- A
Increase the GlobalProtect gateway's session timeout value.
Why wrong: Session timeout affects the duration of the connection, not the ability to reach internal resources.
- B
Enable NAT on the GlobalProtect gateway to translate the remote user IP to the firewall's internal interface IP.
Why wrong: NAT is not required by default; GlobalProtect can route traffic without NAT if the return route exists.
- C
Configure a static route on the internal router pointing the GlobalProtect IP pool subnet back to the firewall's internal interface.
Without this route, the internal servers send response packets to their default gateway, which does not know how to reach the GlobalProtect pool, causing asymmetric routing and dropped traffic.
- D
Install a client certificate on each remote user's device for authentication.
Why wrong: Certificate authentication is optional and not required for basic connectivity; the issue is routing.
Quick Answer
The answer is to configure a static route on the internal router pointing the GlobalProtect IP pool subnet back to the firewall's internal interface. This is required because while remote users successfully connect and obtain an IP from the pool, the internal servers lack a return path to that subnet; without this route, return traffic from the servers is either dropped or sent to the default gateway, which may not know how to reach the GlobalProtect IP pool. On the PCNSA exam, this scenario tests your understanding of asymmetric routing and the fact that GlobalProtect handles only the outbound tunnel—return traffic relies on proper routing infrastructure. A common trap is assuming security policies alone suffice, but connectivity fails if the internal router has no route back to the IP pool. Memory tip: “Tunnel out, route back”—the VPN gets users in, but a static route gets replies out.
PCNSA Palo Alto Networks Platforms and Architecture Practice Question
This PCNSA practice question tests your understanding of palo alto networks platforms and architecture. 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.
A company has a single Palo Alto Networks firewall protecting its internet connection. The IT team wants to allow remote employees to access internal resources using GlobalProtect. They have already configured the portal and gateway on the firewall, and users can successfully connect and obtain an IP address from the IP pool assigned to the gateway. However, remote users report that they cannot access any internal servers after connecting. The firewall has security policies that allow traffic from the GlobalProtect gateway's IP pool to the internal servers. Which additional configuration step is most likely required?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
Configure a static route on the internal router pointing the GlobalProtect IP pool subnet back to the firewall's internal interface.
Option C is correct because the remote users can connect and obtain an IP address from the GlobalProtect gateway's IP pool, but the internal servers do not have a route back to that IP pool subnet. Without a static route on the internal router pointing the GlobalProtect IP pool subnet to the firewall's internal interface, return traffic from the internal servers is sent to the default gateway (the firewall's internal interface) only if the firewall is the default gateway for those servers; if not, the traffic is dropped or misrouted. This is the most common missing step when remote users can authenticate and get an IP but cannot reach internal resources.
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.
- ✗
Increase the GlobalProtect gateway's session timeout value.
Why it's wrong here
Session timeout affects the duration of the connection, not the ability to reach internal resources.
- ✗
Enable NAT on the GlobalProtect gateway to translate the remote user IP to the firewall's internal interface IP.
Why it's wrong here
NAT is not required by default; GlobalProtect can route traffic without NAT if the return route exists.
- ✓
Configure a static route on the internal router pointing the GlobalProtect IP pool subnet back to the firewall's internal interface.
Why this is correct
Without this route, the internal servers send response packets to their default gateway, which does not know how to reach the GlobalProtect pool, causing asymmetric routing and dropped traffic.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Install a client certificate on each remote user's device for authentication.
Why it's wrong here
Certificate authentication is optional and not required for basic connectivity; the issue is routing.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume that because the firewall has security policies allowing traffic from the IP pool, the traffic will automatically flow, forgetting that routing is bidirectional and the internal network must know how to reach the virtual IP addresses assigned to remote users.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
GlobalProtect gateways assign IP addresses from a configured IP pool, and the firewall encapsulates user traffic in IPSec or SSL tunnels. For return traffic from internal servers to reach the remote user, the internal network must have a route back to the IP pool subnet, typically via a static route pointing to the firewall's internal interface (or the next-hop IP). In many deployments, the internal router's default route points to the firewall, but if the internal servers are on a different subnet with their own default gateway, that gateway must have a specific route for the IP pool subnet; otherwise, the return packets are dropped.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNSA question test?
Palo Alto Networks Platforms and Architecture — This question tests Palo Alto Networks Platforms and Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure a static route on the internal router pointing the GlobalProtect IP pool subnet back to the firewall's internal interface. — Option C is correct because the remote users can connect and obtain an IP address from the GlobalProtect gateway's IP pool, but the internal servers do not have a route back to that IP pool subnet. Without a static route on the internal router pointing the GlobalProtect IP pool subnet to the firewall's internal interface, return traffic from the internal servers is sent to the default gateway (the firewall's internal interface) only if the firewall is the default gateway for those servers; if not, the traffic is dropped or misrouted. This is the most common missing step when remote users can authenticate and get an IP but cannot reach internal resources.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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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