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PCNSA · topic practice

Securing Traffic practice questions

Practise Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator PCNSA Securing Traffic practice questions — original exam-style scenarios with answer choices, explanations, and analysis of common mistakes.

Courseiva uses original exam-style practice questions designed for learning and revision. The goal is to understand the concepts, recognise exam patterns, and improve through explanations — not memorise copied exam dumps.

Reviewed byJohnson Ajibi· MSc IT Security

20 questionsDomain: Securing Traffic

Practice 10 questions Browse domain →

What the exam tests

What to know about Securing Traffic

Securing Traffic questions test whether you can apply the concept in context, not just recognise a definition.

How the topic appears in realistic exam-style scenarios.

Which detail in the question changes the correct answer.

How to eliminate plausible but wrong options.

How to connect the question back to the wider exam objective.

Watch out for

Common Securing Traffic exam traps

▸Answering from memory before reading the full scenario.
▸Missing a constraint such as cost, availability, security, scope or command context.
▸Choosing a broad answer when the question asks for the most specific fix.
▸Ignoring why the wrong options are tempting.

Practice set

Securing Traffic questions

20 questions · select your answer, then reveal the explanation

Question 1mediummultiple choice

Read the full NAT/PAT explanation →

A network engineer is troubleshooting a drop in traffic from a critical application. The traffic is allowed by the security policy, but the firewall is dropping the packets. The engineer views the session log and sees that the session is being terminated due to 'tcp-non-syn'. What is the most likely cause?

Trap 1: The TCP sequence numbers are out of order, causing the packets to…

Out-of-order sequence numbers cause tcp-out-of-window drops, not tcp-non-syn.

Trap 2: The NAT policy is misconfigured, causing the source IP to not be…

NAT misconfiguration leads to NAT-related drops, not tcp-non-syn.

Trap 3: The security policy uses an incorrect service object that doesn't…

Incorrect service would cause application-mismatch, not tcp-non-syn.

Study all Securing Traffic common traps →

A
The TCP sequence numbers are out of order, causing the packets to be out of the expected window.
Why wrong: Out-of-order sequence numbers cause tcp-out-of-window drops, not tcp-non-syn.
B
The NAT policy is misconfigured, causing the source IP to not be translated correctly.
Why wrong: NAT misconfiguration leads to NAT-related drops, not tcp-non-syn.
C
The security policy uses an incorrect service object that doesn't match the application.
Why wrong: Incorrect service would cause application-mismatch, not tcp-non-syn.
D
Asymmetric routing is causing packets to arrive at a firewall that did not see the initial SYN.
Asymmetric routing leads to tcp-non-syn drops because the firewall has no session for the non-SYN packet.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Question 2easymultiple choice

Read the full DNS explanation →

An organization wants to prevent data exfiltration via DNS tunneling. Which security profile should be applied to the outbound DNS traffic?

Trap 1: Vulnerability Protection profile

Vulnerability Protection blocks exploits, not DNS tunneling.

Trap 2: URL Filtering profile

URL Filtering is for web traffic, not DNS.

Trap 3: Anti-Spyware profile

Anti-Spyware is for malware C2, not specifically DNS tunneling.

Study all Securing Traffic common traps →

A
DNS Security profile
DNS Security is designed to detect and block DNS tunneling.
B
Vulnerability Protection profile
Why wrong: Vulnerability Protection blocks exploits, not DNS tunneling.
C
URL Filtering profile
Why wrong: URL Filtering is for web traffic, not DNS.
D
Anti-Spyware profile
Why wrong: Anti-Spyware is for malware C2, not specifically DNS tunneling.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Question 3hardmultiple choice

Review the full routing breakdown →

A company has a firewall configured with multiple virtual routers. A user on a trusted network can ping the firewall's management IP but cannot reach an external server. The security policy allows the traffic. What is the most likely cause?

Trap 1: A zone protection profile is blocking ICMP packets.

Zone protection would block based on flood protection, not routing.

Trap 2: The decryption policy is blocking the traffic because it is not…

Decryption applies to SSL/TLS, not ICMP.

Trap 3: The NAT policy is missing for the outbound traffic.

NAT is often needed but routing is more fundamental; the question says security policy allows but doesn't mention NAT.

