HPE7-A02 HP Aruba Certified Network Security Professional Exam Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

Comprehensive Detailed Explanation

A non-default device posture is applied in scenarios where specific checks on a device's compliance or security state (posture) are required to grant or deny access. The correct answer is:

B. Checking whether a client has antivirus software as a condition for receiving access to resources.

This use case explicitly requires device posture assessment, which involves evaluating the device for attributes like antivirus software, patch levels, or other compliance criteria.

Non-default device posture rules are configured to assess these conditions and enforce the appropriate policy based on the device's state.

Other Options:

A. Applying threat inspection: Threat inspection rules operate independently of device posture and apply based on traffic content, not device compliance.

C. Redirecting compromised clients: This action is typically triggered based on a security event or threat detection, not directly related to device posture evaluation.

D. Integrating with ClearPass OnGuard: While OnGuard can contribute to posture assessment, it does not require a non-default device posture in the SSE rule directly.

References

HPE Aruba SSE Posture-Based Access Control documentation.

Aruba ClearPass and SSE Integration Deployment Guide.

To ensure that HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) can apply the correct access levels based on a client's device category after discovering new clients, you need to enable the "Profile Endpoints" option in the Service tab. This option allows CPPM to profile and categorize endpoints dynamically, ensuring that the appropriate access levels are applied based on the device's characteristics. Enabling this feature ensures that new devices are accurately profiled and that access policies can be enforced based on the updated device information.

Centralized Role Configuration on CPPM:

CPPM can assign roles to clients dynamically during authentication.

However, the actual ACL policies (e.g., firewall policies) must already exist and be referenced locally on the switch.

CPPM cannot directly configure ACL details on AOS-CX switches.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. The role is defined on CPPM, but it references a policy pre-configured on the switch.

Option B: Incorrect. This does not align with Aruba's centralized role-based access control design.

Option C: Incorrect. CPPM cannot configure the ACL policies and classes directly; they must exist locally.

Option D: Incorrect. Policies can be referenced centrally but not fully configured on CPPM.

Packet Capture in Aruba Central:

Aruba Central provides tools for remote packet captures directly from the APs.

On the "Security" page for the AP, you can initiate a packet capture session, specifying the client device and capture duration.

The traffic is captured into a PCAP file, which can be downloaded and analyzed using tools like Wireshark.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect. While possible via CLI, Aruba Central provides a simpler method for packet captures.

Option B: Correct. Aruba Central’s "Security" page allows you to capture and export client traffic efficiently.

Option C: Incorrect. The "Live Events" page focuses on monitoring events, not packet captures.

Option D: Incorrect. Port mirroring on the switch captures AP traffic but requires more manual configuration and does not isolate client-specific wireless traffic easily.

The use case for the HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass OnGuard dissolvable agent is implementing a one-time compliance scan. The dissolvable agent is designed to perform a compliance check without requiring a permanent installation on the client device. This is ideal for environments where a quick, temporary assessment of the device's security posture is needed without the overhead of a persistent agent.

1.Dissolvable Agent: The dissolvable agent is downloaded and executed on the client device for a single session, performing the necessary compliance checks before being removed automatically.

2.One-time Compliance Scan: This method is particularly useful for guest or unmanaged devices where a temporary compliance scan is sufficient to ensure security standards are met.

3.Minimal Impact: Since the agent does not persist on the client device, it minimizes the impact on the user's system and does not require ongoing maintenance or updates.

When setting up a ClearPass cluster, it is critical to ensure secure communication between the cluster nodes and the client devices. For this purpose, certain certificates must be properly configured.

1. Why HTTPS Requires a CA-Signed Certificate?

HTTPS communication is used for inter-cluster communication and for the web-based user interface that administrators use to manage the ClearPass cluster.

Before joining the cluster, it is strongly recommended to install a CA-signed HTTPS certificate on the Subscriber to ensure secure communication and prevent warnings/errors due to untrusted certificates.

Without a CA-signed certificate, the Subscriber might use a self-signed certificate, leading to security risks and lack of trust validation.

2. Analysis of Other Certificate Types

B. Database:

Incorrect: Database communications within ClearPass clusters are secured using internal certificates or keys. These are not user-facing and do not require a CA-signed certificate before joining the cluster.

C. RADIUS/EAP:

Incorrect: RADIUS/EAP certificates are important for client authentication, but they are not required on the Subscriber prior to cluster joining. These can be configured after the Subscriber is part of the cluster.

D. RadSec:

Incorrect: RadSec is an optional feature for secure RADIUS communication over TLS, and its certificate configuration is typically performed post-cluster setup.

Final Recommendation

To ensure secure cluster operations and seamless web-based management, a CA-signed HTTPS certificate should be installed on the Subscriber before it joins the ClearPass cluster.

References

ClearPass Deployment Guide for Version 6.9.

Best Practices for Certificate Management in ClearPass Clusters.

HPE Aruba ClearPass Cluster Configuration Guide.

