PCNSE Decryption and SSL Inspection Practice Question
After enabling SSL Forward Proxy decryption, users report that they cannot access HTTPS websites and receive certificate errors. The firewall's decryption certificate is properly installed on client machines. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers assume 'properly installed' means the certificate is trusted, but in SSL decryption, the certificate must be placed in the trusted root store, not just imported as a personal certificate; Cisco (Palo Alto) tests this distinction to catch those who overlook the specific trust store requirement.
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 firewall's decryption certificate is not trusted by the clients' certificate store.
The most likely cause is that the firewall's decryption certificate is not trusted by the clients' certificate store. Even if the certificate is properly installed on client machines, if it is not explicitly added to the trusted root certification authorities store, browsers will reject the connection with certificate errors. SSL Forward Proxy decryption requires the firewall to generate a new certificate for each HTTPS session, signed by its own CA certificate; clients must trust that CA certificate to avoid warnings.
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 firewall's decryption certificate is not trusted by the clients' certificate store.
Why this is correct
Clients must trust the firewall's CA certificate to avoid warnings.
- ✗
The decryption certificate has expired.
Why it's wrong here
Expiration would cause errors, but the scenario implies it's properly installed, so likely not expired.
- ✗
The decryption certificate is not renewed automatically.
Why it's wrong here
Automatic renewal is not a standard feature; manual intervention is needed.
- ✗
The decryption certificate is self-signed.
Why it's wrong here
Self-signed certificates can be used if the root CA is trusted, but that is not the typical issue.
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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.