Palo Alto Networks (PANW) Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET) Practice Exam

In which layer does the Cortex XDR function primarily operate?

1. Application layer

2. Transport layer

3. Network layer

4. Presentation layer

The correct answer is: Application layer

The Cortex XDR primarily operates at the application layer. This layer is responsible for facilitating user interaction with software applications, allowing for communication over the network. By functioning at this level, Cortex XDR can monitor and analyze data from various applications and integrate security monitoring, detection, and response capabilities. Operating at the application layer enables Cortex XDR to gain insights into user behaviors, application usage, and potential threats that may exploit vulnerabilities within these applications. This thorough perspective helps in detecting advanced threats and responding effectively to incidents in real time. The other layers listed do not focus primarily on application-level interactions. The transport layer manages end-to-end communication, but it does not directly involve application-specific data; the network layer handles data routing and forwarding but does not analyze application data; and the presentation layer is primarily concerned with data encoding and formatting for the application. Thus, these layers do not provide the same level of insight or capability concerning application behavior and security as the application layer does.