PCNSA Device Management and Services Practice Question
An administrator modifies a security policy but the change does not take effect. What must the administrator do?
⚠ Common exam trap
Palo Alto Networks often tests the misconception that saving a configuration (e.g., via 'save config' or clicking Save) is sufficient to apply changes, but in Palo Alto firewalls, a commit is mandatory to move changes from candidate to active state.
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
✓
Commit the configuration.
In Palo Alto Networks firewalls, configuration changes are made in a candidate configuration that is not active until explicitly committed. The administrator must commit the configuration to apply the changes to the running configuration and enforce the new security policy. Without a commit, the modification remains pending and does not affect 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.
- ✓
Commit the configuration.
Why this is correct
Palo Alto Networks firewalls use a candidate configuration; policy edits stay pending until committed to the running configuration. Committing pushes the modified security policy into enforcement, which is why the change appeared ineffective beforehand. Without a commit, the firewall continues evaluating traffic against the previous ruleset.
- ✗
Import the configuration.
Why it's wrong here
Importing overwrites the running configuration with a previously exported file, discarding the pending edit rather than activating it. It is used to restore settings onto a replacement or freshly reset firewall. Here the change already exists in the candidate configuration, so importing would erase the very policy the administrator wants applied.
- ✗
Save the configuration.
Why it's wrong here
Committing the candidate configuration is required before a policy change takes effect; saving alone leaves it uncommitted. The option tempts because saving feels like the final step, but on PAN-OS the candidate must be committed. Saving is correct only when preserving edits without activating them.
- ✗
Reboot the firewall.
Why it's wrong here
Rebooting reloads the last committed configuration from disk, so any uncommitted policy edit is lost rather than applied. Rebooting is used to clear stuck processes or apply a pending software upgrade. The scenario needs a commit, which activates the candidate configuration without interrupting traffic or discarding the change.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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