C. Threat

Explanation:
Packet buffer protection is a security feature designed to prevent single-session Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks that could overwhelm the firewall's resources. When this feature is activated, the firewall takes action against offending sessions by dropping packets or even blocking the source IP address. These actions are logged as security events.

Threat Logs:
This is the correct location because the packet drops and session discards caused by packet buffer protection are classified as security-related events. The firewall generates specific Threat IDs (e.g., PBP Packet Drop or PBP Session Discarded) that are recorded in the Threat logs. This allows an administrator to specifically filter for these events to confirm that the protection mechanism has been triggered and is actively mitigating a potential attack.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Data Filtering:
Data filtering logs are for events related to preventing sensitive data from leaving the network. This has no relation to packet buffer utilization.

B. Configuration:
Configuration logs record changes made to the firewall's configuration by an administrator. While the initial setup of packet buffer protection would be in these logs, they do not show its activation during an attack.

D. Traffic:
Traffic logs record information about network sessions (start, end, allow, deny, drop). While the packets are indeed being dropped, the reason for the drop (i.e., packet buffer protection) is not explicitly detailed in the standard traffic log. The specific security event is recorded in the Threat log.

C. 8080

Explanation:
When configuring a NAT rule for a transparent proxy on a Palo Alto Networks firewall, the translated port number should be set to 8080, which is the standard port used by proxy services.

Here’s why:
Transparent proxies intercept traffic without requiring client-side configuration.
For HTTP traffic (originally destined to port 80), the firewall redirects it to port 8080, where the proxy engine listens.
This allows the firewall to apply URL filtering, SSL decryption, and threat prevention before forwarding the traffic to its final destination.
Using port 8080 ensures compatibility with Palo Alto’s internal proxy handling mechanisms and aligns with industry norms for proxy services.

❌ Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:
A. 80
→ This is the original destination port for HTTP traffic, not the proxy’s listening port.
B. 443
→ Used for HTTPS, not appropriate for proxy redirection.
D. 4443
→ Non-standard and not used by Palo Alto Networks for transparent proxy NAT.

📚 Reference:
Transparent Proxy Configuration – PAN-OS Admin Guide
PCNSE Practice Question Explanation

B. GlobalProtect Deployment Activity
D. Successful GlobalProtect Connection Activity

Explanation:
The ACC (Application Command Center) is a powerful visualization tool in PAN-OS. The GlobalProtect Activity tab is specifically designed to monitor the status and health of GlobalProtect deployments, including both client deployment (installation) and connection success.

Analyzing the Valid Widgets:
Why Option B (GlobalProtect Deployment Activity) is Correct:
This widget tracks the installation and deployment status of the GlobalProtect client software on endpoints.
It provides visibility into how many clients have been successfully deployed versus how many have failed or are pending deployment. This is crucial for administrators to ensure their remote workforce has the necessary client installed to establish VPN connections.

Why Option D (Successful GlobalProtect Connection Activity) is Correct:
This widget visualizes the number of successful VPN tunnel establishments over time.
It helps administrators confirm that deployed clients are able to successfully authenticate and connect to the GlobalProtect gateway. A sudden drop in this graph would indicate a potential connectivity or authentication issue affecting users.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:
Why Option A (Successful GlobalProtect Deployed Activity) is Incorrect:
This is a distractor and not a valid widget name. While it combines words from the correct options, the accurate widget for tracking client installation is GlobalProtect Deployment Activity (Option B), which shows both successful and failed deployment attempts.

Why Option C (GlobalProtect Quarantine Activity) is Incorrect:
Quarantine is a function of Cortex XDR (or the Traps legacy product), not a primary function visualized in the ACC's GlobalProtect tab.
The ACC's GlobalProtect tab is focused on connectivity and deployment metrics. While GlobalProtect can interact with quarantine policies (e.g., by providing HIP data), there is no dedicated "Quarantine Activity" widget within the standard GlobalProtect Activity view in ACC.

Reference and Key Concepts for the PCNSE Exam:
ACC Purpose: Remember that the ACC is for real-time and historical traffic and threat visualization. The GlobalProtect tab is a specialized view within it.
Key Widgets: The two main categories of GlobalProtect monitoring are:
1.Deployment: Ensuring the client software is on the endpoint (GlobalProtect Deployment Activity).
2.Connectivity: Ensuring the client can successfully建立 tunnels (Successful GlobalProtect Connection Activity).
GUI Path: You can access the ACC and this tab by navigating to Monitor > ACC and then selecting the GlobalProtect tab. <

B. IP Wildcard Mask

Explanation:

Why Wildcard Mask?
1.Address Structure with Meaningful Bits:
The diagram shows an IP address (10.132.1.156) where certain bits represent specific attributes (e.g., organization, region, device type).
To create an address object that matches devices based on these meaningful bits (ignoring others), a wildcard mask is ideal.
2.Wildcard Mask Flexibility:
Unlike a subnet mask (which matches contiguous bits), a wildcard mask allows selective matching of non-contiguous bits.
Example:
To match all devices in the "Northeast" region (regardless of other attributes), set wildcard bits to 0 for fixed bits and 1 for variable bits.

