SPLK-2003 Splunk SOAR Certified Automation Developer Exam Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

To integrate Splunk Phantom with a Splunk Cloud instance, network communication over certain ports is necessary. The default ports for web traffic are TCP 80 for HTTP and TCP 443 for HTTPS. Since Splunk Cloud instances are accessed over the internet, ensuring that these ports are open is essential for Phantom to communicate with Splunk Cloud for various operations, such as running searches, sending data, and receiving results. It is important to note that TCP 8088 is typically used by Splunk's HTTP Event Collector (HEC), which may also be relevant depending on the integration specifics.

The correct answer is C because the default tenant’s ID is 1. The tenant ID is a unique identifier for each tenant on a multi-tenant Phantom server. The default tenant is the tenant that is created when Phantom is installed and contains all the existing data and assets. The default tenant’s ID is always 1 and cannot be changed. Other tenants have IDs that are assigned sequentially starting from 2. See Splunk SOAR Documentation for more details. In a multi-tenant Splunk SOAR environment, the default tenant is typically assigned an ID of 1. This ID is system-generated and is used to uniquely identify the default tenant within the SOAR database and system configurations. The default tenant serves as the primary operational environment before any additional tenants are configured, and its ID is crucial for database operations, API calls, and internal reference within the SOAR platform. Understanding and correctly using tenant IDs is essential for managing resources, permissions, and data access in a multi-tenant SOAR setup.

The correct answer is D because the default ports that must be configured on Splunk to allow connections from Phantom are SplunkWeb (8000), SplunkD (8089), and HTTP Collector (8088). SplunkWeb is the port used to access the Splunk web interface. SplunkD is the port used to communicate with the Splunk server. HTTP Collector is the port used to send data to Splunk using the HTTP Event Collector (HEC). These ports must be configured on Splunk and Phantom to enable the integration between the two products. See Splunk SOAR Documentation for more details.

To allow connections from Splunk Phantom to Splunk, certain default ports need to be open and properly configured. The default ports include SplunkWeb (8000) for web access, SplunkD (8089) for Splunk's management port, and the HTTP Event Collector (HEC) on port 8088, which is used for ingesting data into Splunk. These ports are essential for the communication between Splunk Phantom and Splunk, facilitating data exchange, search capabilities, and the integration of various functionalities between the two platforms.

To restrict playbook execution to members of the admin role within Splunk SOAR, the 'Execute Playbook' capability must be managed appropriately. This is done by ensuring that this capability is removed from all other roles except the admin role. Role-based access control (RBAC) in Splunk SOAR allows for granular permissions, which means you can configure which roles have the ability to execute playbooks, and by restricting this capability, you can control which users are able to initiate playbook runs.

In Splunk SOAR, playbooks can execute actions either synchronously (waiting for one action to complete before starting the next) or asynchronously (allowing actions to run concurrently). If a playbook starts executing before the previous one has completed, it indicates that synchronous execution has not been properly configured between these playbooks. This is crucial when the output of one playbook is a dependency for the subsequent playbook. Options B, C, and D do not directly address the observed behavior of concurrent playbook execution, making option A the most accurate explanation for why the second playbook starts before the completion of the first.

synchronous execution is a feature of the SOAR automation engine that allows you to control the order of execution of playbook blocks. Synchronous execution ensures that a playbook block waits for the completion of the previous block before starting its execution. Synchronous execution can be enabled or disabled for each playbook block in the playbook editor, by toggling the Synchronous Execution switch in the block settings. Therefore, option A is the correct answer, as it states the cause of the behavior where the second playbook starts executing before the first one completes. Option B is incorrect, because the first playbook performing poorly is not the cause of the behavior, but rather a possible consequence of the behavior. Option C is incorrect, because the sleep option for the second playbook is not the cause of the behavior, but rather a workaround that can be used to delay the execution of the second playbook. Option D is incorrect, because the join configuration on the second playbook is not the cause of the behavior, but rather a way of merging multiple paths of execution into one.

The correct answer is C because after a playbook has run, the results are stored in the container that triggered the playbook. The container is a data object that represents an event or a case in Phantom. The container contains information such as the name, the description, the severity, the status, the owner, and the labels of the event or case. The container also contains the artifacts, the action results, the comments, the notes, and the phases and tasks associated with the event or case. The answer A is incorrect because after a playbook has run, the results are not stored in a Splunk index, which is a data structure that stores events from various data sources in Splunk. The Splunk index is not directly accessible by Phantom, but can be queried by Phantom using the Splunk app. The answer B is incorrect because after a playbook has run, the results are not stored in a case, which is a type of container that represents a security incident in Phantom. The case is a subset of the container, and not all containers are cases. The answer D is incorrect because after a playbook has run, the results are not stored in a log file, which is a file that records the activities or events that occur in a system or a process. The log file is not a data object in Phantom, but can be a data source for Phantom. Reference: Splunk SOAR User Guide, page 19. In Splunk Phantom, after a playbook has been executed, the results of the actions within that playbook are stored in the container associated with the event. A container is a data structure that encapsulates all relevant information and data for an incident or event within Phantom, including action results, artifacts, notes, and more. The container allows users to see a consolidated view of all the data and activity related to a particular event. These results are not stored in the Splunk Index, a separate case, or a log file as their primary storage but may be sent to a Splunk index for further analysis.

In Splunk SOAR, the Investigation page is where users can delve into the details of containers, artifacts, and actions. It provides a comprehensive view of the incident or event under investigation, including the JSON data associated with containers. This JSON data represents the structured information about the container, including its attributes, artifacts, and actions taken within the playbook. Options A, C, and D do not typically provide a direct view of the container's JSON data, making option B the correct answer for where a user can view this information within SOAR.

