Quick Answer
The answer is source and destination addresses, as these two objects are mandatory for an allow rule in Palo Alto security policies to be valid. A security policy rule with an action of "allow" must define which traffic is being permitted, and without specifying both a source and a destination address, the firewall cannot determine the traffic flow to evaluate, rendering the rule incomplete and invalid. On the PCNSA exam, this concept tests your understanding of the fundamental rule structure, often appearing as a multiple-select question where you must identify the mandatory fields in a security policy allow rule. A common trap is assuming that services or applications are required, but the rule can default to any; the key is that the firewall needs to know where traffic comes from and where it goes. To remember, think of a postal letter: you cannot send it without a return address and a destination address, just as a firewall cannot allow traffic without both source and destination objects.
This PCNSA practice question tests your understanding of managing objects. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 policy rule has an action of "allow". Which TWO objects are mandatory for the rule to be valid? (Choose two.)
Application
Why wrong: Application is optional; if not specified, all applications are allowed.
User
Why wrong: User is optional; if not specified, all users are allowed.
Source address
Every rule must have a source address (can be 'any').
Destination address
Every rule must have a destination address (can be 'any').
Service
Why wrong: Service is optional; if not specified, all services are allowed.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Source address
In Palo Alto Networks security policy rules, the source and destination addresses are mandatory because the firewall must know which traffic to evaluate. Without a source or destination address, the rule cannot define the traffic flow and would be invalid. The 'allow' action requires at least these two address objects to create a valid rule.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Application
Why it's wrong here
Application is optional; if not specified, all applications are allowed.
User
Why it's wrong here
User is optional; if not specified, all users are allowed.
Source address
Why this is correct
Every rule must have a source address (can be 'any').
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Destination address
Why this is correct
Every rule must have a destination address (can be 'any').
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Service
Why it's wrong here
Service is optional; if not specified, all services are allowed.
Common exam traps
Palo Alto Networks often tests the misconception that Application or Service are mandatory for an 'allow' rule, but Palo Alto Networks allows 'any' for these fields, making source and destination addresses the only mandatory objects.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, Palo Alto Networks firewalls enforce a mandatory source and destination zone (derived from the interface) and address for each security rule; these are part of the rule's base tuple. The rule is evaluated in order, and if source/destination are missing, the commit fails with a validation error. In a real-world scenario, a rule allowing outbound web traffic must specify source (e.g., internal subnet) and destination (e.g., any or specific external IP) to match the traffic, while application and service can be dynamically identified.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Managing Objects — This question tests Managing Objects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Source address — In Palo Alto Networks security policy rules, the source and destination addresses are mandatory because the firewall must know which traffic to evaluate. Without a source or destination address, the rule cannot define the traffic flow and would be invalid. The 'allow' action requires at least these two address objects to create a valid rule.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 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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