The two public cloud platforms that the VM-Series plugin supports are:

Azure

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

A public cloud platform is a cloud computing service that provides infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), or software as a service (SaaS) to customers over the internet. A public cloud platform requires network security that can protect the traffic between different cloud services or regions from cyberattacks and enforce granular security policies based on application, user, content, and threat information. VM-Series firewall is a virtualized version of the Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewall that can be deployed on various cloud or virtualization platforms. VM-Series plugin is a software component that extends the functionality of the VM-Series firewall and Panorama to support specific features and capabilities of different cloud platforms. Azure and AWS are two public cloud platforms that the VM-Series plugin supports. Azure is a public cloud platform that provides a range of cloud services, such as compute, storage, networking, databases, analytics, artificial intelligence, and more. AWS is a public cloud platform that provides a range of cloud services, such as EC2, S3, VPC, Lambda, and more. The VM-Series plugin supports Azure and AWS by enabling features such as bootstrapping, dynamic address groups, scaling, load balancing, high availability, monitoring, logging, and automation for VM-Series firewalls and Panorama on these platforms. IBM Cloud and OCI are not public cloud platforms that the VM-Series plugin supports, but they are related platforms that can be used for other purposes. Reference: [Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE)], [VM-Series Plugin Overview], [VM-Series Plugin for Azure], [VM-Series Plugin for AWS], [What is Azure?], [What is AWS?]

App-ID is the component that can provide application-based segmentation and prevent lateral threat movement. Application-based segmentation is a method of dividing the network into smaller segments or zones based on application or workload characteristics, such as function, dependency, owner, or security posture. Lateral threat movement is a technique used by attackers to move across the network from one compromised host to another, looking for sensitive data or assets. App-ID is a feature that identifies and classifies applications and protocols based on their content and characteristics, regardless of port, encryption, or evasion techniques. App-ID can provide application-based segmentation and prevent lateral threat movement by applying granular security policies based on application information to each segment or connection, blocking unauthorized access or data exfiltration. DNS Security, NAT, and URL Filtering are not components that can provide application-based segmentation and prevent lateral threat movement, but they are related features that can enhance security and visibility. Reference:Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [App-ID Overview], [Microsegmentation with Palo Alto Networks], [Lateral Movement]

The two statements that apply to the VM-Series plugin are:

It can be upgraded independently of PAN-OS.

It enables management of cloud-specific interactions between VM-Series firewalls and supported public cloud platforms.

The VM-Series plugin is a software component that extends the functionality of the PAN-OS operating system to support cloud-specific features and APIs. The VM-Series plugin can be upgraded independently of PAN-OS to provide faster access to new cloud capabilities and integrations. The VM-Series plugin enables management of cloud-specific interactions between VM-Series firewalls and supported public cloud platforms, such as AWS, Azure, GCP, Alibaba Cloud, and Oracle Cloud. These interactions include bootstrapping, licensing, scaling, high availability, load balancing, and tagging. The VM-Series plugin cannot manage capabilities common to both VM-Series firewalls and hardware firewalls, as those are handled by PAN-OS. The VM-Series plugin cannot manage Panorama plugins, as those are separate software components that extend the functionality of the Panorama management server to support cloud-specific features and APIs. Reference:Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [VM-Series Plugin Overview], [VM-Series Plugin Release Notes]

VM-Series firewalls and hardware firewalls that are external to the Kubernetes cluster are problematic for protecting containerized workloads because they are located outside the cluster and have no visibility into application-level cluster traffic. Kubernetes is a platform that provides orchestration, automation, and management of containerized applications. Kubernetes cluster traffic consists of traffic between containers within a pod, across pods, or across namespaces. VM-Series firewalls and hardware firewalls that are external to the Kubernetes cluster cannot inspect or control this traffic, as they only see the encapsulated or aggregated traffic at the network layer. This creates blind spots and security gaps for containerized workloads. VM-Series firewalls and hardware firewalls that are external to the Kubernetes cluster are not problematic for protecting containerized workloads because they do not scale independently of the Kubernetes cluster, are managed by another entity when located inside the cluster, or function differently based on whether they are located inside or outside of the cluster, as those are not valid reasons or scenarios for firewall deployment in a Kubernetes environment. Reference:Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [CN-Series Concepts], [VM-Series on Kubernetes]

The two methods of Zero Trust implementation that can benefit an organization are:

Boundaries are established

Access controls are enforced

Zero Trust is a security model that assumes no trust for any entity or network segment, and requires continuous verification and validation of all connections and transactions. Zero Trust implementation can benefit an organization by improving its security posture, reducing its attack surface, and enhancing its visibility and compliance. Boundaries are established is a method of Zero Trust implementation that involves defining and segmenting the network into smaller zones based on data sensitivity, user identity, device type, or application function. Boundaries are established can benefit an organization by isolating and protecting critical assets from unauthorized access or lateral movement. Access controls are enforced is a method of Zero Trust implementation that involves applying granular security policies based on the principle of least privilege to each zone or connection. Access controls are enforced can benefit an organization by preventing data exfiltration, malware propagation, or credential theft. Compliance is validated and security automation is seamlessly integrated are not methods of Zero Trust implementation, but they may be potential outcomes or benefits of implementing Zero Trust. Reference:Palo Alto Networks Certified Software Firewall Engineer (PCSFE), [Zero Trust Security Model], [Zero Trust Network Security]