PCNSA Securing Traffic Practice Question
A security administrator configures log forwarding to send threat logs to a central SIEM. The administrator creates a log forwarding profile that includes 'threat' and 'traffic' log types, and applies the profile to several security rules. After verifying, the SIEM receives logs for allowed traffic, but does not receive any logs for denied traffic. The administrator confirms that the deny rules also have the same log forwarding profile applied. What is the most likely cause of the missing denied traffic logs? The log forwarding profile is not configured to forward logs for denied sessions. The SIEM is not configured to receive syslog messages for deny actions. The firewall is logging only at session end and the deny sessions are not completing. The log forwarding profile only includes 'traffic' logs and not 'threat' logs.
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
✓
The log forwarding profile is not configured to forward logs for denied sessions.
The most likely cause is that the log forwarding profile is not configured to forward logs for denied sessions. Even though the profile includes 'traffic' logs, it may have a filter that excludes logs with a deny action. Option A is incorrect because the profile does include traffic logs; denied traffic logs are a subset of traffic logs, but the profile's filter might exclude deny actions. Option B is incorrect because deny sessions do complete (they are dropped) and logging at session end still generates a log. Option D is incorrect because the SIEM is receiving syslog messages for allowed traffic, so the syslog configuration is fine.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The log forwarding profile only includes 'traffic' logs and not 'threat' logs.
Why it's wrong here
Denied traffic logs are traffic logs, not threat logs; they should be included if traffic logging is enabled.
- ✗
The firewall is logging only at session end and the deny sessions are not completing.
Why it's wrong here
Denied sessions still end and generate a log (unless dropped before session setup).
- ✓
The log forwarding profile is not configured to forward logs for denied sessions.
Why this is correct
Log forwarding profiles can filter by action (e.g., allow, deny). If deny is not included, denied traffic logs won't be forwarded.
- ✗
The SIEM is not configured to receive syslog messages for deny actions.
Why it's wrong here
If the SIEM receives allowed logs, it can receive deny logs; the issue is on the sending side.
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 516 original PCNSA practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.