Get ready for your upcoming Information Security Engineer virtual interview. Familiarize yourself with the necessary skills, anticipate potential questions that could be asked and practice answering them using our example responses.
Updated April 20, 2024
The STAR interview technique is a method used by interviewees to structure their responses to behavioral interview questions. STAR stands for:
Situation: Describe the context or background of the situation you were in.
Task: Explain the challenge or task you were faced with.
Action: Detail the specific actions you took to address the task or challenge.
Result: Share the results or outcomes of your actions.
This method provides a clear and concise way for interviewees to share meaningful experiences that demonstrate their skills and competencies.
Can you describe your experience with identifying, diagnosing, and resolving security issues?
This inquiry helps gauge your ability to spot and handle security threats in real-time. It speaks to your understanding of the threat landscape and your problem-solving skills in cybersecurity contexts.
Dos and don'ts: "To answer this, draw from specific examples in your past roles that highlight your ability to identify and mitigate security issues. Make sure to discuss the process you followed and the techniques you used."
Suggested answer:
Situation: In my last role at TechCompany, I was part of the core security team responsible for identifying, diagnosing, and resolving security issues.
Task: Our main task was to ensure the integrity and security of the company's software and hardware assets.
Action: I actively used intrusion detection systems to identify security threats. Once identified, I worked with my team to diagnose the issue and define the mitigation strategy. This often involved patching vulnerable systems, hardening the security configuration, or adjusting our firewall rules.
Result: We effectively managed to reduce the number of high-risk vulnerabilities by 60% during my tenure, and I was recognized for my dedication to maintaining the highest level of security for the company's assets.
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How have you handled incident response and recovery in your past roles?
The aim here is to learn about your experience and skills in responding to security incidents. It sheds light on how you operate under pressure and deal with potentially complex and harmful security threats.
Dos and don'ts: "Detail a situation where you were responsible for responding to a security incident. Mention your process, from detecting the incident, taking immediate steps, to ensuring recovery. Avoid sharing sensitive information about your previous employer."
Suggested answer:
Situation: As an Information Security Engineer at TechCompany, I managed several situations involving security incidents.
Task: It was my responsibility to lead incident response and recovery in such events, minimizing the damage and impact on business operations.
Action: When a phishing attack bypassed our email filters, I coordinated the response team, isolated affected systems, and conducted an internal investigation to understand the scope of the incident. After mitigating the immediate threat, I also conducted a post-incident analysis to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Result: Despite the initial breach, we successfully limited the impact of the attack. There was no significant data loss or downtime, and the improvements implemented afterwards greatly reduced the chances of similar incidents.
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What are the critical components of a strong security policy for a company?
Asking this probes your understanding of security policies and their importance in maintaining an organization's overall security posture.
Dos and don'ts: "Instead of listing generic elements, try to tie your response to the company's business context or the industry it operates in. Ensure to mention aspects like risk assessment, incident response, employee training, etc."
Suggested answer:
Situation: In my previous role, I was responsible for updating and maintaining the security policy for a mid-sized technology firm.
Task: The task was to ensure that our security policy was comprehensive, up-to-date, and effective in mitigating potential threats.
Action: I developed a security policy focusing on three critical components: risk management processes, incident response strategy, and employee training. I updated the risk management procedures to align with the latest threat landscape, defined a detailed incident response plan, and implemented a security awareness training program for all employees.
Result: As a result, we were able to minimize security risks, respond effectively to incidents, and foster a culture of security awareness throughout the company. This led to a significant improvement in our overall security posture.
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Can you talk about your experience in conducting security audits and assessments?
This question is meant to uncover your experience and effectiveness in conducting thorough audits and assessments to discover potential security weaknesses.
Dos and don'ts: "Share specific instances when you have conducted security audits and assessments. Highlight your thoroughness and attention to detail. Avoid overly technical language, unless you're certain the interviewer will understand."
Suggested answer:
Situation: While working for TechCompany, one of my responsibilities was to conduct regular security audits and assessments.
Task: The goal was to identify potential vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with the industry's best security practices.
Action: I developed a comprehensive audit plan that included an evaluation of both our physical and network security controls. The assessment involved manual checks, automated scans, and simulated attacks. I also checked our compliance with relevant standards like ISO 27001 and GDPR.
Result: The assessments resulted in identifying several critical and medium-risk vulnerabilities. We then designed mitigation strategies which led to improved security controls and better regulatory compliance.
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How do you ensure the security of data during transmission and in storage?
The interviewer wants to gauge your understanding of data security both during transmission and at rest, which are crucial aspects of an organization's information security.
