Demonstrating your skills and in-depth industry knowledge is key to performing well during a cybersecurity job interview. Interviewers want to know you have the experience and abilities to protect a company from cyber threats and also gauge how well you will fit in within an organization. Being fully prepared for a cybersecurity interview takes time and preparation. In this article, we include many many of the cybersecurity questions that employers ask during interviews, including answers to help you guide your own responses.
General questions
These questions are designed to help the interviewer understand your interest in the position, background and personality, particularly how well you will fit in within the organization.
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
Tell me about your educational background. What did you enjoy the most and the least?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
Tell us something that isn’t on your resume.
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
Where do you see yourself in five years?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
What’s one word you would use to drive your work ethic?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
If you ever came into the office and found your inbox full of over 1,000 emails and you can’t read and reply to all of them, how would you choose which to respond to and why?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
What is your greatest strength? What is your greatest weakness?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
What is your greatest accomplishment?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
Tell me about a problem you overcame.
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
What tech blogs do you follow?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
How do you envision your first 30/60/90 days on the job?
Tell me about your educational background. What did you enjoy the most and the least?
Tell me about your educational background. What did you enjoy the most and the least?
Tell us something that isn’t on your resume.
Tell us something that isn’t on your resume.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
What’s one word you would use to drive your work ethic?
What’s one word you would use to drive your work ethic?
If you ever came into the office and found your inbox full of over 1,000 emails and you can’t read and reply to all of them, how would you choose which to respond to and why?
If you ever came into the office and found your inbox full of over 1,000 emails and you can’t read and reply to all of them, how would you choose which to respond to and why?
What is your greatest strength? What is your greatest weakness?
What is your greatest strength? What is your greatest weakness?
What is your greatest accomplishment?
What is your greatest accomplishment?
Tell me about a problem you overcame.
Tell me about a problem you overcame.
What tech blogs do you follow?
What tech blogs do you follow?
How do you envision your first 30/60/90 days on the job?
How do you envision your first 30/60/90 days on the job?
Questions about experience and background
These questions are designed to help the interviewer evaluate your experience levels, whether your abilities match the qualifications for the position and if your values match those of the organization.
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
Tell us about your personal achievements or certifications.
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
Tell us about your professional achievements or major projects.
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
Do you have a wireless access point and if so, how do you defend it?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
How do you deal with “man in the middle” attacks?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
If you work with a Linux server, what are three steps you have to take to secure it?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
You get a call from an executive who tells you to bend company policy and let them use their home device for company work. What do you do?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
Do you prefer closed ports or filtered ports on your firewall?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
What are your favorite tools for performing security assessments?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
What’s the primary reason most companies haven’t fixed their vulnerabilities?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
If you were to start a job as head engineer or Chief Security Officer (CSO) at a major corporation, what would your priorities be?
Tell us about your personal achievements or certifications.
Tell us about your personal achievements or certifications.
Tell us about your professional achievements or major projects.
Tell us about your professional achievements or major projects.
Do you have a wireless access point and if so, how do you defend it?
Do you have a wireless access point and if so, how do you defend it?
How do you deal with “man in the middle” attacks?
How do you deal with “man in the middle” attacks?
If you work with a Linux server, what are three steps you have to take to secure it?
If you work with a Linux server, what are three steps you have to take to secure it?
You get a call from an executive who tells you to bend company policy and let them use their home device for company work. What do you do?
You get a call from an executive who tells you to bend company policy and let them use their home device for company work. What do you do?
Do you prefer closed ports or filtered ports on your firewall?
Do you prefer closed ports or filtered ports on your firewall?
What are your favorite tools for performing security assessments?
What are your favorite tools for performing security assessments?
What’s the primary reason most companies haven’t fixed their vulnerabilities?
What’s the primary reason most companies haven’t fixed their vulnerabilities?
If you were to start a job as head engineer or Chief Security Officer (CSO) at a major corporation, what would your priorities be?
If you were to start a job as head engineer or Chief Security Officer (CSO) at a major corporation, what would your priorities be?
In-depth questions
These in-depth questions help the person interviewing you get a better understanding of the breadth of your cybersecurity knowledge.
