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Policy Evaluation and Management →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

PCNSA Policy Evaluation and Management Practice Question

This PCNSA practice question tests your understanding of policy evaluation and management. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.

Exhibit

admin@PA-500> show log traffic | match allow | head -10
1: 2019-05-15 10:00:00, allow, trust, untrust, 10.10.1.10, 8.8.8.8, web-browsing, http, rule1, ...
2: 2019-05-15 10:00:01, allow, trust, untrust, 10.10.1.11, 8.8.8.8, web-browsing, http, rule1, ...
3: 2019-05-15 10:00:02, deny, trust, untrust, 10.10.1.12, 8.8.8.8, web-browsing, http, rule2, ...
4: 2019-05-15 10:00:03, allow, dmz, untrust, 10.20.1.1, 8.8.8.8, web-browsing, http, rule3, ...

Refer to the exhibit. The administrator sees that traffic from 10.10.1.12 is being denied by rule2. Which action should the administrator take to allow this traffic while maintaining security?

Exhibit

admin@PA-500> show log traffic | match allow | head -10
1: 2019-05-15 10:00:00, allow, trust, untrust, 10.10.1.10, 8.8.8.8, web-browsing, http, rule1, ...
2: 2019-05-15 10:00:01, allow, trust, untrust, 10.10.1.11, 8.8.8.8, web-browsing, http, rule1, ...
3: 2019-05-15 10:00:02, deny, trust, untrust, 10.10.1.12, 8.8.8.8, web-browsing, http, rule2, ...
4: 2019-05-15 10:00:03, allow, dmz, untrust, 10.20.1.1, 8.8.8.8, web-browsing, http, rule3, ...

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 new rule above rule2 that allows the specific traffic with appropriate security profiles.

Option C is correct because creating a new rule above rule2 that specifically allows traffic from 10.10.1.12 with appropriate security profiles will permit the desired traffic without affecting other rules. Rule order matters in Palo Alto firewalls; a rule placed higher in the list is evaluated first. Option A would broaden rule1's source, potentially allowing unintended traffic. Option B would change rule2 to allow, which could permit traffic that should still be denied. Option D would move rule2 above rule1, but since rule2 is a deny rule, the traffic would still be denied. Thus, adding a new allow rule above the deny rule is the best approach.

Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

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

  • ✗

    Add 10.10.1.12 to rule1's source address.

    Why it's wrong here

    Adding the specific IP to rule1 might be too narrow and could complicate the rule's intent.

  • ✗

    Change rule2 to allow.

    Why it's wrong here

    Changing rule2 to allow would permit all traffic matched by rule2, which may include unwanted traffic.

  • ✓

    Create a new rule above rule2 that allows the specific traffic with appropriate security profiles.

    Why this is correct

    This targets only the denied traffic while maintaining security profiles.

    Related concept

    Standard ACLs match source addresses.

  • ✗

    Move rule2 above rule1.

    Why it's wrong here

    Moving rule2 above rule1 would cause it to be evaluated first, potentially denying traffic that rule1 would have allowed.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match

ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Standard ACLs match source addresses.
  • Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
  • The first matching ACL entry is used.
  • There is usually an implicit deny at the end.

TExam Day Tips

  • Check inbound versus outbound direction.
  • Read the ACL from top to bottom.
  • Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.

Key takeaway

ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.

Visual reference

Source Router + ACL permit 10.0.0.0/8 deny any Server 10.0.0.5 ✓ 192.168.1.1 ✗ dropped ACLs evaluate top-down; first match wins — implicit deny all at end

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PCNSA ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this PCNSA question test?

Policy Evaluation and Management — This question tests Policy Evaluation and Management — Standard ACLs match source addresses..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Create a new rule above rule2 that allows the specific traffic with appropriate security profiles. — Option C is correct because creating a new rule above rule2 that specifically allows traffic from 10.10.1.12 with appropriate security profiles will permit the desired traffic without affecting other rules. Rule order matters in Palo Alto firewalls; a rule placed higher in the list is evaluated first. Option A would broaden rule1's source, potentially allowing unintended traffic. Option B would change rule2 to allow, which could permit traffic that should still be denied. Option D would move rule2 above rule1, but since rule2 is a deny rule, the traffic would still be denied. Thus, adding a new allow rule above the deny rule is the best approach.

What should I do if I get this PCNSA question wrong?

Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PCNSA ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Standard ACLs match source addresses.

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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026

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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.