Quick Answer
The correct answer is SSL Forward Proxy and SSL Inbound Inspection. These two types of decryption supported by Palo Alto Networks firewalls address opposite traffic directions: SSL Forward Proxy decrypts outbound traffic from internal clients to external servers, allowing the firewall to inspect encrypted content for malware, data exfiltration, or policy violations, while SSL Inbound Inspection decrypts inbound traffic destined for internal servers, enabling the firewall to examine encrypted attacks targeting those servers. On the PCNSA exam, this question tests your understanding of how decryption policies are applied based on traffic flow—a common trap is confusing SSL Forward Proxy with SSH proxy or assuming only one type exists. A helpful memory tip is to think of “forward” as facing outward toward the internet and “inbound” as facing inward toward your protected servers.
This PCNSA practice question tests your understanding of decryption and monitoring. 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.
Which TWO of the following are types of decryption supported by Palo Alto Networks firewalls? (Choose two.)
SSH Proxy
Why wrong: SSH Proxy is a separate feature, not decryption.
SSL Forward Proxy
Used for outbound decryption.
SSL Inbound Inspection
Used for inbound decryption.
TLS 1.3 Decryption
Why wrong: TLS 1.3 is supported but not a type of decryption.
SSL Reverse Proxy
Why wrong: Not a standard decryption type; term is SSL Inbound Inspection.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
SSL Forward Proxy
SSL Forward Proxy is correct because it allows the firewall to decrypt outbound SSL/TLS traffic from internal clients to external servers, enabling inspection of encrypted content for threats and data filtering. This is a core decryption feature in Palo Alto Networks firewalls, distinct from inbound inspection.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
SSH Proxy
Why it's wrong here
SSH Proxy is a separate feature, not decryption.
SSL Forward Proxy
Why this is correct
Used for outbound decryption.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
SSL Inbound Inspection
Why this is correct
Used for inbound decryption.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
TLS 1.3 Decryption
Why it's wrong here
TLS 1.3 is supported but not a type of decryption.
SSL Reverse Proxy
Why it's wrong here
Not a standard decryption type; term is SSL Inbound Inspection.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'SSL Reverse Proxy' with 'SSL Inbound Inspection' or think 'TLS 1.3 Decryption' is a separate feature, when Palo Alto Networks only defines two decryption types: SSL Forward Proxy and SSL Inbound Inspection.
Detailed technical explanation
SSL Forward Proxy decrypts outbound traffic by acting as a man-in-the-middle, re-encrypting with a firewall-generated certificate; SSL Inbound Inspection decrypts inbound traffic to protected servers using the server's private key. In real-world deployments, forward proxy decryption requires deploying a CA certificate to clients to avoid certificate warnings, while inbound inspection requires importing the server certificate and key onto the firewall.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Decryption and Monitoring — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Decryption and Monitoring — This question tests Decryption and Monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: SSL Forward Proxy — SSL Forward Proxy is correct because it allows the firewall to decrypt outbound SSL/TLS traffic from internal clients to external servers, enabling inspection of encrypted content for threats and data filtering. This is a core decryption feature in Palo Alto Networks firewalls, distinct from inbound inspection.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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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