- A
Create a rule with source zone 'Guest', destination zone 'Corporate', application 'web browsing' and 'ssl' with action 'allow'.
This allows HTTP and HTTPS traffic.
- B
Create a rule with source zone 'Guest', destination zone 'Corporate', application 'any' with action 'deny'.
Why wrong: This would deny all traffic unless the allow rule precedes it.
- C
Configure a 'Log Forwarding' profile to send alerts for denied traffic.
Why wrong: Logging is not required for the blocking functionality.
- D
Ensure the allow rule for web browsing and ssl is placed before the deny rule.
Rule order is critical; the allow rule must be evaluated first.
- E
Create a rule with source zone 'Guest', destination zone 'Corporate', and application 'any' with action 'allow'.
Why wrong: This would allow all applications, not just HTTP/HTTPS.
PCNSE Manage, Monitor and Operate Practice Question
This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of manage, monitor and operate. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 firewall administrator needs to configure a new security policy rule to block traffic from the 'Guest' zone to the 'Corporate' zone for all ports except HTTP and HTTPS. Which two configuration steps are required? (Choose two.)
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
Create a rule with source zone 'Guest', destination zone 'Corporate', application 'web browsing' and 'ssl' with action 'allow'.
Option A is correct because to allow HTTP and HTTPS traffic from Guest to Corporate, you must create an allow rule that specifies the source zone 'Guest', destination zone 'Corporate', and the applications 'web-browsing' (HTTP) and 'ssl' (HTTPS). This rule permits only those specific applications while implicitly denying all other traffic, as Palo Alto Networks firewalls use a default-deny policy for inter-zone 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.
- ✓
Create a rule with source zone 'Guest', destination zone 'Corporate', application 'web browsing' and 'ssl' with action 'allow'.
Why this is correct
This allows HTTP and HTTPS traffic.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a rule with source zone 'Guest', destination zone 'Corporate', application 'any' with action 'deny'.
Why it's wrong here
This would deny all traffic unless the allow rule precedes it.
- ✗
Configure a 'Log Forwarding' profile to send alerts for denied traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Logging is not required for the blocking functionality.
- ✓
Ensure the allow rule for web browsing and ssl is placed before the deny rule.
Why this is correct
Rule order is critical; the allow rule must be evaluated first.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a rule with source zone 'Guest', destination zone 'Corporate', and application 'any' with action 'allow'.
Why it's wrong here
This would allow all applications, not just HTTP/HTTPS.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Palo Alto Networks often tests the rule ordering requirement in security policies, where candidates mistakenly think a single rule with 'allow' and specific applications is sufficient without a subsequent deny rule, or they incorrectly assume that a deny rule with 'any' can be placed anywhere in the rulebase.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Palo Alto Networks firewalls use App-ID to identify traffic by application rather than port, so the allow rule must specify the applications 'web-browsing' and 'ssl' to match HTTP and HTTPS traffic regardless of port. The deny rule with application 'any' acts as a catch-all to block all other traffic, but it must be placed after the allow rule in the rulebase because the firewall evaluates rules from top to bottom and stops at the first match. In a real-world scenario, if the deny rule were placed first, it would block all traffic, including HTTP and HTTPS, making the allow rule ineffective.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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 PCNSE question test?
Manage, Monitor and Operate — This question tests Manage, Monitor and Operate — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a rule with source zone 'Guest', destination zone 'Corporate', application 'web browsing' and 'ssl' with action 'allow'. — Option A is correct because to allow HTTP and HTTPS traffic from Guest to Corporate, you must create an allow rule that specifies the source zone 'Guest', destination zone 'Corporate', and the applications 'web-browsing' (HTTP) and 'ssl' (HTTPS). This rule permits only those specific applications while implicitly denying all other traffic, as Palo Alto Networks firewalls use a default-deny policy for inter-zone traffic.
What should I do if I get this PCNSE 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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This PCNSE 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 PCNSE exam.
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