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Exam Information
Official specifications published by McAfee
Exam Format
90 min
60-90
700
Product Specialist
Registration
$150 USD
Pearson VUE, Prometric, or online proctoring
English
Validity
3 years
Retake certification exam; Complete continuing education credits; Upgrade to higher-level McAfee/Trellix certification
MA0-101 Exam Topics and Domains
MA0-101 is organized into 7 weighted domains. Expect to work with Performance Monitor, Advanced Malware Protection, Alert Console, Alert Manager, and more.
1
NSP Deployment and Planning
22.5%
Deployment Architecture
Network Topology AnalysisDeployment ModesPhysical vs Virtual Sensors
- Design appropriate NSP deployment architecture based on network topology
- Select correct deployment mode for specific security requirements
- Size and scale NSP infrastructure appropriately
High Availability and Redundancy
HA Configuration
- Configure high availability for NSP components
- Implement redundancy for business continuity
2
NSP Manager Administration
17.5%
Manager Interface and Navigation
Dashboard and WidgetsSystem Configuration
- Navigate NSP Manager interface efficiently
- Customize dashboards for monitoring needs
- Configure system-level settings
Backup, Recovery, and Maintenance
Backup and RestoreSystem Updates and Patches
- Implement comprehensive backup strategy
- Perform system updates safely
- Execute disaster recovery procedures
Licensing and Resource Management
License Management
- Manage NSP licenses effectively
- Monitor license status and expiration
3
User and Access Management
12.5%
User Account Management
Local User AccountsExternal Authentication
- Create and manage user accounts
- Configure external authentication sources
- Implement secure authentication practices
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Roles and PermissionsAdministrative Domains
- Implement role-based access control
- Configure administrative domains
- Apply principle of least privilege
4
Sensor Management and Operations
17.5%
Sensor Installation and Configuration
Sensor RegistrationInterface Configuration
- Register sensors with NSP Manager
- Configure sensor interfaces properly
- Manage sensor certificates
Sensor Operating Modes
Detection and Prevention ModesPerformance Tuning
- Configure appropriate sensor operating modes
- Optimize sensor performance
- Monitor sensor health and status
Sensor Health Monitoring
Health Metrics and Alerts
- Monitor sensor health effectively
- Identify performance issues
- Respond to sensor alerts
5
Policy Configuration and Management
22.5%
Intrusion Prevention Policies
Policy Structure and HierarchySignature ManagementResponse Actions
- Create and manage IPS policies
- Configure signature-based detection
- Define appropriate response actions
Advanced Detection Features
Protocol Anomaly DetectionBehavioral AnalysisApplication Control
- Configure advanced detection methods
- Implement behavioral analysis
- Control application traffic
Policy Tuning and Optimization
False Positive Reduction
- Reduce false positives effectively
- Optimize policy performance
- Maintain security effectiveness while reducing noise
6
Threat Detection and Response
17.5%
Alert Investigation
Alert AnalysisAlert Workflow Management
- Investigate security alerts effectively
- Analyze packet captures
- Manage alert workflow
Advanced Threat Protection
Advanced Malware ProtectionBotnet DetectionWeb Application Protection
- Configure advanced threat protection
- Detect and respond to advanced malware
- Protect against web-based attacks
DDoS Protection
DDoS Detection and Mitigation
- Detect DDoS attacks
- Configure DDoS protection
- Mitigate denial of service attacks
7
Reporting and Maintenance
12.5%
Report Generation and Analysis
Standard ReportsCustom Reports
- Generate security reports
- Create custom reports
- Schedule and distribute reports
Database Maintenance
Database Management
- Maintain NSP database
- Configure data retention
- Optimize database performance
System Health and Performance
Performance MonitoringLog Management
- Monitor system performance
- Plan for capacity growth
- Manage system logs
How do I earn this certification?
Passing MA0-101 earns the McAfee Certified Product Specialist - Network Security Platform certification. It sits in the Network Security / Intrusion Prevention track.
Next Level Options
Trellix Advanced Security Training Advanced security operations with Trellix platform
Alternative Paths
- PCNSE - Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer Leading next-gen firewall and IPS platform
- CCNP Security Comprehensive network security certification including IPS
- NSE 4 - FortiGate Security Next-generation firewall with IPS capabilities
- CCSA - Check Point Certified Security Administrator Enterprise security gateway and IPS
- CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst) Vendor-neutral security operations and threat detection
Practice with Precision
The PlanetCert Simulator mirrors the real exam environment with authentic questions and timed pressure.
How to study for this exam?
The most effective way to prepare for MA0-101 is by using the PlanetCert Simulator to practice questions and review detailed explanations.
What's changed on this exam?
Current Status
LIKELY_RETIRED
Updates
- Trellix Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) 10.1.10 Product continues development but certification exam status unknown • Release date: 2024-11
- Trellix Education Services Training courses still available, but certification exam offerings unclear • Release date: 2022-2023
Who should take this exam?
This exam is typically taken by Network security administrators and Security operations center (SOC) analysts.
- 2+ years experience with McAfee products
- Basic understanding of network security concepts
- Basic understanding of Windows operating systems
- Familiarity with TCP/IP networking
- Understanding of intrusion detection/prevention systems