PCNSA Securing Traffic Practice Question
An administrator wants to block all peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing applications while allowing other traffic. Which security policy action should be used to achieve this?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is thinking you can negate applications within a single rule, but Palo Alto Networks firewalls require a separate deny rule placed before allow rules.
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
✓
Create a rule that denies the 'p2p' application group and place it above the allow rules.
To block P2P applications, create a security policy rule with the action 'deny' and specify the 'p2p' application group. Place this rule above any allow rules that permit general internet traffic. This ensures P2P is blocked while other applications are allowed. Rule order is critical because the firewall evaluates rules top-down.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create a rule that allows all applications except P2P, using the 'negate' option for the application.
Why it's wrong here
Palo Alto Networks firewalls do not support a 'negate' option for applications within a single rule. You cannot specify 'all except P2P' directly. Instead, you would create a deny rule for P2P and an allow rule for the rest. Thus, this option is incorrect.
- ✓
Create a rule that denies the 'p2p' application group and place it above the allow rules.
Why this is correct
To block P2P applications, create a security rule that denies the 'p2p' application group and position it above any allow rules. This ensures that P2P traffic is matched and blocked before a broader allow rule can permit it. This is the correct approach because rule order matters; a deny rule must precede allow rules to be effective.
- ✗
Use an application filter that excludes P2P applications in the allow rule.
Why it's wrong here
Application filters are used to group applications based on characteristics, but they do not provide an exclusion mechanism within a single rule. You cannot create a filter that says 'all except P2P'. A deny rule for P2P is still required. Therefore, this option is incorrect.
- ✗
Configure a URL filtering profile that blocks P2P websites and apply it to the allow rule.
Why it's wrong here
URL filtering blocks web content based on URLs, not P2P applications. P2P traffic may not use standard web protocols and can be identified by App-ID. URL filtering alone would not effectively block all P2P applications. Thus, this option is incorrect.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Palo Alto Networks exam blueprint
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.