Advance Your Cybersecurity Skills with Cortex XDR (EDU-260) Training

Picture this: You’re a senior SOC analyst, and every day, you’re flooded with alerts from multiple security tools. Each one demands investigation, correlation, and response, pulling your focus in different directions. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, traditional endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions struggle to keep pace. That’s where Palo Alto Networks’ Cortex XDR steps in.

Recognized for its performance in MITRE ATT&CK evaluations, Cortex XDR has achieved  100% detection coverage across key attack techniques for two consecutive years.  

For cyber security professionals looking to get well-acquainted with Cortex XDR, the EDU-260: Cortex XDR – Prevention, Analysis, and Response course is the ultimate hands-on training program. This course equips you with the skills needed to analyze threats, automate investigations, and respond efficiently using Cortex XDR.

But is this the right course for you? In this guide, we will break down everything you need to know about EDU-260, from course content and prerequisites to how it can advance your cybersecurity career.

Why Take the Cortex XDR (EDU-260) Course?

Cybersecurity professionals like you rely on cutting-edge technology to safeguard enterprise networks. 

Source:Gartner

But knowing what Cortex XDR can do is different from understanding how to leverage it fully for real-time threat prevention and response. A perfect example of this is the infamous SolarWinds attack.

In December 2020, Palo Alto Networks detected and blocked an attempted strike on one of its IT SolarWinds servers. The attack was part of the highly sophisticated SolarStorm campaign, one of the most notorious cyberattacks in history. Thanks to Cortex XDR’s Behavioral Threat Protection capabilities, the intrusion was instantly neutralized before it could escalate.

“Recently, we experienced an attempted strike on one of our IT SolarWinds servers. Cortex XDR instantly blocked the attempt with our Behavioral Threat Protection capability… it became clear that the incident we prevented was an attempted SolarStorm attack.” – Nikesh Arora, CEO, Palo Alto Networks

Mastering Cortex XDR platform is crucial to truly maximize its potential. Here is everything you will gain from this course:

• Hands-on experience with Cortex XDR: Learn how the platform works, configure security settings, and manage threat detection and response workflows.
• Broker VM deployment & configuration: Set up and manage Broker VM, enabling enhanced network security integrations.
• Advance your cybersecurity career: Develop expert-level Cortex XDR skills, making you an invaluable asset in SOC teams, incident response units, and cybersecurity leadership roles.

Palo Alto Cortex XDR Course Overview

In this section, let’s overview the EDU-260: Cortex XDR for Prevention, Analysis, and Response course, including key details like delivery format, target audience, prerequisites, et cetera. 

Target Audience

This course is designed for security professionals who want to deepen their expertise in Cortex XDR and enhance their organization’s threat detection and response capabilities. It is ideally suited for:

• Cybersecurity analysts and engineers  
• Security operations specialists
• Administrators and 
• Product deployers

Prerequisites

This is an intermediate-level course designed for professionals with some experience in network security. To get the most out of EDU-260, Palo Alto Networks recommends that participants should be familiar with enterprise product deployment, networking, and security concepts.

There are no mandatory prerequisite courses listed for EDU-260.

Enrolling in the EDU-260 Cortex XDR Course

The EDU-260 course is a three-day, instructor-led program offered through Palo Alto Networks’ Authorized Training Providers (ATPs), including Datacipher Education Services. Participants can choose from various schedules, ensuring flexibility in selecting a region, language, and time zone that best suits them.

How to register for the course

To sign up for the EDU-260 Cortex XDR training, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Palo Alto Networks training portal and locate EDU-260 in the course catalog.

Source: Palo Alto

2. Filter available sessions based on:
   • Region: Select a class in your preferred geographical area.
   • Language: Choose a session conducted in a familiar language.
   • Time zone: Find a class that aligns with your schedule.
3. Choose an Authorized Training Provider (ATP) from the ATP dropdown menu or register directly on the ATP’s website.
4. Finalize your enrollment and complete the payment process.

There are even guaranteed classes available with no restrictions on minimum class limit, which allows greater flexibility. 

As a leading Palo Alto Networks Authorized Training Provider, Datacipher Education Services offers:

• Instructor-led training, which is available in both virtual and in-person formats.
• Private training solutions and in-person training options across the APAC region, catering to organizations preferring a classroom learning environment.

