- A
LDAP authentication
Why wrong: LDAP is used for user authentication and mapping, not as an MFA method.
- B
SAML IdP authentication
Why wrong: SAML is used for external authentication, not for local admin accounts.
- C
One-time password (OTP) via RADIUS
Correct: OTP via RADIUS is a supported MFA method for local admin accounts.
- D
Time-based one-time password (TOTP)
Correct: TOTP is a built-in MFA method for local admin accounts.
- E
Client certificate authentication
Why wrong: Client certificate can be used for authentication but is not considered an MFA method on its own.
Question 413 of 516
PCNSE Practice Question: Securing Users and Applications with Authentication
This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of securing users and applications with authentication. 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.
An organization wants to enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for administrative access to the Palo Alto Networks firewall. Which TWO authentication methods are supported for local administrator accounts?
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
✓
One-time password (OTP) via RADIUS
Option C is correct because Palo Alto Networks firewalls support one-time password (OTP) authentication for local administrator accounts via RADIUS, where the RADIUS server generates and validates the OTP. Option D is correct because time-based one-time password (TOTP) is natively supported for local administrator MFA, using RFC 6238 to generate time-synchronized codes that the firewall validates directly without an external server.
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.
- ✗
LDAP authentication
Why it's wrong here
LDAP is used for user authentication and mapping, not as an MFA method.
- ✗
SAML IdP authentication
Why it's wrong here
SAML is used for external authentication, not for local admin accounts.
- ✓
One-time password (OTP) via RADIUS
- ✓
Time-based one-time password (TOTP)
Why this is correct
Correct: TOTP is a built-in MFA method for local admin accounts.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Client certificate authentication
Why it's wrong here
Client certificate can be used for authentication but is not considered an MFA method on its own.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse authentication methods that support MFA for local administrator accounts with those used for external user authentication (e.g., SAML or LDAP), mistakenly thinking any external IdP can be applied to local accounts, when in fact only TOTP and RADIUS-based OTP are supported for local admin MFA.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
For TOTP, the firewall generates a shared secret during enrollment and uses the current time (in 30-second intervals) to compute a 6-digit code per RFC 6238; the firewall itself acts as the TOTP validator, eliminating the need for an external server. For OTP via RADIUS, the firewall sends the username and OTP to a RADIUS server (e.g., RSA SecurID or Duo), which validates the one-time password; this requires the RADIUS server to be configured with the OTP seed or token. A real-world scenario: an admin uses TOTP via an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator) for daily firewall CLI access, while OTP via RADIUS is used when integrating with an existing hardware token infrastructure.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
Quick reference
AAA Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port(s) | Encryption | Transport | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RADIUS | 1812 / 1813 | Password only | UDP | Network access control |
| TACACS+ | 49 | Full packet | TCP | Device administration |
| Diameter | 3868 | Full session | TCP / SCTP | Carrier / mobile networks |
| 802.1X | — | EAP-based | Layer 2 | Port-based access control |
TACACS+ encrypts the entire packet; RADIUS only encrypts the password field — a key exam distinction.
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.
- →
Securing Users and Applications with Authentication — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Securing Users and Applications with Authentication practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All PCNSE questions
516 questions across all exam domains
- →
Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer PCNSE study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
PCNSE practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related PCNSE practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Manage, Monitor and Operate practice questions
Practise PCNSE questions linked to Manage, Monitor and Operate.
Securing Traffic and App-ID practice questions
Practise PCNSE questions linked to Securing Traffic and App-ID.
Securing Users and Applications with Authentication practice questions
Practise PCNSE questions linked to Securing Users and Applications with Authentication.
Decryption and SSL Inspection practice questions
Practise PCNSE questions linked to Decryption and SSL Inspection.
Managing Troubleshooting and High Availability practice questions
Practise PCNSE questions linked to Managing Troubleshooting and High Availability.
Deploy and Configure Firewalls practice questions
Practise PCNSE questions linked to Deploy and Configure Firewalls.
Core Concepts and Architecture practice questions
Practise PCNSE questions linked to Core Concepts and Architecture.
Secure Access and VPN practice questions
Practise PCNSE questions linked to Secure Access and VPN.
Troubleshoot practice questions
Practise PCNSE questions linked to Troubleshoot.
PCNSE fundamentals practice questions
Practise PCNSE questions linked to PCNSE fundamentals.
PCNSE scenario practice questions
Practise PCNSE questions linked to PCNSE scenario.
PCNSE troubleshooting practice questions
Practise PCNSE questions linked to PCNSE troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free PCNSE practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNSE question test?
Securing Users and Applications with Authentication — This question tests Securing Users and Applications with Authentication — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: One-time password (OTP) via RADIUS — Option C is correct because Palo Alto Networks firewalls support one-time password (OTP) authentication for local administrator accounts via RADIUS, where the RADIUS server generates and validates the OTP. Option D is correct because time-based one-time password (TOTP) is natively supported for local administrator MFA, using RFC 6238 to generate time-synchronized codes that the firewall validates directly without an external server.
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 →
Keep practising
More PCNSE practice questions
- Arrange the steps to enable and configure GlobalProtect on a Palo Alto Networks firewall.
- Order the steps to upgrade the PAN-OS software on a standalone firewall.
- An administrator notices that traffic from zone A to zone B is being dropped silently. Security rules are in place. Trou…
- Which component of the PAN-OS architecture is responsible for processing security policies and performing packet inspect…
- A company has configured a security policy that allows HTTP traffic from the internal network 10.0.0.0/8 to the internet…
- An organization wants to map user identity from Active Directory for traffic coming from internal LAN users without inst…
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.