PCNSE Deploy and Configure Firewalls Practice Question
This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of deploy and configure firewalls. 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.
Which TWO of the following are prerequisites for configuring User-ID on an interface?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A User-ID agent must be installed.
Option C is correct because a User-ID agent (or the built-in User-ID service on the firewall) is required to map IP addresses to usernames. Without an agent—such as the PAN-OS User-ID Agent, Terminal Services Agent, or GlobalProtect—the firewall cannot collect user mapping data from directory services (e.g., Active Directory) or authentication logs. Option D is correct because User-ID must be explicitly enabled on the zone; if the zone does not have User-ID enabled, the firewall will not perform user mapping for traffic traversing that zone, even if the interface is configured 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 firewall must be in FIPS mode.
Why it's wrong here
FIPS mode is optional and not a prerequisite for User-ID.
✗
The interface must be in a zone.
Why it's wrong here
This is a general network requirement, not specific to User-ID.
✓
A User-ID agent must be installed.
Why this is correct
A User-ID agent (or other method) is required to provide user-to-IP mapping data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
User-ID must be enabled on the zone.
Why this is correct
User-ID must be enabled at the zone level to collect user mappings on that zone.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
An authentication profile must be configured.
Why it's wrong here
Authentication profiles are used for specific authentication methods, but not mandatory for all User-ID setups.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume an interface must be in a zone (Option B) is a direct prerequisite for User-ID, but the actual requirement is that User-ID must be enabled on the zone, not just that the interface belongs to one.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
User-ID operates by collecting user-to-IP mappings from sources like Active Directory security event logs (via the User-ID agent polling Windows Event Log) or from authentication logs (e.g., from a captive portal or GlobalProtect). The firewall stores these mappings in a user-IP mapping table, which is then used by security policy rules that reference user or group objects. A common subtlety is that User-ID must be enabled on the zone, but the interface itself does not require a separate User-ID toggle—this often confuses candidates who think the interface configuration is the key prerequisite.
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: A User-ID agent must be installed. — Option C is correct because a User-ID agent (or the built-in User-ID service on the firewall) is required to map IP addresses to usernames. Without an agent—such as the PAN-OS User-ID Agent, Terminal Services Agent, or GlobalProtect—the firewall cannot collect user mapping data from directory services (e.g., Active Directory) or authentication logs. Option D is correct because User-ID must be explicitly enabled on the zone; if the zone does not have User-ID enabled, the firewall will not perform user mapping for traffic traversing that zone, even if the interface is configured correctly.
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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