easyMultiple Choice
PCNSA Practice Question: A company uses Active Directory for user…
A company uses Active Directory for user authentication. They want to enforce security policies based on user identity. What is the required first step to enable User-ID on the Palo Alto Networks firewall?
⚠ Common exam trap
PCNSA often tests the confusion between LDAP authentication profiles (for login) and server monitoring profiles (for User-ID mapping) — candidates pick LDAP because it sounds like the AD integration step.
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
✓
Configure a server monitoring profile to connect to the domain controller.
To enable User-ID, the firewall must learn user-to-IP mappings from a directory source. The first required step is configuring a server monitoring profile (LDAP or Kerberos) that connects to the domain controller so the firewall can query security event logs and map users to IP addresses. Without this monitoring connection, no User-ID data exists to enforce policy.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Add an LDAP server profile to authenticate users.
Why it's wrong here
An LDAP server profile alone queries directory attributes; it does not perform the user-to-IP mapping User-ID requires. The firewall needs the User-ID Agent or its own LDAP integration configured to translate AD logon events into IP mappings before policies can reference users.
- ✗
Deploy GlobalProtect agents on all endpoints.
Why it's wrong here
GlobalProtect agents supply identity for remote and mobile endpoints, not for domain-joined internal users already known to Active Directory. Deploying them does not connect the firewall to AD, so User-ID mapping never occurs; GlobalProtect suits roaming endpoints outside the corporate network.
- ✓
Configure a server monitoring profile to connect to the domain controller.
Why this is correct
User-ID requires the firewall to map IP addresses to user accounts, and it obtains that mapping by reading authentication events from the domain controllers. A server monitoring profile defines the connection to those domain controllers, so it must exist before any identity-based policy can function.
- ✗
Enable captive portal on the internal zone.
Why it's wrong here
Captive portal authenticates unknown users by prompting them through a web page, typically for guest access. It does not integrate with Active Directory to map domain users to IP addresses, which is the prerequisite for identity-based policy on internal traffic.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Palo Alto Networks exam blueprint
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.