SecOps-Architect Practice Question: Palo Alto Networks Product Integration And Architecture
An architect is designing a large-scale Prisma Access deployment with hundreds of remote networks. To simplify routing management and avoid full-mesh IPsec tunnel complexity between all branch sites, what architectural topology does Prisma Access employ by default?
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
✓
Cloud-backed hub-and-spoke architecture where remote networks connect to Prisma Access cloud nodes, which handle backbone routing.
Prisma Access utilizes a cloud-native backbone operating on a hub-and-spoke or cloud-routed backbone architecture where remote networks connect to cloud locations, simplifying branch-to-branch and branch-to-DC routing.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Ring topology relying entirely on legacy Token Ring protocols.
Why it's wrong here
Token Ring is obsolete.
- ✗
Full-mesh BGP peering over physical leased dark fiber lines directly connecting every branch office to all other branch offices.
Why it's wrong here
Dark fiber full-mesh is cost-prohibitive and defies the cloud-native design of Prisma Access.
- ✗
Peer-to-peer BitTorrent distribution of routing tables.
Why it's wrong here
BitTorrent is not an enterprise routing mechanism.
- ✓
Cloud-backed hub-and-spoke architecture where remote networks connect to Prisma Access cloud nodes, which handle backbone routing.
Why this is correct
Prisma Access routes traffic through its cloud backbone, eliminating the need for full-mesh branch-to-branch tunnels.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
About these practice questions
This SecOps-Architect question is part of Courseiva's 224-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official Palo Alto Networks exam blueprint
This SecOps-Architect practice question is part of Courseiva's free Palo Alto Networks certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SecOps-Architect exam.