Palo Alto Networks PCNSE Online Practice Questions and Exam Preparation

Palo Alto Networks PCNSE Online Questions & Answers

• Question 1:

  DRAG DROP

  An engineer is troubleshooting traffic routing through the virtual router. The firewall uses multiple routing protocols, and the engineer is trying to determine routing priority.

  Match the default Administrative Distances for each routing protocol.

  Select and Place:

  

  

  Explanation

  Static

  --Range is 10-240; default is 10.

  OSPF Internal

  --Range is 10-240; default is 30.

  OSPF External

  --Range is 10-240; default is 110.

  IBGP

  --Range is 10-240; default is 200.

  EBGP

  --Range is 10-240; default is 20.

  RIP

  --Range is 10-240; default is 120.

  https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/pan-os/9-1/pan-os-admin/networking/virtual-routers

• Question 2:

  DRAG DROP

  Place the steps to onboard a ZTP firewall into Panorama/CSP/ZTP-Service in the correct order.

  Select and Place:

  

  

  Explanation

  Reference: https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/panorama/9-1/panorama-admin/manage-firewalls/set-up-zero-touch-provisioning/ztp-overview/ztp-configuration-elements.html

• Question 3:

  DRAG DROP

  When using the predefined default profile, the policy will inspect for viruses on the decoders. Match each decoder with its default action. Answer options may be used more than once or not at all.

  Select and Place:

  

  

  Explanation

• Question 4:

  DRAG DROP

  Below are the steps in the workflow for creating a Best Practice Assessment in a firewall and Panorama configuration Place the steps in order.

  Select and Place:

  

  

  Explanation

  Step 1. In either the NGFW or in Panorama, on the Operations/Support tab, download the technical support file.

  Step 2. Log in to the Customer Support Portal (CSP) and navigate to Tools > Best Practice Assessment.

  Step 3. Upload or drag and drop the technical support file.

  Step 4. Map the zone type and area of the architecture to each zone.

  Step 5.Follow the steps to download the BPA report bundle.

• Question 5:

  DRAG DROP

  Place the steps in the WildFire process workflow in their correct order.

  Select and Place:

  

  

  Explanation

  

  https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/wildfire/9-1/wildfire-admin/wildfire-overview/about-wildfire.html

• Question 6:

  What is the benefit of the Artificial Intelligence Operations (AIOps) Plugin for Panorama?

  A. It automatically pushes the configuration to Panorama after strengthening the overall security posture
  B. It proactively enforces best practices by validating new commits and advising if a policy needs work before pushing it to Panorama
  C. The AIOps plugin in Panorama auto-corrects the security rules that failed the Best Practice Assessment
  D. The AIOps plugin in Panorama retroactively checks the policy changes during the commits
  B. It proactively enforces best practices by validating new commits and advising if a policy needs work before pushing it to Panorama

  ---

  explanation:

  Explanation

  The AIOps Plugin for Panorama enhances security management by proactively validating commits against best practices (Option B). It analyzes policies, provides recommendations (e.g., unused rules, misconfigurations), and advises

  administrators before pushing changes, improving security posture without automatic enforcement.

  Palo Alto Networks AIOps for NGFW Documentation, PAN-OS 11.2 -AIOps Plugin Overview.

• Question 7:

  A firewall architect is attempting to install a new Palo Alto Networks NGFW. The company has previously had issues moving all administrative functions onto a data plane interface to meet the design limitations of the environment. The architect is able to access the device for HTTPS and SSH; however, the NGFW can neither validate licensing nor get updates. Which action taken by the architect will resolve this issue?

  A. Create a service route that sets the source interface to the data plane interface in question
  B. Validate that all upstream devices will allow and properly route the outbound traffic to the external destinations needed
  C. Create a loopback from the management interface to the data plane interface, then make a service route from the management interface to the data plane interface
  D. Enable OCSP for the data plane interface so the firewall will create a certificate with the data plane interface's IP
  B. Validate that all upstream devices will allow and properly route the outbound traffic to the external destinations needed

  ---

  explanation:

  Explanation

  When administrative functions (licensing, updates) use a data plane interface, the firewall requires outbound connectivity to Palo Alto Networks servers (e.g., updates.paloaltonetworks.com) via that interface. If HTTPS/SSH work but licensing/

  updates fail, the issue is likely upstream blocking or misrouting. Validating upstream devices (Option B) ensures ports (e.g., 443) and destinations are accessible, resolving the issue.

