PCNSA Policy Evaluation and Management Practice Question
This PCNSA practice question tests your understanding of policy evaluation and management. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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-500> show running security-policy
rulebase security {
rules {
rule1 {
source-zone trust
destination-zone untrust
source [ 10.0.0.0/8 ]
destination any
application [ ssl ]
service application-default
action allow
log-start no
log-end yes
}
rule2 {
source-zone trust
destination-zone untrust
source [ 10.1.0.0/24 ]
destination any
application [ web-browsing ]
service application-default
action allow
log-start no
log-end yes
}
rule3 {
source-zone trust
destination-zone untrust
source [ 10.1.1.0/24 ]
destination any
application any
service application-default
action deny
log-start no
log-end yes
}
}
}
Refer to the exhibit. An administrator is analyzing the rulebase. Traffic from source 10.1.1.5 to destination 8.8.8.8 using web-browsing application (HTTP TCP/80). Which rule will match?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
rule3.
Option B is correct because rule3 has source 10.1.1.0/24 and application any, matching the traffic. rule1 does not match because it only allows ssl application. rule2 does not match because its source is 10.1.0.0/24, which does not include 10.1.1.5. Therefore, rule3 is the first matching rule, and it denies the traffic.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
rule3.
Why this is correct
rule3 matches the traffic because source subnet includes 10.1.1.5 and application any.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
rule2.
Why it's wrong here
rule2's source is 10.1.0.0/24, which does not include 10.1.1.5.
✗
rule1.
Why it's wrong here
rule1 only matches ssl application, not web-browsing.
✗
None, because rule1 and rule2 have specific applications.
Why it's wrong here
rule3 matches before them, so it is evaluated.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PCNSA NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Policy Evaluation and Management — This question tests Policy Evaluation and Management — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: rule3. — Option B is correct because rule3 has source 10.1.1.0/24 and application any, matching the traffic. rule1 does not match because it only allows ssl application. rule2 does not match because its source is 10.1.0.0/24, which does not include 10.1.1.5. Therefore, rule3 is the first matching rule, and it denies the traffic.
What should I do if I get this PCNSA question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PCNSA NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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