The answer is that the service group should not include service-https. This misconfiguration occurs because a Palo Alto Networks service group acts as an OR condition: if a security rule references a group containing both service-http and service-https, traffic matching either service is permitted. By including service-https in the 'web-services' group, the admin inadvertently allows HTTPS traffic when the intent was to block it, since the rule allows any traffic matching the group’s services. On the PCNSA exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how service groups aggregate multiple services and that removing an unwanted service from the group is the correct fix, not creating a separate deny rule. A common trap is assuming a rule with a service group only matches the first service listed, but the firewall evaluates all members. Memory tip: think of a service group as a "buffet"—if you don't want HTTPS on the plate, don't put it on the menu.
PCNSA Managing Objects Practice Question
This PCNSA practice question tests your understanding of managing objects. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. An admin reviews the traffic log and sees that traffic from 192.168.1.100 to 10.0.0.50 is allowed by rule 'rule1'. The rule uses a service group 'web-services' which includes 'service-http' and 'service-https'. However, the admin intended to block HTTPS traffic. What is the misconfiguration?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The service group should not include service-https
The service group 'web-services' includes both 'service-http' (TCP/80) and 'service-https' (TCP/443). Since the rule allows traffic matching any service in the group, HTTPS traffic is inadvertently permitted. To block HTTPS while allowing HTTP, the admin must remove 'service-https' from the service group or create a separate rule.
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.
✗
The application web-browsing should not be in the rule
Why it's wrong here
Web-browsing is needed to match HTTP traffic correctly.
✓
The service group should not include service-https
Why this is correct
Removing 'service-https' from the group would block HTTPS while allowing HTTP.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The rule action should be deny
Why it's wrong here
Changing to deny would block both HTTP and HTTPS, which is not the intent.
✗
The source IP should be an address group
Why it's wrong here
The source IP object type is irrelevant to the HTTPS blocking issue.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Palo Alto Networks often tests the distinction between service objects (port-based) and application objects (payload-based), and the trap here is that candidates may think removing the application 'web-browsing' would fix the issue, but the rule uses a service group, not an application.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Palo Alto Networks firewalls, service objects define specific TCP/UDP port numbers, and service groups aggregate them. When a rule references a service group, the firewall matches traffic against any service in the group. This is distinct from application-based rules, where the firewall inspects payload for application identification. A common real-world scenario is allowing HTTP but blocking HTTPS for compliance or inspection purposes, which requires careful separation of port-based services.
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 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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Managing Objects — This question tests Managing Objects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The service group should not include service-https — The service group 'web-services' includes both 'service-http' (TCP/80) and 'service-https' (TCP/443). Since the rule allows traffic matching any service in the group, HTTPS traffic is inadvertently permitted. To block HTTPS while allowing HTTP, the admin must remove 'service-https' from the service group or create a separate rule.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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.
Question Discussion
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