PCNSE Secure Access and VPN Practice Question
A company wants to provide VPN access to external business partners who do not have the GlobalProtect client installed. Which VPN method should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse SSL VPN (clientless) with SSL VPN (full tunnel using GlobalProtect), assuming any SSL VPN requires a client, but clientless mode specifically eliminates that requirement.
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
✓
SSL VPN (clientless)
SSL VPN (clientless) is correct because it allows external business partners to access specific web-based applications or internal resources through a standard web browser without requiring any client software installation. This method uses HTTPS and SSL/TLS to encrypt the session, making it ideal for scenarios where the remote user cannot or will not install the GlobalProtect client.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
SSL VPN (clientless)
Why this is correct
Clientless SSL VPN allows users to access web applications via a browser without installing software.
- ✗
GlobalProtect with pre-logon
Why it's wrong here
GlobalProtect requires the client software.
- ✗
IPSec VPN
Why it's wrong here
IPSec requires a client or firewall configuration on both ends.
- ✗
L2TP over IPSec
Why it's wrong here
L2TP also requires client software and is built into some operating systems but not browser-only.
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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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.