Free Paloalto Networks PCNSE Practice Exam with Questions & Answers | Set: 3

When administrative functions (e.g., licensing, updates) are moved to a data plane interface, the firewall uses that interface for outbound communication to Palo Alto Networks servers (e.g., licensing and update servers). If HTTPS/SSH work but licensing/updates fail, the issue is likely upstream connectivity. Option B ensures that upstream devices (routers, firewalls) allow and route traffic to required destinations (e.g., updates.paloaltonetworks.com) over ports like 443.

Option A (service route) assumes the interface is already set but doesn’t address external routing. Option C (loopback) is unnecessary and complex. Option D (OCSP) relates to certificate validation, not licensing/updates. Documentation emphasizes validating external connectivity.

The Test Policy Match tool in PAN-OS allows administrators to simulate traffic against the current security policy set to verify how it will be handled. By inputting source/destination IPs, ports, protocols, and other parameters, it shows which rule matches and whether the traffic is allowed or denied, making it ideal for ensuring unwanted traffic is blocked.

Option A (Managed Devices Health) monitors device status, not policy logic. Option C (Preview Changes) shows configuration diffs, not traffic matching. Option D (Policy Optimizer) helps refine rules but doesn’t test specific traffic scenarios. Test Policy Match is the documented tool for this purpose.

When using certificate authentication for firewall administration on Palo Alto Networks devices, the method used for authorization is typically the Local database. Certificate authentication ensures that the entity attempting to access the firewall is in possession of a valid certificate. Once the certificate is validated for authentication, the authorization process determines what level of access or permissions the authenticated entity has. This is usually managed locally on the firewall, where administrators can define roles and permissions associated with different users or certificates. Thus, the authorization process, in this case, leverages the Local database to enforce access controls and permissions, aligning with best practices for secure management of network devices.

The New App-ID characteristic enables the firewall to monitor new applications on the network, so that the engineer can better assess the security policy updates they might want to make. The New App-ID characteristic always matches to only the new App-IDs in the most recently installed content releases. When a new content release is installed, the New App-ID characteristic automatically begins to match only to the new App-IDs in that content release version. This way, the engineer can see how the newly-categorized applications might impact security policy enforcement and make any necessary adjustments. References: Monitor New App-IDs