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

Intra-VM traffic is also known as which type of traffic?

1. North-south

2. Unknown

3. East-west

4. Untrusted

The correct answer is: East-west

Intra-VM traffic refers to the communication that occurs between virtual machines (VMs) located within the same physical host or across a network. This type of traffic is commonly referred to as east-west traffic. The term "east-west" is used to describe data flows that happen between servers or virtual machines rather than between external clients and the data center, which is known as north-south traffic. Understanding the distinction between east-west and north-south traffic is essential in the context of networking and data security. East-west traffic is critical to monitor, especially in environments with multiple VMs, because it can represent significant internal communication that might go unnoticed, posing risks such as lateral movement of threats within the network. Recognizing this flow helps in implementing appropriate security controls and monitoring mechanisms to protect the environment against potential vulnerabilities.