PAM-DEF CyberArk Defender - PAM Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

 After deploying a new HTML5 Gateway in your organization, you configure the PSM to use the HTML5 Gateway by navigating to the Administration section in the PVWA. From there, you go to Options, then Privileged Session Management, and under Configured PSM Servers, you will find the option to Add PSM Gateway1. This is where you can specify the details of the newly deployed HTML5 Gateway to ensure that the PSM can utilize it for secure remote access to target machines through an HTML5-based session.

References:

CyberArk’s official documentation provides a step-by-step guide on how to install and configure the PSM HTML5 Gateway, including the process of adding the gateway to the PSM configuration1.

For more detailed instructions and best practices on configuring the PSM with an HTML5 Gateway, refer to the CyberArk Defender PAM course materials and study guides

The following statements are not true when enabling PSM recording for a target Windows server:

A. The PSM software must be instated on the target server. This is not true, because the PSM software is installed on a dedicated server that acts as a proxy between the user and the target server. The PSM server intercepts the user’s connection request, initiates the connection to the target server, and records the privileged session. The target server does not need to have the PSM software installed on it1.

C. PSMConnect must be added as a local user on the target server. This is not true, because PSMConnect is a predefined user that is created on the PSM server during the installation. This user is used to establish the connection between the PSM server and the target server, and to run the PSM processes. The target server does not need to have a local user named PSMConnect on it2.

The following statements are true when enabling PSM recording for a target Windows server:

B. PSM must be enabled in the Master Policy (either directly, or through exception). This is true, because the Master Policy is a centralized overview of the security and compliance policy of privileged accounts in the organization. It allows the administrator to configure compliance driven rules that are defined as the baseline for the enterprise. One of the rules in the Master Policy is the Session Isolation rule, which determines whether or not privileged sessions are isolated and recorded by PSM. This rule can be enabled either directly in the Master Policy, or through an exception for a specific scope of accounts3.

D. RDP must be enabled on the target server. This is true, because RDP is the protocol that is used by PSM to connect to Windows servers. The target server must have RDP enabled and configured properly to allow the PSM server to access it. The PSM server must also have the RDP client installed on it4.

References:

1: Privileged Session Manager

2: PSMConnect and PSMAdminConnect

3: Session Isolation

4: Configure RDP for PSM

CyberArk Hardened Windows Firewall -> Running

PrivateArk Database -> Running

PrivateArk Server -> Stopped

CyberArk Vault Disaster Recovery -> Running

CyberArk Event Notification Engine -> Stopped

 Comprehensive Explanation: A DR Vault is a Vault that acts as a standby replica of the Primary Vault and is ready to take its place when the Primary Vault is unavailable. The DR Vault operates in Replication mode, which means it continuously replicates the data and metadata from the Primary Vault. In Replication mode, the following services have the following status on the DR Vault:

Cyber-Ark Hardened Windows Firewall: This service provides firewall protection for the Vault server. It should be running on the DR Vault to ensure security.

PrivateArk Database: This service manages the database that stores the metadata of the Vault. It should be stopped on the DR Vault, because the database is not active in Replication mode. The database is only activated when the DR Vault switches to Production mode.

PrivateArk Server: This service manages the Vault server and its communication with other components. It should be stopped on the DR Vault, because the Vault server is not active in Replication mode. The Vault server is only activated when the DR Vault switches to Production mode.

CyberArk Vault Disaster Recovery: This service manages the replication process between the Primary Vault and the DR Vault. It should be running on the DR Vault to ensure data synchronization and readiness for failover.

Cyber-Ark Event Notification Engine: This service manages the event notifications and alerts for the Vault. It should be stopped on the DR Vault, because the event notifications are not relevant in Replication mode. The event notifications are only activated when the DR Vault switches to Production mode.

References: Primary-DR environment - CyberArk, Replicate the Primary Vault to the Satellite Vaults - CyberArk

When using the AccountUploader Utility to create accounts with SSH keys, the parameter used to set the full or relative path of the SSH private key file that will be attached to the account is KeyFile. This parameter specifies the location of the SSH private key file, which is then associated with the account being onboarded into the CyberArk Privileged Access Security system. The correct configuration of this parameter is crucial for the successful attachment of the SSH key to the account1.

References:

CyberArk’s official documentation on the AccountUploader Utility, which provides detailed information on the parameters and usage for onboarding accounts with SSH keys1.

Discovery and Audit (DMA), Auto Detection (AD), and Accounts Discovery are CyberArk components or products that can be used to discover Windows Services or Scheduled Tasks that use privileged accounts.

