NetSec-Architect Zero Trust Architecture And Design Practice Question
In a Zero Trust architecture designed around Palo Alto Networks best practices, what is the primary purpose of implementing decryption (SSL/TLS Inbound Inspection and Forward Secure Proxy)?
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
✓
To eliminate blind spots by inspecting encrypted traffic payloads for malware, hidden threats, and data exfiltration
Zero Trust mandates inspecting all traffic for threats and unauthorized data exfiltration. Since over 80% of enterprise traffic is encrypted, lack of decryption creates a massive blind spot where malicious payloads and exfiltration can hide.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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To log user browsing habits for human resources compliance reporting
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Decryption in Zero Trust is primarily for security inspection and threat prevention, not HR tracking.
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To store plaintext copies of all banking and medical passwords in the firewall local database
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Zero Trust architectures incorporate decryption exclusion policies for sensitive categories (like healthcare and finance) to protect privacy, and passwords are never intentionally stored.
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To accelerate TCP handshake performance and reduce firewall CPU utilization
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Decryption actually increases CPU utilization, but is necessary for deep packet inspection.
- ✓
To eliminate blind spots by inspecting encrypted traffic payloads for malware, hidden threats, and data exfiltration
Why this is correct
Correct. Decryption allows security engines (Threat Prevention, WildFire, DLP) to inspect encrypted traffic payloads.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every NetSec-Architect question from scratch — 228 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official Palo Alto Networks exam blueprint
This NetSec-Architect 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 NetSec-Architect exam.