Free Splunk SOAR Certified Automation Developer SPLK-2003 Exam Questions

I2A2 design methodology is a framework for designing playbooks that consists of four components:

* Inputs: The data that is required for the playbook to run, such as artifacts, parameters, or custom fields.

* Interactions: The blocks that allow the playbook to communicate with users or other systems, such as prompts, comments, or emails.

* Actions: The blocks that execute the core logic of the playbook, such as app actions, filters, decisions, or utilities.

* Artifacts: The data that is generated or modified by the playbook, such as new artifacts, container fields, or notes.

The I2A2 design methodology helps you to plan, structure, and test your playbooks in a modular and efficient way. Therefore, option B is the correct answer, as it lists the correct components of the I2A2 design methodology. Option A is incorrect, because apps are not a component of the I2A2 design methodology, but a source of actions that can be used in the playbook. Option C is incorrect, for the same reason as option A. Option D is incorrect, because assets are not a component of the I2A2 design methodology, but a configuration of app credentials that can be used in the playbook.

1: Use a playbook design methodology in Administer Splunk SOAR (Cloud)

The I2A2 design methodology is an approach used in Splunk SOAR to structure and design playbooks. The acronym stands for Inputs, Interactions, Actions, and Artifacts. This methodology guides the creation of playbooks by focusing on these four key components, ensuring that all necessary aspects of an automated response are considered and effectively implemented within the platform.

In Splunk SOAR, without any customization, the three default statuses for a container are New, In Progress, and Closed. These statuses are designed to reflect the lifecycle of an incident or event within the platform, from its initial detection and logging (New), through the investigation and response stages (In Progress), to its final resolution and closure (Closed). These statuses help in organizing and prioritizing incidents, tracking their progress, and ensuring a structured workflow. Options A, B, and D do not accurately represent the default container statuses within SOAR, making option C the correct answer.

containers are the top-level data structure that SOAR playbook APIs operate on. Containers can have different statuses that indicate their state and progress in the SOAR workflow. Without customizing container status within SOAR, the three types of status for a container are:

* New: The container has been created but not yet assigned or investigated.

* In Progress: The container has been assigned and is being investigated or automated.

* Closed: The container has been resolved or dismissed and no further action is required.

Therefore, option C is the correct answer, as it lists the three types of status for a container without customizing container status within SOAR. Option A is incorrect, because Resolved is not a type of status for a container without customizing container status within SOAR, but rather a custom status that can be defined by an administrator. Option B is incorrect, because Low, Medium, and High are not types of status for a container, but rather types of severity that indicate the urgency or impact of a container. Option D is incorrect, for the same reason as option B.

The format block in Splunk SOAR is utilized to construct text strings by merging static text with dynamic values, which can then be used for both input to other playbook blocks and output for reports, emails, or other forms of communication. This capability is essential for customizing messages, commands, or data processing tasks within a playbook, allowing for the dynamic insertion of variable data into predefined text templates. This feature enhances the playbook's ability to present information clearly and to execute actions that require specific parameter formats.

In Splunk SOAR, the appropriate role for an account that will only be used to execute automated tasks is the ''Automation'' role. This service account role is specifically designed for automated tasks, including REST API operations, playbook execution, and ingestion.It is intended for use by systems rather than human users and provides the necessary permissions for automated interactions with the SOAR platform1.

Reference: Splunk SOAR documentation on managing roles and permissions1.

In Splunk SOAR, the ''Automation'' role is designed specifically for accounts that are intended for executing automated tasks. These tasks can include REST API operations, playbook actions, and data ingestion processes. The Automation role is a type of service account role intended for system-to-system interactions and is not meant to be used by human operators. It provides a tailored set of permissions that allows for the execution of automated processes without granting broader access that would be unnecessary or insecure for an automated account.

The designation of this role is critical in maintaining proper security and operational boundaries within the SOAR platform. By restricting the automated account to just the Automation role, Splunk SOAR ensures that automated processes run with the least privilege necessary, reducing the risk of unauthorized actions and maintaining a clear separation between human users and automated systems.

