The answer is a firewall policy that matches the same traffic and allows it, along with a policy route defining the source, destination, and next-hop gateway or interface. This is correct because policy-based routing (PBR) operates by overriding the routing table for specific traffic, but the FortiGate still enforces firewall policies for session establishment; without a matching allow policy, the PBR rule has no effect as the traffic is dropped before it can be routed. On the Fortinet NSE 4 exam, this tests your understanding that PBR configuration elements are not standalone—they must be paired with a firewall policy to permit the session, a common trap where candidates forget the firewall policy requirement. Remember the memory tip: “Policy routes steer, but firewall policies permit.”
NSE4 Firewall Policies and NAT Practice Question
This NSE4 practice question tests your understanding of firewall policies and nat. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
An administrator wants to apply policy-based routing (PBR) to route traffic from a specific subnet through a different ISP. Which TWO elements must be configured?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A policy route object with source subnet and gateway
PBR uses policy routes that define a source and destination, and a gateway/interface. A policy route is created, and the traffic must be allowed by a firewall policy (maybe using the same criteria).
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
A policy route object with source subnet and gateway
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
→Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
→Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
→Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related NSE4 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Firewall Policies and NAT — This question tests Firewall Policies and NAT — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A policy route object with source subnet and gateway — PBR uses policy routes that define a source and destination, and a gateway/interface. A policy route is created, and the traffic must be allowed by a firewall policy (maybe using the same criteria).
What should I do if I get this NSE4 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related NSE4 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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This NSE4 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Fortinet certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the NSE4 exam.
Question Discussion
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