PCNSE Deploy and Configure Firewalls Practice Question
Which TWO of the following are prerequisites for configuring User-ID on an interface?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to assume an interface must be in a zone (Option B) is a direct prerequisite for User-ID, but the actual requirement is that User-ID must be enabled on the zone, not just that the interface belongs to one.
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
✓
A User-ID agent must be installed.
A User-ID agent (or the built-in User-ID service on the firewall) is required to map IP addresses to usernames. Without an agent—such as the PAN-OS User-ID Agent, Terminal Services Agent, or GlobalProtect—the firewall cannot collect user mapping data from directory services (e.g., Active Directory) or authentication logs. Option D is correct because User-ID must be explicitly enabled on the zone; if the zone does not have User-ID enabled, the firewall will not perform user mapping for traffic traversing that zone, even if the interface is configured correctly.
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 must be in FIPS mode.
Why it's wrong here
FIPS mode is optional and not a prerequisite for User-ID.
- ✗
The interface must be in a zone.
Why it's wrong here
This is a general network requirement, not specific to User-ID.
- ✓
A User-ID agent must be installed.
Why this is correct
A User-ID agent (or other method) is required to provide user-to-IP mapping data.
- ✓
User-ID must be enabled on the zone.
Why this is correct
User-ID must be enabled at the zone level to collect user mappings on that zone.
- ✗
An authentication profile must be configured.
Why it's wrong here
Authentication profiles are used for specific authentication methods, but not mandatory for all User-ID setups.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 504 original PCNSE practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.