hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
PCNSA Practice Question: A security architect is planning a deployment for…
A security architect is planning a deployment for a multi-tenant data center where each tenant requires isolated security policies and separate administrators. Which Palo Alto Networks architecture best meets these requirements?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse network segmentation (virtual routers, zones) with full multi-tenancy isolation, not realizing that only virtual systems provide separate administrative domains and independent policy enforcement per tenant.
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
✓
Deploy a single firewall with multiple virtual systems (vsys).
Virtual systems (vsys) allow a single Palo Alto Networks firewall to be partitioned into multiple logical firewalls, each with its own independent security policies, administrators, and virtual routers. This provides complete tenant isolation and separate administrative domains without requiring additional physical hardware, making it the ideal architecture for a multi-tenant data center.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Deploy a single firewall with multiple virtual routers and separate zone definitions.
Why it's wrong here
Virtual routers do not provide administrative separation or fully isolated policies.
- ✗
Use a single firewall with a single management profile and role-based access control.
Why it's wrong here
Role-based access does not isolate policies between tenants.
- ✗
Deploy multiple physical firewalls, one per tenant.
Why it's wrong here
This is costly and inefficient compared to virtual systems.
- ✓
Deploy a single firewall with multiple virtual systems (vsys).
Why this is correct
Virtual systems allow logical isolation, separate administrators, and independent policies on a single firewall.
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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.