PCNSA Policy Evaluation and Management Practice Question
An administrator wants to ensure that all traffic from the engineering zone to the server zone is logged, but only when a session is established. Which log setting should be configured in the security rule?
⚠ Common exam trap
PCNSA often tests the precise semantics of log settings — candidates assume 'log at session end' captures establishment, but only 'log at session start' logs when the session is established.
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
✓
Log at session start
In Palo Alto Networks security rules, the Log at Session Start option generates a log entry when the session is first established, which satisfies the requirement to log only when a session is established. This captures the connection initiation without logging at session end.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Log at both session start and end
Why it's wrong here
Logging at both session start and end produces two records per session, contradicting the requirement to log only when a session is established. It tempts because it captures the richest detail, and suits troubleshooting or compliance scenarios needing full session lifecycle visibility.
- ✗
No log
Why it's wrong here
No log disables traffic logging entirely, so no session-start record is generated for engineering-to-server flows. It tempts when logging overhead or licence consumption must be avoided, and would be correct for trusted, high-volume traffic where visibility is deliberately sacrificed.
- ✗
Log at session end
Why it's wrong here
Session-end logging records the flow only at teardown, so no entry exists at establishment, failing the stated requirement. It tempts because it captures bytes, duration and close reason, and is correct when summarising completed sessions rather than confirming their start.
- ✓
Log at session start
Why this is correct
Logging at session start records only the first packet that establishes a session, satisfying the requirement to log solely when a session is established. Session-end logging would capture teardown instead, and logging at both start and end would duplicate entries, breaching the "only when established" constraint.
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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.