- A
The log forwarding profile on Panorama is not applied to the managed firewalls.
Why wrong: The profile is applied to Panorama's log forwarding, not to the firewalls forwarding logs to Panorama.
- B
The critical logs are generated on the firewall and not forwarded to Panorama.
If the firewall is not forwarding critical logs to Panorama, Panorama cannot forward them.
- C
The Panorama's log collector is not processing the logs correctly.
Why wrong: If the log collector had an issue, other logs would likely be affected as well.
- D
The syslog server is filtering out the critical logs based on the source IP.
Why wrong: Other logs from Panorama are received, so syslog filtering is not the cause.
Question 7 of 516
Troubleshooting Missing Critical Logs in Panorama
This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of manage, monitor and operate. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 security operations center (SOC) uses Panorama to monitor all firewalls. They notice that some log entries show a severity of 'critical' but the alerting system does not fire. The log forwarding profile on Panorama is configured to send syslog alerts for severity 'critical'. The syslog server receives other logs from Panorama but not these critical logs. The administrator checks the Panorama configuration and finds that the log forwarding profile is applied to the correct log types. What is the most likely issue?
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 critical logs are generated on the firewall and not forwarded to Panorama.
The most likely issue is that the critical logs are generated on the firewall but not forwarded to Panorama. Panorama can only forward logs it has received from its managed firewalls; if the firewall’s log forwarding or logging settings (e.g., log severity threshold, log buffering, or connectivity to the Log Collector) prevent those critical logs from reaching Panorama, then Panorama’s syslog forwarding profile will never see them. The fact that other logs arrive at the syslog server indicates Panorama’s forwarding works, so the gap must be upstream at the firewall-to-Panorama log collection stage.
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 log forwarding profile on Panorama is not applied to the managed firewalls.
Why it's wrong here
The profile is applied to Panorama's log forwarding, not to the firewalls forwarding logs to Panorama.
- ✓
The critical logs are generated on the firewall and not forwarded to Panorama.
Why this is correct
If the firewall is not forwarding critical logs to Panorama, Panorama cannot forward them.
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 Panorama's log collector is not processing the logs correctly.
Why it's wrong here
If the log collector had an issue, other logs would likely be affected as well.
- ✗
The syslog server is filtering out the critical logs based on the source IP.
Why it's wrong here
Other logs from Panorama are received, so syslog filtering is not the cause.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume Panorama’s log forwarding profile is the only configuration needed, overlooking that logs must first be collected from the firewall via the Log Collector, and that the firewall’s own logging settings or connectivity can prevent critical logs from reaching Panorama.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Panorama relies on firewalls to send logs via the Log Collector (using SSL/TLS on TCP port 3978 for log collection). If a firewall’s log severity threshold is set to 'informational' or higher, critical logs are generated, but they may be buffered or dropped if the firewall cannot reach the Log Collector, or if the firewall’s log forwarding profile (on the firewall itself) does not include the critical severity. Additionally, Panorama’s log forwarding profile only processes logs already stored in its database; if the firewall’s logs are not committed to the Log Collector, Panorama never sees them.
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?
Manage, Monitor and Operate — This question tests Manage, Monitor and Operate — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The critical logs are generated on the firewall and not forwarded to Panorama. — The most likely issue is that the critical logs are generated on the firewall but not forwarded to Panorama. Panorama can only forward logs it has received from its managed firewalls; if the firewall’s log forwarding or logging settings (e.g., log severity threshold, log buffering, or connectivity to the Log Collector) prevent those critical logs from reaching Panorama, then Panorama’s syslog forwarding profile will never see them. The fact that other logs arrive at the syslog server indicates Panorama’s forwarding works, so the gap must be upstream at the firewall-to-Panorama log collection stage.
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
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