PCNSA Device Management and Services Practice Question
A company requires automatic daily backups of the firewall configuration. Which method should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often overcomplicate the solution by choosing API scripting or manual export, failing to recognize that PAN-OS includes a native, straightforward scheduling mechanism for configuration backups that meets the requirement without additional complexity.
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
✓
Schedule a configuration backup under Device > Setup > Operations
The PAN-OS web interface provides a built-in scheduler under Device > Setup > Operations that allows administrators to automate daily configuration backups without external scripts or manual intervention. This method is the simplest and most reliable way to ensure consistent backups, as it leverages the firewall's native scheduling capability.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Backup the config using TFTP from the CLI
Why it's wrong here
TFTP backup is manual and not automated.
- ✓
Schedule a configuration backup under Device > Setup > Operations
Why this is correct
Scheduled configuration backups are built-in under Device > Setup > Operations.
- ✗
Write a script using the PAN-OS API to copy the running config
Why it's wrong here
API script can work but is not a built-in automatic method.
- ✗
Use the 'Export Device State' feature manually
Why it's wrong here
Manual export is not automatic.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PCNSA 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 PCNSA exam.