Dos and don'ts: "Describe the best practices and tools you use to ensure data security, both during transmission and storage. Remember to mention your understanding of encryption and secure data handling protocols."
Suggested answer:
Situation: At my previous job, ensuring data security was a major part of my role as an Information Security Engineer.
Task: The task was to ensure that data, both in transit and at rest, was secure and that all regulatory requirements were met.
Action: I implemented robust encryption standards such as AES-256 for data at rest and TLS for data in transit. I also enforced strong access controls and regularly audited our systems for any potential data leaks.
Result: As a result, we maintained a strong security posture with no significant data breaches throughout my tenure, while also maintaining full regulatory compliance.
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How would you handle a situation where you discover a potential security breach?
This question seeks to understand how you respond to emergencies, specifically, your ability to take swift, decisive action when a breach is suspected.
Dos and don'ts: "This question calls for a calm and structured response strategy. Explain the steps you would take, including immediate mitigation actions, and how you'd communicate with the relevant parties."
Suggested answer:
Situation: In a previous role, I encountered a situation where our intrusion detection system alerted us of a potential breach.
Task: As the incident lead, I was responsible for managing the situation, minimizing potential damages, and preserving evidence for investigation.
Action: I activated our incident response plan, isolating the affected systems, removing the intruder's access, and beginning a forensic analysis. I worked closely with the IT team to identify the entry point, collect evidence, and rectify the security weakness.
Result: The swift response resulted in a minor disruption, with no significant data loss. The findings from the forensic analysis were used to further improve our intrusion detection and response protocols.
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Can you discuss your experience with various security protocols and encryption algorithms?
By asking this, the interviewer wishes to determine your familiarity with security protocols and encryption, which are foundational to securing data.
Dos and don'ts: "Discuss the security protocols and encryption algorithms you have experience with, relating them to specific projects. Avoid common buzzwords and focus on real-world application."
Suggested answer:
Situation: When I worked at CompanyX, one of our major projects involved ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of data in transit.
Task: I was tasked with selecting and implementing suitable security protocols and encryption algorithms to enhance our data security.
Action: I implemented SSL/TLS for securing our web traffic, along with strong cipher suites. I also employed IPsec for network-level security. For data encryption, I selected AES-256 due to its proven robustness.
Result: This increased the security of our data transmission significantly, thwarting potential man-in-the-middle and eavesdropping attacks.
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How familiar are you with firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and antivirus software?
This question assesses your knowledge and hands-on experience with key security solutions like firewalls, IDSs, and antivirus software.
Dos and don'ts: "Share your practical experience with these tools, perhaps including a story of how your expertise made a significant impact."
Suggested answer:
Situation: During my tenure at CompanyY, I was responsible for the network security infrastructure.
Task: My job was to ensure that our firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and antivirus software were appropriately configured and updated.
Action: I regularly updated firewall rules based on changing network requirements and threats, monitored intrusion detection systems for potential threats, and ensured the antivirus software was up to date.
Result: These proactive steps kept our network secure and intrusion attempts were significantly minimized.
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What steps do you take to prevent phishing or social engineering attacks?
The goal here is to understand your knowledge and experience in protecting against increasingly common social engineering attacks.
Dos and don'ts: "Provide a detailed approach to how you prevent these attacks. Discuss the technology you use as well as the awareness programs you might conduct for staff."
Suggested answer:
Situation: In a previous role, a client's employee fell victim to a phishing attack which led to a minor data breach.
Task: The event called for immediate action not only to address the breach but also to prevent similar attacks in the future.
Action: I took immediate steps to mitigate the breach, followed by launching a comprehensive anti-phishing training program. I designed simulated phishing attacks to educate employees about the dangers and signs of phishing.
Result: Post-training, the number of successful phishing attempts dropped significantly, enhancing the overall security of our organization.
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Can you talk about your knowledge and experience with Identity and Access Management (IAM)?
With this, the interviewer wants to see your proficiency in managing user access, a key aspect of preventing unauthorized data access.
Dos and don'ts: "Discuss your understanding of IAM by describing how you've implemented it in previous roles. Avoid getting too technical unless you're confident it's suitable."
Suggested answer:
Situation: At TechCompany, I was responsible for managing user access to various systems, applications, and resources.
Task: I was tasked to set up an effective Identity and Access Management (IAM) system.
Action: I implemented a role-based access control (RBAC) system that defined access rights based on users' roles in the organization. I used Microsoft Azure Active Directory for this purpose, automating identity and access provisioning and ensuring adherence to the principle of least privilege.
