← PCNSA·Palo Alto Networks

Question 367 of 524

Policy Evaluation and Management →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is to create an allow rule for DNS from Guest to Corporate placed above a deny rule for all other traffic. This follows the rule ordering allow before deny best practice, which ensures that permitted traffic is matched and allowed by the specific rule before it can be caught by a broader, general deny rule. On the Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator PCNSA exam, this concept tests your understanding of policy evaluation order—rules are processed top-down, and the first match is applied. A common trap is placing the deny rule first, which would block all traffic including DNS, defeating the intended exception. To remember this, think of the mnemonic "Allow the exception before the general rejection," ensuring your specific permissions always sit above your blanket blocks.

PCNSA Policy Evaluation and Management Practice Question

This PCNSA practice question tests your understanding of policy evaluation and management. 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 company wants to block all traffic from the Guest zone to the Corporate zone except DNS. What is the best practice for configuring the security policy?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.

Question 1mediummultiple choice

Read the full DNS explanation →

A
Create a deny rule for any traffic from Guest to Corporate, placed above an allow rule for DNS.
Why wrong: Incorrect. If the deny rule is above the allow rule, DNS traffic would be blocked.
B
Rely on the interzone default rule, which blocks all traffic, and add a rule to allow DNS.
Why wrong: Incorrect. While this approach works, it is not best practice because it does not explicitly deny unwanted traffic, and the default rule may be changed.
C
Create an allow rule for DNS from Guest to Corporate, placed above a deny rule for any other traffic.
Correct. Placing the specific allow rule above the general deny rule ensures DNS is allowed and all else is blocked.
D
Create a universal rule that applies to all zones with action 'allow' for DNS and 'deny' for everything else.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Universal rules affect all zones, which could unintentionally allow DNS from other zones or block traffic that should be permitted.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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 an allow rule for DNS from Guest to Corporate, placed above a deny rule for any other traffic.

Best practice is to place the allow rule before the deny rule to ensure permitted traffic is not blocked by a broader deny rule.

Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✗
Create a deny rule for any traffic from Guest to Corporate, placed above an allow rule for DNS.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. If the deny rule is above the allow rule, DNS traffic would be blocked.
✗
Rely on the interzone default rule, which blocks all traffic, and add a rule to allow DNS.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. While this approach works, it is not best practice because it does not explicitly deny unwanted traffic, and the default rule may be changed.
✓
Create an allow rule for DNS from Guest to Corporate, placed above a deny rule for any other traffic.
Why this is correct
Correct. Placing the specific allow rule above the general deny rule ensures DNS is allowed and all else is blocked.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Create a universal rule that applies to all zones with action 'allow' for DNS and 'deny' for everything else.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Universal rules affect all zones, which could unintentionally allow DNS from other zones or block traffic that should be permitted.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match

ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.

KKey Concepts to Remember

Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.

TExam Day Tips

Check inbound versus outbound direction.
Read the ACL from top to bottom.
Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.

Key takeaway

ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PCNSA ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.

Related PCNSA practice-question pages

Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.

Managing Objects practice questions

Practise PCNSA questions linked to Managing Objects.

Policy Evaluation and Management practice questions

Practise PCNSA questions linked to Policy Evaluation and Management.

Securing Traffic practice questions

Practise PCNSA questions linked to Securing Traffic.

Core Concepts practice questions

Practise PCNSA questions linked to Core Concepts.

Palo Alto Networks Platforms and Architecture practice questions

Practise PCNSA questions linked to Palo Alto Networks Platforms and Architecture.

Device Management and Services practice questions

Practise PCNSA questions linked to Device Management and Services.

App-ID and Content-ID practice questions

Practise PCNSA questions linked to App-ID and Content-ID.

Decryption and Monitoring practice questions

Practise PCNSA questions linked to Decryption and Monitoring.

PCNSA fundamentals practice questions

Practise PCNSA questions linked to PCNSA fundamentals.

PCNSA scenario practice questions

Practise PCNSA questions linked to PCNSA scenario.

PCNSA troubleshooting practice questions

Practise PCNSA questions linked to PCNSA troubleshooting.

Practice this exam

Start a free PCNSA practice session

Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.

10 questions 20 questions 30 questions 50 questions Timed 30

PCNSA practice-test guide →Study guide →Browse all practice tests

FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this PCNSA question test?

Policy Evaluation and Management — This question tests Policy Evaluation and Management — Standard ACLs match source addresses..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Create an allow rule for DNS from Guest to Corporate, placed above a deny rule for any other traffic. — Best practice is to place the allow rule before the deny rule to ensure permitted traffic is not blocked by a broader deny rule.

What should I do if I get this PCNSA question wrong?

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Standard ACLs match source addresses.

About these practice questions

Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →

How Courseiva writes practice questions · Editorial policy

Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026

Question Discussion

Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.

Loading comments…

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.