PCNSA Device Management and Services Practice Question
Exhibit
{"type":"traffic","subtype":"end","from":"trust","to":"untrust","sourceip":"10.1.1.100","destip":"203.0.113.50","user":"jdoe","action":"allow","bytes_sent":1024,"bytes_received":2048}Refer to the exhibit. A security analyst reviews a traffic log entry in JSON format. Which firewall feature is responsible for including the 'user' field in the log?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse Captive Portal (which authenticates users for web access) with User-ID (which passively maps IPs to usernames for logging and policy enforcement), leading them to choose Captive Portal instead of User-ID.
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
✓
User-ID
The 'user' field in a traffic log is populated by User-ID, which maps IP addresses to usernames by monitoring authentication events from Active Directory, LDAP, or terminal services agents. This allows the firewall to log and enforce policies based on user identity rather than just IP addresses.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Data Filtering
Why it's wrong here
Data Filtering inspects file content and patterns to block sensitive data transfers; it does not resolve source IP addresses to directory usernames. User-ID performs that mapping, which populates the log's 'user' field. Data Filtering would be correct when the requirement is preventing leakage of credit card or personal data.
- ✗
Captive Portal
Why it's wrong here
Captive Portal authenticates users through a web login page before granting network access, so it populates user information only for guest or portal-authenticated sessions. User-ID, which maps IP addresses to directory users, is the feature that adds the 'user' field to traffic logs.
- ✗
GlobalProtect
Why it's wrong here
GlobalProtect provides VPN remote access and endpoint posture checks, not user-to-IP mapping for logs. The 'user' field comes from User-ID, which maps directory users to source IPs. GlobalProtect would be correct when the requirement is secure remote access with host information profiles.
- ✓
User-ID
Why this is correct
User-ID maps source IP addresses to directory usernames and writes that mapping into traffic logs, populating the 'user' field. Without User-ID enabled and mapped, the log would show only IP addresses, so this feature is responsible for the field's presence.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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