy way to install the Gaia operating system and the latest software version4. SmartUpdate installation requires an existing Gaia installation and does not support fresh installations4. DVD media created with Check Point ISOMorphic is less convenient than USB media, as it requires burning the image to a DVD and inserting it into the appliance4. Cloud based installation is not applicable for Check Point appliances, as it is intended for cloud environments such as AWS or Azure4.

References: INSTALLATION AND UPGRADE GUIDE R81.10, Chassis R81 Installation and Upgrade Guide, Check Point R81.10

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

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]

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]

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 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

If the NAT property ‘Translate destination on client side’ is not enabled in Global properties, nothing needs to be configured on the client side, because the Gateway takes care of all details necessary. The Gateway translates the destination IP address before sending the packet to the client, so the client does not need to know about the NAT rule or add any host route or ARP entry.

References: Check Point Security Engineering Study Guide, p. 136-137

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

 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 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 icon in the WebUI that indicates that read/write access is enabled is the Pencil icon . The Pencil icon appears next to the name of the device when it is in Read/Write mode, which allows making changes to the configuration. The Padlock icon indicates that read-only access is enabled, which prevents making changes to the configuration. The Book icon indicates that online help is available, which provides information and guidance on using the WebUI. The Eyeglasses icon indicates that a view-only mode is enabled, which allows viewing the configuration without logging in.

References: Gaia R81.10 Administration Guide, WebUI Overview

Logs are not automatically forwarded to a new Log Server. SmartConsole must be used to manually configure each gateway to send its logs to the server. After adding a new Log Server and establishing the SIC trust with the SMS, the administrator must use SmartConsole to assign the Log Server to each gateway in the Logs and Masters section of the gateway properties2. The other options are not correct, as gateways can send logs to both SMS and Log Server, Log Servers are not proprietary log archive servers, and gateways will not detect the new Log Server after the next policy install.

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

When an encrypted packet is decrypted, this happens in the security policy4. The security policy is a set of rules that defines how the Security Gateway inspects and secures traffic. The security policy includes VPN rules that specify which traffic should be encrypted or decrypted. The inbound and outbound chains are part of the inspection framework that processes packets according to the security policy. References: Check Point R81 VPN Administration Guide

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

 Address translation is not a role of the SmartCenter, as it is performed by the Security Gateway based on the NAT policy configured in the SmartConsole5. The other options are roles of the SmartCenter, as it is responsible for status monitoring, policy configuration, and certificate authority for the Security Gateways5.

References: Gaia R81.10 Administration Guide, QUANTUM SECURITY MANAGEMENT R81, Remote Access VPN R81 Administration Guide

A standalone deployment is when the security management server and Security Gateway are installed on the same appliance. This is suitable for small or branch office environments1

When LDAP is integrated with Check Point Security Management, it is then referred to as User Directory. User Directory is a feature that allows administrators to manage users and user groups from an external LDAP server, such as Active Directory2.

References: 2: Check Point R81 Identity Awareness Administration Guide, page 9.

The Online Activation method is available for Check Point manufactured appliances. The administrator uses the Online Activation method by using the Gaia First Time Configuration Wizard, the appliance connects to the Check Point User Center and downloads all necessary licenses and contracts. This method requires internet access and a valid User Center account. References: [Check Point Licensing and Contract Operations User Guide], [Check Point R81 Gaia Installation and Upgrade 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]

In order to see real-time and historical graph views of Security Gateway statistics in SmartView Monitor, the Monitoring Blade feature needs to be enabled on the Security Gateway. The Monitoring Blade is a software blade that collects and displays network and security performance data from the Security Gateway, such as traffic, throughput, connections, CPU usage, memory usage, etc. The Monitoring Blade can be enabled or disabled on each Security Gateway from the SmartConsole.References: [Monitoring Blade], [SmartView Monitor]

An LDAP server holds one or more Account Units. An Account Unit is a logical representation of an LDAP server in the Check Point database. It defines the connection parameters, authentication methods, and user and group information that are retrieved from the LDAP server. An Account Unit allows the Security Gateway to use the LDAP server for user authentication and identity awareness. The other options are incorrect. A Server Unit is a logical representation of a Check Point server in the Check Point database. An Administrator Unit is a logical representation of an administrator or an administrator group in the Check Point database. An Account Server is not a valid term in Check Point terminology. References: [Check Point R81 Identity Awareness Administration Guide], [Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide], [Check Point R81 SmartConsole R81 Resolved Issues]

 Alerts can be viewed in SmartView Monitor, which is a graphical tool that provides real-time information about the network and security activities, such as traffic, VPN tunnels, threats, and performance4.

References: 4: Check Point R81 Security Management Administration Guide, page 25.

Check Point Gaia can be configured using:

The Command Line Interface (CLI) – This includes Clish and Expert mode, accessible via SSH, console access, or direct login.

The GAiA Portal (WebUI) – A browser-based graphical user interface used to manage Gaia settings.

Option A (incorrect): The CLI is not limited to serial console access. SSH is widely used.

Option B (incorrect): "Gaia Ultimate Shell" is not an official term.

Option D (incorrect): "Web Ultimate Interface" is not a valid name.

Thus, the correct answer is C. Command line interface; GAiA Portal.