- A
Create a decryption policy and use the 'exclude cache' option for financial sites.
Why wrong: The 'exclude cache' option is not related to bypassing decryption.
- B
Create a security policy that allows financial sites without decryption; then create a decryption policy with action 'no-decrypt' for those sites.
Why wrong: Security policies do not control decryption actions.
- C
Create a decryption policy with action 'decrypt' and a source zone of internal; then create a decryption exemption for financial URLs.
Why wrong: Decryption exemption is for certificate authentication, not for bypassing decryption.
- D
Create a decryption policy with action 'no-decrypt' for traffic to financial sites, and a catch-all decryption policy with action 'decrypt' for all other traffic.
This ensures financial traffic is not decrypted while all other traffic is decrypted.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to create a decryption policy with action 'no-decrypt' for traffic to financial sites, and a catch-all decryption policy with action 'decrypt' for all other traffic. This works because Palo Alto Networks decryption policies are evaluated in order, so a specific rule targeting financial site URLs or destination categories with a 'no-decrypt' action explicitly excludes that traffic from SSL decryption, while a subsequent catch-all rule with 'decrypt' ensures all other internal user traffic is inspected. On the PCNSA exam, this scenario tests your understanding of forward proxy decryption policy ordering and the critical difference between 'decrypt' and 'no-decrypt' actions—a common trap is to mistakenly use a security policy rule to block decryption, which won't work because decryption is controlled solely by decryption policies. A helpful memory tip: think of it as "specific exclude first, then catch-all decrypt"—like a bouncer letting everyone in except VIPs, where the VIP list is your financial sites.
PCNSA Decryption and Monitoring Practice Question
This PCNSA practice question tests your understanding of decryption and monitoring. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
A company wants to decrypt all SSL/TLS traffic from internal users except traffic to financial sites. The firewall is placed as a forward proxy. Which policy configuration ensures that traffic to financial sites is not decrypted?
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 decryption policy with action 'no-decrypt' for traffic to financial sites, and a catch-all decryption policy with action 'decrypt' for all other traffic.
Option D is correct because it uses a specific 'no-decrypt' action in a decryption policy for financial sites, which explicitly excludes them from SSL/TLS decryption. A catch-all policy with 'decrypt' then ensures all other internal user traffic is decrypted. This approach directly aligns with the forward proxy requirement to decrypt all traffic except the specified financial sites.
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.
- ✗
Create a decryption policy and use the 'exclude cache' option for financial sites.
Why it's wrong here
The 'exclude cache' option is not related to bypassing decryption.
- ✗
Create a security policy that allows financial sites without decryption; then create a decryption policy with action 'no-decrypt' for those sites.
Why it's wrong here
Security policies do not control decryption actions.
- ✗
Create a decryption policy with action 'decrypt' and a source zone of internal; then create a decryption exemption for financial URLs.
Why it's wrong here
Decryption exemption is for certificate authentication, not for bypassing decryption.
- ✓
Create a decryption policy with action 'no-decrypt' for traffic to financial sites, and a catch-all decryption policy with action 'decrypt' for all other traffic.
Why this is correct
This ensures financial traffic is not decrypted while all other traffic is decrypted.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse security policies with decryption policies, or mistakenly think that a 'decrypt' action with an exemption list is equivalent to a 'no-decrypt' policy, when in fact Palo Alto Networks requires a separate decryption policy with the 'no-decrypt' action for explicit exclusion.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Palo Alto Networks firewalls, decryption policies are evaluated in order, and the first matching policy determines the action. The 'no-decrypt' action explicitly bypasses SSL/TLS decryption for matching traffic, while a catch-all 'decrypt' policy ensures all other traffic is decrypted. This is critical for forward proxy deployments where the firewall acts as a man-in-the-middle, requiring careful policy ordering to avoid unintended decryption of sensitive traffic like financial sites, which may violate compliance or cause certificate errors.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNSA question test?
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: Create a decryption policy with action 'no-decrypt' for traffic to financial sites, and a catch-all decryption policy with action 'decrypt' for all other traffic. — Option D is correct because it uses a specific 'no-decrypt' action in a decryption policy for financial sites, which explicitly excludes them from SSL/TLS decryption. A catch-all policy with 'decrypt' then ensures all other internal user traffic is decrypted. This approach directly aligns with the forward proxy requirement to decrypt all traffic except the specified financial sites.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on PCNSA
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. A company has a decryption policy that decrypts all traffic except for traffic to financial sites. However, users report that some financial sites are still being decrypted. What should the admin check first?
medium- ✓ A.The decryption policy rule order
- B.The firewall's system logs
- C.The certificate revocation status
- D.The SSL/TLS service profile settings
Why A: The decryption policy is evaluated in order from top to bottom, and the first matching rule is applied. If a rule that decrypts traffic is placed above the rule that excludes financial sites, traffic to those sites will be decrypted before reaching the exclusion rule. The admin should check the rule order to ensure the financial site exclusion rule is positioned above any decrypting rules.
Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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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