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According to the CyberArk Defender-PAM study guide, the REPORTS page is used to generate reports on various aspects of the CyberArk Privileged Access Management Solution, such as user activity, password usage, and compliance status. The default group that grants access to the REPORTS page is the Auditors group, which is a built-in group in the Vault that has the AuditUsers authorization. Members of the Auditors group can view and generate reports, but cannot modify them. References:

CyberArk Defender-PAM study guide, page 17, section 3.2.1

CyberArk Privileged Access Security Documentation, page 48, section 2.3.2.1

 A linked account is an account that is associated with another account to enable the password management process. A linked account can be used for various purposes, such as logging on to a target system, changing the password of another account, or enabling privileged commands. A linked account can be defined either on the platform level or on the account level, depending on the type and scope of the linked account. The types of linked accounts that are supported by CyberArk are1:

Logon account: An account that contains the password required to log on to a remote machine in order to perform a task using the regular account. A common use case for using a logon account is managing root accounts on a Unix system. The best practice for Unix systems is to disallow the root user from logging in using SSH. However, SSH is what the CPM uses to sign in to a system to manage the password. To manage the root password without violating this practice, the CPM establishes the session with a non-root account and then SUs to root (the target account). This is done using a linked account called a logon account.

Reconcile account: An account that contains the password used in reconciliation processes. Reconciliation is a process that restores the password of a privileged account to the value that is stored in the Vault, in case it is changed or out of sync. A reconcile account is a privileged account that has the permission to reset the password of another account on the target system. By associating a reconcile account with the target account, the CPM can use the reconcile account to restore the password of the target account, in case it is changed or out of sync.

Other additional accounts: Additional accounts can be used in various cases. For example:

Enable password: when managing network devices that require an enable password to access privileged mode.

Jump account: when using a custom plugin in a complex work flow that requires to first log on to a jump server.

The other options are not the purpose of a linked account, because:

A. To ensure that a particular collection of accounts all have the same password. This is not the purpose of a linked account, but of a group account. A group account is an account that is associated with multiple target systems that share the same credentials. A group account allows the CPM to manage the password of multiple systems with a single password object in the Vault2.

B. To ensure a particular set of accounts all change at the same time. This is not the purpose of a linked account, but of a password change schedule. A password change schedule is a feature that allows the administrator to define a time frame for changing the passwords of a set of accounts. A password change schedule can be configured either in the Master Policy or in the Platform settings3.

C. To connect the CPNI to a target system. This is not the purpose of a linked account, but of a service account. A service account is an account that is used by a service or an application to connect to a target system. A service account can be managed by the Central Credential Provider (CCP), which is a component that provides applications and services with the credentials they need to access target systems4.

References:

1: Linked Accounts

2: Group Accounts

3: Password Change Schedule

4: Service Accounts

When running a full replication with PAReplicate, it is essential to have at least the same amount of disk space on the server as the disk size of the Primary Vault. This ensures that there is sufficient space to replicate all the data from the Primary Vault without any issues. The disk space should be equal to or larger than the total size of the data being replicated to accommodate the full backup1.

References:

CyberArk Docs: Install the Vault Backup Utility

The server key and the public recovery key are required to be present in order to start the PrivateArk Server service. The server key opens the Vault, much like the key of a physical Vault. The public recovery key is part of the asymmetric recovery key that enables the Master User to log on to the Vault in case of a disaster. The server key and the public recovery key are usually stored on a removable media, such as a disk or CD, so that they can be safely secured in a physical safe. The recovery private key and the safe key are not needed to start the PrivateArk Server service. The recovery private key is only used for recovery purposes and the safe key is only used to access a specific safe that is defined with an external key. References: Server keys, Server Components

The platform configuration defines the password management settings for each type of account, such as the password complexity, rotation frequency, verification method, and reconciliation options. You can set the regulatory requirement for password rotation in the platform configuration by specifying the number of days in the Password Change Interval parameter. This parameter determines how often the CPM will change the passwords of the accounts that are associated with the platform. For example, if you set the Password Change Interval to 90, the CPM will change the passwords every 90 days. References: Credentials Rotation - CyberArk, How do I manage or change passwords stored in CyberArk?

The Remote Control Agent (PARAgent) is a CyberArk utility that can be used to monitor the status of Vault services remotely. It can also perform other tasks, such as starting and stopping the Vault, backing up and restoring the Vault, and running other utilities. The PARAgent communicates with the Remote Control Client (PARClient), which is a graphical user interface that displays the Vault status and allows the user to execute commands on the Vault. The PARAgent can also send SNMP traps to a remote terminal if the Vault service is down. References: How do I monitor the Vault status remotely?, Monitor system health

 The best practice for storing the Master CD is to store it in a secure location, such as a physical safe. The Master CD contains the server key, the public recovery key, and the private recovery key, which are essential for starting, operating, and recovering the Vault. These keys are sensitive and should be protected from unauthorized access, loss, or damage. Therefore, storing the CD in a physical safe ensures that the keys are kept in a secure location when not in use, and that they are available when needed. This is the recommended option by CyberArk1.

The other options are not best practices and should be avoided, as they expose the keys to potential risks, such as theft, corruption, or deletion. Copying the files to the Vault server and discarding the CD is not secure, as it makes the keys accessible to anyone who can access the Vault server or compromise its security. Copying the contents of the CD to a Hardware Security Module (HSM) and discarding the CD is not feasible, as the HSM can only store the server key, not the recovery keys2. Storing the CD in a secure location, such as a physical safe, and copying the contents of the CD to a folder secured with NTFS permissions on the Vault is not necessary, as it creates redundant copies of the keys that may not be synchronized or updated. Moreover, NTFS permissions are not sufficient to protect the keys from malicious or accidental actions. References:

Server Keys - CyberArk, section “Server Keys”

Store the Server Key in an HSM - CyberArk, section “Store the Server Key in an HSM”

 When accounts are discovered by CyberArk but do not match any automated onboarding rule, they are added to the Pending Accounts list. This allows administrators to review these accounts and decide whether to onboard them manually into the Vault. The Pending Accounts list serves as a holding area for accounts that require further review or do not meet the criteria set by existing onboarding rules1.

References:

CyberArk’s official documentation on Onboarding Rules, which explains the process of managing accounts that are discovered but not automatically onboarded1.

This configuration ensures that privileged sessions are monitored and isolated, and all session activities are recorded and saved for future reference 1.