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

Aruba firewall / role access rules are evaluated top-down, first-match wins; once a rule matches, no later rules are processed.

Let’s walk the packet through the ordered rules:

The traffic is SSH, not UDP/67 ⇒ rule 1 does not match.

Destination 10.1.7.12 is not in 10.1.4.0/23 ⇒ rule 2 does not match.

10.1.7.12 is in 10.1.0.0/18 ⇒ rule 3 matches first.

Rule 3 action: Deny any to 10.1.0.0/18 + log.

Because rule 3 already matched, the later “Deny SSH to 10.1.0.0/21 + denylist” rule is never evaluated, so no denylist is applied.

Aruba documentation for session ACLs and firewall rules explicitly states that rules are evaluated from top to bottom and “the first match terminates further evaluation,” and logging/denylist flags on a rule are applied only when that specific rule matches.

So the outcome is: the SSH traffic is dropped and logged, but the client is not denylisted → Option B.

HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA (delivered as part of Aruba SSE) replaces traditional network-level VPN access with application-level access. Key security advantages highlighted in Aruba ZTNA/SSE collateral include:

Applications are no longer exposed directly to the internet; instead, they are fronted by the ZTNA service.

Inbound connectivity to private apps is outbound-only via connectors, eliminating open listening ports and shrinking the external attack surface. www6.h3c.com

Users are granted access only to specific applications, not entire subnets, thereby limiting lateral movement and the blast radius of a compromise.

Aruba documentation explicitly notes that ZTNA “reduces the overall attack surface” and avoids the broad network exposure inherent in classic client-to-site VPNs.

Thus, the most accurate advantage is: ZTNA shrinks the attack surface, eliminating publicly exposed ports and reducing the extent of the private network exposed to remote users → Option D.

To show the security team information about MAC spoofing attempts detected by HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM), you should use ClearPass Insight to run an Active Endpoint Security report. ClearPass Insight provides comprehensive reporting capabilities that include detailed information on security incidents, such as MAC spoofing attempts. By generating this report, you can provide the security team with a clear overview of the detected spoofing activities, including the endpoints involved and the context of the events.

When creating a rule in an HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) role mapping policy that references a ClearPass Device Insight Tag, you should specify the "Endpoint" Type (namespace) for the rule. This ensures that the policy can properly reference and utilize the tags assigned to endpoints by ClearPass Device Insight for making role mapping decisions.

1.Endpoint Tags: ClearPass Device Insight assigns tags to endpoints based on their characteristics and behaviors. These tags are stored in the "Endpoint" namespace.

2.Role Mapping: By referencing the "Endpoint" type, the rule can accurately match endpoints with the specified tags and apply the appropriate role mappings based on the device's profile.

3.Policy Consistency: Ensuring that the correct namespace is used maintains consistency and accuracy in role assignment policies.

To configure access control policies for applications and resources that remote clients can access when connected to the VPN, you should configure these policies in the roles to which VIA clients are assigned after IKE (Internet Key Exchange) authentication on the VPNC. These roles define the permissions and access controls for the clients once they are authenticated, ensuring that they can only access the applications and resources allowed by their assigned roles.

1.IKE Authentication: After IKE authentication, clients are assigned specific roles that determine their access privileges.

2.Role-Based Access Control: By configuring access control policies within these roles, you can granularly control what resources and applications the remote clients can access over the VPN.

3.Security: This method ensures that access is managed securely and dynamically based on the role assigned to each client after successful authentication.

Applying a time range to a firewall rule on an AOS device fulfills the use case of enforcing the rule only during the specified time range. This allows administrators to control when specific firewall rules are active, which can be useful for implementing policies that only need to be in effect during certain hours, such as blocking or allowing access to specific resources outside of business hours.

1.Time-Based Enforcement: The firewall rule will be active only during the specified time range, ensuring that the rule's policies are enforced only when needed.

2.Use Case: This feature is useful for scenarios like limiting access to certain applications or websites during working hours, or enabling enhanced security measures during off-hours.

3.Flexibility: Provides flexibility in security policy management by allowing dynamic adjustment of rules based on time schedules.

802.1X Authentication Modes:

Client Auth-Mode: Requires each connected endpoint to authenticate individually using 802.1X.

Device Auth-Mode: Allows the port to authenticate a device, such as an AP, as a whole. This mode works when the device bridges traffic (e.g., AP bridging SSID traffic).

AP Role Configuration:

Since the AP bridges traffic from multiple clients, you must configure the AP role to use device auth-mode.

Meanwhile, the ports on edge switches can remain in client auth-mode to enforce 802.1X for individual client connections.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. This ensures the AP itself authenticates with device auth-mode, while edge ports remain in client auth-mode.

Option B: Incorrect. APs require device auth-mode for bridging, not client auth-mode.

Option C: Incorrect. Device auth-mode on all ports would not meet the security policy for clients.

Option D: Incorrect. Leaving all ports in device auth-mode does not meet the policy for 802.1X on edge ports.

