Foundational
Validates knowledge and understanding of fundamental cybersecurity concepts
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Individuals with IT certifications
81%
produce higher quality work.
74%
have greater work
autonomy and
independence.
autonomy and
independence.
77%
are better able
to innovate.
to innovate.
72%
are more productive.
Achieving organizational success with tech certifications: A Value of IT Certification analysis. Pearson Education, Inc., 2024, https://www.pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/voc/Pearson-VUE-2024-Value-of-Certification-Employer.pdf
Certification Portfolio
Generalist
Validates knowledge and skills required to perform operations and management tasks across a platform
Specialist
Validates knowledge and skills required to deploy, operate, and manage a product
Platform
Exams
Overview
Platform
Network Security
Security Operations
Cloud Security
Exams
Foundational
- Cybersecurity Apprentice
- Cybersecurity Practitioner
- Cybersecurity Entry-Level Technician (PCCET)
Generalist
- Network Security Generalist
Specialist
- Security Service Edge Engineer
Legacy
- Network Security Administrator (PCNSA)
- Network Security Engineer (PCNSE)
- Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE)
Foundational
- Cybersecurity Apprentice
- Cybersecurity Practitioner
Generalist
- Security Operations Generalist
Specialist
- XSIAM Analyst
Legacy
- Detection and Remediation Analyst (PCDRA)
- Security Automation Engineer (PCSAE)
Foundational
- Cybersecurity Apprentice
- Cybersecurity Practitioner
Legacy
- Cloud Security Engineer (PCCSE)
Overview
Overview
Cybersecurity Apprentice
Description: Designed to validate foundational knowledge and understanding of networking and cybersecurity
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate foundational knowledge and understanding of cybersecurity concepts, those who want to transition into a cybersecurity career, and other technical and non-technical IT professionals
Cybersecurity Practitioner
Description: Designed to validate knowledge and understanding of cybersecurity concepts and the skills required for basic application of the Palo Alto Networks portfolio of solutions and related technologies
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and the basic application skills related to cybersecurity technologies and solutions, whether transitioning into a cybersecurity career or continuing their path in a Palo Alto Networks program
Cybersecurity Entry-Level Technician (PCCET)
Description: Designed to validate knowledge and understanding of fundamental cybersecurity, network security, cloud security, and Security Operations Center (SOC) solutions
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of fundamental cybersecurity, network security, cloud security, and Security Operations Center (SOC) solutions including technical and non-technical IT professionals
Network Security Generalist
Description: Designed to validate knowledge and understanding of all products and services included in the Palo Alto Networks network security solution and entry-level maintenance, configuration, installation, and deployment of these products
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of network security, including the implementation and administration of Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls and SASE technologies
Security Service Edge Engineer
Description: Designed to validate the knowledge and skills required for engineers to deploy, configure, manage, and troubleshoot security service edge (SSE) environments
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate technical knowledge and skills in security service edge (SSE) / secure access service edge (SASE) deployments
Network Security Administrator (PCNSA)
Description: Designed to validate the knowledge and skills required of network security administrators who operate and manage Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate the knowledge and skills required of a security administrator responsible for designing, deploying, operating, managing, and troubleshooting Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls
Network Security Engineer (PCNSE)
Description: Designed to validate the in-depth knowledge and skills required to design, deploy, operate, manage, and troubleshoot Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate the in-depth knowledge and skills required to design, deploy, operate, manage, and troubleshoot Palo Alto Next-Generation Firewalls—including customers, partners, systems engineers, system integrators, and support engineers
Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE)
Description: Designed to validate the knowledge and skills required to deploy, operate, manage, and troubleshoot Palo Alto Networks software firewalls
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate the knowledge and skills required for network security administrators who serve as experts on Palo Alto Networks software solutions
Cybersecurity Apprentice
Description: Designed to validate foundational knowledge and understanding of networking and cybersecurity
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate foundational knowledge and understanding of cybersecurity concepts, those who want to transition into a cybersecurity career, and other technical and non-technical IT professionals
Cybersecurity Practitioner
Description: Designed to validate knowledge and understanding of cybersecurity concepts and the skills required for basic application of the Palo Alto Networks portfolio of solutions and related technologies
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and the basic application skills related to cybersecurity technologies and solutions, whether transitioning into a cybersecurity career or continuing their path in a Palo Alto Networks program
Security Operations Generalist
Description: Designed to validate knowledge, understanding, and the job-ready skills required for basic application of the Palo Alto Networks Cortex portfolio of solutions and related technologies in a Security Operations Center (SOC)
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and the job-ready skills required for basic application of Palo Alto Networks Cortex products and solutions in a Security Operations Center (SOC)
XSIAM Analyst
Description: Designed to validate the knowledge and skills required to use the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSIAM platform for automation, threat detection, and threat response
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to use the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSIAM platform for automation, threat detection, and threat response—including those who want to advance their SecOps analyst career
Detection and Remediation Analyst (PCDRA)
Description: Designed to validate the knowledge and skills required to demonstrate the highest standard of deployment methodology and operational best practices associated with the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR platform
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to maintain the highest level of deployment methodology and operational best practices associated with the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR platform
Security Automation Engineer (PCSAE)
Description: Designed to validate the knowledge and skills required to develop, analyze, and administer the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR platform with native threat intelligence management
Target audience: Individuals who want to validate the knowledge and skills required to develop, analyze, and administer the Palo Alto Networks XSOAR platform of productions and solutions—including customers, partners, systems engineers, analysts, and administrators
Cybersecurity Apprentice
Description: Designed to validate foundational knowledge and understanding of networking and cybersecurity
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate foundational knowledge and understanding of cybersecurity concepts, those who want to transition into a cybersecurity career, and other technical and non-technical IT professionals
Cybersecurity Practitioner
Description: Designed to validate knowledge and understanding of cybersecurity concepts and the skills required for basic application of the Palo Alto Networks portfolio of solutions and related technologies
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and the basic application skills related to cybersecurity technologies and solutions, whether transitioning into a cybersecurity career or continuing their path in a Palo Alto Networks program
Cloud Security Engineer (PCCSE)
Description: Designed to validate the knowledge and skills required to onboard, deploy, and administer all aspects of the Palo Alto Networks Prisma Cloud portfolio
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to onboard, deploy, and administer all aspects of the Prisma Cloud portfolio—including cloud security, customer success, DevOps, and application security professionals
Program Policies and Information
- Certification Handbook
- Candidate Agreement
- Program FAQs
This Certification Handbook provides individuals with the information needed to understand and complete the certification process. The Handbook is considered required reading. All individuals who desire to become certified must comply with the policies and procedures of this Handbook.
The Candidate Agreement is a formal agreement between Palo Alto Networks and the candidate seeking certification. The terms and conditions in this agreement, which all candidates must agree to prior to taking an exam, govern the candidate's participation in the Palo Alto Networks certification program.
The Palo Alto Networks Certification FAQ provides candidates with answers to common questions related to the Palo Alto Networks Certification Program. It serves as a resource for procedural and system-related questions, exam logistics, and other relevant topics.