PCNSE Securing Traffic and App-ID Practice Question
Which THREE attributes can be used in a custom App-ID signature to identify an application? (Choose three.)
⚠ Common exam trap
A common misconception is that URL category or security policy action are part of App-ID signature attributes, but they are separate features (URL Filtering and Policy Enforcement) that operate after App-ID identification is complete.
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
✓
Protocol (TCP, UDP, etc.)
A is correct because the protocol (TCP, UDP, etc.) is a fundamental attribute used in custom App-ID signatures to define the transport layer over which the application traffic flows. The firewall uses this to match the signature against the correct protocol type, ensuring accurate application identification.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Protocol (TCP, UDP, etc.)
Why this is correct
Protocol is a mandatory field in custom signatures.
- ✓
Port number
Why this is correct
Port can be specified to limit scope.
- ✓
Data pattern (regular expression or byte sequence)
Why this is correct
Data patterns allow matching on payload content.
- ✗
URL category
Why it's wrong here
URL categories are separate from App-ID signatures.
- ✗
Security policy action
Why it's wrong here
Policy action is not an attribute of the signature.
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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.