Palo Alto Networks (PANW) Certified Network Security Administrator (PCNSA) Practice Exam

If a client downloads a file containing a virus, what initial action does the firewall take?

1. It allows the download to proceed without restrictions

2. It analyzes the file for potential threats

3. It generates a threat log entry

4. It sends an alert to the client

The correct answer is: It generates a threat log entry

When a client downloads a file containing a virus, the correct initial action of the firewall involves analyzing the file for potential threats. Firewalls, especially those from Palo Alto Networks, are designed with advanced capabilities, including threat detection and prevention. As soon as a file is downloaded, the firewall scans the content using various detection methods, such as signatures or heuristics. This proactive analysis is crucial because it determines whether the file poses a risk to the network and the devices within it. The primary function of the firewall is to maintain security, and thus, it prioritizes examining data before taking further actions, such as allowing or blocking the file. In this framework, merely generating a threat log entry might occur after the analysis, but the key action is the scanning process itself. Similarly, sending alerts or allowing the download without restrictions would not align with the firewall's purpose to safeguard the network against potential threats. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the firewall's role in analyzing files for threats as its initial response during the file download process.