In the exhibit, the HPE Aruba Networking Central settings for the 9x00 gateway show that traffic inspection is enabled, and the gateway is set to operate in IDS (Intrusion Detection System) mode with the fail strategy set to "Block". This configuration means that the gateway will drop traffic if it matches a rule in the active ruleset.

1.Active Ruleset: The ruleset version 9861 is active, and the gateway is configured to automatically update the ruleset daily.

2.Traffic Matching Rules: When traffic matches a rule in the active ruleset, it is flagged as suspicious or malicious.

3.Block Mode: Since the fail strategy is set to "Block", any traffic that matches a rule in the active ruleset will be dropped to prevent potential threats.

Internet Key Exchange (IKE)/IKEv2 plays a crucial role in an HPE Aruba Networking client-to-site VPN by helping to negotiate the IPsec Security Association (SA) automatically and securely. IKE/IKEv2 handles the authentication and key exchange processes, ensuring that both the client and the VPN gateway can establish a secure IPsec tunnel.

1.SA Negotiation: IKE/IKEv2 automates the negotiation of the Security Association, which defines the parameters for the secure IPsec tunnel.

2.Secure Authentication: It provides a secure method for authenticating the communicating parties and exchanging cryptographic keys.

3.Efficiency: Using IKE/IKEv2 simplifies the setup and maintenance of secure VPN connections, enhancing the overall security and reliability of the VPN.

1. Understanding the Role Mapping Evaluation:

Role mapping is set to "Evaluate: Select first," meaning the first rule that matches the client attributes will determine the role(s) assigned.

Contractors group: Since the client is in the Contractors group (not Managers), Rule 1 in the Role Mapping Policy does not match.

TEAP-Method-1-Status EQUALS Success: This condition matches Rule 2, so the client is assigned the domain-comp role.

No other rules match, so the default role [Other] is not applied.

2. Resulting Role from Role Mapping Policy:

The client is assigned the domain-comp role.

3. Enforcement Policy Evaluation:

Enforcement policy is also set to "Evaluate: Select first," so the first matching rule determines the enforcement profile.

Rule 1 (Tips Role = manager AND domain-comp):

The client only has the domain-comp role, not manager, so this rule does not match.

Rule 2 (Tips Role = manager):

The client does not have the manager role, so this rule does not match.

Rule 3 (Tips Role = domain-comp):

This rule matches the client's role, but it is not evaluated because the enforcement policy already skipped to the default action after failing the first two rules.

4. Default Enforcement Profile:

Since no rule explicitly matches and the policy evaluation stops at the default, the default profile [Deny Access Profile] is applied.

Final Outcome:

The client is denied access because none of the matching rules satisfy the conditions.

References

Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager Role Mapping and Enforcement Policies Guide.

Role and Policy Evaluation Logic for ClearPass Authentication Services.

Comprehensive Detailed Explanation

Virtual Network Based Tunneling (VNBT) is the appropriate technology for this use case because:

Traffic Steering: VNBT enables traffic from specific clients or devices to be tunneled through a predefined network path. This allows traffic to pass through intermediate devices such as third-party security appliances.

Policy Enforcement: VNBT can be configured to route traffic based on roles, VLANs, or other policy definitions, ensuring that only specified traffic flows are redirected to the security appliance.

Scalability: This approach simplifies the redirection of traffic without requiring complex physical rewiring or changes to the underlying network topology.

Other Options:

MC-LAG: Primarily used for high-availability and redundancy in multi-chassis link aggregation scenarios, not for traffic redirection through appliances.

Network Analytics Engine (NAE): Used for monitoring and analytics, not traffic steering or forwarding.

Device Profiles: Helps automate switch port configurations for specific device types but does not handle traffic redirection.

References

AOS-CX Virtual Network Based Tunneling (VNBT) documentation.

Aruba Switch Architecture and Traffic Flow Control Best Practices Guide.

What is Zero Trust Security?

Zero Trust Security is a security model that operates on the principle of "never trust, always verify."

It focuses on securing resources (data, applications, systems) and continuously verifying the identity and trust level of users and devices, regardless of whether they are inside or outside the network.

The primary aim is to reduce reliance on perimeter defenses and implement granular access controls to protect individual resources.

Analysis of Each Option

A. Companies must apply the same access controls to all users, regardless of identity:

Incorrect:

Zero Trust enforces dynamic and identity-based access controls, not the same static controls for everyone.

Users and devices are granted access based on their specific context, role, and trust level.

B. Companies that support remote workers cannot achieve zero trust security and must determine if the benefits outweigh the cost:

Incorrect:

Zero Trust is particularly effective for securing remote work environments by verifying and authenticating remote users and devices before granting access to resources.

The model is adaptable to hybrid and remote work scenarios, making this statement false.

C. Companies should focus on protecting their resources rather than on protecting the boundaries of their internal network:

Correct:

Zero Trust shifts the focus from perimeter security (traditional network boundaries) to protecting specific resources.

This includes implementing measures such as:

Micro-segmentation.

Continuous monitoring of user and device trust levels.

Dynamic access control policies.

The emphasis is on securing sensitive assets rather than assuming an internal network is inherently safe.