Study all Securing Traffic common traps →

A
A zone protection profile is blocking ICMP packets.
Why wrong: Zone protection would block based on flood protection, not routing.
B
The virtual router does not have a default route to the external network.
Without a route, the firewall cannot forward packets to the destination.
C
The decryption policy is blocking the traffic because it is not decrypted.
Why wrong: Decryption applies to SSL/TLS, not ICMP.
D
The NAT policy is missing for the outbound traffic.
Why wrong: NAT is often needed but routing is more fundamental; the question says security policy allows but doesn't mention NAT.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Question 4easymultiple choice

Read the full Securing Traffic explanation →

When configuring a security policy rule to allow HTTP traffic from the internal zone to the external zone, which mandatory components must be defined?

Trap 1: Source Zone, Destination Zone, Application, and User

User is optional.

Trap 2: Source Zone, Destination Zone, Application, and Service

Service is not mandatory; application is.

Trap 3: Source Zone, Destination Zone, Service, and Action

Application is needed, service is optional.

Study all Securing Traffic common traps →

A
Source Zone, Destination Zone, Application, and User
Why wrong: User is optional.
B
Source Zone, Destination Zone, Application, and Service
Why wrong: Service is not mandatory; application is.
C
Source Zone, Destination Zone, Service, and Action
Why wrong: Application is needed, service is optional.
D
Source Zone, Destination Zone, Source Address, Destination Address, Application, and Action
These are the minimum required fields in a security policy rule.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Question 5mediummultiple choice

Read the full Securing Traffic explanation →

An administrator needs to allow inbound SMTP traffic to a mail server located in the DMZ. The firewall has a public IP address on the external interface. Which configuration is necessary to ensure the mail server receives the traffic?

Trap 1: Configure a Source NAT rule to translate the mail server's IP to…

Source NAT is for outbound traffic, not inbound.

Trap 2: Configure a security policy rule with source NAT to translate the…

Source NAT is not used for inbound traffic; it changes source IP.

Trap 3: Configure a security policy rule allowing SMTP from external to DMZ…

Without NAT, the destination IP is the public IP, but the mail server has a private IP; traffic won't reach it.

Study all Securing Traffic common traps →

A
Configure a Source NAT rule to translate the mail server's IP to the public IP.
Why wrong: Source NAT is for outbound traffic, not inbound.
B
Configure a Destination NAT rule and a security policy rule allowing SMTP from external to DMZ.
Destination NAT translates the public IP to the private IP, and the policy allows the traffic.
C
Configure a security policy rule with source NAT to translate the public IP to the private IP.
Why wrong: Source NAT is not used for inbound traffic; it changes source IP.
D
Configure a security policy rule allowing SMTP from external to DMZ without NAT.
Why wrong: Without NAT, the destination IP is the public IP, but the mail server has a private IP; traffic won't reach it.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Question 6hardmulti select

Read the full DNS explanation →

Which TWO actions should be taken to protect against DNS tunneling? (Choose two.)

Trap 1: Allow all TCP traffic on port 53.

TCP DNS can also be used for tunneling.

Trap 2: Enable logging on all DNS traffic for analysis.

Logging does not prevent tunneling.

Trap 3: Block all UDP traffic on port 53.

This would block legitimate DNS and cause outages.

Study all Securing Traffic common traps →

A
Enable DNS Security on the outbound DNS traffic.
DNS Security detects tunneling attempts.
B
Configure DNS policies to block requests to unknown domains.
This restricts DNS to known domains only.
C
Allow all TCP traffic on port 53.
Why wrong: TCP DNS can also be used for tunneling.
D
Enable logging on all DNS traffic for analysis.
Why wrong: Logging does not prevent tunneling.
E
Block all UDP traffic on port 53.
Why wrong: This would block legitimate DNS and cause outages.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Question 7mediummulti select

Read the full Securing Traffic explanation →

Which THREE are valid methods to decrypt SSL/TLS traffic on a Palo Alto Networks firewall? (Choose three.)

Trap 1: IPsec Decryption

IPsec is for VPN tunnels, not SSL/TLS.

Trap 2: Decryption Mirror

Decryption Mirror is not a decryption method; it's a monitoring feature.

