- A
Decryption logs with filter 'decryption action not equal to decrypt'
Decryption logs can be filtered to show sessions where decryption was not performed, including bypass reasons.
- B
System logs with filter 'decryption bypass'
Why wrong: System logs do not contain decryption bypass events.
- C
ACC (Application Command Center) > Decryption Overview
ACC Decryption Overview provides a dashboard with decryption metrics and bypass reasons.
- D
Traffic logs with filter 'action equals decrypt' and 'reason equals bypass'
Why wrong: Traffic logs do not have a 'reason' field for decryption bypass; instead use Decryption logs.
- E
Packet capture on the decryption port
Why wrong: Packet capture is for detailed traffic analysis, not for monitoring decryption bypasses at scale.
Quick Answer
The answer is the ACC Decryption Overview and decryption logs filtered for actions other than 'decrypt.' These two tools work together because the ACC dashboard provides a high-level visualization of decryption performance, including counts of bypassed sessions, while the decryption logs allow you to drill down into specific sessions that were bypassed due to policy exclusions or technical failures like unsupported cipher suites. On the PCNSA exam, this tests your ability to distinguish between monitoring tools for decryption health versus granular session analysis—a common trap is choosing only one tool when the question asks for two. Remember that the ACC gives the "what" (how many bypasses), and the logs give the "why" (which sessions and reasons). A quick memory tip: think "ACC for the big picture, logs for the fine print."
PCNSA Decryption and Monitoring Practice Question
This PCNSA practice question tests your understanding of decryption and monitoring. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 analyst needs to monitor decryption performance and identify sessions that are bypassing decryption due to policy or technical reasons. Which two monitoring tools or methods can provide this insight?
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
Decryption logs with filter 'decryption action not equal to decrypt'
Option A is correct because decryption logs with a filter for 'decryption action not equal to decrypt' will show sessions that were not decrypted, including those bypassed due to policy (e.g., excluded URLs) or technical reasons (e.g., unsupported cipher suites). Option C is correct because the ACC > Decryption Overview provides a dashboard that visualizes decryption performance metrics, such as the number of sessions bypassed, decrypted, or failed, giving the analyst a high-level view of bypass activity.
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 logs with filter 'decryption action not equal to decrypt'
Why this is correct
Decryption logs can be filtered to show sessions where decryption was not performed, including bypass reasons.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
System logs with filter 'decryption bypass'
Why it's wrong here
System logs do not contain decryption bypass events.
- ✓
ACC (Application Command Center) > Decryption Overview
Why this is correct
ACC Decryption Overview provides a dashboard with decryption metrics and bypass reasons.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Traffic logs with filter 'action equals decrypt' and 'reason equals bypass'
Why it's wrong here
Traffic logs do not have a 'reason' field for decryption bypass; instead use Decryption logs.
- ✗
Packet capture on the decryption port
Why it's wrong here
Packet capture is for detailed traffic analysis, not for monitoring decryption bypasses at scale.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse traffic logs with decryption logs, or assume that system logs contain decryption session details, when in fact decryption-specific logs and the ACC Decryption Overview are the correct sources for monitoring bypass activity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Decryption logs in Palo Alto Networks firewalls record the decryption action taken for each session, including 'decrypt', 'no-decrypt' (bypass), or 'fail'. The 'decryption action not equal to decrypt' filter captures all sessions that were not decrypted, which includes bypasses due to policy (e.g., SSL Forward Proxy decryption exclusion) or technical issues (e.g., unsupported TLS version). The ACC Decryption Overview aggregates these logs into a visual dashboard, showing metrics like 'Bypassed' sessions, which helps analysts quickly identify trends without parsing raw logs.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNSA question test?
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: Decryption logs with filter 'decryption action not equal to decrypt' — Option A is correct because decryption logs with a filter for 'decryption action not equal to decrypt' will show sessions that were not decrypted, including those bypassed due to policy (e.g., excluded URLs) or technical reasons (e.g., unsupported cipher suites). Option C is correct because the ACC > Decryption Overview provides a dashboard that visualizes decryption performance metrics, such as the number of sessions bypassed, decrypted, or failed, giving the analyst a high-level view of bypass activity.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 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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