Why Not Other Options?
A. IP Netmask
Only matches contiguous networks (e.g., 10.132.1.0/24), not arbitrary bits.
C. IP Address
Matches a single IP, not a group.
D. IP Range
Matches a sequential range, not bit-based patterns.

Example Configuration:
To match all Northeast devices (assuming bits 8-15 represent region):
Address: 10.132.0.0
Wildcard Mask: 0.0.255.255 (ignore last two octets).

Reference:
Palo Alto Address Objects Guide:
"Wildcard masks enable matching based on arbitrary bit positions in IP addresses."

A. Create a HIP object with Anti-Malware enabled and Real Time Protection set to yes. * Create a HIP Profile that matches the HIP object criteria. Enable GlobalProtect Portal Agent to collect HIP Data Collection. Create a Security policy that matches source HIP profile. Enable GlobalProtect Gateway Agent for HIP Notification.

Explanation:
To restrict GlobalProtect VPN access to endpoints with antivirus or anti-spyware installed, the administrator must use Host Information Profile (HIP) checks. The correct sequence involves:

1.Create a HIP Object
Navigate to Objects > GlobalProtect > HIP Objects
Enable Anti-Malware and set Real-Time Protection = Yes
This ensures only endpoints with active antivirus/anti-spyware are matched

2.Create a HIP Profile
Go to Objects > GlobalProtect > HIP Profiles
Reference the HIP Object created above
This profile defines the matching logic for compliant endpoints

3.Enable HIP Data Collection on the Portal Agent Config
Under Network > GlobalProtect > Portals > Agent > Data Collection
This allows the GlobalProtect client to send endpoint posture data

4.Enable HIP Notification on the Gateway Agent Config
Under Network > GlobalProtect > Gateways > Agent > HIP Notification
This ensures the gateway receives and processes HIP data
Create a Security Policy referencing the HIP Profile

5.Create a Security Policy referencing the HIP Profile
Use the Source HIP Profile match criteria to allow access only to compliant hosts
This workflow is validated in Palo Alto’s HIP Objects Anti-Malware documentation and the GlobalProtect Administrator’s Guide.

❌ Why other options are incorrect
B and D: These refer to Security Profiles (Antivirus, Anti-Spyware), which are used for threat prevention—not for endpoint posture checks. They don’t control access based on endpoint state.
C: Reverses the Portal and Gateway HIP configuration steps. HIP data collection must be enabled on the Portal, and notification must be enabled on the Gateway—not the other way around.

A. In the URL filtering profile, use the drop-down list to enable user credential detection
D. Add the URL filtering profile to one or more Security policy rules
E. Set phishing category to block in the URL Filtering profile

Explanation:
To enable Credential Phishing Prevention on Palo Alto Networks firewalls, three key prerequisites must be met:

✅ A. Enable user credential detection in the URL filtering profile
This activates the firewall’s ability to inspect web traffic for credential submissions.
You must select the User Credential Detection method (e.g., IP User Mapping, Group Mapping, Domain Credential Filter) from the drop-down in the URL Filtering profile.
✅ D. Add the URL filtering profile to one or more Security policy rules
The URL Filtering profile must be attached to Security policy rules that allow traffic.
Without this, the firewall won’t inspect or enforce credential phishing protections.
✅ E. Set phishing category to block in the URL Filtering profile
The phishing category must be explicitly set to Block to prevent access to known phishing sites.
This ensures that credential submission attempts to malicious sites are actively stopped.

❌ Why Other Options Are Incorrect:
B. Enable Device-ID in the zone Device-ID is unrelated to credential phishing prevention. It’s used for IoT and endpoint visibility.
C. Select the action for Site Access for each category While category actions are part of URL filtering, this option is too generic and doesn’t specifically enable credential phishing prevention.

References:
Palo Alto Networks TechDocs – Set Up Credential Phishing Prevention
Ace4Sure PCNSE Practice – Credential Phishing Prerequisites

B. Policy Optimizer

Explanation:

1.Problem Context
The organization is coming from an L2–L4 firewall vendor (so their legacy policies are mostly port-based).
They want to start leveraging Palo Alto Networks’ App-ID for Layer 7 visibility and control.
They also want to identify policies that are no longer needed (e.g., unused or shadowed rules).

2.Policy Optimizer in Panorama
Policy Optimizer helps administrators:
Convert legacy port-based rules → into App-ID based rules.
Find rules that are unused (never hit).
Find rules that are too broad (allowing "any app" or "any service").
Refine rules to improve security posture and reduce attack surface.

Why not the others?
A. Application Groups ❌
→ Just a way to group multiple App-IDs together for easier policy management. Does not help identify unused/port-based rules.
C. Test Policy Match ❌
→ Used for testing which rule a specific traffic flow would match. It won’t optimize policies.
D. Config Audit ❌
→ Compares running vs. candidate configurations (or between snapshots). Good for change tracking, not for identifying unused policies.

Reference
Palo Alto TechDocs – Policy Optimizer
PANW Best Practices – Security policy migration guide