- A
Create an application override for the custom application.
An application override forces the firewall to classify the traffic as the specified application, ensuring correct identification.
- B
Enable SSL decryption on the traffic.
Why wrong: The traffic is HTTP, not HTTPS, so SSL decryption is not relevant.
- C
Set the application to 'any' in the security policy.
Why wrong: Setting application to any bypasses application matching, but does not help identify the custom application.
- D
Configure a security policy rule to allow the application.
Why wrong: A security rule allows or blocks traffic but does not affect identification.
- E
Create a custom App-ID signature for the application.
A custom signature enables App-ID to detect the application based on traffic patterns.
How to Force Correct App-ID for Custom HTTP Applications
This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of securing traffic and app-id. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 is configuring App-ID to identify custom applications over TCP port 8080. The traffic is HTTP-based but the firewall is classifying it as 'web-browsing'. Which two steps should the administrator take to ensure the traffic is correctly identified as the custom application? (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 an application override for the custom application.
Option A is correct because an application override forces the firewall to bypass App-ID inspection and classify traffic based on the specified application (the custom application) and port (8080). This is necessary when the firewall's default App-ID engine misidentifies HTTP-based traffic as 'web-browsing' instead of the custom application. Overrides are applied in the security policy rule and take precedence over signature-based identification.
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 an application override for the custom application.
Why this is correct
An application override forces the firewall to classify the traffic as the specified application, ensuring correct identification.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable SSL decryption on the traffic.
- ✗
Set the application to 'any' in the security policy.
Why it's wrong here
Setting application to any bypasses application matching, but does not help identify the custom application.
- ✗
Configure a security policy rule to allow the application.
Why it's wrong here
A security rule allows or blocks traffic but does not affect identification.
- ✓
Create a custom App-ID signature for the application.
Why this is correct
A custom signature enables App-ID to detect the application based on traffic patterns.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse application overrides with security policy rules, thinking that simply allowing the application in a policy will reclassify the traffic, when in fact the firewall must first identify the application correctly before the policy can match it.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
App-ID uses multiple identification methods, including protocol decoding, signature matching, and behavioral analysis. When HTTP traffic on a non-standard port (8080) matches the 'web-browsing' signature, the firewall may not apply a custom App-ID signature unless it is explicitly configured. Creating a custom App-ID signature (Option E) defines unique patterns (e.g., specific HTTP headers, URI paths, or payload bytes) that the firewall uses to identify the application, while an application override (Option A) bypasses App-ID entirely and forces classification—both are valid approaches depending on whether the traffic can be reliably signature-matched.
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 PCNSE 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.
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Securing Traffic and App-ID — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNSE question test?
Securing Traffic and App-ID — This question tests Securing Traffic and App-ID — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an application override for the custom application. — Option A is correct because an application override forces the firewall to bypass App-ID inspection and classify traffic based on the specified application (the custom application) and port (8080). This is necessary when the firewall's default App-ID engine misidentifies HTTP-based traffic as 'web-browsing' instead of the custom application. Overrides are applied in the security policy rule and take precedence over signature-based identification.
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
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on PCNSE
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A security administrator notices that HTTP traffic is correctly identified as web-browsing but HTTPS traffic is showing as ssl. The company uses a custom HTTPS-based application that needs to be identified by its own App-ID. What should the administrator do?
easy- A.Enable SSL decryption on the firewall.
- B.Configure a custom URL category for the application.
- ✓ C.Create an App-ID override (custom application) for the custom application.
- D.Disable App-ID for the traffic.
Why C: Option C is correct because the administrator needs to create an App-ID override (custom application) to identify the custom HTTPS-based application. Since HTTPS traffic is encrypted, App-ID cannot inspect the payload to identify the application, so a custom App-ID must be created to match the traffic based on characteristics such as IP addresses, ports, or SSL certificate fields. Enabling SSL decryption (Option A) would allow App-ID to inspect the decrypted traffic, but the question specifically asks for what should be done to identify the custom application by its own App-ID, and creating a custom App-ID override is the direct method to achieve this without requiring decryption for all HTTPS traffic.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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