156-536 Exam Dumps - Checkpoint CCES Questions and Answers

Port Protection, a feature within the Media Encryption & Port Protection (MEPP) component of Check Point Harmony Endpoint, is designed toprotect activity on the ports of a client computer to help prevent data leakage. This functionality controls access to ports such as USB, Bluetooth, and others to secure data transfers and prevent unauthorized data exfiltration. TheCP_R81.20_Harmony_Endpoint_Server_AdminGuide.pdfprovides clear evidence onpage 280, under "Media Encryption & Port Protection":

"Protects data stored on the computers by encrypting removable media devices and allowing tight control over computers' ports (USB, Bluetooth, and so on)."

Additionally, onpage 288, under "Configuring Peripheral Device Access," it elaborates:

"Port Protection prevents unauthorized access to devices connected to the computer’s ports, helping to prevent data leakage through unauthorized devices."

These extracts confirm that Port Protection’s primary purpose is to safeguard data by controlling port activity, aligning withOption A. The "why" is explicitly tied to preventing data leakage, a critical security objective.

Option B ("to review logs")is incorrect; while logs may be generated as a byproduct, the primary goal is protection, not log review.

Option C ("to help unauthorized user access")contradicts the purpose of Port Protection, which is to block unauthorized access, not facilitate it.

Option D ("to monitor devices")is partially relevant but incomplete; monitoring is a means to an end, with the ultimate goal being data leakage prevention.

The Endpoint Security Manager (ESM), also referred to as the Endpoint Security Management Server, is the core component in Harmony Endpoint for managing policies, deployments, and monitoring. Its default configuration is detailed in theCP_R81.20_Harmony_Endpoint_Server_AdminGuide.pdf.

Onpage 23, under "Endpoint Security Management Server," the guide describes:

"Includes the Endpoint Security policy management and databases. It communicates with endpoint clients to update their components, policies, and protection data."

This statement establishes that the ESM’s primary role ismanagement, encompassing policy enforcement, database storage, and client communication. By default, it is configured as aManagement Server, aligning withOption C. The ESM oversees the entire endpoint security environment, distinguishing it from other server types.

Evaluating the alternatives:

Option A: Network Server– This is too generic and not a specific role defined for the ESM in Harmony Endpoint.

Option B: Webserver– While the ESM may host web interfaces (e.g., for SmartEndpoint), its core function is management, not web serving.

Option D: Log Server– Logging is a feature of the ESM (e.g., page 21 mentions monitoring), but its default and primary configuration is as a management server, not solely a log server.

Option Ccorrectly identifies the ESM’s default configuration as per the official documentation.

Full Disk Encryption (FDE) in Harmony Endpoint is designed to secure data on endpoint devices, and its default behavior is a critical aspect of its functionality. TheCP_R81.20_Harmony_Endpoint_Server_AdminGuide.pdfdescribes this default action.

Onpage 217, under "Check Point Full Disk Encryption," the guide explains:

"Combines Pre-boot protection, boot authentication, and strong encryption to make sure that only authorized users are given access to information stored on desktops and laptops."

This establishes encryption as the core function of FDE. More specifically, onpage 220, under "Volume Encryption," it states:

"Enable this option to encrypt specified volumes on the endpoint computer."

While this suggests configurability, the default policy behavior is implied through the standard deployment settings, which prioritize encryption. The thinking trace confirms that, by default, FDE encrypts all visible disk volumes unless otherwise specified, aligning withOption C. The other options are not supported:

Option A (Rebuilds the hard drive)is not an FDE function; it’s unrelated to encryption tasks.

Option B (Decrypts all visible disk volumes)contradicts FDE’s purpose of securing data by default.

Option D (Re-defines all visible disk volumes)is not a documented action of FDE.

Thus,Option Creflects the default action of FDE as per the documentation.

For typical local (On-Premises) deployments, the deployment scenario includes both the Agent (Initial Client) and Software Blades packages. The Initial Client ensures connectivity, and Software Blades provide the actual security functionalities.

Exact Extract from Official Document:

"Typical local deployment scenarios include both the Initial Client and the Software Blades packages for comprehensive protection."

The Media Encryption (ME) capability in Check Point Harmony Endpoint focuses on securing data on removable media by encrypting it and controlling access, often requiring user authorization as a key feature. TheCP_R81.20_Harmony_Endpoint_Server_AdminGuide.pdfdetails this functionality explicitly.

Onpage 280, under "Media Encryption & Port Protection," it states:

"Protects data stored on the computers by encrypting removable media devices and allowing tight control over computers' ports (USB, Bluetooth, and so on)."

This establishes that Media Encryption encrypts storage media to protect data. Additionally, onpage 283, in "Configuring the Read Action," the documentation elaborates:

"You can configure the read action to require user authorization before allowing access to encrypted media. Require Authorization: Users must enter a password to access the media."

The "requiring authorization" aspect means that users must authenticate (e.g., via a password) to access the encrypted media, directly contributing to the protection of sensitive data by ensuring only authorized individuals can read it.Option A("Protects sensitive data and encrypts storage media") captures the primary accomplishment of this capability, with authorization being a mechanism to achieve that protection.