ClearPass Device Insight Integration:

To integrate ClearPass Device Insight (CPDI) with ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM), you must enable the Insight feature in the CPPM server configuration settings.

This ensures CPPM can share and receive profiling data with CPDI for device identification.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect. Root CA certificates are not required for this integration.

Option B: Correct. Enabling Insight on CPPM is essential for the integration to function.

Option C: Incorrect. WMI, SSH, and SNMP are not part of the CPDI integration prerequisites.

Option D: Incorrect. The Data Collector token is relevant to Aruba Central, not CPDI integration.

To set up HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) to enforce certificate-based authentication for clients using Tunneled EAP (TEAP), you need to select an EAP-TLS-type authentication method for TEAP's inner method. TEAP allows for a combination of certificate-based (EAP-TLS) and password-based (EAP-MSCHAPv2) authentication. By choosing EAP-TLS as the inner method, you ensure that the clients are authenticated using their certificates, thus enforcing certificate-based authentication within the TEAP framework.

To ensure that the AOS-CX switch properly assigns the "employees" role when using CPPM (ClearPass Policy Manager) as the RADIUS server, you should configure a RADIUS Enforcement profile on CPPM with the Aruba-User-Role VSA (Vendor-Specific Attribute) set to "employees". This configuration ensures that when an endpoint authenticates, CPPM sends the appropriate role assignment to the AOS-CX switch, which then applies the corresponding policies and VLAN settings defined for the "employees" role.

When integrating ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) with ClearPass Device Insight (CPDI), it is important to understand how device profiling and classification work between the two solutions:

1. CPPM and CPDI Integration Overview

CPPM is primarily used for access control and policy enforcement, while CPDI specializes in device profiling and classification through advanced analytics and machine learning.

Integration allows CPPM to leverage CPDI's enhanced profiling capabilities for more accurate device identification and policy enforcement.

2. Detailed Analysis of Each Option

A. CPPM no longer supports any Device Profiler features and relies on CPDI for this profile information:

Incorrect: CPPM still supports its own basic device profiling features and can operate independently. However, when integrated with CPDI, CPPM can use CPDI’s advanced profiling capabilities as a supplement.

B. CPDI must be configured as an audit server on CPPM for the integration to be successful:

Incorrect: CPDI is not configured as an audit server on CPPM. Integration is achieved via API integration and communication between the two solutions, not through audit server settings.

C. CPDI must have security analysis disabled on it for the integration to be successful:

Incorrect: Security analysis does not need to be disabled for integration. In fact, CPDI’s security analysis enhances the classification process by identifying anomalous behaviors.

D. CPPM can submit profile information to CPDI, but if CPDI derives a different classification, CPDI takes precedence:

Correct:

CPPM and CPDI exchange profile data, but CPDI has more advanced device classification capabilities due to its machine learning-based engine.

When CPDI derives a different classification than CPPM, CPDI's classification is considered more accurate and takes precedence.

This ensures that policies are based on the most reliable device classification.

References

Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager and Device Insight Integration Guide.

ClearPass Device Profiling and Classification Documentation.

Best Practices for CPPM and CPDI Integration in Network Security.

Integration of CPDI and CPPM for Zero Trust:

CPDI (ClearPass Device Insight) identifies and profiles devices and applications on the network.

CPDI can tag devices based on their behavior or detected applications.

CPPM uses these tags to enforce policies, such as quarantining clients that violate security rules (e.g., using prohibited applications).

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect. CPPM does not inform CPDI about role assignments; CPDI provides device context to CPPM.

Option B: Correct. CPDI tags clients, and CPPM uses those tags to enforce quarantine or other Zero Trust actions.

Option C: Incorrect. Custom fingerprint definitions are not part of this integration.

Option D: Incorrect. CPDI provides information about devices, not user identities.

RADIUS Change of Authorization (CoA):

CoA is triggered when ClearPass determines that a client’s posture status has changed (e.g., Healthy, Quarantine).

The RADIUS enforcement policy is where you configure actions and enforcement profiles that respond to these posture changes.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. RADIUS enforcement policies are used to configure actions, including triggering CoA.

Option B: Incorrect. OnGuard settings configure posture agent behavior, not enforcement rules.

Option C: Incorrect. The posture policy evaluates compliance but does not trigger CoA.

Option D: Incorrect. WEBAUTH enforcement policies are for web-based authentication, not posture-related CoA.

For ClearPass to periodically query Microsoft Intune / Endpoint Manager for device attributes (compliance, owner, OS, etc.), you must configure Intune as an authentication source in Policy Manager. The ClearPass–Intune integration is implemented through an API-based auth source which CPPM polls on a schedule; it is not done via Guest extensions or syslog/event sources.

Aruba’s Intune integration guides describe configuring a “Microsoft Intune” (or “Endpoint Manager”) authentication source in ClearPass and supplying the Azure app registration details so CPPM can poll Intune via Microsoft Graph.

Option A is incorrect: the Intune integration is not a ClearPass Guest extension.

