The answer is Inbound Inspection Decryption. This is the correct choice because the firewall must decrypt traffic destined to a protected web server, acting as a reverse proxy that intercepts inbound HTTPS connections, decrypts them for inspection, and then re-encrypts the traffic before forwarding it to the server. Unlike forward proxy decryption, which requires client-side configuration, inbound inspection decryption allows the administrator to inspect payloads without any changes on the client side, making it ideal for securing critical servers. On the Palo Alto Networks PCNSA exam, this question tests your understanding of decryption types and their deployment scenarios—specifically, that inbound decryption is used for server-side traffic, while outbound decryption applies to client-initiated traffic. A common trap is confusing inbound inspection with SSH proxy decryption, which is for non-HTTP protocols. Remember the mnemonic: "Inbound for servers, outbound for surfers."
PCNSA Decryption and Monitoring Practice Question
This PCNSA practice question tests your understanding of decryption and monitoring. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 security administrator needs to inspect traffic to a critical web server that uses HTTPS. The firewall is configured as a forward proxy for outbound traffic. Which decryption type should be used to decrypt the traffic inbound to the web server?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Inbound Inspection Decryption
Inbound Inspection Decryption is used to decrypt traffic destined to a protected server, such as a web server using HTTPS. In this scenario, the firewall acts as a reverse proxy, intercepting inbound connections to the server and decrypting them for inspection before re-encrypting and forwarding the traffic. This allows the security administrator to inspect the payload of HTTPS traffic without requiring client-side configuration.
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.
✓
Inbound Inspection Decryption
Why this is correct
Inbound inspection is specifically designed to decrypt traffic entering the network and destined to internal servers.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Decryption Mirror
Why it's wrong here
Decryption Mirror is for passive decryption and does not apply to inbound traffic.
✗
Outbound (Forward Proxy) Decryption
Why it's wrong here
Outbound decryption is for traffic from internal clients to external servers.
✗
SSH Proxy
Why it's wrong here
SSH Proxy is for decrypting SSH traffic, not HTTPS.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'forward proxy' (outbound) with 'reverse proxy' (inbound), leading them to select Outbound (Forward Proxy) Decryption even though the traffic is inbound to the server.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Inbound Inspection Decryption works by the firewall terminating the TLS handshake from the external client, decrypting the traffic, applying security policies (e.g., threat prevention, URL filtering), and then re-encrypting the traffic to the internal web server using a separate TLS session. This requires the firewall to have a certificate trusted by the client or to use a server certificate imported from the web server. In real-world deployments, this is often used for protecting public-facing web servers in a DMZ, where the firewall acts as a TLS terminator.
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 PCNSA 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.
Decryption and Monitoring — This question tests Decryption and Monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Inbound Inspection Decryption — Inbound Inspection Decryption is used to decrypt traffic destined to a protected server, such as a web server using HTTPS. In this scenario, the firewall acts as a reverse proxy, intercepting inbound connections to the server and decrypting them for inspection before re-encrypting and forwarding the traffic. This allows the security administrator to inspect the payload of HTTPS traffic without requiring client-side configuration.
What should I do if I get this PCNSA 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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Question Discussion
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