Courseiva
Policy Evaluation and ManagementmediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

PCNSA Policy Evaluation and Management Practice Question

Exhibit

admin@PA-500> show running security-policy
rulebase security {
    rules {
        rule1 {
            source-zone trust
            destination-zone untrust
            source [ 10.0.0.0/8 ]
            destination any
            application [ ssl ]
            service application-default
            action allow
            log-start no
            log-end yes
        }
        rule2 {
            source-zone trust
            destination-zone untrust
            source [ 10.1.0.0/24 ]
            destination any
            application [ web-browsing ]
            service application-default
            action allow
            log-start no
            log-end yes
        }
        rule3 {
            source-zone trust
            destination-zone untrust
            source [ 10.1.1.0/24 ]
            destination any
            application any
            service application-default
            action deny
            log-start no
            log-end yes
        }
    }
}

Refer to the exhibit. An administrator is analyzing the rulebase. Traffic from source 10.1.1.5 to destination 8.8.8.8 using web-browsing application (HTTP TCP/80). Which rule will match?

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

rule3.

Rule3 has source 10.1.1.0/24 and application any, matching the traffic. rule1 does not match because it only allows ssl application. rule2 does not match because its source is 10.1.0.0/24, which does not include 10.1.1.5. Therefore, rule3 is the first matching rule, and it denies the traffic.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • rule3.

    Why this is correct

    rule3 matches the traffic because source subnet includes 10.1.1.5 and application any.

  • rule2.

    Why it's wrong here

    rule2's source is 10.1.0.0/24, which does not include 10.1.1.5.

  • rule1.

    Why it's wrong here

    rule1 only matches ssl application, not web-browsing.

  • None, because rule1 and rule2 have specific applications.

    Why it's wrong here

    rule3 matches before them, so it is evaluated.

About these practice questions

This PCNSA question is part of Courseiva's 516-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →

How Courseiva writes practice questions · Editorial policy

JA

Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security

Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva

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.