Result: As a result, we saw a significant decrease in unauthorized access attempts and improved efficiency in access provision and revocation.
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How do you approach vulnerability testing and risk assessments?
The interviewer is keen on understanding your methodology for conducting vulnerability assessments, which are critical to maintaining secure systems.
Dos and don'ts: "Explain your approach to vulnerability testing and risk assessments. Include methodologies, tools you use, and how you prioritize vulnerabilities."
Suggested answer:
Situation: At my previous job, the tech team worked on launching a new product, which made it an attractive target for potential attackers.
Task: My primary task was to assess the vulnerabilities in our system and gauge the risk associated with each.
Action: I used vulnerability scanning tools like Nessus to identify potential vulnerabilities in our system and classified them based on severity. I also conducted penetration tests using tools like Metasploit to understand how an attacker might exploit these vulnerabilities.
Result: Based on the vulnerabilities and risks identified, I prioritized and implemented suitable remediation measures. This helped ensure our product launched securely and with minimal issues.
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How proficient are you with programming languages commonly used in security scripting and automation?
This question measures your technical skills and ability to automate security processes, increasing efficiency and reducing human error.
Dos and don'ts: "Share your proficiency with relevant programming languages, giving specific examples of how you've used these skills in your past work."
Suggested answer:
Situation: In my previous role, automation was a key part of our security processes, including responding to threats and performing routine checks.
Task: My task was to develop scripts to automate these processes, and my proficiency in Python and Bash scripting came into play.
Action: I developed several Python scripts to automate threat intelligence gathering and alerting. I also created Bash scripts for automating system health checks and reporting.
Result: The scripts reduced manual work, improved efficiency, and allowed the team to quickly respond to potential security threats, enhancing our overall security posture.
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Can you discuss your experience with cloud security and the specific tools you have used (like AWS Security, Google Cloud Security, etc.)?
This probes your understanding of cloud security, which is increasingly important as more businesses move to cloud-based solutions.
Dos and don'ts: "Describe your experience with cloud security, focusing on specific tools and projects you've worked on. Discuss the challenges you faced and how you overcame them."
Suggested answer:
Situation: In my last role, we migrated a significant part of our infrastructure to the cloud, specifically AWS.
Task: I was tasked with ensuring the security of our data and applications in this new environment.
Action: I implemented AWS-native tools like Security Groups for instance-level security, NACLs for subnet level protection, and AWS WAF for application level security. I also utilized AWS Config for continuous monitoring and compliance checks.
Result: These steps resulted in a secure cloud environment, mitigating potential security risks associated with the cloud migration.
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How do you stay updated with the latest information security threats and solutions?
The interviewer is seeking assurance that you are staying on top of evolving security threats and solutions to safeguard the organization's digital assets.
Dos and don'ts: "Discuss how you keep updated, such as reading industry publications, attending conferences, or obtaining certifications."
Suggested answer:
Situation: Keeping up-to-date with the latest information security threats and solutions is an ongoing requirement in my field.
Task: It was my responsibility to stay informed about emerging threats and solutions and adjust our security practices as necessary.
Action: I subscribed to several cybersecurity newsletters and RSS feeds, such as Krebs on Security and the US-CERT alerts. I also attended relevant security conferences, webinars, and completed continuous learning courses to enhance my skills and knowledge.
Result: By staying informed about the latest threats and solutions, I was able to proactively address potential vulnerabilities, and adjust our security strategy, maintaining the integrity and security of our systems.
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Given our company's size and scope, what security improvements would you implement immediately?
This question is about your ability to apply your knowledge to the specifics of the company, helping the interviewer envision how you would contribute to enhancing their security practices.
Dos and don'ts: "This question requires a careful balance. On one hand, you want to demonstrate understanding of the company's needs. On the other, avoid suggesting that their current practices are completely inadequate. Frame your suggestions as potential improvements, not as fixes for existing problems."
Suggested answer:
Situation: In a previous role, I found that the company's size and scope had grown, but the security practices hadn't evolved to match this growth.
Task: My task was to suggest and implement improvements to align our security practices with the company's current status.
Action: I proposed a multi-faceted plan that included strengthening our perimeter defenses with advanced firewalls and IDS/IPS, introducing rigorous vulnerability scanning and penetration testing routines, improving incident response capabilities, and conducting regular security awareness training for staff.
Result: These improvements significantly enhanced our company's security posture, reducing security incidents and increasing our resilience against potential attacks, demonstrating the importance of adapting security practices to match a company's growth and changes in its risk profile.
