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

Which step of implementing a Zero Trust model includes scanning and mapping the transaction flows inside your network to determine how various data, applications, assets, and service components interact with other resources?

1. Define your protect surface

2. Architect a Zero Trust network

3. Create the Zero Trust policy

4. Map the transaction flows

The correct answer is: Map the transaction flows

In the context of implementing a Zero Trust model, the step that involves scanning and mapping the transaction flows within your network is crucial for understanding how different resources interact with each other. This entails identifying and documenting the communication paths that applications, data, and services utilize when interfacing with various components in the network. Mapping the transaction flows helps in visualizing and understanding the critical pathways, dependencies, and interactions that exist within an organization's infrastructure. This knowledge allows cybersecurity professionals to pinpoint where sensitive data resides, how it is accessed, and what potential vulnerabilities exist in the communication processes. By thoroughly mapping these transactions, organizations can establish more granular security measures and apply the principle of least privilege effectively. This foundational understanding is essential for constructing a robust Zero Trust architecture, which requires continual verification of every interaction, regardless of its origin within or outside the network perimeter. Thus, focusing on mapping transaction flows is not just about recognizing which components communicate but is also integral to defining the protect surface, architecting the network, and creating policies that enforce Zero Trust principles.