PCNSA Securing Traffic Practice Question
A network administrator wants to allow HTTP and HTTPS traffic from untrust zone to DMZ zone for a web server, but block all other traffic. What is the most efficient way to achieve this with a single rule?
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 a security policy with source zone Untrust, destination zone DMZ, application set to web-browsing and ssl, action allow.
Using application-based rules is more secure and efficient than service-based. Option B is less secure as it relies on ports. Option C allows all default applications, too broad. Option D allows all 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.
- ✓
Create a security policy with source zone Untrust, destination zone DMZ, application set to web-browsing and ssl, action allow.
Why this is correct
This uses App-ID to precisely allow only web and SSL traffic, blocking everything else by default.
- ✗
Create a security policy with source zone Untrust, destination zone DMZ, application default, action allow.
Why it's wrong here
'application default' allows all applications Palo Alto deems default, which is too broad and not specific to web-browsing and ssl.
- ✗
Create a security policy with source zone Untrust, destination zone DMZ, service any, application any, action allow.
Why it's wrong here
This allows all traffic and does not block anything else, defeating the purpose.
- ✗
Create a security policy with source zone Untrust, destination zone DMZ, service tcp/80 and tcp/443, action allow.
Why it's wrong here
Service-based rules are less secure as they rely only on ports; applications could be masqueraded.
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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.