SSE-Engineer Prisma Access Troubleshooting Practice Question
Which TWO actions should an administrator take when troubleshooting an IPsec site-to-site tunnel failure between a customer CPE device and a Prisma Access Remote Network node? (Choose two)
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Verify that IKE Phase 1 and Phase 2 proposal parameters (encryption, authentication, Diffie-Hellman groups) match between the CPE and Prisma Access node.
Troubleshooting IPsec tunnels involves verifying phase 1/2 cryptographic and timer settings as well as checking tunnel monitoring status and Ike/IPsec operational logs.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reconfigure the mobile user SAML authentication profile.
Why it's wrong here
SAML authentication is for user logins, not site-to-site IPsec tunnels.
- ✗
Disable all security policy rules across all remote locations.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling security rules creates a major security risk and does not troubleshoot IPsec crypto negotiation issues.
- ✓
Verify that IKE Phase 1 and Phase 2 proposal parameters (encryption, authentication, Diffie-Hellman groups) match between the CPE and Prisma Access node.
Why this is correct
Mismatched encryption or hashing algorithms prevent successful IPsec Security Association establishment.
- ✗
Restart the GlobalProtect agent on all remote user endpoints.
Why it's wrong here
GlobalProtect agent restarts affect mobile users, not site-to-site Remote Network IPsec tunnels.
- ✓
Check the System and operational logs in Panorama to identify exact IKE negotiation failure reasons.
Why this is correct
System logs record detailed errors regarding negotiation failures, authentication errors, and crypto mismatches.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
About these practice questions
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official Palo Alto Networks exam blueprint
This SSE-Engineer practice question is part of Courseiva's free Palo Alto Networks 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 SSE-Engineer exam.