Discovery and Audit (DMA) is a tool that scans Windows servers and workstations to identify privileged accounts that are used by Windows Services or Scheduled Tasks. DMA can also generate reports on the usage and risks of these accounts.

Auto Detection (AD) is a feature of the CyberArk Privileged Account Security Solution that automatically detects and onboards privileged accounts that are used by Windows Services or Scheduled Tasks. AD can also monitor and rotate the passwords of these accounts.

Accounts Discovery is a feature of the CyberArk Privileged Account Security Solution that scans the network to discover privileged accounts on various platforms, including Windows. Accounts Discovery can also identify accounts that are used by Windows Services or Scheduled Tasks.

References:

: Discovery and Audit (DMA) User Guide

: Auto Detection Implementation Guide

: Accounts Discovery Implementation Guide

The purpose of the PrivateArk Database service is to maintain the Vault metadata, which includes the information about the Safes, accounts, policies, users, groups, and audit records that are stored in the Vault. The PrivateArk Database service is a Windows service that manages the database files that contain the Vault data. The PrivateArk Database service is responsible for creating, updating, deleting, and backing up the database files, as well as performing encryption and compression operations on the data1. The PrivateArk Database service is installed automatically as part of the Vault server installation and can be configured using the DBParm.ini file2.

The other options are not the purpose of the PrivateArk Database service, although they may be related to other services or components of the Vault. The PrivateArk Server service is the service that communicates with the components, such as the PVWA, the CPM, the PSM, and the PTA, and handles the requests from the clients and components3. The Event Notification Engine service is the service that sends email alerts from the Vault, based on predefined events and recipients4. The Central Policy Manager component is the component that executes password changes, verifications, and reconciliations for the accounts that are managed by the Vault. References:

Server Components - CyberArk, section “The PrivateArk Server process (Dbmain)”

DBParm.ini - CyberArk, section “Main parameters”

Server Components - CyberArk, section “The PrivateArk Server process (Dbmain)”

Event Notification Engine - CyberArk, section “Event Notification Engine”

[Change Passwords - CyberArk], section “Change Passwords”

Before failing back to the production infrastructure after a Disaster Recovery (DR) exercise, it is crucial to ensure that the Production Instance replicates all changes that occurred from the Disaster Recovery Instance. This includes all audit history and any other changes made during the DR event. The replication process ensures that no data is lost and that the audit history is maintained consistently across both the DR and Production environments1.

References:

CyberArk Docs - Reports and Audits1

CyberArk Docs - Vault Audit Action Codes2

CyberArk Blog - Failover and Failback Process

It is possible to restrict the time of day, or day of week that a verify process can occur by using the Verify Time Window parameter in the Platform Management page. This parameter allows the administrator to define a time window for each platform, during which the verify process can be performed. The verify process will not run outside of this time window, unless it is manually initiated by the administrator. This feature can help reduce the load on the target systems and the network during peak hours. References:

[Defender PAM Course], Module 4: Managing Accounts, Lesson 2: Account Verification, Slide 8: Verify Time Window

[Defender PAM Documentation], Version 12.3, Administration Guide, Chapter 4: Managing Platforms, Section: Verify Time Window

 The Onboarding RestAPI functions are a set of web services that allow you to integrate CyberArk with your accounts provisioning process. You can use the Onboarding RestAPI functions to create, update, delete, or verify accounts in the CyberArk Vault, as well as to retrieve information about accounts, platforms, and safes. The Onboarding RestAPI functions are part of the Central Credential Provider component, which is installed on a dedicated server that communicates with the Vault. References:

[Defender PAM Course], Module 4: Onboarding Accounts, Lesson: Onboarding RestAPI Functions

[Onboarding RestAPI Functions Guide], Introduction

To add a user directly to the Vault Admin Group in CyberArk, you can use the following methods:

REST API: The REST API allows for programmatic management of users and groups within the Vault, including adding users to the Vault Admin Group1.

PrivateArk Client: The PrivateArk Client provides a graphical interface for managing users and groups, and it can be used to add users directly to the Vault Admin Group2.

PACLI: The PACLI (Privileged Access Command Line Interface) is a command-line tool that enables administrators to manage the Vault, including adding users to groups2.

These methods provide different ways to manage users and their group memberships within the CyberArk Vault, offering flexibility for administrators to choose the most suitable approach for their needs.

References:

CyberArk’s official documentation on using the REST API to manage users and groups1.

Information on managing users and groups through the PrivateArk Client and PACLI2.

