Quick Answer
The answer is Tunnel Inspection logs. This is the correct choice because when a decryption policy rule is set to 'No Decrypt', the firewall bypasses SSL/TLS inspection entirely, yet Tunnel Inspection logs are specifically designed to capture metadata about that bypassed session, including the reason for the bypass. On the PCNSA exam, this concept tests your understanding of how Palo Alto Networks firewalls maintain visibility into encrypted traffic that is not decrypted due to policy exceptions. A common trap is confusing Tunnel Inspection logs with Traffic logs, but remember that Traffic logs only record allowed or denied sessions, not the decryption bypass reason itself. For a quick memory tip, think of the phrase “tunnel through the bypass”—Tunnel Inspection logs are the only log type that peers into sessions where decryption was skipped, giving you audit trail without decrypting the payload.
This PCNSA practice question tests your understanding of decryption and monitoring. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
A network administrator wants to monitor traffic that is not decrypted due to a 'No Decrypt' policy rule. Which log type would show that decryption was bypassed?
URL Filtering logs
Why wrong: URL Filtering logs show URL categories accessed, not decryption actions.
Threat logs
Why wrong: Threat logs record detected threats, not decryption bypasses.
Tunnel Inspection logs
Tunnel Inspection logs record decryption decisions, including 'No Decrypt' actions.
Traffic logs
Why wrong: Traffic logs show session metadata, but not decryption bypass details.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Tunnel Inspection logs
Tunnel Inspection logs are specifically designed to record traffic that bypasses decryption due to a 'No Decrypt' policy rule. When a decryption policy is set to 'No Decrypt', the firewall does not inspect the encrypted payload, but Tunnel Inspection logs capture metadata about the bypassed session, including the reason for bypass. This allows administrators to monitor and audit traffic that was not decrypted, ensuring visibility into policy exceptions.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
URL Filtering logs
Why it's wrong here
URL Filtering logs show URL categories accessed, not decryption actions.
Threat logs
Why it's wrong here
Threat logs record detected threats, not decryption bypasses.
Tunnel Inspection logs
Why this is correct
Tunnel Inspection logs record decryption decisions, including 'No Decrypt' actions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Traffic logs
Why it's wrong here
Traffic logs show session metadata, but not decryption bypass details.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Tunnel Inspection logs with Traffic logs, assuming that Traffic logs will show the bypass, but only Tunnel Inspection logs explicitly record the decryption bypass reason and session metadata.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
URL Filtering logs show URL categories accessed, not decryption actions.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, when a 'No Decrypt' rule is matched, the firewall's decryption engine skips SSL/TLS interception and generates a Tunnel Inspection log entry with fields like 'Decryption Bypass Reason' and 'Tunnel ID'. This log type is critical for compliance audits, as it provides evidence of why certain encrypted traffic was not inspected, such as due to certificate pinning or legal restrictions. In a real-world scenario, an administrator might use Tunnel Inspection logs to verify that traffic to a regulated financial site is correctly bypassed per policy.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the PCNSA exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Decryption and Monitoring — This question tests Decryption and Monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Tunnel Inspection logs — Tunnel Inspection logs are specifically designed to record traffic that bypasses decryption due to a 'No Decrypt' policy rule. When a decryption policy is set to 'No Decrypt', the firewall does not inspect the encrypted payload, but Tunnel Inspection logs capture metadata about the bypassed session, including the reason for bypass. This allows administrators to monitor and audit traffic that was not decrypted, ensuring visibility into policy exceptions.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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.
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