PCNSE Manage, Monitor and Operate Practice Question
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit. Traffic Log: Time: 2024-07-15 10:00:00 Source: 10.1.1.10 Destination: 198.51.100.20 Application: web-browsing Action: allow Threat: High Severity: medium Threat Log: Time: 2024-07-15 10:00:00 Source: 10.1.1.10 Destination: 198.51.100.20 Threat ID: 12345 Action: allow
The traffic log shows a threat severity 'medium' and the threat log shows action 'allow' for the same session. What is the most likely reason that the threat was allowed?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to assume the threat log action reflects the threat prevention profile's action (e.g., block), but it actually reflects the security policy rule's action, leading them to incorrectly think the threat was not detected or that the log is misleading.
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 security policy rule that matched this traffic is configured to allow the threat.
The threat log shows action 'allow' because the security policy rule that matched the session is configured with an action of 'allow'. When a threat is detected but the security rule permits the traffic, the firewall still allows the session to pass, and the threat is logged with the action taken by the rule. This is a common scenario where the firewall's threat prevention profile is set to 'alert' rather than 'block', or the rule's action overrides the threat action.
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 security policy rule that matched this traffic is configured to allow the threat.
Why this is correct
The profile for that rule likely has an 'allow' action for this threat.
- ✗
The action 'allow' in the threat log is misleading; the traffic was actually blocked.
Why it's wrong here
The log explicitly says action: allow.
- ✗
The threat was not detected by the firewall.
Why it's wrong here
It was detected as shown in the threat log.
- ✗
The threat log does not record blocked threats.
Why it's wrong here
Threat logs record both allowed and blocked threats.
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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.