The answer is to move rule 2 above rule 1. This is correct because Palo Alto Networks firewalls evaluate decryption policy rules from the top down, and the first matching rule determines the action. In this scenario, rule 1 is a no-decrypt rule that matches all internal-to-external traffic, so traffic from the corp-users group hits it first and is never decrypted; rule 4 then blocks any undecrypted HTTPS traffic. On the PCNSA exam, this question tests your understanding of policy order and the decryption policy rule order troubleshooting workflow—a common trap is forgetting that a broad no-decrypt rule placed above a specific decrypt rule will prevent inspection entirely. A reliable memory tip is “specific decrypt first, then exceptions,” ensuring that targeted decryption rules are prioritized above broad bypass rules to avoid unintended blocks.
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.
Exhibit
admin@PA-3020> show running decryption policy
Decryption Policy:
# Name Source Zone Dest Zone Source User Destination Service Action
1 No-Decrypt-Int internal external any any any no-decrypt
2 Decrypt-Corp internal external corp-users any service-https decrypt
3 Decrypt-All external internal any any service-https decrypt
4 Block-No-Decrypt internal external any any any block
Refer to the exhibit. A security analyst wants to ensure that all HTTPS traffic from internal users to the internet is decrypted for inspection. However, traffic from the 'corp-users' group is being blocked instead of decrypted. Which configuration change should be made?
admin@PA-3020> show running decryption policy
Decryption Policy:
# Name Source Zone Dest Zone Source User Destination Service Action
1 No-Decrypt-Int internal external any any any no-decrypt
2 Decrypt-Corp internal external corp-users any service-https decrypt
3 Decrypt-All external internal any any service-https decrypt
4 Block-No-Decrypt internal external any any any block
A
Add a new rule above rule 1 to decrypt corp-users traffic.
Why wrong: This would work, but the simplest fix is to reorder existing rules.
B
Move rule 2 above rule 1.
Currently rule 1 (no-decrypt) is first and matches all internal to external traffic, so traffic from corp-users matches rule 1 and is not decrypted. Then rule 4 blocks undecrypted traffic. Moving rule 2 above rule 1 ensures that corp-users traffic matches the decrypt rule first.
C
Change rule 4 to 'allow' instead of 'block'.
Why wrong: This would allow undecrypted traffic, defeating the purpose of decryption.
D
Change rule 2 to use 'any' for source user.
Why wrong: This would decrypt all internal users, but the issue is that traffic is being blocked, not that it's not matching.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Move rule 2 above rule 1.
The policy is evaluated top-down. Rule 1 (no-decrypt) matches all internal to external traffic, so even corp-users hit rule 1 first. Then rule 4 blocks any undecrypted traffic. Moving rule 2 above rule 1 ensures that corp-users HTTPS traffic is decrypted first.
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.
✗
Add a new rule above rule 1 to decrypt corp-users traffic.
Why it's wrong here
This would work, but the simplest fix is to reorder existing rules.
✓
Move rule 2 above rule 1.
Why this is correct
Currently rule 1 (no-decrypt) is first and matches all internal to external traffic, so traffic from corp-users matches rule 1 and is not decrypted. Then rule 4 blocks undecrypted traffic. Moving rule 2 above rule 1 ensures that corp-users traffic matches the decrypt rule first.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Change rule 4 to 'allow' instead of 'block'.
Why it's wrong here
This would allow undecrypted traffic, defeating the purpose of decryption.
✗
Change rule 2 to use 'any' for source user.
Why it's wrong here
This would decrypt all internal users, but the issue is that traffic is being blocked, not that it's not matching.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 PCNSA exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: Move rule 2 above rule 1. — The policy is evaluated top-down. Rule 1 (no-decrypt) matches all internal to external traffic, so even corp-users hit rule 1 first. Then rule 4 blocks any undecrypted traffic. Moving rule 2 above rule 1 ensures that corp-users HTTPS traffic is decrypted first.
What should I do if I get this PCNSA question wrong?
Identify which PCNSA exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A security team wants to inspect traffic to and from a critical application server. They configure an inbound decryption rule to decrypt traffic destined to the server's IP address. After deploying, they find that traffic is not being decrypted. What is the first step to troubleshoot?
hard
A.Confirm that the decryption profile is set to 'decrypt' and that the forward proxy option is enabled.
✓ B.Check the decryption policy rule order and ensure it is before any no-decrypt rules.
C.Verify that the server's certificate is installed on the firewall.
D.Ensure that the firewall has a valid certificate for inbound inspection.
Why B: Option B is correct because in Palo Alto Networks firewalls, decryption policy rules are evaluated in order from top to bottom, and the first matching rule is applied. If a 'no-decrypt' rule appears before the inbound decryption rule, traffic matching the server's IP will be handled by the no-decrypt rule and will not be decrypted. Therefore, verifying rule order is the first troubleshooting step.
Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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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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