Study all Securing Traffic common traps →

A
IPsec Decryption
Why wrong: IPsec is for VPN tunnels, not SSL/TLS.
B
SSH Proxy
Decrypts SSH traffic for inspection.
C
SSL Inbound Inspection
Decrypts inbound traffic destined to servers whose private key is imported.
D
Decryption Mirror
Why wrong: Decryption Mirror is not a decryption method; it's a monitoring feature.
E
SSL Forward Proxy
Decrypts outbound traffic using a forward proxy certificate.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Question 8hardmultiple choice

Read the full Securing Traffic explanation →

A financial services company uses a Palo Alto Networks PA-5220 firewall in an active/passive HA pair at their headquarters. They have a single zone 'Trust-LAN' for internal users and a single zone 'Untrust-WAN' for internet traffic. The security policy currently includes a rule that allows all outbound HTTP/HTTPS traffic from 'Trust-LAN' to 'Untrust-WAN' with no security profiles applied. Recently, users have been complaining about slow internet performance, and the IT team suspects malware or botnet activity. The firewall's logs show numerous sessions to known malicious IPs, but the firewall is not blocking them. The network architect decides to implement URL Filtering and Threat Prevention profiles on the outbound rule. However, after committing the changes, some users report that legitimate websites (e.g., online banking, cloud apps) are being blocked. The IT team verifies that the URL Filtering profile is set to 'alert' for all categories except 'malware' which is 'block', and the Threat Prevention profile is set to 'default' action. What is the most likely cause of the legitimate website blocking?

Trap 1: The security rule order is incorrect; a deny rule above the allow…

The issue is not about rule order; the allow rule is still in place.

Trap 2: The URL Filtering profile is applied at the zone level, not per…

URL profiles are applied per rule, not per zone.

Trap 3: The firewall has insufficient memory to process URL lookups and is…

Resource exhaustion is unlikely; the firewall should handle the load.

Study all Securing Traffic common traps →

A
The URL Filtering profile's 'uncategorized' category is set to 'block', blocking sites not in the URL database.
This is a common cause: uncategorized URLs are blocked by default if the action is not 'alert'.
B
The security rule order is incorrect; a deny rule above the allow rule is blocking legitimate traffic.
Why wrong: The issue is not about rule order; the allow rule is still in place.
C
The URL Filtering profile is applied at the zone level, not per rule, causing all traffic to be filtered.
Why wrong: URL profiles are applied per rule, not per zone.
D
The firewall has insufficient memory to process URL lookups and is dropping packets.
Why wrong: Resource exhaustion is unlikely; the firewall should handle the load.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Question 9hardmultiple choice

Read the full Securing Traffic explanation →

A security administrator notices traffic from an internal user to a known malicious IP address in the corporate network. The traffic is allowed despite a security rule that blocks traffic to that IP. The rule is in a rulebase with multiple rules, and the administrator verifies that the malicious IP is correctly listed in a custom object used by the rule. What is the most likely cause of this issue?

Trap 1: The security profile group applied to the rule is blocking the…

Security profiles are applied after rule matching; they do not prevent the rule from matching.

Trap 2: The custom object containing the malicious IP was not committed.

The administrator verified the custom object is correct; if it were not committed, the rule would not match but the traffic would still be allowed by a different rule.

Trap 3: The device clock is out of sync, causing time-based rules to fail.

Time synchronization does not affect rule matching for static IP addresses.

Study all Securing Traffic common traps →

A
The security profile group applied to the rule is blocking the traffic before the rule is evaluated.
Why wrong: Security profiles are applied after rule matching; they do not prevent the rule from matching.
B
The custom object containing the malicious IP was not committed.
Why wrong: The administrator verified the custom object is correct; if it were not committed, the rule would not match but the traffic would still be allowed by a different rule.
C
A rule with a broader match exists above the blocking rule in the rulebase.
Rules are evaluated from top to bottom; a rule above that matches the traffic will apply, bypassing the blocking rule.
D
The device clock is out of sync, causing time-based rules to fail.
Why wrong: Time synchronization does not affect rule matching for static IP addresses.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Question 10mediummulti select

Read the full Securing Traffic explanation →

Which TWO actions can be taken in a security policy rule to allow traffic from the corporate network to the internet while also logging the traffic?

Trap 1: Set the rule action to 'reset-both'.

Reset-both terminates the session and sends TCP resets.

Trap 2: Set the rule action to 'deny'.

Deny blocks traffic.

Trap 3: Enable 'Log at Session Start' in the rule.

Logging at session start is optional and not required for logging; session end provides standard logging.

Study all Securing Traffic common traps →

A
Set the rule action to 'reset-both'.
Why wrong: Reset-both terminates the session and sends TCP resets.
B
Set the rule action to 'allow'.
Allow permits traffic through the firewall.
C
Set the rule action to 'deny'.
Why wrong: Deny blocks traffic.
D
Enable 'Log at Session Start' in the rule.
Why wrong: Logging at session start is optional and not required for logging; session end provides standard logging.
E
Enable 'Log at Session End' in the rule.
This logs the session after it completes, providing a record of allowed traffic.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Question 11easymultiple choice

Read the full Securing Traffic explanation →

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

Trap 1: Rule 3 (allow-dns)

Rule 3 only matches DNS traffic, not web-browsing.

