Q1
Walk me through how you would analyze a suspicious network traffic pattern detected by your SIEM tool. What indicators of compromise (IOCs) would you look for, and what tools would you use to investigate further?
Why they ask this:* They want to assess your hands-on experience with threat detection, log analysis, and your familiarity with security tools commonly used in incident response workflows.
Q2
Explain the differences between symmetric and asymmetric encryption, and provide a real-world example of when you would recommend each in a tech company's infrastructure.
Why they ask this:* They're testing your foundational cryptography knowledge and ability to make practical security architecture recommendations appropriate to business contexts.
Q3
Describe your experience with vulnerability scanning and penetration testing. How do you prioritize remediation of identified vulnerabilities, and what factors influence your decision-making?
Why they ask this:* They want to understand your hands-on experience with offensive security tools, your risk assessment capabilities, and how you balance security with business priorities.
Q4
What is your experience with identity and access management (IAM) systems, and how would you implement the principle of least privilege across a cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, or GCP)?