PCNSE Practice Question: Securing Users and Applications with Authentication
A security architect needs to enforce authentication for all application-based policies using an external authentication source with MFA. Which combination of features best achieves this?
⚠ Common exam trap
Palo Alto Networks often tests the distinction between authentication methods for network access (RADIUS, Kerberos) versus application access (SAML), and the trap here is that candidates may choose RADIUS (option D) because it supports MFA via OTP, but fail to recognize that SAML is the correct choice for application-based policies with external MFA integration.
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
✓
SAML authentication with an identity provider that supports MFA
B is correct because SAML authentication with an identity provider (IdP) that supports MFA allows the firewall to offload authentication to an external IdP, which can enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) before granting access. This meets the requirement for application-based policies to use an external authentication source with MFA, as SAML provides a standards-based (SAML 2.0) mechanism for the firewall to trust the IdP's authentication assertions, including MFA status.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Local user database with password policies
Why it's wrong here
Local database does not support external MFA solutions.
- ✓
SAML authentication with an identity provider that supports MFA
Why this is correct
SAML allows the firewall to redirect users to the IdP for authentication, including MFA challenges.
- ✗
Kerberos authentication with Active Directory
Why it's wrong here
Kerberos does not natively support MFA.
- ✗
RADIUS authentication with one-time passwords via token
Why it's wrong here
While possible, RADIUS OTP is less flexible and scalable than SAML with MFA.
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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.