A large organization is deploying a Palo Alto Networks firewall at its edge to inspect all inbound and outbound traffic. The security team wants to ensure that all SSL/TLS encrypted traffic can be inspected for threats and compliance, regardless of the destination. Which decryption method is required for this comprehensive inspection of traffic where the firewall acts as a man-in-the-middle?
- ASSH Proxy Decryption
- BSSL Forward Proxy Decryption
- CSSL Inbound Inspection
- DNo Decryption (SSL Exempt)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. SSL Forward Proxy Decryption
SSL Forward Proxy Decryption (often referred to as SSL Outbound Decryption) is used to decrypt SSL/TLS traffic originating from internal users and destined for external websites. The firewall acts as a man-in-the-middle, presenting its own certificate to the client and establishing a separate SSL connection to the server, allowing full inspection of the encrypted traffic. This is essential for comprehensive threat and compliance inspection of outbound traffic.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. SSH Proxy Decryption is for SSH traffic, not SSL/TLS web traffic.
- C. SSL Inbound Inspection (or SSL Reverse Proxy Decryption) is used for traffic destined for internal servers, not for internal users accessing external websites.
- D. No Decryption (SSL Exempt) would prevent the firewall from inspecting the traffic, directly contradicting the requirement for comprehensive inspection.
SSL Forward Proxy Decryption
SSL Forward Proxy Decryption (SSL Outbound) on a Palo Alto Networks firewall enables the inspection of SSL/TLS encrypted traffic originating from internal clients and destined for external servers, with the firewall acting as a man-in-the-middle.
- Decrypts outbound SSL/TLS traffic.
- Firewall acts as a man-in-the-middle.
- Requires a trusted root CA certificate on client devices.
Memory trick: Forward for Outbound, Reverse for Inbound: Know Your Traffic Direction.