A container is the top-level data structure that SOAR playbook APIs operate on. Every container is a structured JSON object which can nest more arbitrary JSON objects, that represent artifacts. A container is the top-level object against which automation is run. To view the JSON data for a container, you need to navigate to the Investigation page, which shows the details of a container, such as its name, label, owner, status, severity, and artifacts. On the Investigation page, you can click on the JSON tab, which displays the JSON representation of the container and its artifacts. Therefore, option B is the correct answer, as it states where in SOAR a user can view the JSON data for a container. Option A is incorrect, because the analyst queue is not where a user can view the JSON data for a container, but rather where a user can view the list of containers assigned to them or their team. Option C is incorrect, because the data ingestion display is not where a user can view the JSON data for a container, but rather where a user can view the status and configuration of the data sources that ingest data into SOAR. Option D is incorrect, because the audit log is not where a user can view the JSON data for a container, but rather where a user can view the history of actions performed on the SOAR system, such as creating, updating, or deleting objects.

1: Understanding containers in Splunk SOAR (Cloud)

The correct answer is C because filter blocks can be used to select data for use by other blocks. Filter blocks can filter data from the container, artifacts, or custom lists based on various criteria, such as field name, value, operator, etc. Filter blocks can also join data from multiple sources using the join action. The output of the filter block can be used as input for other blocks, such as decision, format, prompt, etc. See Splunk SOAR Documentation for more details.

Filter blocks within Splunk SOAR playbooks are designed to sift through data and select specific pieces of information based on defined criteria. These blocks are crucial for narrowing down the data that subsequent blocks in a playbook will act upon. By applying filters, a playbook can focus on relevant data, thereby enhancing efficiency and ensuring that actions are taken based on precise, contextually relevant information. This capability is essential for tailoring the playbook's actions to the specific needs of the incident or workflow, enabling more targeted and effective automation strategies. Filters do not directly select blocks for container data access, choose assets by various administrative criteria, or select containers by attributes like severity or status; their primary function is to refine data within the playbook's operational context.

The primary objective of using the I2A2 playbook design methodology in Splunk SOAR is to create playbooks that are simple, reusable, and modular. This design philosophy emphasizes the creation of playbooks that can be easily understood and maintained, encourages the reuse of playbook components in different scenarios, and fosters the development of playbooks that can be modularly connected or used independently as needed.

I2A2 design methodology is a framework for designing playbooks that consists of four components:

•Inputs: The data that is required for the playbook to run, such as artifacts, parameters, or custom fields.

•Interactions: The blocks that allow the playbook to communicate with users or other systems, such as prompts, comments, or emails.

•Actions: The blocks that execute the core logic of the playbook, such as app actions, filters, decisions, or utilities.

•Artifacts: The data that is generated or modified by the playbook, such as new artifacts, container fields, or notes.

The I2A2 design methodology helps you to plan, structure, and test your playbooks in a modular and efficient way. The primary objective of using the I2A2 design methodology is to create simple, reusable, modular playbooks that can be easily maintained, shared, and customized. Therefore, option D is the correct answer, as it states the primary objective of using the I2A2 design methodology. Option A is incorrect, because creating detailed playbooks is not the primary objective of using the I2A2 design methodology, but rather a possible outcome of following the framework. Option B is incorrect, because creating playbooks that customers will not edit is not the primary objective of using the I2A2 design methodology, but rather a potential risk of not following the framework. Option C is incorrect, because meeting customer requirements using a single playbook is not the primary objective of using the I2A2 design methodology, but rather a challenge that can be overcome by using the framework.

1: Use a playbook design methodology in Administer Splunk SOAR (Cloud).

The Files tab on the Investigate page allows the user to upload, download, and view files related to an investigation. A user can upload the output from a detonate action to the Files tab for further investigation, such as analyzing the file metadata, content, or hash. Files tab items and artifacts are not the only data sources that can populate active cases, as cases can also include events, tasks, notes, and comments. Files tab items can be added to investigations by using the add file action block or the Add File button on the Files tab. Phantom memory requirements may increase depending on the Files tab usage, as files are stored in the Phantom database. 

The Files tab on the Investigate page in Splunk Phantom is an area where users can manage and analyze files related to an investigation. Users can upload files, such as outputs from a 'detonate file' action which analyzes potentially malicious files in a sandbox environment. The files tab allows users to store and further investigate these outputs, which can include reports, logs, or any other file types that have been generated or are relevant to the investigation. The Files tab is an integral part of the investigation process, providing easy access to file data for analysis and correlation with other incident data.

The correct answer is A because assets provide location, credentials, and other parameters needed to run actions. Assets are configurations that define how Phantom connects to external systems or devices, such as firewalls, endpoints, or threat intelligence sources. Assets specify the app, the IP address or hostname, the username and password, and any other settings required to run actions on the target system or device. The answer B is incorrect because assets do not provide hostnames, passwords, and other artifacts needed to run actions, which are data objects that can be created or retrieved by playbooks. The answer C is incorrect because assets do not provide Python code, REST API, and other capabilities needed to run actions, which are provided by apps. The answer D is incorrect because assets do not provide firewall, network, and data sources needed to run actions, which are external systems or devices that can be connected to by assets. Reference: Splunk SOAR Admin Guide, page 45. Assets in Splunk Phantom are configurations that contain the necessary information for apps to connect to external systems and services. This information can include IP addresses, domain names, credentials like usernames and passwords, and other necessary parameters such as API keys or tokens. These parameters enable the apps to perform actions like running queries, executing commands, or gathering data. Assets do not provide the actual Python code, REST API capabilities, or network infrastructure; they are the bridge between the apps and the external systems with the configuration data needed for successful communication and action execution