PCNSE Secure Access and VPN Practice Question
An administrator configures a GlobalProtect portal with an authentication profile that uses Kerberos. Users report they cannot connect from remote locations. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often assume Kerberos authentication can be used for external gateways or that the issue is certificate-related, but the key is understanding that Kerberos requires domain membership and cannot work for non-domain-joined remote clients.
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 remote users' computers are not domain-joined.
Kerberos authentication relies on the client being a member of the Active Directory domain to obtain a ticket-granting ticket (TGT) from the Key Distribution Center (KDC). Remote users whose computers are not domain-joined cannot acquire or present Kerberos tickets, causing authentication to fail. This is the most common reason for connection failures when Kerberos is used for GlobalProtect portal authentication.
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 remote users' computers are not domain-joined.
Why this is correct
Kerberos authentication requires the client to be domain-joined to obtain a ticket.
- ✗
The external gateway is not configured for Kerberos authentication.
Why it's wrong here
The authentication profile is configured on the portal, not the gateway.
- ✗
The authentication profile is not configured on the gateway.
Why it's wrong here
Kerberos authentication is only needed on the portal; the gateway uses the portal's authentication token.
- ✗
The GlobalProtect gateway certificate is not trusted by the client.
Why it's wrong here
Certificate trust issues would cause a different error (e.g., untrusted CA), not a Kerberos authentication failure.
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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.