Foundational
Validates knowledge and understanding of fundamental cybersecurity concepts
Certification Portfolio
Professional
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
Professional
- Network Security Professional
Specialist
- Network Security Analyst
- Next-Generation Firewall Engineer
- Security Service Edge Engineer
Legacy
- Network Security Engineer (PCNSE)
Foundational
- Cybersecurity Apprentice
- Cybersecurity Practitioner
Professional
- Security Operations Professional
Specialist
- XSIAM Analyst
- XDR Analyst
- XSIAM Engineer
- XDR Engineer
Legacy
- Security Automation Engineer (PCSAE)
Foundational
- Cybersecurity Apprentice
- Cybersecurity Practitioner
Legacy
- Cloud Security Engineer (PCCSE)
Foundational
- Cybersecurity Apprentice
- Cybersecurity Practitioner
Professional
- Cloud Security Professional
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
Network Security Professional
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
Network Security Analyst
Description: Validates the knowledge and skills required of analysts and administrators in the areas of object configuration, policy creation, and centralized management using Strata Cloud Manager (SCM)
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate technical knowledge and skills in the configuration of firewalls and subscriptions, as well as in management and operations in a network security environment
Next-Generation Firewall Engineer
Description: Designed to validate the knowledge and skills required for engineers and administrators in deployment, networking and device setting configuration, integration and automation, and perform centralized management by using Panorama, templates, and rulesets
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate technical knowledge and skills in PAN-OS networking and device configuration, and in integration and automation in a network security environment
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 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
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 Professional
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
XDR Analyst
Description: Validates the job-ready skills required to demonstrate understanding of the basic architecture, components, and operation of Cortex XDR
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate technical knowledge and skills in Cortex XDR deployments in a security operations center (SOC)
XSIAM Engineer
Description: Designed to validate the knowledge and skills required for engineers to deploy, configure, manage, onboard data, and create playbooks in a security operations environment using Cortex XSIAM
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate technical knowledge and skills in Cortex XSIAM deployments in security operations centers
XDR Engineer
Description: Validates the knowledge and skills required for engineers to deploy, configure, manage, onboard data, and create playbooks in a security operations environment using Cortex XDR
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate technical knowledge and skills in Cortex XDR deployments in security operations centers
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
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 Professional
Description: Validates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for securing cloud environments with the Cortex Cloud platform
Target audience: Individuals who want to demonstrate technical knowledge and skills in the Cortex Cloud platform, Cloud Runtime Security, Application Security, Cloud Posture Security, and SOC processes
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.