156-315.81.20 Gateway Deployment and Upgrades Practice Question
You are preparing to upgrade a Security Gateway from R80.40 to R81.20 using CPUSE. Before initiating the upgrade, you want to ensure a smooth process. Which TWO actions are recommended best practices? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that hotfixes must be manually removed or that policies should be disabled, when the upgrade process handles compatibility and policies remain active.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Take a system snapshot before upgrading.
Taking a system snapshot and verifying sufficient disk space are both recommended best practices before a CPUSE upgrade. A snapshot provides a rollback point, and adequate disk space ensures the upgrade package can be downloaded and installed. Disabling policies, uninstalling hotfixes, and upgrading during peak hours are not recommended and can increase risk.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Uninstall all hotfixes before upgrading.
Why it's wrong here
Uninstalling hotfixes is not necessary and may introduce instability. The upgrade process handles hotfix compatibility; compatible hotfixes are retained, and incompatible ones are removed automatically. Manually uninstalling them adds risk and effort without benefit. The CPUSE upgrade manages this aspect.
- ✓
Take a system snapshot before upgrading.
Why this is correct
Taking a system snapshot creates a restore point that can be used to revert the gateway to its pre-upgrade state if the upgrade fails or causes issues. This is a critical best practice because it provides a safety net without requiring a full reinstallation. Snapshots capture the entire system state, including configuration and installed packages.
- ✓
Verify that the gateway has sufficient disk space for the upgrade.
Why this is correct
CPUSE requires adequate free disk space to download and unpack the upgrade package. Insufficient space will cause the upgrade to fail. Checking disk space beforehand ensures the process can complete. Check Point recommends at least 20 GB free, and the pre-upgrade verifier will check this, but proactive verification avoids surprises.
- ✗
Schedule the upgrade during peak business hours to minimize impact.
Why it's wrong here
Upgrades should be scheduled during a maintenance window to avoid disrupting business operations. Peak hours are the worst time due to potential downtime and performance impact. Best practice is to upgrade during low-traffic periods, with a rollback plan in place. Scheduling during peak hours increases risk and is not recommended.
- ✗
Disable all security policies before upgrading.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling security policies is not recommended and could expose the network during the upgrade. The upgrade process does not require policies to be disabled; in fact, leaving them enabled ensures continued protection. Policies are preserved and reactivated after the upgrade, so disabling them is unnecessary and risky.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Check Point exam blueprint
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