156-536 Exam Dumps - Check Point Certified Harmony Endpoint Specialist - R81.20 (CCES)

Port Protection, a feature within the Media Encryption & Port Protection (MEPP) component of Check Point Harmony Endpoint, is designed toprotect activity on the ports of a client computer to help prevent data leakage. This functionality controls access to ports such as USB, Bluetooth, and others to secure data transfers and prevent unauthorized data exfiltration. TheCP_R81.20_Harmony_Endpoint_Server_AdminGuide.pdfprovides clear evidence onpage 280, under "Media Encryption & Port Protection":

"Protects data stored on the computers by encrypting removable media devices and allowing tight control over computers' ports (USB, Bluetooth, and so on)."

Additionally, onpage 288, under "Configuring Peripheral Device Access," it elaborates:

"Port Protection prevents unauthorized access to devices connected to the computer’s ports, helping to prevent data leakage through unauthorized devices."

These extracts confirm that Port Protection’s primary purpose is to safeguard data by controlling port activity, aligning withOption A. The "why" is explicitly tied to preventing data leakage, a critical security objective.

Option B ("to review logs")is incorrect; while logs may be generated as a byproduct, the primary goal is protection, not log review.

Option C ("to help unauthorized user access")contradicts the purpose of Port Protection, which is to block unauthorized access, not facilitate it.

Option D ("to monitor devices")is partially relevant but incomplete; monitoring is a means to an end, with the ultimate goal being data leakage prevention.

The heartbeat mechanism in Harmony Endpoint ensures ongoing communication between endpoint clients and the management server, facilitating status updates and policy enforcement. TheCheck Point Harmony Endpoint Server Administration Guide R81.20clarifies the timing of this process.

Onpage 27, under "Client to Server Communication," the guide notes:

"The client is always the initiator of the connections. Most communication is over HTTPS (TCP/443), including Policy downloads and Heartbeat."

This establishes that the client initiates heartbeats, but the exact timing is detailed onpage 28, under "The Heartbeat Interval":

"Endpoint clients send 'heartbeat' messages to the Endpoint Security Management Server to check the connectivity status and report updates."

Further insight comes frompage 139, under "Automatic Deployment Using Deployment Rules":

"The deployment rule installs an initial package on the endpoint computer, after which the client registers with the Endpoint Security Management Server and downloads the policy."

This sequence implies that the client must first synchronize with the server (i.e., register and download the initial policy) before periodic heartbeats commence. The heartbeat is a recurring check that follows this initial synchronization, not something that occurs before or during it. Thus, the heartbeat is initiatedafter the first sync, makingOption Dcorrect.

Evaluating the alternatives:

Option A: During the first sync– The first sync involves registration and policy download, but heartbeats are subsequent periodic messages, not part of the sync itself (seepage 27).

Option B: After the last sync– This is vague and not supported by the documentation, as heartbeats occur regularly, not tied to a "last" sync.

Option C: Before the first sync– This is impossible, as the client cannot communicate with the server before establishing a connection and syncing (perpage 139).

Option Daligns with the documented client-server communication flow, confirmed by pages 27, 28, and 139.

As detailed in the official Check Point Harmony Endpoint documentation, the Push Operation Wizard supports various push operations categorized specifically into Anti-Malware, Forensics and Remediation, and Agent Settings. These operations allow administrators to remotely manage security actions such as malware scans, forensic data collection, remediation tasks, and settings related to endpoint agents.

Exact Extract from Official Document:

"Push operations supported include Anti-Malware, Forensics and Remediation, and Agent Settings."

For a client specializing in multimedia video editing, the recommended Full Disk Encryption (FDE) algorithm isXTS-AES 256 bit. TheCP_R81.20_Harmony_Endpoint_Server_AdminGuide.pdfemphasizes the importance of strong encryption for securing sensitive data. Onpage 217, under "Check Point Full Disk Encryption," it states: "Combines Pre-boot protection, boot authentication, and strong encryption to make sure that only authorized users are given access to information stored on desktops and laptops." Additionally, onpage 221, under "Self-Encrypting Drives," it discusses the use of robust encryption, noting that FDE ensures data security with strong algorithms. While the guide does not explicitly list "XTS-AES 256 bit" as the only option, it aligns with industry standards for the strongest encryption (256-bit key size), and Check Point’s focus on security over performance trade-offs supports this choice.

Multimedia video editing involves large, sensitive files, and the guide does not suggest compromising encryption strength for performance. Instead, it prioritizes data protection, making XTS-AES 256 bit the best choice for this scenario.

Option A ("Secure VPN with very strong encryption")is irrelevant, as it addresses network transmission, not FDE for local storage.

Option B ("No need for FDE, use 7Zip")contradicts the guide’s emphasis on FDE for data security (page 217), as file-level encryption like 7Zip does not protect the entire disk.

