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

What is the default action for a URL Filtering Security Profile if no category is matched?

1. Allow

2. Block

3. Alert

4. Log and Ignore

The correct answer is: Allow

The default action for a URL Filtering Security Profile when no category is matched is to allow access. This means that if the requested URL does not fall into any predefined category within the filtering policy, the firewall will not intervene and will permit the connection. This design choice is rooted in the need to avoid inadvertently blocking access to legitimate web content that may not be categorized yet or that doesn’t fit into established filtering categories. This approach helps ensure that users can access necessary resources without unnecessary interruptions. It also enhances user experience and productivity, as security measures are balanced with functional access to the internet. In many use cases, administrators can refine policies and add categories to refine filtering further, but the default action remains permissive unless specifically configured otherwise.