PCNSA Managing Objects Practice Question
An administrator wants to create a service object for TCP port 8080 and call it 'web-proxy'. Which properties must be specified?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume only the destination port is needed, forgetting that the protocol is mandatory to uniquely identify the service, as the same port number can be used by different protocols (e.g., TCP vs. UDP).
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
✓
Both destination port and protocol
In Palo Alto Networks firewalls, a service object defines a specific application protocol and port combination for traffic classification and policy enforcement. For TCP port 8080, both the protocol (TCP) and the destination port (8080) must be specified because the firewall requires the protocol to differentiate between TCP, UDP, or other IP protocols, and the destination port to match the traffic. Option B is correct because without both, the service object would be incomplete and could not be used in security rules.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Destination port
Why it's wrong here
Port alone cannot define a service object; PAN-OS also requires the protocol, since port 8080 could be TCP or UDP. It is tempting because port numbers feel like the defining characteristic, and a port-only object would be the right choice if the protocol were already fixed elsewhere, but here both fields are mandatory.
- ✓
Both destination port and protocol
Why this is correct
A service object is defined by its protocol and destination port; the name 'web-proxy' is just a label. Specifying TCP and port 8080 lets the firewall match that traffic, satisfying the requirement to create the object.
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Source port
Why it's wrong here
A service object defines the destination port and protocol; the source port is not a service property, since clients use ephemeral ports. Source port would be specified in a security policy's service or application matching, not in the object itself.
- ✗
Protocol
Why it's wrong here
Protocol alone is insufficient: PAN-OS service objects pair a protocol with a destination port, so specifying TCP without port 8080 leaves the object undefined. It is tempting because protocol is a required field, and it would suffice only when the port range is already established by a separate object or application signature.
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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.