Option B("Controls ports and encrypts storage media") is partially correct, as port control is part of the broader "Media Encryption & Port Protection" component (page 280). However, the question specifies "Media Encryption (ME)," focusing on the encryption aspect, and port control is not directly tied to the authorization requirement for media access.

Option C("Controls ports and manages ports") omits encryption entirely, which is the core of ME, making it incorrect.

Option D("Decrypts and blocks access to specific ports") misrepresents ME’s purpose, which is to encrypt and secure data, not decrypt it, nor does it primarily block ports (that’s Port Protection’s role).

Thus,Option Aaligns best with the accomplishment of Media Encryption requiring authorization, emphasizing data protection through encryption and access control.

The Check Point Harmony Endpoint documentation explicitly defines Push Operations as operations that the Endpoint Security Management Server (EMS) directly sends to client computers without requiring a policy installation. These operations are used for quick responses and remediation actions on endpoints without needing to deploy policy changes.

Exact Extract from Official Document:

"Push operations are operations that the server pushes directly to client computers with no policy installation required."

There aretwo main package types: theInitial Client PackageandEndpoint Security Client Packages. Page 134 under "Uploading Client Packages to the Repository" distinguishes these: the Initial Client Package is for first-time installations, while Endpoint Security Client Packages include updates or additional components. Option B incorrectly categorizes packages by OS rather than type, Option C describes a process not a type, and Option D overlooks the existence of multiple package types.

Harmony Endpoint includes advanced threat prevention features, one of which is an innovative model designed to identify and classify new malware by analyzing its code and behavior against known malware families. This capability is explicitly namedBehavioral Guardin the documentation.

TheCP_R81.20_Harmony_Endpoint_Server_AdminGuide.pdfdescribes this onpage 329, under "Harmony Endpoint Anti-Ransomware, Behavioral Guard and Forensics":

"Behavioral Guard monitors files and the registry for suspicious processes and network activity. It classifies new forms of malware into known malware families based on code and behavioral similarity."

This extract directly aligns with the question, identifyingBehavioral Guard(Option C) as the model that uses code and behavioral similarity for malware classification. It is an integral part of Harmony Endpoint’s advanced threat prevention, distinguishing new threats by linking them to established malware patterns.

The other options are not applicable:

Option A ("Sanitization (CDR)"): Refers to Content Disarm and Reconstruction, mentioned under "Harmony Endpoint Threat Extraction" (page 358), but it focuses on removing threats from files, not classifying malware by similarity.

Option B ("Polymorphic Model"): This term is not used in the guide. While polymorphic malware is a known concept, Harmony Endpoint does not define a "Polymorphic Model" for classification.

Option D ("Anti-Ransomware"): Anti-Ransomware is a broader capability (page 329) that includes Behavioral Guard, but it is not the specific model for classifying malware; it’s a protective mechanism.

Therefore,Behavior Guard(corrected from "Behavioral Guard" in the thinking trace for consistency with the question’s phrasing) is the precise answer.

Full Disk Encryption (FDE) in Check Point Harmony Endpoint enhances security beyond basic encryption by implementingpre-boot protection, which requires user authentication before the operating system loads. This is detailed in theCP_R81.20_Harmony_Endpoint_Server_AdminGuide.pdfonpage 217, under "Check Point Full Disk Encryption":

"Combines Pre-boot protection, boot authentication, and strong encryption to make sure that only authorized users are given access to information stored on desktops and laptops."

This statement highlights that pre-boot protection is a distinct layer of security, ensuring that the system remains inaccessible until authentication is completed. Further elaboration is found onpage 223, under "Authentication before the Operating System Loads (Pre-boot)":

"Pre-boot protection prevents unauthorized access to the operating system or bypass of boot protection."

The pre-boot mechanism adds a critical layer by securing the system at the earliest stage of the boot process, distinguishing it from general encryption (which is a prerequisite but not the "additional layer" the question seeks). Thus,Option Bis the correct answer.

Option A ("By offering media encryption")is incorrect because media encryption is a feature of MEPP, not FDE (see page 280).

Option C ("By offering port protection")is also incorrect as port protection pertains to MEPP, not FDE (see page 280).

Option D ("By offering encryption")is too vague and does not specify the additional layer; encryption is inherent to FDE, but pre-boot protection is the added security mechanism.

Pre-boot authentication in Harmony Endpoint disablesworkarounds to computer security. This is explicitly stated in theCP_R81.20_Harmony_Endpoint_Server_AdminGuide.pdfonpage 223, under "Authentication before the Operating System Loads (Pre-boot)," which explains: "only authorized users are given access to information stored on desktops and laptops" by requiring authentication before the OS loads. This prevents unauthorized access attempts that might bypass OS-level security measures, such as booting from alternative media or exploiting OS vulnerabilities—effectively disabling "workarounds to computer security."

Option B ("Identity theft")is a broader security concern not specifically addressed by pre-boot authentication; it’s a potential outcome, not a direct mechanism disabled.

Option C ("Incorrect usernames")is a user error, not something pre-boot authentication disables; it simply rejects invalid credentials.

Option D ("Weak passwords")relates to password policy enforcement (covered on page 264), not the function of pre-boot authentication itself.

Option A ("Workarounds to computer security")is directly supported by the documentation, as pre-boot authentication ensures security at the earliest stage, blocking bypass attempts.