PCNSE Deploy and Configure Firewalls Practice Question
This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of deploy and configure firewalls. 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 factors can cause a firewall to not show any User-ID mapping for a user who is actively logged in?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The User-ID agent is not configured with the firewall's IP as a client
Option C is correct because the User-ID agent must be configured with the firewall's IP address as a client to forward user-to-IP mappings. Without this configuration, the firewall will not receive the mapping data from the agent, even if the user is actively logged in and the agent is collecting security events from the domain controller.
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 user is using a VPN connection from a remote location
Why it's wrong here
VPN users can still have mappings if the agent receives authentication events.
✗
The firewall's User-ID agent is in collector mode
Why it's wrong here
Collector mode aggregates mappings from other agents, it does not prevent mapping.
✓
The User-ID agent is not configured with the firewall's IP as a client
Why this is correct
The agent must have the firewall listed as a client to send mappings.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The user's traffic is being decrypted by SSL decryption
Why it's wrong here
SSL decryption does not interfere with User-ID mapping.
✓
The domain controller is not forwarding security events to the User-ID agent
Why this is correct
Without security events, the agent cannot create mappings.
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 'collector mode' with a failure to send mappings, but collector mode actually aggregates and forwards data, so it does not cause missing mappings; the real issue is the missing client IP configuration on the agent.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
User-ID mapping relies on the User-ID agent subscribing to security event logs from domain controllers (via Windows Event Forwarding or Syslog) and then sending the user-to-IP mappings to the firewall over TCP port 5007. If the agent is not configured with the firewall's IP as a client, the firewall never receives the XML-based mapping messages, resulting in no user identification even though the user is authenticated. Additionally, the firewall can also use other methods like Captive Portal or Terminal Services Agent, but the agent-based method is the most common in enterprise environments.
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.
Deploy and Configure Firewalls — This question tests Deploy and Configure Firewalls — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The User-ID agent is not configured with the firewall's IP as a client — Option C is correct because the User-ID agent must be configured with the firewall's IP address as a client to forward user-to-IP mappings. Without this configuration, the firewall will not receive the mapping data from the agent, even if the user is actively logged in and the agent is collecting security events from the domain controller.
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.
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Question Discussion
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