- A
Disable application identification globally.
Why wrong: This would reduce functionality significantly.
- B
Increase logging to debug which applications are being processed.
Why wrong: More logging increases CPU usage.
- C
Change the default rule to allow all traffic based on port only.
Why wrong: This would not reduce App-ID processing for allowed sessions.
- D
Create security rules that use application-based policies to allow trusted applications without additional inspection.
Explicit application allow rules bypass further App-ID processing.
Question 156 of 529
PCNSA Palo Alto Networks Platforms and Architecture Practice Question
This PCNSA practice question tests your understanding of palo alto networks platforms and architecture. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 PA-5250 firewall is experiencing high CPU usage on the dataplane. Analysis shows that a large amount of traffic is being processed by the application identification engine. What can be done to reduce the CPU load?
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
✓
Create security rules that use application-based policies to allow trusted applications without additional inspection.
Creating security rules that use application-based policies to allow trusted applications without additional inspection reduces CPU load because the firewall can skip deep packet inspection for those applications once identified. This offloads processing from the application identification engine by allowing traffic based on application signatures rather than performing full identification on every packet. In contrast, disabling application identification globally would break security policy enforcement, and increasing logging or changing the default rule would not reduce the CPU burden from application identification.
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.
- ✗
Disable application identification globally.
Why it's wrong here
This would reduce functionality significantly.
- ✗
Increase logging to debug which applications are being processed.
Why it's wrong here
More logging increases CPU usage.
- ✗
Change the default rule to allow all traffic based on port only.
Why it's wrong here
This would not reduce App-ID processing for allowed sessions.
- ✓
Create security rules that use application-based policies to allow trusted applications without additional inspection.
Why this is correct
Explicit application allow rules bypass further App-ID processing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think disabling application identification or increasing logging will help, but Palo Alto Networks tests the understanding that application-based allow rules reduce CPU by leveraging the identification result rather than disabling the engine or adding overhead.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The PA-5250 dataplane uses a single-pass architecture where the application identification engine performs signature matching against traffic flows. By creating application-based policies that allow trusted applications (e.g., ssl, dns, web-browsing) without further inspection, the firewall can apply a 'allow' action after the first few packets identify the application, bypassing deeper decryption or threat inspection. In a real-world scenario, an organization with high volumes of Office 365 traffic could create a rule to allow that application ID directly, reducing the need for the engine to re-identify each flow and lowering CPU utilization.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNSA question test?
Palo Alto Networks Platforms and Architecture — This question tests Palo Alto Networks Platforms and Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create security rules that use application-based policies to allow trusted applications without additional inspection. — Creating security rules that use application-based policies to allow trusted applications without additional inspection reduces CPU load because the firewall can skip deep packet inspection for those applications once identified. This offloads processing from the application identification engine by allowing traffic based on application signatures rather than performing full identification on every packet. In contrast, disabling application identification globally would break security policy enforcement, and increasing logging or changing the default rule would not reduce the CPU burden from application identification.
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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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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