- A
Rule1
Rule1 matches all traffic and is the first rule, so it processes the traffic.
- B
Rule3
Why wrong: Rule3 is a deny rule, but traffic was allowed, so it did not match.
- C
Rule2
Why wrong: Rule2 is more specific but comes after Rule1, so it is not evaluated because Rule1 matched.
- D
No rule matched
Why wrong: Traffic was logged as allowed, so a rule matched.
Question 313 of 529
PCNSA Policy Evaluation and Management Practice Question
This PCNSA practice question tests your understanding of policy evaluation and management. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
An administrator configures a security policy with three rules in order: Rule1 allows any to any with log at session start, Rule2 allows HTTP from trust to untrust, Rule3 denies any. Traffic from an internal user to an external web server is logged as allowed. Which rule processed the traffic?
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
✓
Rule1
Option A is correct because the first matching rule is applied; even though Rule2 is more specific, Rule1 matches first and allows the traffic. Option B is wrong because Rule2 is after Rule1. Option C is wrong because Rule3 would deny, but traffic was allowed. Option D is wrong because the traffic matched a rule.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Rule1
Why this is correct
Rule1 matches all traffic and is the first rule, so it processes the traffic.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✗
Rule3
Why it's wrong here
Rule3 is a deny rule, but traffic was allowed, so it did not match.
- ✗
Rule2
Why it's wrong here
Rule2 is more specific but comes after Rule1, so it is not evaluated because Rule1 matched.
- ✗
No rule matched
Why it's wrong here
Traffic was logged as allowed, so a rule matched.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
- The first matching ACL entry is used.
- There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
- Check inbound versus outbound direction.
- Read the ACL from top to bottom.
- Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PCNSA ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
- →
Policy Evaluation and Management — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Policy Evaluation and Management practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All PCNSA questions
529 questions across all exam domains
- →
Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator PCNSA study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
PCNSA practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related PCNSA practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Managing Objects practice questions
Practise PCNSA questions linked to Managing Objects.
Policy Evaluation and Management practice questions
Practise PCNSA questions linked to Policy Evaluation and Management.
Securing Traffic practice questions
Practise PCNSA questions linked to Securing Traffic.
Core Concepts practice questions
Practise PCNSA questions linked to Core Concepts.
Palo Alto Networks Platforms and Architecture practice questions
Practise PCNSA questions linked to Palo Alto Networks Platforms and Architecture.
Device Management and Services practice questions
Practise PCNSA questions linked to Device Management and Services.
App-ID and Content-ID practice questions
Practise PCNSA questions linked to App-ID and Content-ID.
Decryption and Monitoring practice questions
Practise PCNSA questions linked to Decryption and Monitoring.
PCNSA fundamentals practice questions
Practise PCNSA questions linked to PCNSA fundamentals.
PCNSA scenario practice questions
Practise PCNSA questions linked to PCNSA scenario.
PCNSA troubleshooting practice questions
Practise PCNSA questions linked to PCNSA troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free PCNSA practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNSA question test?
Policy Evaluation and Management — This question tests Policy Evaluation and Management — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Rule1 — Option A is correct because the first matching rule is applied; even though Rule2 is more specific, Rule1 matches first and allows the traffic. Option B is wrong because Rule2 is after Rule1. Option C is wrong because Rule3 would deny, but traffic was allowed. Option D is wrong because the traffic matched a rule.
What should I do if I get this PCNSA question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PCNSA ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More PCNSA practice questions
- A security rule is configured with source zone 'Trust', destination zone 'Untrust', source address 'any', destination ad…
- A user at 192.168.1.10 attempts to access a social networking site (application: social-networking). Based on the exhibi…
- Drag and drop the steps to configure a VLAN interface on a Palo Alto Networks firewall into the correct order.
- A network engineer is troubleshooting a drop in traffic from a critical application. The traffic is allowed by the secur…
- A company has a PA-5250 firewall in an active/passive HA pair. During a maintenance window, the administrator upgrades t…
- An organization is deploying a firewall in a high-availability (HA) pair. The administrator wants to ensure that session…
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.