Palo Alto Networks has launched the new PCNSE exam before. With this new exam, they might have introduced a couple of significant changes within the exam policy. For aligning with the fast pace of changes that would be occurring in the field of cybersecurity and to adhere to industry best practices, the new PCNSE exam would be having an expiration date with the latest release. You would require retaking the exam every two years i.e., 24 months for keeping your certification current. Policies for canceling and rescheduling an exam won’t be going to change.

PCNSE Certification would be no longer designated with a specific version number. Gaining the certification in a single attempt would be a bit difficult if you have some good and reliable training courses offered by the SPOTO Club.

Why are Palo Alto Networks releasing the PCNSE exam with new certification policies?

The expiration would be implemented for ensuring that Palo Alto Networks certified security engineers would be equipped with the latest skillset. With this new policy, the PCNSE exam would help cybersecurity certified professionals prepare for the ever-changing security landscape. Palo Alto Networks won’t have a version number designation with its PCNSE, emphasizing it as a role-based certification for network security engineers.

What is the format of the new PCNSE exam?
• Certification Name: Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer or PCNSE
• Exam Time Allotted: 90 minutes
• Total Exam Time Allotted: 80 minutes
• Number of items: 75
• Format: Multiple Choice Questions, Scenarios with Graphics, and Matching
• Languages: English and Japanese

Will my CNSEx, PCNSE6, or PCNSE7 Certification become time-bound with the change within the exam policy?

There would be no change for the expiration policy if you would be currently holding the CNSEx, PCNSE 6, or PCNSE7 Certification. They would be highly encouraging that you should take the latest PCNSE for keeping your skill set aligned with the changing security landscape. This new policy would be applying to the new PCNSE and future releases and doesn’t affect older certifications. Customers would be looking for differentiation as well as technical expertise.
Beginning August 2018, PCNSE7, the complying with NextWave Channel Partner Program requirements, would be denied. Partners would be required to have an unexpired PCNSE certificate for meeting the compliance requirements. For more information, you could view the NextWave Interactive Program Guide.

What would be covered the PCNSE exam cover?

The exam is going to cover topics that would be related to PAN-OS software, Panorama, GlobalProtect, as well as other aspects of the Palo Alto Networks network security platform. A firewall administrator would require to know to install, design, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot the vast majority of Palo Alto Networks implementations. This exam doesn’t cover Aperture, Traps, or AutoFocus.

For exact details of what would be covered in the exam, you could refer to the PCNSE Blueprint and Study Guide.

Conclusion

Now that you have acquired specific knowledge regarding the exam syllabus of PCNSE, if you wish to obtain a more in-depth overview regarding the Syllabus of the PCNSE Exam, you could have it visiting their website and acquiring the blueprint. If you want to get the PCNSE Certification in the first attempt, you could have it by enrolling yourself in the training courses offered at the SPOTO Club.