Source: Datacipher  

Training Credits for EDU-260

• The EDU-260 course is part of the Palo Alto Networks training credit program.
• Organizations can pre-purchase training credits, valued at $100 each, to access Cortex XDR training and other Palo Alto courses. EDU-260 costs 30 credits, which amounts to $3000 (without GST). These credits remain valid for 12 months and can be redeemed through Authorized Training Providers like Datacipher.

For more information on training credits for Palo Alto courses, please refer to the training credits sheet. It is a great option for organizations with ongoing training needs, providing budget flexibility and access to multiple courses under one credit system. 

EDU-260 Cortex XDR Course Modules: What You Will Learn

The EDU-260 course modules are designed to provide participants with comprehensive knowledge and hands-on experience in deploying, managing, and optimizing Cortex XDR. This ensures effective threat prevention, analysis, and response. The key modules covered in this course include:

1. Cortex XDR introduction 
2. Cortex XDR’s main components 
3. Cortex XDR management console 
4. Profiles and Policies 
5. Malware protection
6. Exploit protection
7. Cortex XDR alerts 
8. Exclusions and exceptions 
9. Response actions 
10. Basic troubleshooting
11. Broker VM overview 
12. Deployment considerations

By the end of this course, you will be able to: 

• Master Cortex XDR architecture & management: Understand the Cortex XDR family’s architecture, navigate the management console, and utilize its reporting capabilities for enhanced visibility.
• Deploy and configure Cortex XDR agents: Create installation packages, endpoint groups, and security policies, deploy Cortex XDR agents, and implement exploit and malware prevention profiles.
• Investigate alerts & automate incident response: Analyze alerts, prioritize threats using starring and exclusion policies, fine-tune security profiles with Cortex XDR exceptions, and execute response actions via the action center.
• Optimize Cortex XDR deployment & troubleshoot issues:  Deploy a Broker VM, activate the local agents settings applet, understand deployment requirements, and manage authentication through the customer support portal and Cortex XDR gateway.

Next Steps

Once you complete this course, you can further brighten your career prospects by pursuing advanced certifications such as:

• Palo Alto Networks Certified Security Operations Generalist
• Palo Alto Networks Certified Detection and Remediation Analyst(PCDRA) 

Master Cortex XDR with Datacipher Education Services

As a leading Palo Alto Networks Authorized Training Provider (ATP) in APAC and a trusted global training partner, Datacipher Education Services (DES) delivers world-class instructor-led training for Palo Alto Cortex XDR. 

With a strong presence in the APAC region and virtual training available worldwide, Datacipher has been a go-to choice for enterprises and cybersecurity professionals looking for expert-led learning. Through hands-on labs and real-world scenarios, this training equips you with practical expertise in threat prevention, analysis, and response.

When you train with Datacipher, you get access to: 

• Comprehensive study materials: Get electronic and print versions of course materials, and session recordings for future reference.
• Flexible enrollment options: Enroll by paying the course fee directly or redeeming Palo Alto Networks training credits if your organization provides them.
• Seamless corporate payment processing: If your employer is covering the cost, you can generate an invoice for seamless reimbursement.

With a proven track record and a global training reach, Datacipher offers one of the best learning experiences for cybersecurity professionals. Are you ready to elevate your skills? Contact our team today to get started with Cortex XDR training.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Cortex XDR?

Cortex XDR is Palo Alto Networks’ extended detection and response (XDR) platform, designed to correlate endpoint, network, cloud, and firewall telemetry for advanced threat detection, investigation, and response. It leverages AI-driven behavioral analytics to identify sophisticated attacks across multiple attack surfaces, reducing false positives and accelerating incident response.

2. What operating systems are compatible with Cortex XDR?
Cortex XDR supports Windows, macOS, and Linux for full endpoint protection, detection, and response. However, for iOS and Android, it provides limited functionality, mainly focusing on device visibility and security policy enforcement.

3. How does Cortex XDR detect advanced threats?
Cortex XDR detects advanced threats by correlating endpoint, network, cloud, and identity data to identify attack patterns. It leverages machine learning, behavioral analytics, and signature-based detection to spot anomalies, exploit attempts, and evasive malware. By analyzing data across multiple attack surfaces, Cortex XDR can detect stealthy threats that individual security tools might miss.

4. Can Cortex XDR integrate with third-party security tools?
Yes, Cortex XDR supports third-party integrations via APIs, Broker VM, and SIEM connectors. It can ingest logs from external security tools, including SIEMs, threat intelligence platforms, and certain EDR solutions, enhancing cross-platform threat detection and response.