- A
SAML
SAML is supported for captive portal from PAN-OS 10.0 onwards.
- B
TACACS+
Why wrong: TACACS+ is not supported for captive portal; it is used for device administration.
- C
RADIUS
RADIUS is widely supported for captive portal authentication.
- D
Local Database
Why wrong: Local database is supported, but the question asks for TWO, and the correct ones here are SAML and RADIUS.
- E
Kerberos
Why wrong: Kerberos is used for SSO, not as a direct authentication method for captive portal.
Question 123 of 516
Which Authentication Methods Work with Captive Portal? SAML & RADIUS
This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of securing users and applications with authentication. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Which TWO authentication methods are supported for captive portal on a Palo Alto Networks firewall?
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
✓
SAML
SAML is correct because it enables browser-based Single Sign-On (SSO) for captive portal, allowing the firewall to redirect users to an external identity provider (IdP) for authentication. This method supports modern authentication flows (e.g., SAML 2.0 HTTP-POST binding) and is commonly used in cloud or federated environments.
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.
- ✓
SAML
Why this is correct
SAML is supported for captive portal from PAN-OS 10.0 onwards.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
TACACS+
Why it's wrong here
TACACS+ is not supported for captive portal; it is used for device administration.
- ✓
RADIUS
Why this is correct
RADIUS is widely supported for captive portal authentication.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Local Database
Why it's wrong here
Local database is supported, but the question asks for TWO, and the correct ones here are SAML and RADIUS.
- ✗
Kerberos
Why it's wrong here
Kerberos is used for SSO, not as a direct authentication method for captive portal.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume TACACS+ or Kerberos are supported for captive portal because they are common in network authentication, but Palo Alto specifically restricts captive portal to RADIUS and SAML, while TACACS+ is reserved for management access and Kerberos is not used at all in this context.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Captive portal authentication on Palo Alto firewalls supports RADIUS (via PAP/CHAP/MSCHAPv2) and SAML (via browser-based redirect). Under the hood, RADIUS uses Access-Request/Access-Accept packets (RFC 2865) to validate credentials, while SAML relies on the firewall acting as a service provider (SP) to generate an AuthnRequest and validate the IdP's signed assertion. A subtle behavior: SAML captive portal requires the firewall to have a valid certificate and the IdP to be reachable, and session timeout is managed by the firewall's authentication timeout, not the IdP's session.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
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.
- →
Securing Users and Applications with Authentication — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNSE question test?
Securing Users and Applications with Authentication — This question tests Securing Users and Applications with Authentication — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: SAML — SAML is correct because it enables browser-based Single Sign-On (SSO) for captive portal, allowing the firewall to redirect users to an external identity provider (IdP) for authentication. This method supports modern authentication flows (e.g., SAML 2.0 HTTP-POST binding) and is commonly used in cloud or federated environments.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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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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