Question 344 of 504
PCNSE Secure Access and VPN Practice Question
A firewall is configured with a GlobalProtect gateway that uses an IPSec tunnel. Remote users can connect but cannot access any resources. The administrator verifies that the tunnel is established and the client receives an IP address. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers assume a successful tunnel establishment and IP assignment guarantee connectivity, overlooking the separate requirement for a return route to the virtual IP pool.
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
✓
The firewall does not have a route to the virtual IP pool.
When a GlobalProtect gateway uses an IPSec tunnel, the client receives an IP address from a virtual IP pool assigned to the tunnel interface. If the firewall lacks a route to that virtual IP pool, return traffic from internal resources cannot reach the client, even though the tunnel is established and the client has an IP. This is a common misconfiguration because the tunnel interface itself does not automatically inject a route for the pool into the virtual router.
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 tunnel interface is not in a virtual router.
Why it's wrong here
The tunnel interface is automatically placed in the virtual router, so this is unlikely.
- ✓
The firewall does not have a route to the virtual IP pool.
Why this is correct
Without a route for the virtual IP pool, the firewall cannot route return traffic to the tunnel interface.
- ✗
The security policy does not allow traffic from the VPN zone.
Why it's wrong here
While a security rule is required, the symptom of no access at all suggests a routing issue, not just a policy block.
- ✗
The IP pool for the VPN client is exhausted.
Why it's wrong here
If the client receives an IP, the pool is not exhausted.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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.
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