The Active Directory user required by the Windows Discovery process needs to have Read permissions in the OU to scan and all sub-OUs1. This allows the Discovery process to scan predefined machines for new and modified accounts and their dependencies without requiring elevated privileges such as Domain Admin or LDAP Admin rights. The Read permission is sufficient for the Discovery process to retrieve the necessary information about the accounts that should be onboarded into the Vault.

References:

CyberArk’s official documentation on managing discovery processes outlines the permissions required for the Discovery process, including the need for Read permissions for the Active Directory user performing the discovery1.

Additional details on the required credentials for scanning and the Discovery process can be found in the supported target machines section of CyberArk’s documentation2.

References:

Log Files

[Defender PAM Sample Items Study Guide], Question 46, page 16

 The Accounts Feed is a feature of the CyberArk Privileged Access Security Solution that enables the discovery and provisioning of privileged accounts in the environment. The Accounts Feed contains the accounts that were discovered by CyberArk that have not yet been onboarded to the Vault. These accounts are displayed in the Pending Accounts page in the PVWA, where the user can view, analyze, and onboard them according to various criteria. The Accounts Feed helps the user to identify and manage the unmanaged privileged accounts that pose a security risk1.

The other options are not correct, because:

A. Accounts that were discovered by CyberArk in the last 30 days. This is not correct, because the Accounts Feed does not contain all the accounts that were discovered by CyberArk in the last 30 days, but only the ones that have not yet been onboarded. The accounts that were already onboarded to the Vault are not part of the Accounts Feed, but are displayed in the Accounts page in the PVWA1.

C. All accounts added to the vault in the last 30 days. This is not correct, because the Accounts Feed does not contain the accounts that were added to the Vault, but the ones that are waiting to be onboarded. The accounts that were added to the Vault are not part of the Accounts Feed, but are displayed in the Accounts page in the PVWA1.

D. All users added to CyberArk in the last 30 days. This is not correct, because the Accounts Feed does not contain the users that were added to CyberArk, but the accounts that are waiting to be onboarded. The users that were added to CyberArk are not part of the Accounts Feed, but are displayed in the Users page in the PVWA1.

References:

1: Accounts Feed

CyberArk does not recommend implementing object level access control on all Safes. According to the CyberArk documentation1, enabling object level access control impacts Vault performance. Therefore, it should be used only when necessary and with caution. Object level access control is useful when you need to give granular permissions to specific passwords or files in a Safe, regardless of the Safe level member authorizations. For example, you can use it to grant access to an external vendor or technician for a specific password only, without exposing any other passwords or files in the Safe. However, if you do not need this level of granularity, you can use the regular Safe member authorizations to control user access to the Safe and its contents.

The CyberArk marketplace is a platform that simplifies delivery of privileged access security solutions, such as CyberArk Privileged Account Security Solution. It features the industry’s broadest and deepest portfolio of technology integrations, including platforms for various types of accounts. Customers can find and deploy integrations with CyberArk Marketplace in as little as four clicks. If there is no platform that meets the customer’s needs, they can request a custom platform from CyberArk or create their own using the Platform Development Kit (PDK). References: CyberArk Marketplace, Platform Development Kit

 To add an LDAP group to a CyberArk group, you need to use the Private Ark client and follow these steps1:

In the Users and Groups tree, select the CyberArk group that you want to add the LDAP group to.

In the Properties pane, click Member Of.

Click Add > LDAP Group.

In the LDAP Group dialog box, enter the name of the LDAP group and click OK. References: Add an LDAP group to a Vault group

When troubleshooting a slow response in the Privileged Vault Web Access (PVWA), the first log files to analyze are the CyberArk.WebApplication.log and CyberArk.WebConsole.log. These logs contain detailed information about the activities carried out by the PVWA and can help identify any problems that may occur. The log files are created by the PVWA and stored on the Web server in the location specified in the LogFolder parameter in the web.config file1. By examining these logs, you can track business flows and troubleshoot failures without having to enable debug mode.

References:

CyberArk Docs - PVWA Logging1

To configure a PSM host to use the HTML5 Gateway from the PVWA, you would typically follow these steps:

Log into the PVWA with an administrative user.

Navigate to Administration > Options.

Right-click on Privileged Session Management and select Add Configured PSM Gateway Servers.

Right-click Configured PSM Gateway Servers, then Add PSM Gateway Server.

Select the newly added gateway server and enter a unique ID for the PSM HTML5 Gateway.

Expand the newly created gateway server and enter the necessary configuration details.

Please note that these steps are based on general procedures for configuring a PSM host with an HTML5 Gateway and should be verified against the official CyberArk documentation or by a qualified CyberArk professional. For detailed instructions and best practices, refer to the CyberArk documentation123.