Palo Alto Networks (PANW) Certified Network Security Administrator (PCNSA) Practice Exam

When is it beneficial to create a custom application signature?

1. To track DNS requests

2. To monitor email traffic

3. To know who watches specific sports during work hours

4. To optimize network traffic

The correct answer is: To know who watches specific sports during work hours

Creating a custom application signature is particularly beneficial when there is a need to specifically identify and track unique or less conventional applications that may not already be recognized by default signatures within a firewall or security system. This is especially relevant in situations where user behavior needs to be monitored for compliance or productivity reasons. For instance, knowing who watches specific sports during work hours could indicate inappropriate use of resources or distractions that affect productivity. By creating a custom application signature for a particular sports streaming application, an organization can effectively monitor and manage this application usage, gaining insights into user behavior and ensuring that network policies are enforced accordingly. Custom application signatures provide the flexibility to tailor security measures to the specific needs of an organization, especially in contexts where standard signatures might not suffice, such as monitoring niche applications that could impact business operations.