100+ Security Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Yes, I am familiar with Dynatrace and Sumo Logic tools.

• I have experience using Dynatrace for application performance monitoring and management.

• I have used Sumo Logic for log management and analytics.

• I am proficient in setting up alerts, dashboards, and troubleshooting issues using these tools.

Protocols are a set of rules that govern the communication between devices or systems.

• Transport Layer Protocols: TCP, UDP

• Internet Layer Protocols: IP, ICMP

• Application Layer Protocols: HTTP, FTP, SMTP

• Routing Protocols: OSPF, BGP

• Security Protocols: SSL/TLS, IPSec

DNS (Domain Name System) is a protocol that translates domain names into IP addresses and facilitates communication on the internet.

• DNS works by resolving domain names to IP addresses through a series of stages.

• The stages of DNS include: querying the local DNS resolver, querying the root DNS server, querying the top-level domain (TLD) DNS server, querying the authoritative DNS server, and returning the IP address.

• DNS uses a hierarchical structure with multiple DNS servers to ...read more

I have worked with various types of CSPM postures including preventive, detective, corrective, and responsive.

• Preventive CSPM posture focuses on proactively identifying and mitigating security risks before they occur.

• Detective CSPM posture involves monitoring and detecting security incidents as they happen.

• Corrective CSPM posture involves responding to security incidents and implementing necessary fixes.

• Responsive CSPM posture focuses on recovering from security incidents and...read more

Securing an API involves implementing authentication, authorization, encryption, and monitoring to protect data and access.

• Authentication: Use OAuth 2.0 or JWT (JSON Web Tokens) to ensure that only authorized users can access the API.

• Authorization: Implement role-based access control (RBAC) to restrict access to resources based on user roles, e.g., admin vs. user.

• Data Encryption: Use HTTPS to encrypt data in transit and consider encrypting sensitive data at rest to protect ag...read more

To configure a firewall from scratch, you need to define rules, set up access control lists, configure NAT, and monitor traffic.

• Define the purpose of the firewall and the network topology

• Create rules to allow or block specific traffic based on IP addresses, ports, protocols, etc.

• Set up access control lists to control traffic flow within the network

• Configure Network Address Translation (NAT) to map internal IP addresses to external ones

• Monitor firewall logs and traffic to ensu...read more

Various types of bugs and methods to find them

• Common bugs include logic errors, syntax errors, and security vulnerabilities

• Use debugging tools like breakpoints and logging to find bugs

• Perform code reviews and testing to catch bugs early

• Examples: buffer overflow, SQL injection, cross-site scripting

Practical pentest involves identifying vulnerabilities in a web application and exploiting them to gain unauthorized access.

• Conduct a thorough reconnaissance of the target application

• Identify potential vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and file inclusion

• Exploit the vulnerabilities using tools such as Burp Suite and Metasploit

• Document the findings and provide recommendations for remediation

• Re-test the application after remediation to ensure all vulne...read more

SP3 architecture is a security architecture designed to protect against malware attacks.

• SP3 stands for Security Platform 3

• It is a hardware-based security architecture

• It is designed to protect against malware attacks by isolating critical system components

• It is used in some Intel processors, such as the Intel Core i7

• It provides a secure execution environment for sensitive applications

I primarily use the following Python libraries: requests, BeautifulSoup, pandas, numpy, scikit-learn, matplotlib.

• requests: for making HTTP requests

• BeautifulSoup: for web scraping

• pandas: for data manipulation and analysis

• numpy: for numerical computing

• scikit-learn: for machine learning

• matplotlib: for data visualization

Applications can be onboarded by following a structured process that includes identifying requirements, testing, and deployment.

• Identify the requirements of the application and ensure that it meets the security standards.

• Test the application thoroughly to identify any vulnerabilities or weaknesses.

• Deploy the application in a controlled environment and monitor its performance.

• Ensure that the application is integrated with the existing security infrastructure.

• Provide training a...read more

XSS stands for Cross-Site Scripting. It is a type of security vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.

• XSS attacks can be used to steal sensitive information, such as login credentials or personal data.

• Attackers can also use XSS to hijack user sessions, redirect users to malicious websites, or deface web pages.

• XSS vulnerabilities can be prevented by properly sanitizing user input and using output encoding to prevent ...read more

Routers connect multiple networks together, while switches connect devices within a single network.

• Routers operate at the network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model, while switches operate at the data link layer (Layer 2).

• Routers use IP addresses to forward data between networks, while switches use MAC addresses to forward data within a network.

• Routers are typically used to connect different networks, such as a home network to the internet, while switches are used to connect de...read more

Subnetting is the process of dividing a network into smaller subnetworks.

