20 Common Cybersecurity Interview Questions and Best Answers

 

1. What is the difference between a threat, vulnerability, and risk?
• Answer: A threat is a potential danger that exploits vulnerabilities, a vulnerability is a weakness in a system, and risk is the potential for loss or damage when a threat exploits a vulnerability.
2. What is a firewall, and how does it work?
• Answer: A firewall is a network security device that monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic and decides whether to allow or block specific traffic based on predefined security rules.
3. What is the difference between IDS and IPS?
• Answer: An IDS (Intrusion Detection System) monitors and alerts administrators of suspicious activity, while an IPS (Intrusion Prevention System) actively prevents threats by blocking or mitigating suspicious activity.
4. Explain the concept of encryption.
• Answer: Encryption is the process of converting data into a coded format to prevent unauthorized access. It uses algorithms and encryption keys to scramble the data.
5. What is multi-factor authentication (MFA)?
• Answer: MFA is a security measure that requires two or more verification factors (e.g., password + fingerprint) to access a system, enhancing security by adding layers of verification.
6. What is a Zero-Day exploit?
• Answer: A Zero-Day exploit is a vulnerability in software that is unknown to the vendor and is exploited by attackers before it can be patched.
7. What is the CIA Triad?
• Answer: The CIA Triad refers to three core principles of cybersecurity: Confidentiality (ensuring data is only accessible to authorized users), Integrity (ensuring data is accurate and unaltered), and Availability (ensuring data is accessible when needed).
  
8. What is SQL Injection?
• Answer: SQL Injection is a code injection technique used to exploit vulnerabilities in an application’s software by injecting malicious SQL queries into input fields to manipulate databases.
9. What are the differences between Symmetric and Asymmetric Encryption?
• Answer: Symmetric encryption uses one key for both encryption and decryption, while Asymmetric encryption uses a pair of keys, one for encryption (public key) and one for decryption (private key).
10. What is a DDoS attack?
• Answer: A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is an attempt to overwhelm a system, network, or website with traffic from multiple sources, rendering it unavailable to users.
11. What is the difference between hashing and encryption?
• Answer: Hashing converts data into a fixed-size string (hash) that cannot be reversed, while encryption converts data into a format that can be decrypted back to its original form with the right key.
12. What are the most common cybersecurity frameworks?
• Answer: Common cybersecurity frameworks include NIST, ISO 27001, CIS Controls, and COBIT. These frameworks provide guidelines for managing security risks.
13. What is Phishing, and how do you prevent it?
• Answer: Phishing is a social engineering attack where attackers impersonate legitimate entities to trick users into revealing sensitive information. Prevention includes awareness training, email filtering, and multi-factor authentication.
14. What is SSL/TLS, and why is it important?
• Answer: SSL (Secure Socket Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security) are protocols used to encrypt data transmitted between web browsers and servers to ensure secure communication over the internet.
15. What is Patch Management, and why is it critical in cybersecurity?
• Answer: Patch management involves updating software with patches to fix vulnerabilities. It is critical because unpatched software is a major security risk that can be exploited by attackers.
16. What is a VPN, and how does it protect data?
• Answer: A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts data transmitted over the internet, ensuring that the data remains private and secure, especially on public networks.
17. What are the most common types of malware?
• Answer: Common types of malware include viruses, worms, ransomware, trojans, spyware, and adware. Each type serves different malicious purposes, such as stealing data, locking files, or disrupting services.
18. How do you ensure a company's data is protected during a cyber incident?
• Answer: Implement incident response plans, perform regular backups, use encryption, and monitor systems continuously to detect and respond to incidents quickly.
19. What is Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), and how does it enhance security?
• Answer: 2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring two verification factors, such as a password and a smartphone authentication app, making it harder for attackers to access systems with stolen credentials.
20. What is the Principle of Least Privilege?
• Answer: The Principle of Least Privilege ensures that users or systems have the minimum levels of access necessary to perform their functions, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or actions.