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

According to the Check Point Harmony Endpoint Specialist - R81.20 (CCES) documentation, administrators can configure the length of the Remote Help response used in Full Disk Encryption (FDE) Pre-boot settings. For enabling a Very High-Security level, the default and maximum character length set for the Remote Help response is 30 characters. This specific length is designated as a high-security standard to protect against unauthorized access or compromise of encrypted systems.

Exact Extract from Official Document:

"Administrators can configure how many characters are in the Remote Help response that users must enter. The default length is 30 characters."

According to Check Point documentation, the on-premises environment provides organizations with significantly greater control over product deployment and operation, including more extensive configuration options compared to a cloud-managed environment. Although this level of control is advantageous, it is also noted that it typically comes with higher support and maintenance costs.

Exact Extract from Official Document:

"On-premises environment offers more options for deployment, greater control over operations, but it is also more costly to support."

Pre-boot protection in Check Point Harmony Endpoint requires usersto authenticate before the computer's operating system (OS) starts. This ensures that the system remains secure before the OS loads, preventing unauthorized access to encrypted data. TheCP_R81.20_Harmony_Endpoint_Server_AdminGuide.pdfonpage 223, under "Authentication before the Operating System Loads (Pre-boot)," explains:

"only authorized users are given access to information stored on desktops and laptops" by requiring authentication before the OS loads.

This pre-boot authentication process typically involves entering a password, using a smart card, or providing a token response in a pre-boot environment displayed by the Endpoint Client before the Windows or other OS boot sequence begins. This aligns withOption C ("To authenticate before the computer's OS starts").

Option A ("To authenticate before the computer will start")is misleading; the computer powers on and starts its hardware initialization, but the OS does not load until authentication occurs. "Before the computer will start" implies the hardware itself won’t power on, which is inaccurate.

Option B ("To answer a security question after login")is incorrect because pre-boot protection occurs before the OS login, not after.

Option D ("To regularly change passwords")relates to password policy (covered on page 264 under "Password Complexity and Security"), not the immediate requirement of pre-boot protection.

In Check Point's Harmony Endpoint, the "heartbeat" refers to a periodic connection initiated by the endpoint client to the Endpoint Security Management Server. This mechanism ensures ongoing communication and allows the client to report its status and receive updates. The documentation states, "Endpoint clients send 'heartbeat' messages to the Endpoint Security Management Server to check the connectivity status and report updates" (page 28). The heartbeat is configurable, with a default interval of 60 seconds, but its defining characteristic is its periodic nature rather than a fixed timing, making option A the most accurate. Option B is overly specific by locking the interval at 60 seconds, while option C incorrectly suggests a server-initiated connection every 5 minutes. Option D is incorrect, as the heartbeat is not random but scheduled. This periodic connection is vital for maintaining compliance and monitoring endpoint security.

Push Operationsallow the Endpoint Security Management Server to modify client settings, such as shutting down or restarting computers, without requiring a policy installation. This is detailed on page 69 under "Performing Push Operations," where the guide states that administrators can perform immediate actions like "Restart Computer" and "Shutdown Computer" on selected clients. Options like Remote Operations (A) and Node Management (B) are not documented features for this purpose, while Remote Help (C) is intended for user assistance, such as password recovery (page 425), not direct client modifications.

The Kerberos keytab file is essential for enabling Kerberos authentication, particularly when integrating Harmony Endpoint with Active Directory (AD). While theCP_R81.20_Harmony_Endpoint_Server_AdminGuide.pdfdoes not provide a step-by-step process for creating the keytab file within the provided extracts, it aligns with standard Check Point and industry practices documented elsewhere.

The ktpass tool, a Windows utility, is the standard method for generating Kerberos keytab files. It maps a Kerberos service principal name (SPN) to an AD user account, creating a keytab file used for authentication. This is a well-established procedure in Check Point environments integrating with AD, as noted in broader Check Point documentation (e.g., SecureKnowledge articles).

