The answer is traffic logs and decryption logs. Traffic logs capture the overall session flow and can show when a session is dropped or denied due to decryption policy actions, while decryption logs provide the granular details of SSL/TLS handshake failures, certificate validation errors, and specific decryption policy matches. Together, these two log types give you the full picture when troubleshooting decryption-related connectivity issues: traffic logs tell you what happened to the session, and decryption logs explain why it happened. On the PCNSA exam, this distinction is frequently tested to ensure you understand that decryption logs are the primary source for decryption errors, while traffic logs confirm the resulting action. A common trap is to overlook traffic logs and rely solely on decryption logs, but connectivity issues often stem from broader policy blocks visible only in traffic logs. Memory tip: think “Traffic for the what, Decryption for the why.”
PCNSA Decryption and Monitoring Practice Question
This PCNSA practice question tests your understanding of decryption and monitoring. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 is troubleshooting decryption-related connectivity issues. Which two log types should be examined to gather information about decryption actions and errors?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Decryption logs
Decryption logs are specifically designed to record details about SSL/TLS decryption actions, including handshake failures, certificate validation errors, and decryption policy matches. When troubleshooting connectivity issues related to decryption, these logs provide the most direct insight into why a session might be blocked or failing due to decryption errors.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
System logs
Why it's wrong here
System logs cover firewall system events, not decryption actions.
✗
URL Filtering logs
Why it's wrong here
URL Filtering logs show URL categories and policy actions, not decryption specifics.
✓
Decryption logs
Why this is correct
Decryption logs offer detailed information such as decryption reason, cipher, and certificate details.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Threat logs
Why it's wrong here
Threat logs record security threats, not decryption details.
✓
Traffic logs
Why this is correct
Traffic logs include a 'Decryption Action' field indicating if traffic was decrypted or bypassed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Palo Alto Networks often tests the distinction between Traffic logs (which show the result of decryption, such as a deny action) and Decryption logs (which show the decryption process itself), leading candidates to mistakenly choose Traffic logs as the primary source for decryption errors.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
URL Filtering logs show URL categories and policy actions, not decryption specifics.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Decryption logs capture fields such as the TLS version negotiated, cipher suite used, certificate serial number, and the specific reason for decryption failure (e.g., 'certificate revoked', 'handshake failure', 'unsupported cipher'). In a real-world scenario, if a client cannot connect to a site after enabling SSL decryption, the decryption log will show a 'TLS handshake failure' or 'certificate validation error', whereas Traffic logs would only show the session being denied without the root cause.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the PCNSA exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Decryption and Monitoring — This question tests Decryption and Monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Decryption logs — Decryption logs are specifically designed to record details about SSL/TLS decryption actions, including handshake failures, certificate validation errors, and decryption policy matches. When troubleshooting connectivity issues related to decryption, these logs provide the most direct insight into why a session might be blocked or failing due to decryption errors.
What should I do if I get this PCNSA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. An administrator wants to view logs related to decryption failures. Which log type should they use?
easy
✓ A.Traffic logs
B.Threat logs
C.URL Filtering logs
D.System logs
Why A: Traffic logs capture all session-level events, including decryption failures, because they record the action taken by the firewall (e.g., 'decrypt', 'no-decrypt', or 'decrypt-error'). When decryption fails due to issues like certificate validation errors, unsupported cipher suites, or handshake failures, the firewall logs the session as a traffic log entry with a specific reason code. This makes Traffic logs the correct source for troubleshooting decryption failures.
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
Question Discussion
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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.
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