- A
The client's local firewall is blocking traffic.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Client firewall may cause issues but is less likely on a corporate-managed device.
- B
The GlobalProtect gateway is not configured with the correct internal DNS suffix.
Why wrong: Incorrect. DNS suffix is not required for access; users could use IP addresses.
- C
Split tunneling is misconfigured, causing missing internal routes.
Correct. Missing routes prevent access to internal subnets.
- D
The authentication profile is set to require multi-factor authentication.
Why wrong: Incorrect. MFA affects authentication, not post-connect access.
Question 59 of 516
GlobalProtect Split Tunneling Misconfiguration
This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of secure access and vpn. 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.
A network administrator configures GlobalProtect for remote users. Users report they can connect but cannot access internal resources. The firewall shows the user is connected with a valid IP. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
✓
Split tunneling is misconfigured, causing missing internal routes.
Option C is correct because when GlobalProtect users can connect and obtain a valid IP but cannot access internal resources, the most common cause is misconfigured split tunneling. If split tunneling is not properly set to route internal traffic through the VPN tunnel, the client may not have the necessary routes for internal subnets, causing traffic to be sent directly to the internet instead of through the firewall. This results in connectivity to the gateway but failure to reach internal resources.
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.
- ✗
The client's local firewall is blocking traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Client firewall may cause issues but is less likely on a corporate-managed device.
- ✗
The GlobalProtect gateway is not configured with the correct internal DNS suffix.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. DNS suffix is not required for access; users could use IP addresses.
- ✓
Split tunneling is misconfigured, causing missing internal routes.
Why this is correct
Correct. Missing routes prevent access to internal subnets.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The authentication profile is set to require multi-factor authentication.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. MFA affects authentication, not post-connect access.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume a successful VPN connection with a valid IP means all routing is correct, but the PCNSE exam tests the understanding that split tunneling configuration directly controls which subnets are reachable through the tunnel, and misconfiguration can leave internal resources inaccessible despite a connected state.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
GlobalProtect uses tunnel interface (e.g., tunnel.1) and virtual IP pools to assign addresses to clients. Split tunneling is controlled by the 'Split Tunnel' configuration under the gateway, which defines which subnets are routed through the tunnel using route tables (e.g., '0.0.0.0/0' for full tunnel or specific internal subnets). If the internal subnet is omitted from the split tunnel list, the client's routing table will not include a route for that subnet via the tunnel interface, causing traffic to be sent out the physical interface instead.
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 network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
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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Secure Access and VPN — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNSE question test?
Secure Access and VPN — This question tests Secure Access and VPN — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Split tunneling is misconfigured, causing missing internal routes. — Option C is correct because when GlobalProtect users can connect and obtain a valid IP but cannot access internal resources, the most common cause is misconfigured split tunneling. If split tunneling is not properly set to route internal traffic through the VPN tunnel, the client may not have the necessary routes for internal subnets, causing traffic to be sent directly to the internet instead of through the firewall. This results in connectivity to the gateway but failure to reach internal resources.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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