D. Companies can achieve zero trust security by strengthening their perimeter security to detect a wider range of threats:

Incorrect:

Zero Trust challenges the traditional reliance on perimeter defenses (firewalls, VPNs) as the sole security mechanism.

Strengthening perimeter security is not sufficient for Zero Trust, as this model assumes threats can already exist inside the network.

Final Explanation

Zero Trust Security emphasizes protecting resources at the granular level rather than relying on the traditional security perimeter, which makes C the most accurate description.

References

NIST Zero Trust Architecture Guide.

Zero Trust Principles and Implementation in Modern Networks by HPE Aruba.

"Never Trust, Always Verify" Framework Overview from Cybersecurity Best Practices.

When the Active Endpoint Security Report on HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass indicates that endpoints have MAC addresses but no known IP addresses, one effective step to address this issue is to add CPPM's (ClearPass Policy Manager) IP address to the IP helper list on routing switches. This configuration ensures that DHCP requests are forwarded to the ClearPass server, allowing it to track and report the IP addresses assigned to the endpoints. This helps ClearPass maintain an accurate mapping of MAC addresses to IP addresses, improving endpoint visibility and security management.

Comprehensive Detailed Explanation

In a user-based tunneling (UBT) setup with reserved VLAN mode, VLAN 64 is used for routing traffic at the gateways. Since the IoT traffic is tunneled to the AOS-10 gateway:

On the gateways:

VLAN 64 must be configured in the iot-wired role for routing purposes.

On the switches:

VLAN 64 does not need to be configured on the access switch physical uplinks because the IoT traffic is tunneled directly to the gateway and does not rely on VLAN configurations at the access layer switches.

Reserved VLAN mode:

Ensures that traffic is encapsulated within the UBT tunnel, and VLANs like 64 are only relevant at the gateway for routing and enforcement.

Therefore, the correct configuration is to define VLAN 64 in the iot-wired role on the AOS-10 gateways and not on any physical interfaces.

References

Aruba AOS-CX UBT configuration guide.

Aruba AOS-10 Gateway Role and VLAN Management documentation.

To further protect the company from internal threats, you can recommend having the third-party SRX firewall send Syslogs to HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM). ClearPass can analyze these logs to detect potential security incidents and coordinate with network devices to respond to threats. By integrating Syslog data from the firewall, CPPM can identify malicious activities and take actions such as locking internal attackers out of the network or triggering specific security policies. This approach enhances the company's internal threat detection and response capabilities.

To assign managers to groups on the AOS-CX switch by name using HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) as a TACACS+ server, you should add the Aruba

service to the TACACS+ enforcement profile and set the Aruba-Admin-Role to the group name. This configuration ensures that the appropriate administrative roles are assigned to managers based on their group membership, allowing for role-based access control on the AOS-CX switches.

For a company that wants to apply a standard configuration to all AOS-CX switch ports and dynamically adjust their configuration based on the identity of the user or device that connects, the best approach is to have the switches download user-roles from HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM). This method centralizes the configuration of identity-based settings in CPPM, allowing it to dynamically assign roles and policies to switch ports based on authentication and authorization results. This ensures consistent and secure network access control tailored to each user or device.

To follow best security practices for 802.1X authentication settings in Windows domain clients:

Specify at least two server names under "Connect to these servers":

Admins should explicitly list trusted RADIUS server names (e.g., radius.example.com) to prevent the client from connecting to unauthorized or rogue servers.

This mitigates man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks where an attacker attempts to present their own RADIUS server.

Select the desired Trusted Root Certificate Authority and "Don't prompt users":

Select the Trusted Root CA that issued the RADIUS server's certificate. This ensures clients validate the correct server certificate during the EAP-TLS/PEAP authentication process.

Enabling "Don't prompt users" ensures end users are not confused or tricked into accepting certificates from untrusted servers.

Why the other options are incorrect:

Option C: Incorrect. Wildcards in server names (e.g., *.example.com) weaken security and allow broader matching, increasing the risk of rogue servers.

Option D: Incorrect. Clearing "Use simple certificate selection" requires users to select certificates manually, which can lead to errors and usability issues. Simple certificate selection is recommended when properly configured.

Recommended Settings for Best Security Practices:

Server Validation: Specify the exact RADIUS server names in the "Connect to these servers" field.

Root CA Validation: Ensure only the correct Trusted Root Certificate Authority is selected.

User Prompts: Enable "Don't prompt users" to enforce automatic and secure authentication without user intervention.

802.1X and User Role Download:

AOS-CX switches use RADIUS attributes to dynamically download user roles from CPPM.

The HPE-User-Role VSA (Vendor-Specific Attribute) must be configured in the RADIUS enforcement profiles to specify which role the switch should apply.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect. Exporting roles in XML is not needed for dynamic role download.

Option B: Incorrect. Switches authenticate via RADIUS, not admin accounts with specific privileges.

Option C: Correct. RADIUS enforcement profiles must include the HPE-User-Role VSA to implement user role download.

Option D: Incorrect. TPM certificates are unrelated to RADIUS-based user role downloads.