Option B is insufficient: adding dictionaries only defines attributes; it does not enable scheduled polling.

Option D is incorrect: Intune is not used as a syslog/event source for this use case; ClearPass initiates the polling via the authentication source.

Therefore, the correct configuration step is: Create an Intune authentication source on CPPM (Option C).

Rogue AP Containment Methods:

HPE Aruba Networking recommends using wireless deauthentication as the preferred method for rogue AP containment.

Deauthentication sends deauth frames to clients connected to rogue APs, causing them to disconnect. This method is effective without introducing unnecessary disruptions to the wired infrastructure.

Key Points:

Wireless Deauthentication is simple, efficient, and widely supported across client devices.

Tarpit Containment is more aggressive and may cause unintentional disruptions to legitimate clients.

Wired Containment involves blocking traffic at the switch level but is complex and may impact legitimate infrastructure traffic.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Wireless deauthentication is the recommended method as it targets rogue AP clients without excessive network impact.

Option B: Incorrect. Combining wireless tarpit and wired containment is overkill and not typically recommended.

Option C: Incorrect. Wireless tarpit can be effective but is generally not the first choice due to its aggressive nature.

Option D: Incorrect. Wired containment is more complex and reserved for specific use cases, not general recommendations.

To ensure that the correct profiles apply after client attributes are updated based on Syslog messages, you should tune the Change of Authorization (CoA) delay on the ClearPass servers to a value of 5 seconds or greater. This delay allows sufficient time for the attribute updates to be processed and for the reauthentication to occur correctly, ensuring that the updated profiles are accurately applied to the clients.

1.CoA Delay: Adjusting the CoA delay ensures that the system has enough time to update client attributes and reauthenticate them properly before applying new profiles.

2.Profile Accuracy: This delay helps in preventing premature reauthentication and ensures that the most recent attribute updates are considered when applying profiles.

3.System Synchronization: Ensures synchronization between the attribute update and the reauthentication process.

To control which commands managers are allowed to enter on AOS-CX switches using HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) as a TACACS+ server, you need to add the Shell service to the TACACS+ enforcement profiles for the managers. This service allows you to define and enforce specific command sets and access privileges for users authenticated via TACACS+. By configuring the Shell service in the enforcement profile, you can specify the commands that are permitted or denied for the managers, ensuring controlled and secure access to the switch's command-line interface.

Policy Analysis:

Rule Evaluation Order: Rules are applied in sequential order until a match is found.

Key Points:

DHCP traffic (UDP 67) is permitted.

DNS traffic (UDP 53) is permitted.

Traffic to 10.5.5.0/24 is explicitly denied.

HTTP traffic (TCP 80) is allowed only to 10.5.0.0/16.

HTTPS traffic (TCP 443) is allowed only to 10.5.0.0/16.

All other traffic to 10.5.0.0/16 is denied.

Any other traffic not matching the above rules is permitted.

Scenario Analysis:

The client IP 10.2.2.2 does not fall within the 10.5.0.0/16 subnet.

Rule 3 denies traffic to 10.5.5.5, regardless of the source IP.

Option A: Correct. HTTPS traffic to 10.5.5.5 is explicitly denied by Rule 3.

Option B: Incorrect. Traffic to 203.0.113.12 is permitted due to the final "permit any" rule.

Option C: Incorrect. The client (10.2.2.2) does not belong to the subnet 10.5.0.0/16, so traffic to 10.5.3.3 is not permitted by Rule 5.

Option D: Incorrect. HTTP traffic to 198.51.100.12 is allowed by the last "permit any" rule.

Tagging Applications: In HPE Aruba Networking SSE (Secure Service Edge), tagging is an efficient way to group multiple applications together for simplified management and rule creation.

Tags can be applied to applications, and a single policy rule can be configured to use the tag as the destination.

This eliminates the need to create multiple rules for each individual application, streamlining policy configuration.

Option B: Correct. Applying the same tag to multiple applications allows you to select the tag as the destination in a single policy rule, meeting the requirement efficiently.

Option A: Incorrect. Associating applications with the IdP and selecting "any" for the destination lacks granularity and security.

Option C: Incorrect. Using connector zones is more appropriate for network-level segmentation rather than grouping application policies.

Option D: Incorrect. Web profiles are generally used for web-based traffic policies, not for grouping applications in general.

To ensure that HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) responds correctly to Syslog messages from a Check Point firewall, you need to check that the Ingress Event Dictionaries for Check Point messages are enabled. These dictionaries are necessary for CPPM to properly interpret and respond to the Syslog messages received from the firewall.

1.Event Dictionaries: Ingress Event Dictionaries allow CPPM to understand the specific format and content of Syslog messages from various sources, such as Check Point firewalls.

2.Message Interpretation: Without these dictionaries enabled, CPPM may not correctly interpret the Syslog messages, leading to a failure in triggering the expected actions.

3.Configuration Check: Ensuring that the dictionaries are enabled is crucial for the proper functioning of the event service and accurate response to security events.