PCNSA Managing Objects Practice Question
A company with a Palo Alto Networks firewall operating in Layer 2 transparent mode wants to control access to an internal ERP system. The ERP system uses a non-standard TCP port 4444. The security administrator creates a custom application object named 'ERP' with protocol set to 'tcp' and port range 4444-4444. Then, a security policy is configured allowing application 'ERP' from the internal zone to the ERP server zone. Users report they cannot connect to the ERP system. Firewall logs show no traffic matching the application 'ERP'. What should the administrator do to resolve the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often assume creating a custom application object with the correct port is sufficient, but they overlook that App-ID must first identify the traffic, which requires an Application Override for non-standard ports.
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
✓
Create an Application Override policy for port 4444 and assign it to the 'ERP' application.
In Layer 2 transparent mode, Palo Alto Networks firewalls rely on Application Override policies to bypass App-ID for traffic that uses non-standard ports. Since the custom application 'ERP' is defined with TCP port 4444 but App-ID cannot identify it on that port (as it is non-standard), an Application Override policy explicitly maps the traffic to the 'ERP' application, allowing the security policy to match and permit the traffic.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Change the security rule to use 'application-default' instead of the custom application.
Why it's wrong here
'application-default' only works if the port matches the default port for an application; port 4444 is not default for any known application.
- ✗
Add a service object for port 4444 and include it in the security rule.
Why it's wrong here
Service objects define ports but do not affect application identification; the rule still requires application match.
- ✓
Create an Application Override policy for port 4444 and assign it to the 'ERP' application.
Why this is correct
Application Override bypasses App-ID and forces traffic on that port to be treated as the specified application, enabling the security rule to match.
- ✗
Disable application identification on the firewall.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling App-ID is a drastic measure that would prevent all application-based policy enforcement and is not the correct solution.
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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.