Trap 2: Rule 2 (block-malware)

Rule 2 is evaluated after rule 1, so it does not apply.

Trap 3: No rule matches; traffic is denied by default.

Rule 1 matches explicitly.

Study all Securing Traffic common traps →

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.
D
No rule matches; traffic is denied by default.
Why wrong: Rule 1 matches explicitly.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Question 12mediumdrag order

Read the full Securing Traffic explanation →

Drag and drop the steps to perform a packet capture (tcpdump) on a Palo Alto Networks firewall using the CLI into the correct order.

Drag steps to the numbered slots on the right, or tap a step then tap a slot.

Steps

Order

1Step 1

2Step 2

3Step 3

4Step 4

5Step 5

Question 13mediummatching

Read the full Securing Traffic explanation →

Match each PAN-OS component to its role.

Drag a concept onto its matching description — or click a concept then click the description.

Concepts

Matches

Handles configuration and logging

Processes traffic and enforces policies

Manages routing and session setup

Aggregates logs from multiple firewalls

Question 14easymultiple choice

Read the full Securing Traffic explanation →

A network administrator wants to allow HTTP and HTTPS traffic from untrust zone to DMZ zone for a web server, but block all other traffic. What is the most efficient way to achieve this with a single rule?

Trap 1: Create a security policy with source zone Untrust, destination zone…

'application default' allows all applications Palo Alto deems default, which is too broad and not specific to web-browsing and ssl.

Trap 2: Create a security policy with source zone Untrust, destination zone…

This allows all traffic and does not block anything else, defeating the purpose.

Trap 3: Create a security policy with source zone Untrust, destination zone…

Service-based rules are less secure as they rely only on ports; applications could be masqueraded.

Study all Securing Traffic common traps →

A
Create a security policy with source zone Untrust, destination zone DMZ, application set to web-browsing and ssl, action allow.
This uses App-ID to precisely allow only web and SSL traffic, blocking everything else by default.
B
Create a security policy with source zone Untrust, destination zone DMZ, application default, action allow.
Why wrong: 'application default' allows all applications Palo Alto deems default, which is too broad and not specific to web-browsing and ssl.
C
Create a security policy with source zone Untrust, destination zone DMZ, service any, application any, action allow.
Why wrong: This allows all traffic and does not block anything else, defeating the purpose.
D
Create a security policy with source zone Untrust, destination zone DMZ, service tcp/80 and tcp/443, action allow.
Why wrong: Service-based rules are less secure as they rely only on ports; applications could be masqueraded.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Question 15mediummultiple choice

Read the full Securing Traffic explanation →

A company is experiencing performance issues due to large amounts of encrypted traffic. They want to offload decryption to a dedicated appliance but still maintain visibility. Which feature should they configure on the Palo Alto Networks firewall?

Trap 1: SSL Forward Proxy with decryption mirroring.

Decryption mirroring copies traffic for analysis but does not offload decryption processing.

Trap 2: Decryption port mirroring.

Port mirroring copies traffic but does not offload decryption processing.

Trap 3: TLS 1.3 decryption.

TLS 1.3 is a protocol; enabling it does not offload decryption to another appliance.

Study all Securing Traffic common traps →

A
SSL Decryption with a dedicated decryption broker.
A decryption broker offloads SSL/TLS decryption to a dedicated appliance, reducing firewall load while maintaining visibility.
B
SSL Forward Proxy with decryption mirroring.
Why wrong: Decryption mirroring copies traffic for analysis but does not offload decryption processing.
C
Decryption port mirroring.
Why wrong: Port mirroring copies traffic but does not offload decryption processing.
D
TLS 1.3 decryption.
Why wrong: TLS 1.3 is a protocol; enabling it does not offload decryption to another appliance.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Question 16hardmultiple choice

Read the full Securing Traffic explanation →

An organization has a security policy that allows all traffic from the corporate user zone to the internet, but they want to block access to social media sites only for a specific group of users in the HR department. What is the best approach?

Trap 1: Create an allow rule for all users, then a deny rule for HR with…

The deny rule placed after the allow rule will not be reached; traffic will be allowed first.

