Associate Level · NGFW

PCNSA — Network Security
Administrator

Validates the knowledge and skills required of network security administrators who operate and manage Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls to protect networks from cutting-edge cyberthreats.

NGFW Network Security PAN-OS Policy Management URL Filtering Associate

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Palo Alto Networks Certified

Certified Network Security Administrator · PCNSA

LevelAssociate

Exam Duration80 Minutes

No. of Questions60 Questions

Passing Score70% (approx.)

Certification StatusActive

DeliveryOnline / Test Centre

Domains

Questions

Minutes

Assoc

Level

Certification Overview

What This Certification Validates

The PCNSA certification validates the knowledge and skills needed to operate and manage Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls. It covers four exam domains: Device Management and Services, Managing Objects, Policy Evaluation and Management, and Securing Traffic — making it the definitive associate-level NGFW credential.

Recommended prerequisites: EDU-210 (Firewall Essentials: Configuration and Management), and Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Apprentice and Practitioner designations are recommended before attempting the exam.

What You Will Learn

Skills Covered

Manage firewall device settings — management interfaces, local admin provisioning, role-based authentication, and configuration maintenance

Configure zones, interfaces, and virtual routers — zone types, interface types, static routes, routing table, and route monitoring

Create and manage policy objects — address objects, services, external dynamic lists, application filters, and App-ID groups

Develop and optimize Security policies — App-ID rules, NAT policies, rule shadowing, Policy Optimizer, and match conditions

Configure Security profiles — Antivirus, Anti-Spyware, Vulnerability Protection, URL Filtering, WildFire Analysis, and DNS Security

Implement User-ID and group mapping — differentiate group mapping vs IP-to-user mapping, control access by policy, monitor in ACC

Target Audience

Who Should Take This Course

Network security administrators responsible for operating and managing Palo Alto Networks NGFW in enterprise environments

Security operations professionals who configure and maintain PAN-OS firewall policies, profiles, and security zones

IT professionals with firewall administration experience who want to validate their Palo Alto Networks skills at the associate level

PCCET holders looking to advance their Palo Alto Networks certification path toward PCNSE

Certification Details

Exam CodePCNSA

LevelAssociate

Questions60 MCQ

Duration80 Minutes

Passing Score70% (approx.)

ProviderPearson VUE

LanguageEnglish

Zetlan Technologies offers expert-led PCNSA preparation covering all four exam domains — device management, objects, policy, and traffic security — with live sessions and study materials.

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Exam Curriculum

PCNSA — 4 Core Exam Domains

Click any domain to expand and explore all topics covered in the official PCNSA exam blueprint.

Device Management and Services

9 Topics

Demonstrate knowledge of firewall management interfaces (methods, access restrictions, service routes)

Provision local administrators (authentication profiles, sequences)

Assign role-based authentication

Maintain firewall configurations (running vs candidate config, backup, import/export)

Push policy updates via Panorama (device groups, templates, hierarchy)

Schedule and install dynamic updates

Create and apply security zones (zone types: L2, L3, TAP, Wire, Tunnel)

Identify and configure firewall interfaces

Maintain virtual/logical router configuration (static routes, routing table, route monitoring)

Managing Objects

4 Topics

Create and maintain address and address group objects (tags, static vs dynamic groups)

Create and maintain services and service groups

Create and maintain external dynamic lists

Configure application filters and application groups (filters vs groups, App-ID characteristics)

Policy Evaluation and Management

5 Topics

Develop application-based Security policy (App-ID rules, rule shadowing, tag grouping, policy usage statistics)

Differentiate security rule types (interzone, intrazone, universal)

Configure Security policy match conditions, actions, and logging options (App-ID, User-ID, Device-ID, EDLs)

Identify and implement NAT policies (source NAT, destination NAT)

Optimize Security policies (Policy test match tool, Policy Optimizer)

Securing Traffic

7 Topics

Compare and contrast Security profiles (Antivirus, Anti-Spyware, Vulnerability Protection, URL Filtering, WildFire Analysis)

Create and apply Security profiles and groups

Differentiate Security profile actions

Use information available in logs (traffic, threat, data, system)

Enable DNS Security (configure, apply in policy)

Create and deploy URL-filtering controls (URL profile, custom categories, blocked URL management)

Differentiate group mapping and IP-to-user mapping (access control, policy application, ACC monitoring)

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PCNSA certification?

The Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator (PCNSA) validates the knowledge and skills needed to operate and manage Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls. It confirms that a professional can configure PAN-OS, manage security policies, and protect networks using Palo Alto Networks technologies.

Who should take the PCNSA exam?

Network security administrators and IT professionals responsible for configuring, managing, and maintaining Palo Alto Networks NGFW deployments in enterprise environments. It is also ideal for PCCET holders advancing their Palo Alto certification path.

What prerequisites are recommended for PCNSA?

Palo Alto Networks recommends completing EDU-210 (Firewall Essentials: Configuration and Management) and holding the Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Apprentice and Practitioner designations before attempting the exam.

How many questions are on the PCNSA exam?

The exam contains approximately 60 multiple-choice questions with an 80-minute time limit. The passing score is approximately 70%, delivered via Pearson VUE either online or at an authorised test centre.

What does Zetlan Technologies offer for PCNSA preparation?

Zetlan provides expert-led PCNSA training covering all four exam domains — Device Management, Managing Objects, Policy Evaluation, and Securing Traffic — with live online sessions, configuration walkthroughs, and comprehensive study resources.

PCNSA — Network SecurityAdministrator