Checkpoint Updated 156-315.81 Exam Questions and Answers by beatriz

One of the major features in R81 SmartConsole is concurrent administration. This feature allows multiple administrators to work on the same Security Policy simultaneously, without blocking each other or creating conflicts. Concurrent administration improves the efficiency and productivity of security management operations1.

However, not all of the options given are possible considering that AdminA, AdminB and AdminC are editing the same Security Policy. The correct answer is B. AdminA and AdminB are editing the same rule at the same time. This is not possible because concurrent administration uses a locking mechanism to prevent multiple administrators from modifying the same rule or object at the same time. When an administrator clicks on a rule or an object, it becomes locked and a lock icon appears next to it. The lock icon shows the name of the administrator who is working on that rule or object, and prevents other administrators from editing it until it is unlocked12.

Therefore, the other options are possible considering that AdminA, AdminB and AdminC are editing the same Security Policy. Option A is possible because a lock icon shows that a rule or an object is locked and will be available when the administrator who locked it finishes working on it or logs out of SmartConsole12. Option C is possible because a lock icon next to a rule informs that any administrator is working on this particular rule, and hovering over the lock icon will show the name of that administrator12. Option D is possible because AdminA, AdminB and AdminC are editing three different rules at the same time, which does not create any conflicts or blockages12.

 When SecureXL is enabled, all packets should be accelerated, except packets that match the following conditions: CIFS packets. SecureXL is a technology that accelerates network traffic processing by offloading intensive operations from the Firewall kernel to a dedicated SecureXL device. However, some packets cannot be accelerated by SecureXL due to various reasons, such as unsupported features, security policy settings, or protocol limitations. One example of packets that cannot be accelerated by SecureXL are CIFS packets, which are used for file sharing and access over SMB protocol. CIFS packets are not accelerated by SecureXL because they require stateful inspection by the Firewall kernel. 

 For best practices, the recommended time for automatic unlocking of locked admin accounts is 30 minutes at least. Admin accounts can be locked due to failed login attempts, password expiration, or manual locking by another admin. To prevent unauthorized access or brute force attacks, locked admin accounts should not be unlocked automatically too soon. The recommended minimum time for automatic unlocking is 30 minutes, which can be configured from the SmartConsole under Manage > Permissions and Administrators > Advanced > Unlock locked administrators after. 

 Application Control is the software blade that provides Application Security and identity control. It allows administrators to define granular policies based on users or groups to identify, block or limit the usage of web applications and widgets. Application Control also integrates with Identity Awareness to provide user-level visibility and control. References: Training & Certification | Check Point Software, Check Point Resource Library