PCNSE Securing Traffic and App-ID Practice Question
This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of securing traffic and app-id. 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.
Exhibit
show running security-policy
rule 10 {
name "Allow-Web"
source any
destination any
application ssl
service application-default
action allow
}
show session all filter source 10.1.1.100 destination 10.2.2.200
session id 1234, application web-browsing, ...
Refer to the exhibit. A user at 10.1.1.100 reports that they cannot access a website at 10.2.2.200 over HTTPS. The firewall shows the session is allowed with application web-browsing, but the security policy rule "Allow-Web" has application set to ssl. 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.
show running security-policy
rule 10 {
name "Allow-Web"
source any
destination any
application ssl
service application-default
action allow
}
show session all filter source 10.1.1.100 destination 10.2.2.200
session id 1234, application web-browsing, ...
A
The application override is configured incorrectly.
Why wrong: Application override forces a specific app, but the session shows web-browsing, not ssl; this would not cause the mismatch.
B
The security policy rule order is incorrect.
Why wrong: The session is allowed, so a rule matched; rule order might affect which rule matches, but the core issue is application identification.
C
The SSL decryption policy is not configured.
Without decryption, App-ID sees only the SSL handshake and identifies the traffic as web-browsing on port 443, not as the more specific ssl application.
D
The service is set to application-default.
Why wrong: The service setting controls port matching, not application identification.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The SSL decryption policy is not configured.
Option C is correct because without SSL decryption, the firewall cannot inspect the encrypted payload to identify the application as ssl; it classifies it as web-browsing based on port 443. Option A is wrong because application override would force a specific application, but the issue is that the session shows a different application, not that override is misconfigured. Option B is wrong because the session is allowed, indicating a rule is matched; rule order may not be the direct cause since the allowed traffic shows web-browsing. Option D is wrong because service application-default allows the default port, but the application still needs to be identified correctly.
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 application override is configured incorrectly.
Why it's wrong here
Application override forces a specific app, but the session shows web-browsing, not ssl; this would not cause the mismatch.
✗
The security policy rule order is incorrect.
Why it's wrong here
The session is allowed, so a rule matched; rule order might affect which rule matches, but the core issue is application identification.
✓
The SSL decryption policy is not configured.
Why this is correct
Without decryption, App-ID sees only the SSL handshake and identifies the traffic as web-browsing on port 443, not as the more specific ssl application.
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 service is set to application-default.
Why it's wrong here
The service setting controls port matching, not application identification.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Application override forces a specific app, but the session shows web-browsing, not ssl; this would not cause the mismatch.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 PCNSE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: The SSL decryption policy is not configured. — Option C is correct because without SSL decryption, the firewall cannot inspect the encrypted payload to identify the application as ssl; it classifies it as web-browsing based on port 443. Option A is wrong because application override would force a specific application, but the issue is that the session shows a different application, not that override is misconfigured. Option B is wrong because the session is allowed, indicating a rule is matched; rule order may not be the direct cause since the allowed traffic shows web-browsing. Option D is wrong because service application-default allows the default port, but the application still needs to be identified correctly.
What should I do if I get this PCNSE question wrong?
Identify which PCNSE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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Question Discussion
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