- A
The source zone in the new rule is set to 'Untrust' instead of 'Trust'.
Why wrong: Incorrect. If the source zone were wrong, the rule would not match at all, but the symptom is the traffic is blocked, not unmatched.
- B
The application in the new rule is set to 'ssl' instead of 'http'.
Why wrong: Incorrect. If the application mismatches, the rule would not apply, but the traffic would still be subject to other rules. The most likely cause is rule order.
- C
The new rule is placed at the bottom of the policy, below an existing deny rule that matches the same traffic.
Correct. Policy evaluation is top-down, so a deny rule above the allow rule will block traffic.
- D
The destination zone in the new rule is set to 'Trust' instead of 'Untrust'.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Similar to option B, a zone mismatch would result in no match, not a block.
PCNSA Policy Evaluation and Management Practice Question
This PCNSA practice question tests your understanding of policy evaluation and management. 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.
A network administrator adds a new security rule allowing HTTP from the Trust zone to the Untrust zone. After committing, traffic from the Trust zone to the Untrust zone is still blocked. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
The new rule is placed at the bottom of the policy, below an existing deny rule that matches the same traffic.
This is the most common cause because security policies are evaluated top-down, and an existing deny rule placed above the new allow rule will match first and block the traffic.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 source zone in the new rule is set to 'Untrust' instead of 'Trust'.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. If the source zone were wrong, the rule would not match at all, but the symptom is the traffic is blocked, not unmatched.
- ✗
The application in the new rule is set to 'ssl' instead of 'http'.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. If the application mismatches, the rule would not apply, but the traffic would still be subject to other rules. The most likely cause is rule order.
- ✓
The new rule is placed at the bottom of the policy, below an existing deny rule that matches the same traffic.
Why this is correct
Correct. Policy evaluation is top-down, so a deny rule above the allow rule will block traffic.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
The destination zone in the new rule is set to 'Trust' instead of 'Untrust'.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Similar to option B, a zone mismatch would result in no match, not a block.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Trap categories for this question
Similar concept trap
Incorrect. Similar to option B, a zone mismatch would result in no match, not a block.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PCNSA NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNSA question test?
Policy Evaluation and Management — This question tests Policy Evaluation and Management — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The new rule is placed at the bottom of the policy, below an existing deny rule that matches the same traffic. — This is the most common cause because security policies are evaluated top-down, and an existing deny rule placed above the new allow rule will match first and block the traffic.
What should I do if I get this PCNSA question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PCNSA NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This PCNSA 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 PCNSA exam.
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