Palo Alto Networks is globally recognized as a leading provider of cybersecurity products. Palo Alto Networks certification validates the knowledge and skills of IT professionals in managing security with Palo Alto products. It’s valuable proof for anyone who wants to develop further in the field of IT security.
The goal of the Palo Alto Networks Certification Pass is to enable IT, professionals, to demonstrate the skills they need to protect the Internet. The Palo Alto Certification Exam includes three levels of certification designed to guide learners from beginners to professionals.
Palo Alto Certification Training is available from other providers such as Palo Alto Networks and CBT Nuggets. You can also learn from the Palo Alto Certified Learning Guide called Cybersecurity Survival Guide: Principles & Best Practices.
Below are some topics related to Palo Alto Networks certification. Review individual reviews and provide a comparison of Palo Alto Networks and competitors’ checkpoints. We can also help you consider what Palo Alto Networks certification means for your career. And finally, we’ll talk about training opportunities, including those offered by CBT nuggets. Includes:
- Palo Alto Certification Guide
- What is Palo Alto Certification?
- Palo Alto vs. Check Point
- Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator (PCNSA)
- Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer (PCNSE)
- Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Associate (PCCSA)
- How Much Does It Cost to Get Palo Alto Certified?
- Palo Alto Recertification and Renewal
- Palo Alto Certification Salary and Career Information
What is Palo Alto Certification?
Palo Alto certification currently includes the PCCSA, PCNSA, and PCNSE exams. According to Palo Alto, the focus is on the key skills needed to develop infrastructure, mitigate threats, and prevent successful cyberattacks. Certified professionals understand how to use Palo Alto hardware and software to protect your IT assets from attacks.
Palo Alto vs. Check Point
Choosing a security product like the one offered by Palo Alto Networks or CheckPoint is a matter for administrators and buyers. But as an IT professional, you decide which certification is best for you and your career. At first glance, it’s clear that both platforms are the primary solutions for security-focused organizations, and both are at the top of the category.
Both certifications have three certification levels. Both are product-specific certifications that focus on each company’s security products. Salary expectations are similar, averaging $ 90,000 to $ 100,000. Palo-Alto and Checkpoint appear to be second only to competitor Cisco in terms of market share.
Palo Alto exams range from beginners to professionals. Palo Alto Networks Certified Cyber Security Associate (PCCSA) certification verifies that IT professionals understand today’s cyber threats. A Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator (PCNSA) can run a next-generation firewall to protect your network. At the engineering level, Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineers (PCNSEs) are familiar with configuring, maintaining, and troubleshooting Palo Alto implementations.
Checkpoint certification covers many of the same topics. The Check Point Certified Security Administrator (CCSA) exam covers basic topics related to network security, such as VPN and security policy management. Check Point Certified Security Expert (CCSE) handles detailed information such as security technology and platform configuration. Check Point Certified Master (CCSM) certification demonstrates Check Point-related security management proficiency. Finally, Check Point Managed Security Expert (CCMSE) specifically targets advanced topics related to multi-domain security management (MDM).
The main difference between Palo Alto certification and Check Point certification is the products they support. As a carrier, there seems to be no clear advantage in pursuing one certification over the other.
IT professionals often choose to work on a particular certification because they are already working on the product. If your IT shop supports CheckPoint, we encourage you to work towards CheckPoint certification. The same applies to Palo Alto Networks. From here it looks like Tosap.
Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Associate (PCCSA)
Palo Alto Networks Certified Cyber Security Associate Certification is designed for IT professionals who are just getting started with cyber security. The PCCSA is the lowest level of the Palo Alto Networks certification pass and validates knowledge in the following areas:
- Cybersecurity Landscape
- Cyberthreats and the Cyberattack Lifecycle
- Cyberattack Techniques and Types
- Wireless Threats and Advanced Threats
- Cloud Security and Data Center Security
- Network Security Technology
- Packet Encapsulation and Lifecycle
- Malware Analysis
Required Exams: To earn PCSSA certification, you must pass one of the Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Associates exams.
Prerequisites: None.
Required Experience: Palo Alto Networks recommends a basic understanding of networking and cybersecurity, as well as an up-to-date knowledge of cyber threats, before taking this certification exam.
Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator (PCNSA)
Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator Certification is designed for IT professionals who can demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the core capabilities of Palo Alto Network’s next-generation firewalls.
This PCNSA certification is a high-level certification of the Palo Alto Certification Pass and addresses a variety of security management tasks.
- Next-Generation Security Platform and Architecture
- Firewall Configuration
- Security and NAT Policies
- App-ID™
- Content-ID™
- LO ALTO NETWORKS PCNSA FAQ 3
- User-ID™
- URL Filtering
- Monitoring and Reporting
- Security Best Practices
Required Exams: You must pass one exam to obtain PCNSA certification. CertifiedNetworkSecurityAdministrator exam.
Prerequisites: PCCSA is not specified as a prerequisite for PCNSA, but it is highly recommended.
Required Experience: Palo Alto Networks recommends advanced networking and cybersecurity knowledge and significant deployment experience of Palo Alto Firewall before taking this certification exam.
Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer (PCNSE)
Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer (PCNSE) certification is designed for IT professionals with extensive experience and expertise in Palo Alto Networks technology. The PCNSE is an advanced certification of the Palo Alto Certification Pass, covering a variety of security management topics, including:
- Security Management Concepts
- Deployment and Configuration of Palo Alto Hardware and Software
- Management and Operation of Security Platforms
- Troubleshooting of Network Security Issues
Required Exams: To earn PCNSE certification, you must pass one of the Certified Network Security Engineer Exams.
Requirements: None. PCCSA and PCNSA are not specified as PCNSE requirements but are recommended.
Required Experience: Prior to taking this certification exam, Palo Alto Networks recommends advanced knowledge of networking and cybersecurity and extensive experience with Palo Alto Security products such as PAN-OS® software, Panorama, and GlobalProtect. Candidates should be able to design, deploy, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot most of Palo Alto Networks’ operational platform implementations.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Palo Alto Certified?
Testing firm Pearson VUE oversees the Palo Alto Networks certification exam. The cost of these exams is significantly lower than many of the other IT certifications described so far. The authentication system has a simple pricing scheme. The cost of PCCSA is $ 100 (USD), the cost of PCNSA is $ 140 (USD), and the cost of PCNSE is $160 (USD).
Palo Alto Recertification and Renewal
As with Check Point, Palo Alto Networks certification expires after two years (24 months). However, you can keep your PCCSA certification valid by getting one of the three certifications. To recertify with PCNSA, get PCNSA again, or get PCNSE. PCNSE can only be recertified by retaking the PCNSE exam.
Palo Alto Certification Salary and Career Information
According to Payscale, Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer (PCNSE) certified IT professionals can earn approximately $ 93,000 annually. PCCSA or PCNSA numbers are not available on Payscale. People with PCCSA or PCNSA can expect slightly less income than PCNSE, but many depend on experience. Payscale lists the following average salaries (in USD) for PCNSE:
- Network Security Engineer: $110,000
- Network Engineer: $71,899
- Network Architect: $122,607
- Security Consultant, (Computing / Networking / Information Technology): $102,750
- Senior Security Consultant: $147,395
- Security Engineer: $87,500
- Sr. Network Engineer: $115,000
The Palo Alto Networks certifications may be one of the more accessible certifications for anyone looking to enter the field of information security. And the price is meager compared to other certifications. Of course, many people are asking for certification because they are already working on a particular product.
Whether or not you obtain Palo Alto certification depends on whether or not you work on Palo Alto Networks certification during your career as an IT professional. This is worth considering given the revenue potential, and opportunities of Palo Alto Networks certified IT professionals.
Palo Alto Certification Training
As of September 2019, CBT Nuggets is offering the following Palo Alto Networks training courses by Keith Barker.
- Getting Started with Palo Alto Firewalls v8.x
- Using Palo Alto v8.x Advanced Features
- Palo Alto Networks Firewall
The training library is constantly updated, so regularly check for new Palo Alto training courses.
CBT Nuggets is a high-quality and fun video training course created by expert trainers, plus learners for IT certification exams with virtual labs, additional files, practice exams, access to a strong learner community, and more. It provides everything you need to learn.
