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

Which endpoint protection technique is commonly used to prevent end users from running unauthorized applications, including malware, on their endpoints?

1. Anomaly detection

2. Application allow listing

3. Container-based endpoint protection

4. Signature-based

The correct answer is: Application allow listing

Application allow listing is a security technique specifically designed to control which applications can run on a user's device. By maintaining a list of approved applications, organizations can effectively block any unauthorized software, including malicious programs or malware, from executing. This proactive approach ensures that only trusted applications that have passed security checks can operate within the endpoint environment, significantly reducing the risk of security breaches caused by unwanted software. In contrast, other techniques like anomaly detection focus on identifying unusual behavior within existing processes but do not actively prevent unapproved applications from executing. Container-based endpoint protection offers isolation for applications but encompasses broader security measures rather than strictly controlling which applications are allowed to run. Similarly, signature-based techniques rely on known malware signatures to detect and block threats, but they do not provide a mechanism for regulating which applications are permissible overall. Therefore, application allow listing is the most effective and direct method to restrict unauthorized applications on endpoints.