This PCNSA practice question tests your understanding of securing traffic. 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
Refer to the exhibit.
admin@PA-5050> show running security-policy
name from to source destination application service action
------------------------ ------- ------- -------------- ----------- ------------ --------- -------
1 allow-web trust untrust 10.0.0.0/8 192.0.2.0/24 web-browsing http allow
2 block-malware trust untrust any any any any deny
3 allow-dns trust untrust any any dns udp/53 allow
Total rules: 3
Refer to the exhibit. A user at IP 10.10.10.10 tries to browse to http://192.0.2.50. Which rule matches this traffic?
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
admin@PA-5050> show running security-policy
name from to source destination application service action
------------------------ ------- ------- -------------- ----------- ------------ --------- -------
1 allow-web trust untrust 10.0.0.0/8 192.0.2.0/24 web-browsing http allow
2 block-malware trust untrust any any any any deny
3 allow-dns trust untrust any any dns udp/53 allow
Total rules: 3
A
Rule 3 (allow-dns)
Why wrong: Rule 3 only matches DNS traffic, not web-browsing.
B
Rule 2 (block-malware)
Why wrong: Rule 2 is evaluated after rule 1, so it does not apply.
C
Rule 1 (allow-web)
The traffic matches all criteria in rule 1 and is allowed.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Rule 1 (allow-web)
Rule 1 (allow-web) matches because it permits HTTP traffic from source 10.10.10.10 to destination 192.0.2.50 on port 80. The user is browsing to http://192.0.2.50, which uses TCP port 80, and the rule's source and destination IPs align with the traffic flow. In Palo Alto Networks firewalls, rules are evaluated in order, and the first match is applied.
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.
✗
Rule 3 (allow-dns)
Why it's wrong here
Rule 3 only matches DNS traffic, not web-browsing.
✗
Rule 2 (block-malware)
Why it's wrong here
Rule 2 is evaluated after rule 1, so it does not apply.
✓
Rule 1 (allow-web)
Why this is correct
The traffic matches all criteria in rule 1 and is allowed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
No rule matches; traffic is denied by default.
Why it's wrong here
Rule 1 matches explicitly.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Palo Alto Networks often tests the concept that rule order matters and that a more specific rule (like allow-web) will match before a generic block rule, leading candidates to incorrectly assume a later block rule would apply if they overlook the explicit allow rule earlier in the list.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Palo Alto Networks firewalls use a top-down rule evaluation order; once a rule matches, subsequent rules are ignored. The rule's security policy typically includes source/destination zones, IP addresses, and application/service objects—here, 'allow-web' likely permits the 'web-browsing' application (HTTP) on TCP/80. In real-world scenarios, misconfigured service objects (e.g., using 'any' instead of specific ports) can cause unintended matches or bypasses.
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 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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Securing Traffic — This question tests Securing Traffic — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Rule 1 (allow-web) — Rule 1 (allow-web) matches because it permits HTTP traffic from source 10.10.10.10 to destination 192.0.2.50 on port 80. The user is browsing to http://192.0.2.50, which uses TCP port 80, and the rule's source and destination IPs align with the traffic flow. In Palo Alto Networks firewalls, rules are evaluated in order, and the first match is applied.
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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Question Discussion
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