IT Security Engineer Interview Questions

Interviewer: Good morning, thank you for being here for this interview. Can you please introduce yourself and explain what interests you about the IT Security Engineer position?

Candidate: Good morning. My name is John Smith, and I have been a cybersecurity professional for the past six years. I am interested in this position because it offers the opportunity to apply my expertise and experience to a new and challenging environment.

Interviewer: Can you tell me about your experience with network security?

Candidate: In my current position, I am responsible for designing and implementing strategies to protect the company's network. I have experience with firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and network segmentation.

Interviewer: Can you give an example of a time when you had to respond to a security incident?

Candidate: Yes, there was a time when a phishing attack compromised several employee accounts. I worked with the team to contain the breach, reset passwords and implement additional security measures to prevent future attacks.

Interviewer: How do you stay current with the latest security trends and technologies?

Candidate: I am actively involved in several cybersecurity forums, and I attend industry-specific conferences regularly. I also read security-related news and research to keep myself updated on the latest trends and best practices.

Interviewer: Can you explain the difference between encryption and hashing?

Candidate: Encryption is the process of converting plain text into an unreadable format and can be reversed if the right key is available. Hashing is the process of converting data into a fixed-size string, which can't be reversed, and is typically used for password storage.

Interviewer: How would you describe your experience with vulnerability scanning?

Candidate: I have used several vulnerability scanning tools like Nmap, Nessus, and OpenVAAS to identify potential vulnerabilities and prioritize remediation efforts.

Interviewer: What is your experience in incident response planning and management?

Candidate: As part of my role, I was responsible for leading incident response planning and management. I have experience developing incident response playbooks, leading tabletop exercises, and managing real-world incidents.

Interviewer: How would you handle a situation where a critical system was compromised?

Candidate: In such situations, I would follow our established incident response plan, which includes isolating the compromised system, identifying the extent of the compromise and working quickly to contain and remediate the issue.

Interviewer: Can you explain your understanding of risk management in the cybersecurity space?

Candidate: Risk management involves identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks to an organization's assets and data, and developing strategies to mitigate those risks. In the cybersecurity space, it includes identifying vulnerabilities, assessing the potential impact of an exploitation, and developing strategies to reduce the likelihood of exploitation or mitigate damages if exploitation occurs.

Interviewer: How have you handled the challenge of getting company executives to recognize the importance of investing in cybersecurity?

Candidate: In my current position, I have been able to present cybersecurity risks using business language, so non-technical senior executives can understand what is at stake. I also provide regular reporting and update key stakeholders on our security posture.

Interviewer: Can you give an example of how you have worked with other teams within the organization to improve security?

Candidate: I collaborated with the network engineering team to identify and remediate network vulnerabilities identified by vulnerability scanning tools. I ensured that the team obtained necessary approvals, communicated to stakeholders and implemented needed changes.

Interviewer: Can you tell me about any experience you have in cloud security?

Candidate: I have experience securing cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. I have also worked with containerization technologies and software-defined networking.

Interviewer: Can you tell me about your experience with authentication and access control?

Candidate: In my current position, I am responsible for designing and implementing authentication and access control strategies to ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of our data. I have experience with two-factor authentication, single sign-on, role-based access control, and multi-factor security.

Interviewer: Can you tell me about your experience with compliance frameworks such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR?

Candidate: I have experience ensuring compliance with compliance frameworks such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR by conducting regular risk assessments, developing policies and procedures, and implementing the necessary technical controls to meet compliance requirements.

Interviewer: Can you give an example of how you have balanced business needs with security goals?

Candidate: In one instance, finance needed to have access to a third-party application that did not meet our security standards. I worked with the third-party vendor to make the necessary improvements and implemented additional compensating controls to address the potential risk of using the application.

Scenario Questions

1. Scenario: Your company has reported a security breach where an attacker was able to obtain sensitive customer data. What steps would you take to mitigate the impact of the breach?

Candidate Answer: I would immediately isolate the affected systems and assess the extent of the breach. I would also notify any affected customers and work to implement safeguards to prevent similar breaches in the future.

2. Scenario: An employee accidentally clicked on a phishing email and provided their login credentials to a hacker. What steps would you take to prevent this from happening again?

Candidate Answer: I would provide additional training to employees on identifying and avoiding phishing emails. I would also implement two-factor authentication to limit the impact of compromised credentials.

3. Scenario: A new vulnerability has been discovered in a software system used by your company. What steps would you take to secure the system?

Candidate Answer: I would work with vendors and internal teams to identify and apply any patches or updates related to the vulnerability. I would also conduct a thorough assessment of the system to identify any other potential vulnerabilities.

4. Scenario: A malware attack has infected several systems within your company, causing significant downtime and data loss. What steps would you take to prevent similar attacks in the future?

Candidate Answer: I would conduct a root cause analysis to identify the source of the attack and implement measures to prevent similar attacks from occurring. This could include implementing security controls such as antivirus software and intrusion detection systems.

5. Scenario: A hacker has gained unauthorized access to your company's network and is attempting to steal sensitive data. What steps would you take to contain the attacker and limit the impact of the attack?

Candidate Answer: I would immediately isolate the affected systems and work to identify the source of the attack. I would also work to implement new security controls to prevent similar attacks in the future, such as firewalls and access controls. Additionally, I would work with law enforcement to identify and apprehend the attacker.
Sample numeric data:
A system has 20,000 unique users, and an average of 2,000 users log in per hour. The system contains 10,000 sensitive files, and each file is accessed an average of 10 times per day.
Other question specifications:
-Detail your experience with incident response and handling security breaches.
-How do you stay up to date with the latest security threats and vulnerabilities?
-Describe a project you have led to improve the security posture of an organization.