This PCNSA practice question tests your understanding of decryption and monitoring. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Which TWO actions are recommended for monitoring decrypted traffic on a Palo Alto Networks firewall?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an ACC filter for decrypted sessions.
Option B is correct because the ACC (Application Command Center) filter for decrypted sessions allows you to visualize and monitor decrypted traffic in real time, providing insights into applications, threats, and URLs within those sessions. Option D is correct because enabling logging on decryption policies ensures that decrypted session details are recorded in the decryption log, which is essential for auditing and troubleshooting decrypted traffic.
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.
✗
Disable decryption during peak hours.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling decryption reduces security visibility.
✓
Create an ACC filter for decrypted sessions.
Why this is correct
ACC allows visual monitoring of decrypted traffic patterns.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use the 'decryption' log type.
Why it's wrong here
There is no dedicated 'decryption' log type; decryption logs are part of traffic logs.
✓
Enable logging on decryption policies.
Why this is correct
Logs provide details on each decrypted session.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Export decrypted traffic to a log collector.
Why it's wrong here
Exporting is for archival, not real-time monitoring.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse the 'decryption' log type with a real log category, but Palo Alto Networks does not have a separate decryption log type; decryption events are logged under the traffic log when logging is enabled on the decryption policy.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Palo Alto Networks firewalls perform SSL/TLS decryption by intercepting the handshake and re-encrypting traffic with a forward proxy certificate. The ACC filter for decrypted sessions uses the 'Decrypted' flag in the traffic log, which is set when a session is decrypted by a decryption policy rule. Enabling logging on decryption policies is critical because, without it, decrypted sessions are not recorded in the traffic log, making it impossible to audit or analyze the decrypted content.
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 practitioner preparing for the PCNSA exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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.
Decryption and Monitoring — This question tests Decryption and Monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an ACC filter for decrypted sessions. — Option B is correct because the ACC (Application Command Center) filter for decrypted sessions allows you to visualize and monitor decrypted traffic in real time, providing insights into applications, threats, and URLs within those sessions. Option D is correct because enabling logging on decryption policies ensures that decrypted session details are recorded in the decryption log, which is essential for auditing and troubleshooting decrypted traffic.
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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