• Subnetting helps in efficient utilization of IP addresses

• It improves network performance and security

• Subnetting is done by borrowing bits from the host portion of an IP address

• Example: 192.168.1.0/24 can be subnetted into 192.168.1.0/25 and 192.168.1.128/25

Vulnerability management is the practice of identifying, classifying, prioritizing, and mitigating security vulnerabilities in systems and software.

• Identifying vulnerabilities in systems and software

• Classifying vulnerabilities based on severity

• Prioritizing vulnerabilities based on risk level

• Mitigating vulnerabilities through patches or other security measures

Two numbers can be manipulated using mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

• Addition: add the two numbers together

• Subtraction: subtract one number from the other

• Multiplication: multiply the two numbers together

• Division: divide one number by the other

• Modulo: find the remainder when one number is divided by the other

Encryption is the process of converting data into a coded format, while decryption is the reverse process of converting it back to its original form.

• Encryption transforms plaintext into ciphertext using algorithms and keys.

• Decryption reverses the process, turning ciphertext back into readable plaintext.

• Common encryption algorithms include AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) and RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman).

• For example, when you send a secure email, the content is encrypted to p...read more

To multiply two numbers, you can use the multiplication operator (*) in most programming languages.

• In Python: num1 * num2

• In Java: num1 * num2

• In JavaScript: num1 * num2

• In C++: num1 * num2

• In Ruby: num1 * num2

Attack vectors have three stages: pre-attack, attack, and post-attack.

• Pre-attack stage involves reconnaissance and gathering information about the target.

• Attack stage involves exploiting vulnerabilities and gaining access to the target system.

• Post-attack stage involves maintaining access, covering tracks, and exfiltrating data.

• Examples of attack vectors include phishing, malware, social engineering, and physical attacks.

JWT is a compact, self-contained way to transmit information between parties as a JSON object. OAuth is an open standard for access delegation.

• JWT stands for JSON Web Token and is used for securely transmitting information between parties as a JSON object.

• JWTs consist of three parts: a header, a payload, and a signature.

• OAuth is an open standard for access delegation, commonly used for authorization and authentication.

• OAuth allows a user to grant a third-party application acc...read more

Routing is the process of selecting the best path for network traffic to travel from one network to another.

• Routing involves analyzing network topology and determining the most efficient path for data to travel

• Routing protocols such as OSPF and BGP are used to exchange routing information between routers

• Routing tables are used to store information about network destinations and the best path to reach them

• Routing can be static or dynamic, with dynamic routing adjusting to chan...read more

SSRF is a server-side attack that allows an attacker to make requests from the server. CSRF is a client-side attack that tricks a user into performing an action on a website.

• SSRF stands for Server-Side Request Forgery

• It allows an attacker to send requests from the server to other servers

• This can be used to access internal systems or perform actions on behalf of the server

• CSRF stands for Cross-Site Request Forgery

• It tricks a user into performing an action on a website without ...read more

Burpsuite is a web application security testing tool used for scanning, analyzing, and exploiting web applications.

• Burpsuite can intercept and modify HTTP/S requests and responses

• It can be used for scanning web applications for vulnerabilities

• Burpsuite includes tools for spidering, scanning, and intruder attacks

• It has a repeater tool for manually manipulating and re-sending requests

• Burpsuite can be used for session handling and authentication testing

Passion for protecting data and systems from cyber threats.

• Fascination with technology and computers from a young age

• Desire to make a positive impact by safeguarding sensitive information

• Constantly evolving field with new challenges and opportunities

• Examples: Preventing data breaches, defending against malware attacks

SCIM is System for Cross-domain Identity Management and OpenID is an open standard for authentication.

• SCIM is a protocol that allows for the automation of user provisioning and deprovisioning across different systems.

• OpenID is a decentralized authentication protocol that allows users to log into multiple websites using a single set of credentials.

• SCIM and OpenID are commonly used in identity and access management systems to streamline user management and authentication proces...read more

Threat modelling is a structured approach to identifying and prioritizing potential security threats to a system.

• Involves identifying potential threats to a system

• Prioritizing threats based on likelihood and impact

• Helps in designing appropriate security controls

• Common methodologies include STRIDE and DREAD

• Example: Identifying potential threats to a web application such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, etc.

A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules.

• Acts as a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external network

• Filters traffic based on rules set by network administrators

• Can be hardware-based or software-based

• Can block or allow traffic based on IP addresses, ports, protocols, etc.

• Examples include Cisco ASA, Palo Alto Networks, and pfSense