Download Our Latest Course Catalog | Download Now

Cortex xsiam thumbnail

Imagine this: You’re a security analyst, and your team is drowning in a sea of alerts. Every day, the threats grow more sophisticated, and the tools you’ve relied on for years are struggling to keep up. Wouldn’t it be game-changing to have an autonomous SOC platform that can handle the complexity for you? That’s where Palo Alto Networks’ Cortex XSIAM comes in.

Recognized as a Leader for the second consecutive year in GigaOm’s Radar for  Autonomous SOC, Cortex XSIAM is revolutionizing threat detection, response automation, and security analytics. Its industry adoption has skyrocketed, and in May 2024, Palo Alto Networks signed a deal to acquire IBM QRadar SaaS SIEM, along with its customer base, to further strengthen the XSIAM platform. 

For SOC analysts, incident responders, and security engineers, staying ahead in this landscape requires mastering Cortex XSIAM. That’s where EDU-270: Cortex XSIAM for Security Operations and Automation comes in. 

This instructor-led course equips security professionals with the skills to outpace modern threats. It also covers how to deploy, configure, and automate security workflows using the cortex XSIAM platform. But is it the right course for you? 

In this guide, we will break down everything you need to know about the EDU-270 course. This includes information like course content and prerequisites to enrollment details, which can help you decide whether or not it is the right fit for your career. Let’s dive in. 

Why Take the Cortex XSIAM Course?

Referred by Nir Zuk as “the autonomous car of the cybersecurity industry,” the technology is making it easier for security professionals to do their job, reducing the number of false positives. However, familiarity with Cortex XSIAM alone is not enough for cybersecurity professionals. 

To do their job effectively, they need to know the finer details of the platform. The good news is that the EDU-270: Cortex XSIAM for Security Operations and Automation course is designed to equip you with the skills necessary to utilize Palo Alto’s platform effectively. Here are the key benefits of enrolling in this course

Source: Gartner 

  • Go beyond traditional SIEMs: Cortex XSIAM is built to automate threat response at scale, reducing manual work and increasing SOC efficiency. This course helps you understand the intricacies of XSIAM, and equips you with advanced strategies and automation techniques to navigate incident handling and leverage the platform’s full potential.  
  • Increase your value: With security teams struggling to handle growing threats, XSIAM expertise is in demand. If you want to advance in your current position or explore new opportunities, this course will give you practical skills to stand out.
  • Not limited to theory: The course includes hands-on labs, so you’re not restricted to learning theory. You will also practice how to detect, investigate, and automate responses using the Cortex XSIAM platform.

Moreover, Palo Alto is investing heavily in AI-driven security solutions, majorly through Cortex XSIAM’s expansion. With more companies adopting it every year,  learning it now will ensure you’re not left behind. 

Palo Alto Cortex XSIAM Course Overview

In this section, let’s have a quick overview of the  EDU-270: Cortex XSIAM for Security Operations and Automation course, including key details like delivery format, target audience, prerequisites, et cetera. 

FeatureDetails
Course Duration4 Days
Delivery FormatInstructor-led training 
Course LevelIntermediate to Advanced
Target AudienceSOC analysts, incident responders, security engineers, MSSPs, consultants
PrerequisitesFamiliarity with enterprise product deployment, networking, and security concepts
Training CreditsAccepted

Target Audience

The EDU-270: Cortex XSIAM for Security Operations and Automation course is designed for cybersecurity professionals who want to enhance their expertise in AI-driven SOC operations and automation. Ideal audience include: 

  • SOC, CERT, CSIRT, and XSIAM engineers & managers
  • MSSPs (Managed Security Service Providers) 
  • Service delivery partners and system integrators
  • Professional services consultants & sales engineers
  • Incident responders and threat hunters

Prerequisites

This is an intermediate to advanced level course designed for professionals with some security experience. To get the most out of EDU-270, 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-270, but foundational knowledge of SIEMs will be beneficial.

Enrolling in the Cortex XSIAM Course

The EDU-270: Cortex XSIAM for Security Operations and Automation course is a four-day, instructor-led program offered by Palo Alto Networks Authorized Training Providers (ATPs), including Datacipher Education Services.

Palo Alto Networks maintains an up-to-date schedule of all EDU-270 classes, allowing you to choose a session that fits your region, language, and time zone.

How to Register for the Course

Follow these steps to enroll in an EDU-270 class:

  1. Visit the Palo Alto Networks training page and click on EDU-270 from the course catalog.

Source: Palo Alto

  1. Use filters to refine your search based on:
  • Region: Find a class in your preferred location.
  • Language: Choose a course in a language you’re comfortable with.
  • Time Zone: Pick a schedule that suits you.

There are also classes available with no minimum student requirement, maximizing flexibility, so you can choose one that best fits your needs. 

Datacipher Education Services is one of the leading authorized training providers of Palo Alto, offering both virtual and in-person training for EDU-270. Additionally, Datacipher provides private training for organizations that require customized sessions and in-person training across the APAC region for companies that prefer a classroom-based approach.

