- A
The custom application is not activated in the security policy rule.
Why wrong: Security policy rules use the identified application; they do not affect the identification process itself.
- B
The application override is not configured.
Correct: Application override forces the firewall to identify traffic using the custom application's signature, overriding the default identification.
- C
The vulnerability protection profile is dropping the traffic.
Why wrong: Vulnerability protection profiles inspect traffic after identification and would not cause misidentification.
- D
The decryption policy is blocking the traffic.
Why wrong: Decryption policy affects whether traffic is decrypted, not the initial identification via App-ID.
Question 14 of 516
PCNSE Securing Traffic and App-ID Practice Question
This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of securing traffic and app-id. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A network engineer notices that traffic from an internal user to a web application is being incorrectly identified as 'web-browsing' instead of the custom application 'my-app'. The engineer has already created a custom application 'my-app' with the correct signature. What is the most likely reason for the misidentification?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 application override is not configured.
When a custom application is created with a signature, the firewall uses App-ID to identify the traffic based on the signature. However, if the traffic is still being misidentified as 'web-browsing', it means the firewall is matching the default HTTP/HTTPS application before the custom signature can be evaluated. An application override is required to explicitly tell the firewall to skip App-ID processing for that traffic and instead use the custom application 'my-app'. Without the override, the firewall's default App-ID logic continues to classify the traffic based on its standard signatures.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 custom application is not activated in the security policy rule.
Why it's wrong here
Security policy rules use the identified application; they do not affect the identification process itself.
- ✓
The application override is not configured.
Why this is correct
Correct: Application override forces the firewall to identify traffic using the custom application's signature, overriding the default identification.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The vulnerability protection profile is dropping the traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Vulnerability protection profiles inspect traffic after identification and would not cause misidentification.
- ✗
The decryption policy is blocking the traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Decryption policy affects whether traffic is decrypted, not the initial identification via App-ID.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think creating a custom application with a signature is sufficient for identification, but they overlook the need for an application override to bypass the default App-ID classification for traffic on standard ports like 80 or 443.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Application override works by creating a rule that matches specific traffic attributes (e.g., source/destination IP, port, protocol) and then forces the firewall to use a specified application (e.g., 'my-app') instead of running App-ID. This is useful for custom applications that share standard ports like TCP/443, where the firewall's default App-ID might classify the traffic as 'web-browsing' or 'ssl' before the custom signature is evaluated. In real-world scenarios, this is common for proprietary web-based applications that use HTTPS but have unique payload patterns that require a custom signature.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the PCNSE exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNSE question test?
Securing Traffic and App-ID — This question tests Securing Traffic and App-ID — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The application override is not configured. — When a custom application is created with a signature, the firewall uses App-ID to identify the traffic based on the signature. However, if the traffic is still being misidentified as 'web-browsing', it means the firewall is matching the default HTTP/HTTPS application before the custom signature can be evaluated. An application override is required to explicitly tell the firewall to skip App-ID processing for that traffic and instead use the custom application 'my-app'. Without the override, the firewall's default App-ID logic continues to classify the traffic based on its standard signatures.
What should I do if I get this PCNSE question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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