easyMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
PCNSA Practice Question: Which TWO of the following are required to…
Which TWO of the following are required to configure a site-to-site VPN using IKEv2 on Palo Alto Networks firewalls? (Choose TWO.)
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
✓
An IKE gateway configuration
For a site-to-site VPN using IKEv2 on Palo Alto Networks firewalls, an IKE gateway configuration (options A) is required to define the peer and authentication parameters, and a tunnel interface with a valid IP address (option C) is required for the IPSec tunnel. A pre-shared key or certificate (option B) is indeed necessary but is part of the IKE gateway configuration, so it is not a separate required component when choosing two.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
An IKE gateway configuration
Why this is correct
An IKE gateway configuration is required to define the peer and authentication parameters.
- ✗
A pre-shared key or certificate for authentication
Why it's wrong here
A pre-shared key or certificate is needed for authentication, but it is specified within the IKE gateway configuration, so it is not a separate required component.
- ✓
A tunnel interface with a valid IP address
Why this is correct
A tunnel interface with a valid IP address is required for the IPSec tunnel.
- ✗
A loopback interface for the VPN gateway
Why it's wrong here
A loopback interface is not required for a site-to-site VPN.
- ✗
A dedicated virtual router for the VPN
Why it's wrong here
A dedicated virtual router is not required; the VPN can use the existing virtual router.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
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About these practice questions
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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.