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NETSEC-ARCHITECT Exam Topics and Domains
NETSEC-ARCHITECT is organized into 10 weighted domains. Expect to work with VM-Series, Prisma Access, PA-Series, Enterprise DLP, and more.
Zero Trust Enterprise
Least Privilege Access Controls
Design User-ID and device health, host information profile (HIP) and security posture, and Device-ID based least privilege access Security policy controls
Network Segmentation
Design and differentiate between network segmentation and microsegmentation
Application Access Control
Differentiate access to specific applications
Continuous Security Scanning
Implement continuous security scanning of allowed traffic to stop malware and exploits
Monitoring and Analytics
Implement continuous monitoring and analytics of zero trust environment
AI Security
Prisma AI Runtime Security (AIRS) and AI Access
Differentiate between and explain the specific Palo Alto Networks products that make up Prisma AI Runtime Security (AIRS) and AI Access
AI Security Architectures
Determine recommended standard architectures for AI security
AI Application Security Controls
Identify and explain the classification and attributes of AI applications and apply security controls
Centralized Management and IAM
Panorama Architecture
Architect Panorama and log collectors with HA and redundancy
Strata Cloud Manager
Architect Strata Cloud Manager (SCM), Strata Logging Service, and Cloud Identity Engine
Cloud Identity Engine Directory Sync
Recommend Cloud Identity Engine directory sync options
Log Forwarding
Recommend Strata Logging Service log forwarding methods and integrations
User Identification and Authentication
Recommend User identification and authentication methods
Cloud Identity Engine Use Cases
Evaluate Cloud Identity Engine use cases for NGFW, Prisma Access, and Prisma SD-WAN
SSE Private Application Access
Prisma Access Deployments
Architect Prisma Access in regional and global deployments
On-Ramp and Off-Ramp Architectures
Differentiate between on-ramp and off-ramp architectures
Private Application Access via Prisma Browser
Determine private application access through Prisma Browser
Mobile User Security
Mobile User Access Methods
Evaluate Prisma Browser, Prisma Access Agent, explicit proxy, and GlobalProtect use cases
GlobalProtect Connection Methods
Architect GlobalProtect connection methods: On-demand, User-logon (Always On), Pre-logon (Always On)
Prisma Access Mobile Users
Architect Prisma Access Mobile Users
AI-Powered ADEM
Design AI-Powered Autonomous Digital Experience Manager (ADEM)
Modernizing Branches
Branch SASE Architectures
Compare and design branch architectures for SASE security and HA
Advanced Security for Prisma SD-WAN
Evaluate advanced security for Prisma SD-WAN
Data Security
SaaS Security
Differentiate between SaaS Security Inline and SaaS API Security
SaaS Application Control
Determine the most secure approach for SaaS application usage control
Enterprise DLP
Analyze and architect to Enterprise DLP functionality including classifiers, EDM, IDM, OCR, ML classification, Endpoint DLP, and Policy-based DLP
Securing IoT Environments
Device Security Architecture
Architect Device Security with visibility, discovery, risk assessment, and enforcement
IoT Sensor Placement
Differentiate between IoT sensor placement options
Visibility Functionality
Explain visibility functionality across NGFW, virtual metadata collector, Prisma SD-WAN, and PAN-OS SD-WAN
Device-ID Capabilities
Evaluate and design to Device-ID capabilities
Device Security Capabilities
Confirm and design to Device Security capabilities
Public Cloud
NGFW Cloud Integrations
Explain NGFW standard integrations, including AWS, Azure, GCP, and OCI
Cloud Maintenance and Security
Design for maintenance and security across CSP environments
AWS NGFW Standards
Design to AWS NGFW standards including insertion options, HA, and subinterfaces
Azure NGFW Standards
Design to Azure NGFW standards including insertion options and HA
GCP NGFW Standards
Design to GCP NGFW standards including insertion options and HA
VM-Series vs Cloud NGFW
Justify VM-Series and Cloud NGFW solutions based on use cases
Private Cloud (PA-Series, VM-Series, Hypervisors)
Private Cloud Capacity Planning
Assess private cloud scope and capacity requirements for edge, core, and east-west microsegmentation
VM-Series Hypervisor Deployments
Design VM-Series deployments across hypervisors with resource allocation, hardware offload, vCPU sizing, DPDK, and SR-IOV
SSL Decryption vs Performance
Evaluate SSL decryption versus performance trade-offs
HA Deployment for Private Cloud
Architect HA deployment for private cloud resilience with active/passive, active/active, hardware clustering, HSF, and fast failover
Layer 3 Routing Considerations
Explain Layer 3 deployment routing considerations including ECMP, static routing, BGP, and OSPF
Systems Management
Evaluate systems management options and considerations
Hardware Deployment Trending
Evaluate new hardware deployment trending and scoping
SSL Inspection Sizing
Evaluate SSL inspection sizing requirements
How do I earn this certification?
Passing NETSEC-ARCHITECT earns the Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Architect certification. It sits in the Network Security track.
- SecOps-Architect - Palo Alto Networks Certified Security Operations Architect
- CloudSec-Architect - Palo Alto Networks Certified Cloud Security Architect
- SecOps-Generalist - Palo Alto Networks Certified Security Operations Generalist Expand into security operations and incident response
- CloudSec-Generalist - Palo Alto Networks Certified Cloud Security Generalist Deepen cloud security expertise across multi-cloud environments
- PCSAE - Palo Alto Networks Certified Security Automation EngineerAdd security automation and SOAR capabilities
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 NETSEC-ARCHITECT is by using the PlanetCert Simulator to practice questions and review detailed explanations.
What's changed on this exam?
- ACTIVE
- Last content update: 2025-10-01
- Announcement date: 2025-10-30
- Prisma AIRS (AI Runtime Security) 2.0 11% of NetSec-Architect exam covers AI Security domain • Release date: 2026-01-16
- Prisma SASE 4.0 Multiple domains: SSE Private Access (11%), Mobile User Security (7%), Modernizing Branches (11%) • Release date: 2025-09-10
- Prisma Browser 2.0 Mobile User Security (7%) and SSE Private Application Access (11%) • Release date: 2025-04-15
- Cloud Identity Engine Latest Centralized Management and IAM domain (13%) • Release date: 2025
- Enterprise DLP Latest Data Security domain (7%), AI Security integration • Release date: 2025
Who should take this exam?
- 5+ years designing, implementing, and troubleshooting security and networking solutions in SASE, Branch Networking, and both on-premises Private Cloud and Public Cloud (CSP) environments
- 2+ years with Palo Alto Networks architecture and solutions
- Palo Alto Networks Certified Security Service Edge Engineer
- Palo Alto Networks Certified Next-Generation Firewall Engineer
- Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Analyst
- Palo Alto Networks Certified SD-WAN Engineer