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
How do you go about securing a server?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
Why is Domain Name System (DNS) monitoring important?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
What’s the difference between hashing, encoding and encrypting?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
If you had to compress and encrypt data during a transmission, which would you do first and why?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
Define the salting process and what it’s used for?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
Name three means of user authentication.
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
Why are internal threats usually more effective than external?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
What’s the most effective measure to take against a cross-site request forgery (CSRF)?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
If you were looking for incoming CSRF attacks, what would you look for?
- .css-1g5t2dl{font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;font-weight:inherit;color:#595959;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.5;color:#2d2d2d;margin-bottom:0;font-size:1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;}html[lang=ja] .css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.75;}@media screen and (min-width: 62em){.css-1g5t2dl{font-size:1.25rem;margin-top:2.5rem;}}
What are the advantages of bug bounty programs over normal testing practices?
How do you go about securing a server?
How do you go about securing a server?
Why is Domain Name System (DNS) monitoring important?
Why is Domain Name System (DNS) monitoring important?
What’s the difference between hashing, encoding and encrypting?
What’s the difference between hashing, encoding and encrypting?
If you had to compress and encrypt data during a transmission, which would you do first and why?
If you had to compress and encrypt data during a transmission, which would you do first and why?
Define the salting process and what it’s used for?
Define the salting process and what it’s used for?
Name three means of user authentication.
Name three means of user authentication.
Why are internal threats usually more effective than external?
Why are internal threats usually more effective than external?
What’s the most effective measure to take against a cross-site request forgery (CSRF)?
What’s the most effective measure to take against a cross-site request forgery (CSRF)?
If you were looking for incoming CSRF attacks, what would you look for?
If you were looking for incoming CSRF attacks, what would you look for?
What are the advantages of bug bounty programs over normal testing practices?
What are the advantages of bug bounty programs over normal testing practices?
Interview questions with sample answers
Here are some common interview questions for cybersecurity professionals as well as advice for how to answer them and sample responses.
Explain risk, vulnerability and threat
A good way to answer this question is to start by explaining vulnerability, threat and then risk. Use a simple example to back up your answer.
Example: “Vulnerability refers to a gap in the protection efforts of a system and a threat is an attacker who recognizes that weakness and exploits it. Risk refers to the measure of loss if that vulnerability is exploited. For example, if a company relieves on a default username and password for a server, an attacker could easily crack into the server and compromise the data. The risk would be the measure of loss the occur as a result of that data breach.”
What’s the difference between Symmetric and Asymmetric encryption and which is better?
This is a vast topic so keep your answer simple and direct
Example: “Symmetric encryption uses the same key for encryption and decryption. Asymmetric encryption, on the other hand, uses different keys. Symmetric is usually faster but the key must be transferred over an unencrypted channel. Asymmetric is more secure but it’s slower. The best approach would combine the two, setting up a channel using asymmetric encryption and then sending the data using a symmetric process.
What is Cross-site Scripting (XSS) and how will you mitigate it?
To answer this question, you must understand the different types of XSS and how the countermeasures work.
Example: “Cross-site scripting is a JavaScript vulnerability. The simplest way to explain it is when a user enters a script in the input fields and the input is processed without being validated. This can lead to untrusted data being saved and executed upon on the client side. To mitigate this vulnerability, you can add input validation or implement a content security policy.”
What is a white hat, black hat or grey hat hacker?
You don’t need to go into great depth with your response to this question. Keep your answer simple.
Example: “White hat hackers are authorized to attempt to hack your site under a signed NDA. Grey hat hackers are white hat hackers who sometimes perform unauthorized activities. Black hat hackers refer to those who hack without authority to do so.”
What is data leakage and how will you detect and prevent it?
This is an important question that will tell the interviewer how capable you are of protecting an organization’s data.
Example: “A data leak is when an organization’s data is released in an unauthorized way. Data can be leaked in several ways, including emails, laptops being lost, photographs being released or the unauthorized upload of data to public portals. To prevent data from being leaked, you can use controls to restrict upload on internet sites, putting restrictions on email to the internal network or placing restrictions on the printing of confidential data.”