- A
Search Traffic logs with filters for source 10.1.1.100 and destination 192.168.2.10
Traffic logs show the action (allow/deny/drop) for each session, and filtering by IPs narrows down the specific session.
- B
Search Threat logs for the destination IP
Why wrong: Threat logs only show blocked threats, not all dropped traffic.
- C
Search Config logs for any rule changes
Why wrong: Config logs show configuration changes, not traffic handling.
- D
Search System logs for the user's IP
Why wrong: System logs are for administrative events, not traffic flows.
Question 425 of 529
PCNSA Device Management and Services Practice Question
This PCNSA practice question tests your understanding of device management and services. 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.
A security administrator notices that a user's traffic is being blocked unexpectedly. The user's IP is 10.1.1.100, and the traffic is destined to a web server at 192.168.2.10. The administrator has already verified that there are no security rules explicitly denying the traffic. Which Log Viewer query should the administrator use to quickly identify the cause?
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
✓
Search Traffic logs with filters for source 10.1.1.100 and destination 192.168.2.10
Traffic logs capture every session that passes through the firewall, including allowed and denied connections. By filtering for the specific source IP (10.1.1.100) and destination IP (192.168.2.10), the administrator can quickly see the exact session details, including the action taken (e.g., deny, drop) and the reason (e.g., no matching rule, application override). This is the most direct method to identify why traffic is being blocked when no explicit deny rule exists.
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.
- ✓
Search Traffic logs with filters for source 10.1.1.100 and destination 192.168.2.10
Why this is correct
Traffic logs show the action (allow/deny/drop) for each session, and filtering by IPs narrows down the specific session.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Search Threat logs for the destination IP
Why it's wrong here
Threat logs only show blocked threats, not all dropped traffic.
- ✗
Search Config logs for any rule changes
Why it's wrong here
Config logs show configuration changes, not traffic handling.
- ✗
Search System logs for the user's IP
Why it's wrong here
System logs are for administrative events, not traffic flows.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume a block must be due to a threat or misconfiguration, leading them to check Threat or Config logs, but the correct approach is to examine Traffic logs where the firewall records all session dispositions, including implicit denials.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Threat logs only show blocked threats, not all dropped traffic.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Palo Alto Networks firewalls, Traffic logs are generated for every session processed by the data plane, with fields such as 'action' (allow, deny, drop, reset) and 'reason' (e.g., 'policy-deny', 'no-rule'). When no explicit deny rule exists, the firewall applies the implicit deny rule at the end of the rulebase, which logs the action as 'deny' with reason 'policy-deny' in the Traffic log. This allows administrators to pinpoint missing rules or misconfigured security policies without needing to inspect other log types.
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.
Visual reference
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNSA question test?
Device Management and Services — This question tests Device Management and Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Search Traffic logs with filters for source 10.1.1.100 and destination 192.168.2.10 — Traffic logs capture every session that passes through the firewall, including allowed and denied connections. By filtering for the specific source IP (10.1.1.100) and destination IP (192.168.2.10), the administrator can quickly see the exact session details, including the action taken (e.g., deny, drop) and the reason (e.g., no matching rule, application override). This is the most direct method to identify why traffic is being blocked when no explicit deny rule exists.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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.
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