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Palo Alto Networks

About Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks is a leading cybersecurity vendor founded in 2005 by Nir Zuk. The company pioneered the next-generation firewall (NGFW) and built its platform on a single-pass parallel processing (SP3) architecture that classifies traffic by application, user, and content rather than by port and protocol alone. Today the company sells across three platforms - Strata (network security and NGFW), Prisma (cloud security and SASE), and Cortex (security operations, XDR, XSOAR, XSIAM) - and is one of the largest pure-play cybersecurity companies by revenue.

Their certification program validates skills across these platforms. Most certifications are role-based and require the EDU-XXX official course or hands-on equivalent experience. Exams are delivered through Pearson VUE.

Certification Family

Network Security (Strata) Track

Cert Full Name Audience Notes
PCCSA Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Associate Entry-level, broad cybersecurity awareness Retired in many markets; replaced by PCCET
PCCET Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician Entry-level vendor-neutral cybersecurity Successor to PCCSA
PCNSA Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator NGFW administrator, day-to-day operations EDU-210 Firewall Essentials
PCNSE Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer NGFW engineer, deep configuration and troubleshooting EDU-220 + EDU-330
PCSAE Palo Alto Networks Certified Security Automation Engineer Cortex XSOAR playbook developer EDU-380

Cloud Security (Prisma) Track

Cert Focus
Prisma Certified Cloud Security Engineer (PCCSE) Prisma Cloud (CSPM, CWP, IAM, Code Security)
Prisma Access SASE Engineer / Architect Prisma Access, Prisma SD-WAN, SASE design

Security Operations (Cortex) Track

Cert Focus
Cortex XDR Expert / Engineer Cortex XDR endpoint detection and response
Cortex XSIAM Engineer Next-gen SIEM/SOC platform replacing legacy SIEMs
PCSAE Cortex XSOAR automation, playbook authoring

Common Path

For someone entering Palo Alto Networks-aligned network security:

PCCET (optional foundation)
   ↓
PCNSA (administrator level, this guide)
   ↓
PCNSE (engineer level, design and deep troubleshooting)
   ↓
Specialize: Prisma Cloud, Prisma Access SASE, or Cortex XSOAR/XSIAM

For SOC analysts and automation engineers, the Cortex track (XDR → XSIAM → PCSAE) is more relevant than NGFW certs.

Certifications in This Repo

1 certification in this repo. Counts and statuses are generated from docs/certs.json.

Cert Code Level Status Notes
Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator (PCNSA) PCNSA - Ready 4

Official Resources