PCNSE Secure Access and VPN Practice Question
A GlobalProtect user cannot connect to any resources after authenticating successfully. Portal and gateway configurations appear correct. What is the most likely issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse the portal's 'Access' list (which controls initial client configuration download) with the gateway's 'Allow Access' list (which controls post-authentication resource access), leading candidates to incorrectly select option D.
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 gateway's 'Allow Access' list does not include the user
After successful authentication, the GlobalProtect gateway controls access to resources via the 'Allow Access' list. If the user is not included in this list, the gateway will not assign an IP address or push routes, effectively blocking all resource access even though authentication succeeded. This is a common post-authentication authorization check distinct from portal-level access.
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The user's GlobalProtect client software is outdated
Why it's wrong here
An outdated client might cause feature issues but would likely still authenticate.
- ✓
The gateway's 'Allow Access' list does not include the user
Why this is correct
The gateway can restrict access based on user or group; if the user is not allowed, the connection is dropped.
- ✗
The gateway's interface is not in the same zone as the portal
Why it's wrong here
Zone assignment does not affect user connectivity once the tunnel is established.
- ✗
The portal's 'Access' list does not include the user
Why it's wrong here
The portal's access list affects portal authentication only, not gateway access.
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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.