PCNSE Practice Question: Securing Users and Applications with Authentication
A company wants to enforce MFA for VPN users but allow users to authenticate without MFA when connecting from the corporate office. Which authentication policy configuration achieves this?
⚠ Common exam trap
Palo Alto Networks often tests the distinction between 'no MFA' (authenticate without multi-factor) and 'no-auth' (bypass authentication entirely), and candidates frequently confuse these two options, thinking they achieve the same result.
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 an authentication policy with source zone 'Corporate' set to 'allow' and authentication method 'no MFA'
It creates an authentication policy that explicitly allows users from the 'Corporate' source zone to authenticate without MFA by setting the authentication method to 'no MFA'. This meets the requirement of enforcing MFA for VPN users (typically from untrusted zones) while exempting corporate office users. The authentication policy evaluates the source zone and applies the specified authentication method, overriding the global authentication profile for matching traffic.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Disable MFA in the global Authentication Profile
Why it's wrong here
This disables MFA for all users, not just corporate office.
- ✗
Create an authentication policy with source zone 'Corporate' set to 'require MFA'
Why it's wrong here
This would require MFA even from corporate office, not desired.
- ✓
Create an authentication policy with source zone 'Corporate' set to 'allow' and authentication method 'no MFA'
Why this is correct
This allows authentication without MFA from the corporate zone.
- ✗
Create an authentication policy with source zone 'Corporate' set to 'no-auth' and action 'allow'
Why it's wrong here
This would skip authentication entirely for corporate traffic, not just MFA.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PCNSE 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 PCNSE exam.