PCNSE Deploy and Configure Firewalls Practice Question
A security engineer needs to allow inbound HTTPS traffic from the internet to a web server in the DMZ. The source zone is 'Untrust', destination zone is 'DMZ', and the destination address is the web server's IP. Which security policy action should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse 'deny' with 'drop' or think 'reset-both' is a valid way to allow traffic, but only 'allow' actually permits the session to be established and pass through the firewall.
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
✓
allow
The correct action is 'allow' because the security engineer needs to permit inbound HTTPS traffic from the Untrust zone to the DMZ web server. In Palo Alto Networks firewalls, the security policy action 'allow' explicitly permits the traffic to pass through the firewall, which is required for legitimate inbound web 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.
- ✓
allow
Why this is correct
'allow' permits the traffic.
- ✗
reset-both
Why it's wrong here
'reset-both' sends resets to both client and server, but is not used for allow rules.
- ✗
deny
Why it's wrong here
'deny' blocks traffic and sends a TCP reset.
- ✗
drop
Why it's wrong here
'drop' silently discards packets.
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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.