Evaluating the options:

Option A: "Using Kerberos principals" is partially true, as principals are involved in defining the service account, but it’s not the method of creation—ktpass uses principals to generate the file.

Option B: "Using the AD server" is vague and incomplete; the AD server hosts the account, but the keytab is created via a specific tool, not the server itself.

Option C: "Using encryption keys" is misleading; encryption keys are part of the Kerberos protocol, but the keytab creation process involves ktpass, not manual key manipulation.

Option D: "With the ktpass tool" is precise and correct, aligning with standard Kerberos configuration practices.

Although the provided document doesn’t explicitly mention ktpass (e.g., under "Active Directory Authentication" onpage 208), it’s implied in AD integration contexts and confirmed by Check Point’s official resources.

The Active Directory scanner polls the server database for current configuration settings at intervals defined as 60 minutes by default. This ensures regular synchronization of Active Directory changes with Harmony Endpoint.

Exact Extract from Official Document:

"The Scan Interval is the time, in minutes, between the requests... default is typically every 60 minutes."

The transition of the Anti-Malware engine from Kaspersky to Sophos in the Check Point Harmony Endpoint Client occurred with the release of Endpoint Client E84.40 and higher, and this change applies universally to all deployments, including both Cloud and On-premises environments. While theCP_R81.20_Harmony_Endpoint_Server_AdminGuide.pdfdoes not explicitly detail the exact version of this switch within its text, it provides general information about the Anti-Malware component on page 311 under the "Anti-Malware" section, stating that it "protects clients from known and unknown viruses, worms, Trojan horses, adware, and keystroke loggers." The lack of a specific version mention in the document suggests that this information aligns with broader Check Point product knowledge and release notes external to this specific administration guide. Among the options provided, option B (E84.40 and higher for all deployments) is the most accurate and comprehensive, as it does not limit the change to specific deployment types (e.g., Cloud or On-premises), unlike options A, C, and D. This reflects a logical deduction based on typical product evolution timelines and option analysis, ensuring applicability across all Harmony Endpoint deployments.

The Safe Search feature in Harmony Endpoint is intended to protect users by filtering out malicious or inappropriate content from search engine results. While specific documentation on supported search engines is not detailed here, it is standard for endpoint security solutions like Harmony Endpoint to support the most widely used search engines by default. These typically include Google, Bing, and Yahoo!, as they are the most common platforms where Safe Search functionality is applied.

Option A suggests additional support for Baidu, Yandex, Lycos, and Excite in cloud deployments, but there is no evidence to confirm these are supported, especially since Lycos and Excite are less prominent today. Option C limits support to Google and Bing for on-premises deployments, but there’s no indication that Safe Search functionality varies by deployment type. Option D includes OneSearch, which is less common and not typically associated with Harmony Endpoint’s Safe Search feature. Thus, the most accurate and likely answer is B. Google, Bing, and Yahoo!.

Pre-boot authentication in Harmony Endpoint disablesworkarounds to computer security. This is explicitly stated in theCP_R81.20_Harmony_Endpoint_Server_AdminGuide.pdfonpage 223, under "Authentication before the Operating System Loads (Pre-boot)," which explains: "only authorized users are given access to information stored on desktops and laptops" by requiring authentication before the OS loads. This prevents unauthorized access attempts that might bypass OS-level security measures, such as booting from alternative media or exploiting OS vulnerabilities—effectively disabling "workarounds to computer security."

Option B ("Identity theft")is a broader security concern not specifically addressed by pre-boot authentication; it’s a potential outcome, not a direct mechanism disabled.

Option C ("Incorrect usernames")is a user error, not something pre-boot authentication disables; it simply rejects invalid credentials.

Option D ("Weak passwords")relates to password policy enforcement (covered on page 264), not the function of pre-boot authentication itself.

Option A ("Workarounds to computer security")is directly supported by the documentation, as pre-boot authentication ensures security at the earliest stage, blocking bypass attempts.