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PCNSE Deploy and Configure Firewalls Practice Question
Order the steps to configure an IPsec VPN tunnel between two Palo Alto firewalls.
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
✓
Configure IKE Gateway, then IPsec Crypto Profile, then Tunnel Interface, then Security Policy
The correct order for configuring an IPsec VPN tunnel on Palo Alto firewalls is: first configure the IKE gateway (Phase 1 authentication), then the IPsec crypto profile (Phase 2 encryption and authentication), then create the tunnel interface (which binds the IPsec parameters), and finally configure security policies to permit the desired traffic through the tunnel. This sequence ensures all dependencies are met and avoids configuration errors.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Configure IKE Gateway, then IPsec Crypto Profile, then Tunnel Interface, then Security Policy
Why this is correct
This order follows the logical dependency: IKE negotiation (Phase 1) must be configured first, then Phase 2 parameters via the crypto profile, then the tunnel interface for traffic, and finally security policies to permit traffic through the tunnel.
- ✗
Configure Tunnel Interface, then IKE Gateway, then IPsec Crypto Profile, then Security Policy
Why it's wrong here
Creating the tunnel interface before the IKE gateway and crypto profile is incorrect because the tunnel interface requires IPsec parameters that are defined later; moreover, the IKE gateway must exist before the tunnel can be established.
- ✗
Configure Security Policy, then IKE Gateway, then IPsec Crypto Profile, then Tunnel Interface
Why it's wrong here
Security policies cannot reference a tunnel interface that hasn't been created yet, and they are applied after the tunnel is established; also, IKE and crypto profiles must be configured before the tunnel interface.
- ✗
Configure IKE Gateway, then Tunnel Interface, then IPsec Crypto Profile, then Security Policy
Why it's wrong here
The IPsec crypto profile should be configured before the tunnel interface because the tunnel interface uses the crypto profile's parameters; placing it after the tunnel interface may cause the tunnel to fail during configuration.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
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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.