- A
Decryption Broker
Why wrong: Decryption Broker is not a standard Palo Alto Networks feature.
- B
SSL Forward Proxy
Correct: SSL Forward Proxy decrypts outbound traffic from internal clients to external servers.
- C
SSL Termination
Why wrong: SSL Termination is not a separate decryption scenario; it is part of inbound inspection.
- D
SSH Proxy
Why wrong: SSH Proxy is not a decryption scenario; it handles non-SSL traffic.
- E
SSL Inbound Inspection
Correct: SSL Inbound Inspection decrypts inbound traffic to internal servers.
Question 60 of 516
Supported SSL Decryption Scenarios
This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of decryption and ssl inspection. 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 of the following are supported decryption scenarios 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
✓
SSL Forward Proxy
B is correct because SSL Forward Proxy allows the firewall to decrypt outbound traffic from internal clients to external servers by acting as an intermediary, generating a new certificate on the fly to inspect the session. E is correct because SSL Inbound Inspection enables the firewall to decrypt inbound traffic destined for protected servers, typically by importing the server's private key, allowing inspection of encrypted payloads.
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.
- ✗
Decryption Broker
Why it's wrong here
Decryption Broker is not a standard Palo Alto Networks feature.
- ✓
SSL Forward Proxy
Why this is correct
Correct: SSL Forward Proxy decrypts outbound traffic from internal clients to external servers.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
SSL Termination
Why it's wrong here
SSL Termination is not a separate decryption scenario; it is part of inbound inspection.
- ✗
SSH Proxy
- ✓
SSL Inbound Inspection
Why this is correct
Correct: SSL Inbound Inspection decrypts inbound traffic to internal servers.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'SSL Termination' (a load-balancer concept) with 'SSL Inbound Inspection' (a firewall decryption feature), or mistakenly think 'Decryption Broker' is a Palo Alto Networks feature when it is actually a third-party architecture.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
SSL Termination is not a separate decryption scenario; it is part of inbound inspection.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, SSL Forward Proxy works by the firewall intercepting the ClientHello, generating a forged certificate signed by a trusted CA, and establishing two separate SSL/TLS sessions—one with the client and one with the server—allowing full inspection of the decrypted traffic. SSL Inbound Inspection requires importing the server's private key into the firewall, which then terminates the inbound SSL connection, inspects the plaintext, and re-encrypts it to the server; this is critical for protecting servers from threats in encrypted traffic without modifying client configurations. A real-world scenario where this matters is in a PCI DSS environment where outbound SSL inspection is required to detect data exfiltration, while inbound inspection is used to protect a web application from SQL injection attacks hidden in HTTPS traffic.
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 practitioner preparing for the PCNSE exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNSE question test?
Decryption and SSL Inspection — This question tests Decryption and SSL Inspection — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: SSL Forward Proxy — B is correct because SSL Forward Proxy allows the firewall to decrypt outbound traffic from internal clients to external servers by acting as an intermediary, generating a new certificate on the fly to inspect the session. E is correct because SSL Inbound Inspection enables the firewall to decrypt inbound traffic destined for protected servers, typically by importing the server's private key, allowing inspection of encrypted payloads.
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.
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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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