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-220> show decryption policy
name from to source destination service action type
Decrypt-Traffic trust untrust 10.0.0.0/24 0.0.0.0/0 any decrypt ssl-forward-proxy
admin@PA-220> show ssl-decrypt certificate-status
Certificate: PA-Forward-Proxy-CA
Issuer: CN=PA-Forward-Proxy-CA
Valid: 2024-01-01 to 2025-01-01
Status: valid
admin@PA-220> show system log | match ssl
2024-06-15 10:30:22 ssl_decrypt error Certificate is not trusted by client. Src: 10.0.0.5 Dst: 93.184.216.34
Refer to the exhibit. A user reports that they receive a certificate warning when accessing https://example.com. The firewall is configured to decrypt SSL traffic. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Exhibit
admin@PA-220> show decryption policy
name from to source destination service action type
Decrypt-Traffic trust untrust 10.0.0.0/24 0.0.0.0/0 any decrypt ssl-forward-proxy
admin@PA-220> show ssl-decrypt certificate-status
Certificate: PA-Forward-Proxy-CA
Issuer: CN=PA-Forward-Proxy-CA
Valid: 2024-01-01 to 2025-01-01
Status: valid
admin@PA-220> show system log | match ssl
2024-06-15 10:30:22 ssl_decrypt error Certificate is not trusted by client. Src: 10.0.0.5 Dst: 93.184.216.34
A
The web server's certificate is invalid and the firewall is not configured to block untrusted certificates.
Why wrong: The error is about the firewall's certificate, not the server's.
B
The client device does not have the firewall's CA certificate installed in its trusted root store.
The error indicates the client does not trust the certificate presented by the firewall. The CA certificate must be distributed to clients.
C
The decryption policy is not matching the traffic because the destination is not specified.
Why wrong: The decryption policy has destination 0.0.0.0/0, which matches all destinations.
D
The firewall's decryption certificate is expired.
Why wrong: The certificate status shows 'valid' and not expired.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The client device does not have the firewall's CA certificate installed in its trusted root store.
The log shows an error 'Certificate is not trusted by client'. This typically occurs when the firewall's decryption CA certificate is not installed in the client's trusted root store. The firewall's certificate is valid, but the client does not trust it.
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.
✗
The web server's certificate is invalid and the firewall is not configured to block untrusted certificates.
Why it's wrong here
The error is about the firewall's certificate, not the server's.
✓
The client device does not have the firewall's CA certificate installed in its trusted root store.
Why this is correct
The error indicates the client does not trust the certificate presented by the firewall. The CA certificate must be distributed to clients.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The decryption policy is not matching the traffic because the destination is not specified.
Why it's wrong here
The decryption policy has destination 0.0.0.0/0, which matches all destinations.
✗
The firewall's decryption certificate is expired.
Why it's wrong here
The certificate status shows 'valid' and not expired.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The certificate status shows 'valid' and not expired.
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: The client device does not have the firewall's CA certificate installed in its trusted root store. — The log shows an error 'Certificate is not trusted by client'. This typically occurs when the firewall's decryption CA certificate is not installed in the client's trusted root store. The firewall's certificate is valid, but the client does not trust it.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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