This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of troubleshoot. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
Which TWO CLI commands can be used to check whether a specific security policy rule is being matched by traffic? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
show security-policy rule-usage
Options B and C are correct. 'show session all filter rule <rulename>' shows sessions that matched a particular rule. 'show counter global filter severity drop' can show drops that may be due to a rule, but more directly, 'show security-policy rule-usage' shows rule hit counts. However, 'show security-policy rule-usage' is the correct command for rule hits. Option A shows all rules but not which are hit. Option D shows session limits. Option E shows the running configuration, not hit statistics.
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.
✗
show session limit
Why it's wrong here
This shows session limit configuration, not rule matches.
✓
show security-policy rule-usage
Why this is correct
This command displays the number of times each rule has been matched.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
show session all filter rule <rulename>
Why this is correct
This shows active sessions that matched the specified rule.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
show security-policy rule <rulename>
Why it's wrong here
This displays the configuration of a specific rule, not hit count.
✗
show running security-policy
Why it's wrong here
This shows the security policy configuration, not which rules are being matched.
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
This shows session limit configuration, not rule matches.
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.
Troubleshoot — This question tests Troubleshoot — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: show security-policy rule-usage — Options B and C are correct. 'show session all filter rule <rulename>' shows sessions that matched a particular rule. 'show counter global filter severity drop' can show drops that may be due to a rule, but more directly, 'show security-policy rule-usage' shows rule hit counts. However, 'show security-policy rule-usage' is the correct command for rule hits. Option A shows all rules but not which are hit. Option D shows session limits. Option E shows the running configuration, not hit statistics.
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.
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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