In Splunk SOAR, an event is a security occurrence that may require a response. It is ingested from a third-party source and can be labeled to group related events together. The default label for containers is ''Events,'' which signifies potential threats13. A case, on the other hand, is a container that holds several containers, consolidating multiple events into one logical management unit. Cases can include artifacts and external evidence such as screen captures, analyst notes, and event data from third-party products22. They are used to manage and analyze investigation data tied to specific security events and incidents, providing a structured approach to incident response34.

Manage the status, severity, and resolution of events in Splunk SOAR (Cloud) - Splunk Documentation

Managing cases in SOAR - Splunk Lantern

What is Splunk Phantom (Renamed to Splunk SOAR)? - BlueVoyant

Overview of cases - Splunk Documentation

In Splunk SOAR playbook development, the format block is used to assemble commands and data into a valid Splunk search query. This block allows users to structure and manipulate strings, dynamically inserting variables, and constructing the precise format needed for a search query. By using a format block, playbooks can integrate data from various sources and ensure that it is assembled correctly before passing it to subsequent actions, such as executing a Splunk search.

Other blocks, like action, filter, and prompt blocks, serve different purposes (e.g., running actions, filtering data, or prompting for user input), but the format block is specifically designed for building structured data or queries like Splunk searches.

Splunk SOAR Documentation: Playbook Blocks Overview.

Splunk SOAR Playbook Editor Guide: Using the Format Block.

Splunk Phantom supports different types of backups to safeguard data. Full backups create a complete copy of the current state of the system, while incremental backups only save the changes made since the last backup. This approach allows for efficient use of storage space and faster backups after the initial full backup. Delta backups, which would save changes since the last full or incremental backup, are not a standard part of Phantom's backup capabilities according to available documentation. Therefore, the complete list of backups supported by Phantom would be Full and Incremental backups.

Playbooks in Splunk SOAR are designed to handle various types of data to automate responses to security incidents. The correct types of data handled by playbooks include:

Container Data: Containers are used to group related data for an incident or event. Playbooks can access this information to perform actions and make decisions.

Artifact CEF Data: Artifacts hold detailed information about the event or incident, including CEF (Common Event Format) data. Playbooks often process this CEF data for various actions.

Result Data: This refers to the data generated from actions executed by the playbook, such as results from API calls, integrations, or automated responses.

List Data: Lists in Splunk SOAR are collections of reusable data (such as IP blocklists, whitelists, etc.) that playbooks can access to check values or make decisions based on external lists.

The inclusion of List data instead of Threat data distinguishes this option from others, as lists are more directly used by playbooks during execution, whereas threat data is a broader category that is often processed but not always directly handled by playbooks.

Splunk SOAR Documentation: Playbook Data Handling.

Splunk SOAR Best Practices: Automating with Playbooks.

In Splunk SOAR, a user can determine which app actions are available by navigating to the Apps menu. From there, the user can click on the supported actions dropdown for each app to view the actions that can be performed by that app. This dropdown menu provides a list of all the actions that the app is capable of executing, allowing the user to understand the functionality provided by the app and how it can be utilized within playbooks11.

Add and configure apps and assets to provide actions in Splunk SOAR (Cloud) - Splunk Documentation

When configuring the Splunk app on the search head to search SOAR (Splunk's Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) searchable content, two key components are required:

User Accounts: The user accounts are necessary to authenticate and authorize users who are accessing SOAR data through the Splunk app. These accounts manage permissions and access levels to ensure the proper users can search and interact with the data coming from SOAR.

HTTP Event Collector (HEC) Token: The HEC token is crucial because it allows the Splunk app to receive data from Splunk SOAR. SOAR sends events and other data to the Splunk platform via HEC. This token is used for secure communication and authentication between Splunk and SOAR. The token must be configured in the Splunk app to allow it to collect and search SOAR data seamlessly.

Other options like syslog, REST API, or a universal forwarder are commonly used methods for ingesting data into Splunk but are not specific requirements for setting up the Splunk app to search SOAR content. The HTTP Event Collector is the primary method for this setup, along with the correct user accounts.

Splunk Documentation on HTTP Event Collector and SOAR Integration.

Splunk SOAR App Setup Guide for Splunk Search Head Configuration.