In the Palo Alto Networks firewall packet processing logic, traffic is first evaluated against the Security Policy rulebase. A session is created and matched against rules based on its attributes (e.g., zones, addresses, application, user). If the traffic matches a Security Policy rule with an "allow" action, the firewall then applies the Security Profiles (such as Antivirus, Anti-Spyware, Vulnerability Protection, etc.) that are attached to that specific rule. These profiles inspect the content of the now-allowed traffic for threats. If a threat is found, the Security Profile can then block the traffic. This sequence ensures that resource-intensive content inspection is only performed on traffic that has been explicitly permitted by policy.

A. Security Profiles are a data plane function used to inspect transit traffic. The management plane is for device administration and is not the primary domain for Security Profile inspection.

C. This reverses the operational order. A Security Policy rule must first match and allow the traffic before any Security Profiles are applied for content inspection.

D. Security Profiles are not applied to traffic matched by a rule with a "block" or "deny" action. Such traffic is dropped immediately, and no further inspection occurs.

1. Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS® Administrator’s Guide 10.2: In the section detailing the packet flow

the sequence clearly shows that after a session is matched to a Security Policy rule with an allow action

it then proceeds to content inspection where Security Profiles are applied.

Reference: "PAN-OS Architecture and Packet Flow" -> "Packet Flow Sequence in PAN-OS". The flow diagram and accompanying text indicate that "Security Policy" evaluation precedes "Content Inspection (Security Profiles)". Specifically

if the security policy action is allow

the firewall applies the security profiles. If the action is deny

the packet is discarded.

2. Palo Alto Networks Documentation

"Security Policy": The documentation on creating and managing Security Policy rules explicitly states that profiles are attached to rules to scan allowed applications for threats.

Reference: "Objects > Security Profiles". The overview states

"To protect your network from threats

you attach Security profiles to Security policy rules that allow traffic." This confirms that the prerequisite for profile application is a rule that allows traffic.

3. Palo Alto Networks Beacon

"The Life of a Packet": This official training resource details the packet flow. It describes the "slowpath" process where

after a session is created and the policy lookup results in a match to an allow rule

the packet is forwarded to Content-ID (which includes Security Profiles) for threat scanning.

Reference: Beacon Training

"The Life of a Packet in PAN-OS" module. Step 6 (Policy evaluation) must result in an "allow" for the packet to proceed to Step 7 (Content Inspection/Threat Prevention).