Source: Datacipher

To enroll in an EDU-270 course with Datacipher, simply select Datacipher Solutions in the Authorized Training Partner (ATP) dropdown while registering or sign up on their website directly.

Training Credits

As the EDU-270 course is part of the Palo Alto Networks Training Credit Program, it offers a flexible way to purchase and manage training for Cortex XSIAM and other Palo Alto courses.

Each training credit is valued at $100, allowing organizations to pre-purchase credits and use them flexibly across different Palo Alto Networks training programs. These credits, valid for 12 months, can be redeemed through Authorized Training Providers (ATPs) like Datacipher.

For example, EDU-270 costs $4000(without GST), so you would need to purchase 40 training credits (40 × $100 = $4,000) to enroll. This is a great option for organizations with ongoing training needs, providing budget flexibility and access to multiple courses under one credit system.

For more information on training credits for palo alto courses, please refer to this sheet. 

Now that we have reviewed these details, let’s examine what you will learn in the EDU-270 course. 

EDU-270 Cortex XSIAM Course Modules: What You’ll Learn

The EDU-270 Cortex XSIAM course is designed to equip you with a practical, in-depth understanding of how to use Cortex XSIAM to optimize and automate security operations. The course covers everything from deployment and configuration to advanced analytics, incident response, and automation workflows. Below is an overview of the key modules covered in the course:

  1. Introduction to Cortex XSIAM
  2. Elements of Security Operations
  3. Maturity Model
  4. Agent Deployment and Configuration
  5. Data Source Ingestion
  6. Visibility
  7. Data Model
  8. Analytics
  9. Alerting and Detecting
  10. Attack Surface Management
  11. Automation
  12. Incident Handling / SOC

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

  • Deploy and manage Cortex XSIAM efficiently, including installing XDR agents and configuring Agent Groups and Profiles.
  • Investigate security incidents effectively, analyze assets and artifacts, and trace attack paths using causality chains.
  • Utilize advanced analytics and automation, including writing correlation rules, executing XQL queries, and streamlining incident response.
  • Enhance SOC operations with AI-driven automation, optimizing workflows for faster threat detection and mitigation.

For more information, you can refer to the course datasheet here.

Next Steps

Once you complete this course, you can further validate your expertise by pursuing advanced certifications such as:

Master Cortex XSIAM with Datacipher Education Services

Datacipher Education Services (DES) is one of the oldest Palo Alto Networks Authorized Training Partners (ATPs) in the APAC region. With Datacipher, you can enroll in both in-person and virtual classes on Cortex XSIAM, gaining hands-on training from expert instructors.

Further, with Datacipher, you get access to:

  • Comprehensive study materials: Get both electronic and print copies of course materials, along with a recording of your training session so that you can revisit key concepts anytime.
  • Flexible enrollment options: Choose to enroll directly by paying a fee or use Palo Alto Training Credits if your organization offers them.
  • Hassle-free corporate payments: Need your company to cover the cost? You can generate an invoice and share it with your employer for easy processing.

Whether you want to advance your cybersecurity skills or specialize in SOC automation, we have you covered. At Datacipher, we provide the best training experience to help professionals like you master Cortex XSIAM and stay ahead in their careers.

Are you ready to take the next step? Get in touch with our team to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is Cortex XSIAM?
    Cortex XSIAM is an AI-powered security operations platform that automates threat detection, investigation, and response. It integrates SIEM, SOAR, endpoint security, and threat intelligence into a single system, thus enabling autonomous SOC operations with minimal manual intervention.
  1. Which aspect of threat detection does Cortex XSIAM primarily focus on?
    Cortex XSIAM focuses on behavior-based threat detection. It leverages machine learning and analytics to spot anomalies, correlate alerts, and identify threats that traditional rule-based detection methods often miss. By continuously analyzing endpoint, network, and cloud activity, it enables real-time threat detection and automated response, thus reducing the need for manual intervention.
  1. What two technologies are part of the Cortex XSIAM product?
    Cortex XSIAM combines Cortex XDR for endpoint and network threat prevention with Cortex XSOAR for incident management and automation. Together, these two technologies enable end-to-end threat detection, correlation, and automated remediation.
  1. How does Cortex XSIAM differ from traditional SIEM and SOAR solutions?
    Traditional SIEM and SOAR require manual rule-based correlation and workflow setup, which can be time-consuming and prone to alert fatigue. Cortex XSIAM, on the other hand, leverages AI-driven automation to unify threat intelligence, detection, and response. By applying machine learning to large-scale security data, it automatically correlates alerts, reducing false positives and accelerating response times.

Angela Morgan

Angela Morgan is a network security and IT training expert with deep expertise in enterprise security, cloud networking, and certification training. With over a decade of experience in cybersecurity strategy, training, and industry insights, she is passionate about bridging the knowledge gap. She writes about certifications, emerging technologies, and best practices for securing modern networks.

Write your comment Here