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

Which capability allows a Palo Alto Networks firewall to decrypt HTTPS traffic?

1. SSL Decryption

2. Traffic Inspection

3. Application Control

4. Firewall Rule Configuration

The correct answer is: SSL Decryption

The capability that allows a Palo Alto Networks firewall to decrypt HTTPS traffic is SSL Decryption. This feature enables the firewall to intercept and decrypt encrypted SSL/TLS traffic so that it can inspect the contents for potential threats, enforce security policies, and ensure compliance with regulations. SSL Decryption is essential for maintaining visibility into encrypted traffic, which is increasingly used for many web applications and communications. Without the ability to decrypt this traffic, a firewall would be unable to effectively analyze and filter potentially harmful content, leaving networks vulnerable to threats hidden within encrypted sessions. Traffic Inspection refers to the process of examining traffic for security threats but does not specifically denote the capability to decrypt SSL/TLS traffic. Application Control is focused on identifying and managing applications running over the network rather than decryption. Firewall Rule Configuration pertains to setting up policies for allowing or blocking traffic but does not inherently include decryption features. Hence, SSL Decryption is the specific feature designed for the purpose of handling encrypted traffic effectively.