Trap 2: Create a deny rule for the HR user group with application…

Without user-ID, the firewall cannot identify the HR group by username.

Trap 3: Use user-ID to identify HR users and create a deny rule with source…

Placing the deny after the allow means the allow rule processes first, so traffic is allowed regardless.

Study all Securing Traffic common traps →

A
Create an allow rule for all users, then a deny rule for HR with application social-media.
Why wrong: The deny rule placed after the allow rule will not be reached; traffic will be allowed first.
B
Create a deny rule for the HR user group with application social-media before the allow rule.
Why wrong: Without user-ID, the firewall cannot identify the HR group by username.
C
Use user-ID to identify HR users and create a deny rule with source zone corporate, source user HR, application social-media, action deny, and place it after the allow rule.
Why wrong: Placing the deny after the allow means the allow rule processes first, so traffic is allowed regardless.
D
Use user-ID to identify HR users and create a deny rule with source zone corporate, source user HR, application social-media, action deny, and place it before the allow rule.
This correctly uses user-ID and places the deny before the allow to block HR users' social media traffic.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Question 17easymultiple choice

Read the full Securing Traffic explanation →

A firewall administrator wants to ensure that all traffic from the inside zone to the outside zone is inspected for threats, but without causing a bottleneck. Which profile group should be applied to the security rule?

Trap 1: URL filtering profile only.

URL filtering only controls web categories, not malware or exploits.

Trap 2: No profile is needed; default settings suffice.

Default settings do not inspect traffic for threats.

Trap 3: Antivirus profile only.

Only antivirus misses other threats like spyware and vulnerabilities.

Study all Securing Traffic common traps →

A
URL filtering profile only.
Why wrong: URL filtering only controls web categories, not malware or exploits.
B
Security profile group that includes antivirus, anti-spyware, vulnerability protection, and URL filtering.
A security profile group provides layered protection and is optimized for performance.
C
No profile is needed; default settings suffice.
Why wrong: Default settings do not inspect traffic for threats.
D
Antivirus profile only.
Why wrong: Only antivirus misses other threats like spyware and vulnerabilities.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Question 18mediummultiple choice

Read the full NAT/PAT explanation →

A company uses Palo Alto Networks firewall and wants to configure NAT to allow internal users to access the internet using a public IP address pool. Which NAT type should be used?

Trap 1: Bidirectional NAT.

Bidirectional NAT combines source and destination NAT, but not typically used for outbound internet with a pool.

Trap 2: Static NAT with source NAT.

Static NAT provides 1-to-1 mapping, not suitable for sharing a pool.

Trap 3: Destination NAT with port forwarding.

Destination NAT is used for inbound traffic, not outbound.

Study all Securing Traffic common traps →

A
Dynamic IP and Port (DIPP) with source NAT.
DIPP translates internal IPs to public IPs with port multiplexing, suitable for outbound internet access.
B
Bidirectional NAT.
Why wrong: Bidirectional NAT combines source and destination NAT, but not typically used for outbound internet with a pool.
C
Static NAT with source NAT.
Why wrong: Static NAT provides 1-to-1 mapping, not suitable for sharing a pool.
D
Destination NAT with port forwarding.
Why wrong: Destination NAT is used for inbound traffic, not outbound.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Question 19hardmultiple choice

Read the full Securing Traffic explanation →

During a security audit, it is discovered that some applications are being incorrectly identified by the Palo Alto Networks firewall. What should the administrator do to improve application identification accuracy?

Trap 1: Enable SSL Decryption to inspect encrypted traffic.

While SSL decryption helps visibility, it does not fix incorrect App-ID signatures.

Trap 2: Change the security policy to use port-based rules instead of…

Port-based rules are less accurate and defeat the purpose of App-ID; this would not improve identification.

Trap 3: Create custom application signatures for the misidentified…

Custom signatures are a last resort; first ensure updates and built-in identification are correct.

Study all Securing Traffic common traps →

A
Enable SSL Decryption to inspect encrypted traffic.
Why wrong: While SSL decryption helps visibility, it does not fix incorrect App-ID signatures.
B
Change the security policy to use port-based rules instead of application-based.
Why wrong: Port-based rules are less accurate and defeat the purpose of App-ID; this would not improve identification.
C
Create custom application signatures for the misidentified applications.
Why wrong: Custom signatures are a last resort; first ensure updates and built-in identification are correct.
D
Verify that App-ID updates are current and enable application identification enhancements such as use of application override if needed.
Updating App-ID and using enhancements like application override can correct misidentification.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Question 20easymultiple choice

Read the full Securing Traffic explanation →

An administrator needs to block all traffic from a specific IP address on the external interface. What is the simplest method?

