PCNSE Decryption and SSL Inspection Practice Question
A network security engineer is troubleshooting an SSL decryption issue. Users report that after decryption was enabled, they cannot access certain HTTPS websites that use certificate pinning. The firewall is configured with SSL Forward Proxy decryption. Which action should the engineer take to allow access to these websites while still decrypting other traffic?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is thinking that the forward untrust certificate or global decryption disable is the solution, when the correct approach is to exclude the specific pinned websites from decryption.
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
✓
Add the websites to the SSL Decryption Exclusion list.
Certificate pinning causes applications to reject certificates not signed by the expected CA. When the firewall decrypts and re-signs, the pinned certificate is replaced, causing failures. Adding the affected websites to the SSL Decryption Exclusion list bypasses decryption for them, allowing the original certificate to be presented and satisfying pinning. This maintains decryption for other 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.
- ✓
Add the websites to the SSL Decryption Exclusion list.
Why this is correct
Certificate pinning causes applications to reject certificates that are not signed by the expected CA. When the firewall re-signs the certificate, the pinned certificate does not match, and the connection fails. Adding these websites to the SSL Decryption Exclusion list bypasses decryption for them, allowing the original certificate to be presented to the client and satisfying pinning. This resolves access issues while still decrypting other traffic.
- ✗
Configure the firewall to use the forward untrust certificate for these websites.
Why it's wrong here
Using the forward untrust certificate would present an untrusted certificate to the client, causing certificate warnings and likely blocking access. It does not solve certificate pinning; pinned applications would still reject the certificate because it is not the expected one. The forward untrust certificate is for server-side validation failures, not for client-side pinning issues.
- ✗
Disable SSL decryption globally.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling SSL decryption globally would allow access to the pinned websites but would also stop decryption for all other traffic, which is not desired. The requirement is to allow access to specific websites while still decrypting other traffic. A global disable is too broad and reduces security visibility.
- ✗
Enable 'Block sessions with untrusted issuers' in the decryption profile.
Why it's wrong here
Enabling this setting would block sessions when the server certificate is untrusted, which would likely block the pinned websites entirely rather than allow access. It does not address certificate pinning; it would exacerbate the issue by blocking connections. The goal is to allow access, not block.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Palo Alto Networks exam blueprint
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.