  PAN-OS 11.2 Administrator's Guide, "Device Management" section -Service Routes and Connectivity Troubleshooting.

• Question 8:

  A customer wants to enhance the protection provided by their Palo Alto Networks NGFW deployment to cover public-facing company-owned domains from misconfigurations that point records to third-party sources. Which two actions should the network administrator perform to achieve this goal? (Choose two)

  A. Verify the NGFWs have the Advanced DNS Security and Advanced Threat Prevention licenses installed and validated
  B. Create or update a Vulnerability Protection profile to the DNS Policies / DNS Zone Misconfiguration section, then add the domains to be protected
  C. Verify the NGFWs have the Advanced DNS Security and Advanced URL Filtering licenses installed and validated
  D. Create or update an Anti-Spyware profile, go to the DNS Policies / DNS Zone Misconfiguration section, then add the domains to be protected
  C. Verify the NGFWs have the Advanced DNS Security and Advanced URL Filtering licenses installed and validated
  D. Create or update an Anti-Spyware profile, go to the DNS Policies / DNS Zone Misconfiguration section, then add the domains to be protected

  ---

  explanation:

  Explanation

  To protect against DNS misconfigurations, Advanced DNS Security and Advanced URL Filtering licenses (Option C) enable DNS sinkholing and domain monitoring. In an Anti-Spyware profile (Option D), the DNS Policies section allows adding specific domains to detect and block misconfigured records pointing to third-party sources.

  PAN-OS 11.2 Administrator's Guide, "DNS Security" section; "Security Profiles" -Anti-Spyware Profile.

• Question 9:

  How can a firewall be set up to automatically block users as soon as they are found to exhibit malicious behavior via a threat log?

  A. Configure a dynamic address group for the addresses to be blocked with the tag "malicious." Add a Log Forwarding profile to the other policies, which adds the "malicious" tag to these addresses when logs are generated in the threat log. Under Device > User Identification > Trusted Source Address, add the condition "NOT malicious."
  B. Configure a dynamic user group for the users to be blocked with the tag "malicious." Add a Log Forwarding profile to the other policies, which adds the "malicious" tag to these users when logs are generated in the threat log. Create policies to block traffic from this user group.
  C. Configure the appropriate security profiles for Antivirus, Anti-Spyware, and Vulnerability Prevention, create signature policies for the relevant signatures and/or severities. Under the "Actions" tab in "Signature Policies," select "block-user."
  D. N/A
  B. Configure a dynamic user group for the users to be blocked with the tag "malicious." Add a Log Forwarding profile to the other policies, which adds the "malicious" tag to these users when logs are generated in the threat log. Create policies to block traffic from this user group.

  ---

  explanation:

  Explanation

  To block users dynamically based on threat log activity, dynamic user groups (DUGs) with tagging provide an automated solution. Option B configures a DUG with a "malicious" tag, a Log Forwarding profile to tag users in the threat log (e.g.,

  via threat intelligence), and a Security policy to block the tagged group. This leverages User-ID and is ideal for user-based blocking.

  PAN-OS 11.2 Administrator's Guide, "User-ID" section -Dynamic User Groups; "Policies" section -Log Forwarding.

• Question 10:

  What must be taken into consideration when preparing a log forwarding design for all of a customer's deployed Palo Alto Networks firewalls?

  A. The logs will not contain the names of the identified applications unless the "Enable enhanced application logging" option is selected
  B. Traffic and threat logs will not be forwarded unless the relevant Log Forwarding profile is attached to the security rules
  C. App-ID engine will not identify any application traffic unless the "Enable enhanced application logging" option is selected
  D. Traffic and threat logs will not be forwarded unless the relevant Log Forwarding profile is selected in "Logging and Reporting Settings"
  B. Traffic and threat logs will not be forwarded unless the relevant Log Forwarding profile is attached to the security rules

  ---

  explanation:

  Explanation

  For log forwarding in PAN-OS, traffic and threat logs require a Log Forwarding profile attached to Security rules (Option B) to send logs to external systems (e.g., syslog, Panorama). Without this, logs are stored locally but not forwarded, a

  critical design consideration.

  PAN-OS 11.2 Administrator's Guide, "Policies" section -Log Forwarding Profiles.