PCNSA Policy Evaluation and Management Practice Question
A security rule is configured with source zone 'Trust', destination zone 'Untrust', source address 'any', destination address '10.10.10.0/24', application 'ssl', service 'https', action 'allow', log at session end. A user from Trust zone tries to access https://10.10.10.5. The traffic is not matching. What is the most likely reason?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often focus on the service mismatch, but the key is that the application is 'ssl' which does not match HTTPS traffic classified as 'web-browsing'.
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 application ssl is not matching because HTTPS traffic may be classified as web-browsing.
HTTPS traffic is typically classified as application 'web-browsing', not 'ssl'. The rule specifies application 'ssl', so the traffic does not match because the application mismatch occurs before the service check. Option B is incorrect because the action 'allow' is valid; security profiles are optional and do not affect rule matching. Option C is misleading: although service 'https' uses TCP 443, the application 'ssl' is for VPN/encryption, not HTTPS; the issue is the application mismatch, not the service. Option D is incorrect because the destination address '10.10.10.0/24' includes the host 10.10.10.5.
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 application ssl is not matching because HTTPS traffic may be classified as web-browsing.
Why this is correct
HTTPS is web-browsing, not ssl.
- ✗
The action should be 'allow with security profile'.
Why it's wrong here
Action 'allow' is sufficient for matching; profiles are optional.
- ✗
The service https requires TCP 443, but ssl application is used for encryption.
Why it's wrong here
Service match is based on port/protocol, not application.
- ✗
The destination address is a specific subnet but the user is accessing a host within that subnet.
Why it's wrong here
Host within subnet should match the address range.
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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.