Unit 42 is the threat intelligence and response team of Palo Alto Networks. The purpose of Unit 42 is

to collect and analyze the most up-to-date threat intelligence and apply it to respond to cyberattacks.

Unit 42 is composed of world-renowned threat researchers, incident responders and security

consultants who help organizations proactively manage cyber risk. Unit 42 is responsible for threat

research, malware analysis and threat hunting, among other activities12.

Let’s briefly discuss the other options to provide a comprehensive explanation:

A) Unit 42 is not responsible for automation and orchestration of products. Automation and

orchestration are capabilities that are provided by Palo Alto Networks products such as Cortex

XSOAR, which is a security orchestration, automation and response platform that helps security

teams automate tasks, coordinate actions and manage incidents3.

B) Unit 42 is not responsible for the configuration optimization of the Cortex XDR server. The Cortex

XDR server is the cloud-based platform that provides detection and response capabilities across

network, endpoint and cloud data sources. The configuration optimization of the Cortex XDR server

is the responsibility of the Cortex XDR administrators, who can use the Cortex XDR app to manage

the settings and policies of the Cortex XDR server4.

C) Unit 42 is not responsible for the rapid deployment of Cortex XDR agents. The Cortex XDR agents

are the software components that are installed on endpoints to provide protection and visibility. The

rapid deployment of Cortex XDR agents is the responsibility of the Cortex XDR administrators, who

can use various methods such as group policy objects, scripts, or third-party tools to deploy the

Cortex XDR agents to multiple endpoints5.

In conclusion, Unit 42 is the threat intelligence and response team of Palo Alto Networks that is

responsible for threat research, malware analysis and threat hunting. By leveraging the expertise and

insights of Unit 42, organizations can enhance their security posture and protect against the latest

cyberthreats.

Reference:

About Unit 42: Our Mission and Team

Unit 42: Threat Intelligence & Response

Cortex XSOAR

Cortex XDR Pro Admin Guide: Manage Cortex XDR Settings and Policies

Cortex XDR Pro Admin Guide: Deploy Cortex XDR Agents