- A
The firewall and the SaaS server negotiate a TLS version that is incompatible for some connections.
SSL/TLS version mismatch can cause intermittent failures; the firewall may attempt a higher version than the server supports.
- B
The firewall's decryption policy is set to 'no-decrypt' for the application.
Why wrong: If set to no-decrypt, all traffic for that application would bypass decryption, not be intermittent.
- C
The firewall's internet link experiences periodic packet loss.
Why wrong: Packet loss would affect all traffic and be visible in session statistics or ping tests.
- D
The SaaS application's certificate is expired or revoked.
Why wrong: An expired certificate would cause a consistent block, not intermittent connectivity.
Question 403 of 516
SSL Forward Proxy Intermittent Connectivity: TLS Version Incompatibility
This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of troubleshoot. 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.
An organization uses SSL Forward Proxy decryption for all web traffic. A user reports intermittent connectivity issues to a SaaS application. The firewall shows no drops or errors. Which of the following is the most likely cause?
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 firewall and the SaaS server negotiate a TLS version that is incompatible for some connections.
In SSL Forward Proxy decryption, the firewall terminates the client's TLS connection and initiates a new TLS connection to the SaaS server. If the firewall and the SaaS server negotiate a TLS version that is incompatible for some connections—for example, the firewall supports TLS 1.2 but the server requires TLS 1.3, or vice versa—the handshake may fail intermittently, causing connectivity issues. Since the firewall shows no drops or errors, the problem is likely at the TLS negotiation layer rather than a network or policy issue.
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 firewall and the SaaS server negotiate a TLS version that is incompatible for some connections.
Why this is correct
SSL/TLS version mismatch can cause intermittent failures; the firewall may attempt a higher version than the server supports.
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 firewall's decryption policy is set to 'no-decrypt' for the application.
Why it's wrong here
If set to no-decrypt, all traffic for that application would bypass decryption, not be intermittent.
- ✗
The firewall's internet link experiences periodic packet loss.
Why it's wrong here
Packet loss would affect all traffic and be visible in session statistics or ping tests.
- ✗
The SaaS application's certificate is expired or revoked.
Why it's wrong here
An expired certificate would cause a consistent block, not intermittent connectivity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume intermittent issues must be caused by network problems like packet loss (Option C) or policy misconfigurations (Option B), but the key clue is 'no drops or errors' on the firewall, pointing to a higher-layer TLS negotiation mismatch that does not generate firewall-level drops.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SSL Forward Proxy decryption involves the firewall acting as a man-in-the-middle: it presents its own certificate to the client and validates the server's certificate on the backend. TLS version negotiation occurs during the handshake via the ClientHello and ServerHello messages; if the firewall's supported versions (e.g., TLS 1.2 only) do not match the server's minimum required version (e.g., TLS 1.3), the handshake fails with an 'alert(40) handshake failure' or similar. This can be intermittent if the server's load balancer or CDN has mixed TLS configurations, causing some connections to succeed and others to fail.
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?
Troubleshoot — This question tests Troubleshoot — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The firewall and the SaaS server negotiate a TLS version that is incompatible for some connections. — In SSL Forward Proxy decryption, the firewall terminates the client's TLS connection and initiates a new TLS connection to the SaaS server. If the firewall and the SaaS server negotiate a TLS version that is incompatible for some connections—for example, the firewall supports TLS 1.2 but the server requires TLS 1.3, or vice versa—the handshake may fail intermittently, causing connectivity issues. Since the firewall shows no drops or errors, the problem is likely at the TLS negotiation layer rather than a network or policy issue.
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
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.
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