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
set security policies policy-name Allow-Sales-to-Finance
from Sales
to Finance
source any
destination 10.10.10.0/24
application ms-office365
action allow
log-start yes
set security policies policy-name Deny-Other
from Sales
to Finance
source any
destination any
application any
action deny
log-end yes
Refer to the exhibit. Traffic from Sales zone to Finance zone reaches destination 10.10.10.10 using application 'ssl'. What action does the firewall take?
Exhibit
set security policies policy-name Allow-Sales-to-Finance
from Sales
to Finance
source any
destination 10.10.10.0/24
application ms-office365
action allow
log-start yes
set security policies policy-name Deny-Other
from Sales
to Finance
source any
destination any
application any
action deny
log-end yes
A
The firewall will continue to the next rule
Why wrong: There is no next rule; the second rule is the last and matches any application.
B
Allow
Why wrong: The first rule only allows ms-office365, not ssl.
C
Deny
Traffic does not match the first rule (application mismatch), so it matches the second rule and is denied.
D
Allow only if no security profile blocks it
Why wrong: The deny rule will block regardless of security profiles.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Deny
The firewall first checks Rule 1, which only matches traffic with application 'ms-office365'. Since the traffic uses 'ssl', it does not match. The firewall then checks Rule 2, which denies all traffic from Sales to Finance zone. Therefore, the firewall takes the action Deny. Option A is incorrect because while the firewall does evaluate the next rule, the action taken is Deny, not 'continue to the next rule'. Option B is incorrect because the traffic is not allowed. Option D is incorrect because there is no security profile involved; the deny rule blocks it without any profile.
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.
✗
The firewall will continue to the next rule
Why it's wrong here
There is no next rule; the second rule is the last and matches any application.
Traffic does not match the first rule (application mismatch), so it matches the second rule and is denied.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Allow only if no security profile blocks it
Why it's wrong here
The deny rule will block regardless of security profiles.
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.
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.
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: Deny — The firewall first checks Rule 1, which only matches traffic with application 'ms-office365'. Since the traffic uses 'ssl', it does not match. The firewall then checks Rule 2, which denies all traffic from Sales to Finance zone. Therefore, the firewall takes the action Deny. Option A is incorrect because while the firewall does evaluate the next rule, the action taken is Deny, not 'continue to the next rule'. Option B is incorrect because the traffic is not allowed. Option D is incorrect because there is no security profile involved; the deny rule blocks it without any profile.
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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