Trap 1: Use a Zone Protection profile to block the IP.

Zone Protection profiles are for flood protection and packet-based attack prevention, not for simple IP blocking.

Trap 2: Create a security rule with source IP address and action deny.

Missing source zone – the rule must specify the zone to match the traffic.

Trap 3: Use a DoS protection policy to block the IP.

DoS protection is for rate limiting and mitigation, not for static block of a specific IP.

Study all Securing Traffic common traps →

A
Create a security rule with source zone, source IP, any destination, and action deny, placed at the top of the rulebase.
This is straightforward and effective; the rule denies traffic from that IP immediately.
B
Use a Zone Protection profile to block the IP.
Why wrong: Zone Protection profiles are for flood protection and packet-based attack prevention, not for simple IP blocking.
C
Create a security rule with source IP address and action deny.
Why wrong: Missing source zone – the rule must specify the zone to match the traffic.
D
Use a DoS protection policy to block the IP.
Why wrong: DoS protection is for rate limiting and mitigation, not for static block of a specific IP.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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Frequently asked questions

What does the PCNSA exam test about Securing Traffic?: Securing Traffic questions test whether you can apply the concept in context, not just recognise a definition.
How should I use these practice questions?: Select your answer before revealing the explanation. Then read why each option is right or wrong — this active recall approach builds retention far faster than re-reading notes.
Can I practise just Securing Traffic questions in a focused session?: Yes — the session launcher on this page draws every question from the Securing Traffic domain. Use a 10-question session first to gauge your baseline, then move to 20 or 30 once the weak spots are clear.
Where can I practise other PCNSA topics?: Use the topic links above to move to related areas, or go back to the PCNSA question bank to see all topics.
Are these real exam questions or dumps?: These are original practice questions written to test the same concepts the PCNSA exam covers. They are not copied from any real exam or dump site.

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Exam traps to avoid

▸Answering from memory before reading the full scenario.
▸Missing a constraint such as cost, availability, security, scope or command context.
▸Choosing a broad answer when the question asks for the most specific fix.
▸Ignoring why the wrong options are tempting.

Securing Traffic practice questions

What to know about Securing Traffic

Common Securing Traffic exam traps

Securing Traffic questions

An organization wants to prevent data exfiltration via DNS tunneling. Which security profile should be applied to the outbound DNS traffic?

A company has a firewall configured with multiple virtual routers. A user on a trusted network can ping the firewall's management IP but cannot reach an external server. The security policy allows the traffic. What is the most likely cause?

When configuring a security policy rule to allow HTTP traffic from the internal zone to the external zone, which mandatory components must be defined?

An administrator needs to allow inbound SMTP traffic to a mail server located in the DMZ. The firewall has a public IP address on the external interface. Which configuration is necessary to ensure the mail server receives the traffic?

Which TWO actions should be taken to protect against DNS tunneling? (Choose two.)

Which THREE are valid methods to decrypt SSL/TLS traffic on a Palo Alto Networks firewall? (Choose three.)

Which TWO actions can be taken in a security policy rule to allow traffic from the corporate network to the internet while also logging the traffic?

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

Drag and drop the steps to perform a packet capture (tcpdump) on a Palo Alto Networks firewall using the CLI into the correct order.

Match each PAN-OS component to its role.

A network administrator wants to allow HTTP and HTTPS traffic from untrust zone to DMZ zone for a web server, but block all other traffic. What is the most efficient way to achieve this with a single rule?

A company is experiencing performance issues due to large amounts of encrypted traffic. They want to offload decryption to a dedicated appliance but still maintain visibility. Which feature should they configure on the Palo Alto Networks firewall?

An organization has a security policy that allows all traffic from the corporate user zone to the internet, but they want to block access to social media sites only for a specific group of users in the HR department. What is the best approach?

A firewall administrator wants to ensure that all traffic from the inside zone to the outside zone is inspected for threats, but without causing a bottleneck. Which profile group should be applied to the security rule?

A company uses Palo Alto Networks firewall and wants to configure NAT to allow internal users to access the internet using a public IP address pool. Which NAT type should be used?

During a security audit, it is discovered that some applications are being incorrectly identified by the Palo Alto Networks firewall. What should the administrator do to improve application identification accuracy?

An administrator needs to block all traffic from a specific IP address on the external interface. What is the simplest method?

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