CPC-SEN CyberArk Sentry - Privilege Cloud Questions and Answers

When configuring firewall rules for CyberArk Privilege Cloud, it is essential to allow bi-directional communication between the Privilege Cloud components and the CyberArk Privilege Cloud. This ensures that all necessary communications for operations and management can occur securely in both directions.

References:

• CyberArk documentation on system requirements for outbound traffic network and port requirements1.
• CyberArk documentation on setting up an IP allowlist, which enables Privilege Cloud customer-side components to communicate with the Privilege Cloud SaaS environment2.
• CyberArk documentation on connecting to organization firewalls

To update or change the Central Policy Manager (CPM) credentials, dependencies include:

• CreateCredFile.exe (B): This utility is used to create or modify the encrypted file that stores the CPM's credentials. It is essential for securely handling the credential updates.
• CyberArk.TPC.exe (D): This executable is part of the CyberArk suite that manages trusted platform module operations, which can include tasks related to credential security and management, particularly when hardware security modules are involved.

During the Central Policy Manager (CPM) hardening process, the locally created users that are granted 'Logon as a Service' rights in the local group policy are typically PasswordManager and PasswordManagerUser. These accounts are crucial for the CPM’s operation as they handle password management tasks and require the ability to log on as a service to perform their functions effectively. This configuration is established to ensure that these service accounts can operate under service control manager without interruption, which is critical for automated password rotations and other security processes managed by the CPM. This detail is typically outlined in the CyberArk CPM installation and configuration guide.

After the successful scripted installation of the Privileged Session Manager (PSM), one of the post-installation tasks is to disable the screen saver for the PSM local users. This is done to ensure that the PSMConnect and PSMAdminConnect users, which are created during the installation process, do not have a screen saver activated that could interfere with the operation of the PSM.

References:

• CyberArk documentation on PSM post-installation tasks1.
• CyberArk documentation on disabling the screen saver for PSM local users

For LDAP integration with CyberArk Privilege Cloud Standard, the correct statement is that only the Issuing CA certificate is required for certificate trust to your directory server. This setup simplifies the process of establishing a trusted connection between CyberArk and the LDAP server by necessitating only the certification of the issuing Certificate Authority (CA), rather than needing multiple certificates from different levels of the trust chain. This approach ensures that the SSL/TLS communication between CyberArk and the LDAP server is secured based on the trust of the issuing CA’s certificate.

Before configuring directory mappings in the CyberArk Privilege Cloud Standard Portal for LDAP integration, it is crucial to make sure HTTPS (443/tcp) is reachable over the Secure Tunnel. This setup ensures that the secure communication channel between the CyberArk Privilege Cloud and the LDAP server is operational. Secure Tunnel facilitates the encrypted and safe transmission of data, including LDAP queries and responses, essential for successful integration and ongoing operations.

To configure a platform to work with load-balanced Privileged Session Managers (PSMs), you should:

• Create a new PSM definition that targets the load balancer IP address and assign it to the platform (Option B). This approach involves configuring the platform settings to direct session traffic through a load balancer that distributes the load across multiple PSM servers. This is effective in environments where high availability and fault tolerance are priorities.

On the Central Policy Manager (CPM), it is crucial to verify that Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is disabled for specific executables required for proper operation according to best practices. The relevant executables include:

• Plink.exe (Option B): This executable is commonly used for SSH communications and may require DEP to be disabled to function correctly under certain configurations.
• putty.exe (Option C): Similar to Plink.exe, Putty is another essential tool for SSH communications and might also require DEP to be disabled to prevent any execution issues.

For PSM Web Connectors developed using the CyberArk Plugin Generator Utility (PGU), the supported browser is Google Chrome. This is because the PGU is designed to create plugins that are most compatible with Chrome's web technologies and security frameworks. Chrome is generally recommended by CyberArk for its up-to-date security features and extensive support for web applications. This is further supported by the CyberArk documentation on the Plugin Generator Utility, which specifies browser compatibility and the optimal environment for deploying web connectors.

When installing the first CyberArk Privilege Management (CPM) instance in the Privilege Cloud using the Connector Management Agent, the installation mode should be set to "Active". This configuration sets the CPM to be actively involved in password management and task processing without being in a standby or passive mode. Here are the step-by-step details:

• Download the Connector Management Agent: Obtain the installer from the CyberArk Marketplace or your installation kit.
• Run the Installer: Start the setup and select the CPM component to install.
• Choose Installation Mode: When prompted, select "Active" as the installation mode. This sets up the CPM as the primary node responsible for handling password management operations.

This setup ensures that the CPM is immediately active and capable of handling requests without waiting for manual intervention or failover.

For a Privilege Session Manager (PSM) server, the network requirements primarily focus on its ability to interact with target systems securely and efficiently. The most accurate statement regarding these requirements is:

• It must reach the target system using its native protocols (Option A). This is essential for the PSM to manage sessions effectively, as it needs to communicate using the protocols that the target systems are configured to accept, such as SSH for Linux servers or RDP for Windows servers.

To properly arrange the steps for failing over to a passive Central Policy Manager (CPM) in CyberArk, the sequence should be as follows:

• Validate that the active CPM's services are stopped and set to manual.Before enabling the passive CPM, ensure that the services on the active CPM are stopped. This prevents any conflicts or data corruption by making sure that only one CPM is active at a time. Setting the services to manual ensures they do not restart automatically, which is crucial during a failover scenario.
• On the passive CPM, confirm details in the Vault.ini configuration file, reset the password to the CPM user, and recreate the credential file.This step involves making sure the passive CPM has the correct configuration to seamlessly take over operations. Adjustments in the Vault.ini file may be necessary to ensure it is pointing to the correct Vault and network settings. Resetting the password and recreating the credential file are critical to secure the login and authentication process for the newly active CPM.
• Enable the CPM services on the passive CPM.Once the passive CPM is correctly configured and ready, enable its services to begin handling the tasks and responsibilities of the primary CPM. This action effectively switches the role from passive to active, enabling the passive CPM to function as the new operational manager.
• Review logs to confirm the passive CPM services are running as expected.Finally, review the system and application logs to confirm that the now-active CPM is operating correctly and that all services have started without errors. This step is vital for verifying that the failover process was successful and that the system is stable.

Following this ordered sequence ensures a smooth transition of roles from the active CPM to the passive CPM, minimizing downtime and potential disruptions in the privileged access management operations.