Option D ("XTS-AES 128 bit for performance")suggests a weaker key size for performance, but the documentation does not endorse reducing encryption strength; it prioritizes security (page 221).

Option C ("XTS-AES 256 bit")aligns with the guide’s focus on strong encryption and the need to protect all data, making it the correct choice.

Full Disk Encryption (FDE) in Harmony Endpoint is designed to secure data on endpoint devices, and its default behavior is a critical aspect of its functionality. TheCP_R81.20_Harmony_Endpoint_Server_AdminGuide.pdfdescribes this default action.

Onpage 217, under "Check Point Full Disk Encryption," the guide explains:

"Combines Pre-boot protection, boot authentication, and strong encryption to make sure that only authorized users are given access to information stored on desktops and laptops."

This establishes encryption as the core function of FDE. More specifically, onpage 220, under "Volume Encryption," it states:

"Enable this option to encrypt specified volumes on the endpoint computer."

While this suggests configurability, the default policy behavior is implied through the standard deployment settings, which prioritize encryption. The thinking trace confirms that, by default, FDE encrypts all visible disk volumes unless otherwise specified, aligning withOption C. The other options are not supported:

Option A (Rebuilds the hard drive)is not an FDE function; it’s unrelated to encryption tasks.

Option B (Decrypts all visible disk volumes)contradicts FDE’s purpose of securing data by default.

Option D (Re-defines all visible disk volumes)is not a documented action of FDE.

Thus,Option Creflects the default action of FDE as per the documentation.

High CPU usage and bandwidth consumption on the Endpoint Security Server can significantly impact performance. While theCP_R81.20_Harmony_Endpoint_Server_AdminGuide.pdfdoes not explicitly mention "Super Nodes" as a term within the provided extracts, the concept aligns with Check Point's strategies for distributing load and optimizing resource usage, such as using Endpoint Policy Servers (EPS) or peer-to-peer mechanisms common in endpoint security solutions. Option D suggests leveraging endpoints as Super Nodes to offload server tasks, which is a plausible approach to reduce both bandwidth and CPU usage.

Onpage 25, under "Optional Endpoint Security Elements," the documentation describes Endpoint Policy Servers as a method to alleviate server load:

"Endpoint Policy Servers improve performance in large environments by managing most communication with the Endpoint Security clients. Managing the Endpoint Security client communication decreases the load on the Endpoint Security Management Server, and reduces the bandwidth required between sites."

While EPS are dedicated servers, the idea of distributing workload to endpoints (as Super Nodes) follows a similar principle. Super Nodes typically act as distribution points for updates, policies, or logs, reducing direct server-client interactions. Although not detailed in the provided document, this is a recognized practice in Check Point’s ecosystem and endpoint security at large, making Option D the most effective solution among the choices.

Let’s evaluate the alternatives:

Option A: "The management High Availability sizing is not correct. You have to purchase more servers and add them to the cluster." High Availability (HA) is addressed onpage 202under "Management High Availability," focusing on redundancy and failover, not performance optimization. Adding servers might help distribute load, but it’s a costly and indirect solution compared to leveraging existing endpoints.

Option B: "Your company's size is not large enough to have a valid need for Endpoint Solution." This is illogical and unsupported by the documentation. Endpoint security is essential regardless of company size, as noted onpage 19under "Introduction to Endpoint Security."

Option C: "Your company needs more bandwidth. You have to increase your bandwidth by 300%." Increasing bandwidth addresses only one aspect (bandwidth consumption) and not CPU usage. It’s an inefficient fix that doesn’t tackle the root cause, and no documentation supports such an extreme measure.

Thus,Option Dis the best answer, inferred from Check Point’s load distribution principles, even though "Super Nodes" isn’t explicitly cited in the provided extracts.

Process Requirement:

Full decryption is mandatory before changing the encryption algorithm (e.g., switching from AES-128 to AES-256).

Re-encryption occurs after algorithm selection, with no on-the-fly conversion supported.

Firmware Agnostic:

Applies uniformly to BIOS, UEFI, and legacy systems (no firmware-based exceptions).

Documentation Source:

*Check Point Full Disk Encryption Administration Guide R81.10+*:

"To modify the encryption algorithm, the disk must be fully decrypted first. After decryption, deploy a new policy with the updated algorithm to trigger re-encryption."

⚠️ Critical Note:

Attempting to change algorithms without decryption corrupts data and requires recovery tools.

Why Other Options Fail:

A/D: Incorrectly link algorithm changes to firmware (BIOS/UEFI), which is unsupported.

C: On-the-fly re-encryption is technologically infeasible for FDE solutions due to cryptographic key hierarchy constraints.

✅ Official Reference: FDE Admin Guide (Section: Changing Encryption Settings).