Cyber Security Mock Interview

Master 47 Cyber Security interview questions covering threat analysis, incident response, and security frameworks.

Question 13 of 47

Explain the differences between TLS, SSL, and HTTPS, and what are the cyber security benefits?

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Example Answer
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Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Community Answers

Tom Dushaj is a business and technology executive and the author of 'Resumes That Work.' Tom has vast experience providing solutions to Fortune 500 companies in the areas of Information Technology Consulting, ERP Software, Personnel Management, and Intern

When responding to this question, first define what each acronym stands for. TLS means Transport Layer Security. HTTPS is a hyper-text transfer protocol. In a network, HTTPS secures communications. Then discuss what they do. HTTPS is a secure HTTP version. An SSL/TLS connection secures any communication sent online. All ongoing communications between the browser and servers are encrypted safely. Finally, discuss the benefits they bring. Your cyber security depends on HTTPS, SSL, and TLS. Websites that don't include all the cyber security measures will get a penalty from Google.

Tom Dushaj

"Securing and protecting our corporate website has always been our highest priority. When I assess how secure our sites are, I look at all the possible vulnerabilities within our systems and take the steps necessary to identify where those weaknesses might be. Let's say your site takes your viewers to a different page to use their credit cards and make purchases. If you did not use HTTPS to secure your site (that padlock image at the top left where the domain address is listed), or if it is incorrectly set up, the content can be intercepted by bad actors (hackers) on your site. I'm tuned into multiple IT news sources and software updates from all our software vendors on the latest hack attempts so that I'm always In the know. I've always had the practice of utilizing two SSL keys, one private key, and the other a public key that everyone knows."

Tom Dushaj

"Say a client visits your site and sees that the information on your site can be easily intercepted; it does not leave an impression of credibility or trust. If your site is not reliable, secure, or safe, why would any client risk a purchase? If they can purchase something similar on a safer site, what would stop them? As a general rule, I always use the Handshake Protocol of TLS which enables authentications for clients and servers. I find this a more secure communication method after the first handshake is a success. If there is a failed handshake the first time, the connection terminates. I also use the STARTTLS (or STLS for POP3 protocol) command for outbound email connections for extra safety. A secure connection is required by specific ports to be able to connect. For example, I would use 995 for secure POP3, 443 for HTTPS, and 993 for IMAP. I already have these ports set up on our server."

William Swansen

William Swansen has worked in the employment assistance realm since 2007. He is an author, job search strategist, and career advisor who helps individuals worldwide and in various professions to find their ideal careers.

Interviewers will ask several different questions about TLS, SSL, and HTTPS. Some of the common ones will be how each works and how they are used. You'll probably be asked to give examples of each in a hypothetical environment. We cover a few scenarios in the answer examples. It's important to do a thorough walk-through and give examples with scenarios of each.

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47Cyber Security Interview Questions & Answers

Technical

1.What is the difference between asymmetric and symmetric encryption, and which one is better?

Operational

2.How do you assess the difference between a cyber threat, vulnerability, and risk?

Operational

3.How do you protect connected mobile devices on your network from cyber attacks?

Operational

4.Do you have a Cyber Security Incident Response Plan?

Operational

5.What are your contingency protocols if your company gets hacked?

Operational

6.Which user applications have you found are most susceptible to being hacked?

Operational

7.What practices do you have in place to monitor and protect against suspicious malware, ransomware, and phishing activity?

Operational

8.How do you enforce the use of SSO (Single Sign-On) & MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) within your company?

Technical

9.Can you tell me the difference between coding, encryption and hashing, and why they are important?

Technical

10.What is the difference between ECB and CBC in an IT security environment?

Operational

11.As a site administrator, what steps do you take to prevent incoming CSRF attacks?

Technical

12.What is PKI, and does it bolster your cyber security defense?

Technical

13.Explain the differences between TLS, SSL, and HTTPS, and what are the cyber security benefits?

Tehcnical

14.What does it mean when there is a Googlebot breach?

Technical

15.How do Ahrefs and SERP impact the security of a website?

Technical

16.Does Google penalize websites with no cyber security?

Tehcnical

17.Can you describe the difference between a Black Hat, White Hat and Grey Hat hacker?

Operational

18.Recently, there have been several virus attacks; what have you done to protect your organization from these cyber attacks?

Operational

19.What is a false positive and false negative alert in the case of Intrusion Detection Systems?

Technical

20.There are different levels of data classification; how are they structured, and why are they required?

Operational

21.In a situation where a user needs admin rights on his system, what protocol do you follow to grant or restrict admin access?

Operational

22.Give me your opinion on Blockchain technology, and how do you think it will revolutionize cyber security?

Operational

23.What are the various ways to inform employees about information security policies and procedures?

Operational

24.How will you detect an incident or data breach, and what steps do you take to prevent it from happening?

Technical

25.Please discuss the CIA triad in the context of cyber security.

Technical

26.Can you describe the differences between a Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing?

Technical

27.How does a three-way handshake work in a TCP/IP network?

Operational

28.What steps would you recommend our employees take to prevent identity theft?

Technical

29.What are the two main types of DDOS attacks, and how can you prevent them?

Technical

30.Can you explain what cognitive cybersecurity is?

Behavioral

31.Can you describe a time you were asked to do something you had never done before? How did you react?

Behavioral

32.Please describe a situation where you needed to adapt a process, procedure, or technology differently from how you usually did things.

Behavioral

33.Can you recall a time you were assigned a task that wasn't a part of your job description? How did you handle this, and what was the outcome?

Discovery

34.Tell me about an aspect of your profession that makes you the most satisfied, energized, and productive at work.

Behavioral

35.Can you give me an example of when you had to work with someone difficult to get along with? How did you handle the situation?

Behavioral

36.Please tell me about a time when something major didn't go according to plan at work.

Discovery

37.Describe a situation where you needed to persuade someone about an idea or process.

Leadership

38.Can you give me an example of a time you led by example and describe what you did and how your team reacted?

Behavioral

39.Tell me about a difficult decision you had to make in one of your previous roles.

Behavioral

40.Can you recall a time your manager was unavailable when a situation arose that demanded an immediate resolution? How did you react?

Discovery

41.When was the last occasion you asked for direct feedback from your manager?

Discovery

42.Can you tell me what your home network consists of?

Discovery

43.What is a professional achievement that you are proud of?

Discovery

44.Why did you choose to interview with our organization rather than with others in our industry?

Discovery

45.What's the most interesting thing about you that I didn't see on your resume?

Discovery

46.What motivated you to make a move from your current role?

Discovery

Cyber Security Mock Interview

Explain the differences between TLS, SSL, and HTTPS, and what are the cyber security benefits?

47Cyber Security Interview Questions & Answers

1.What is the difference between asymmetric and symmetric encryption, and which one is better?

2.How do you assess the difference between a cyber threat, vulnerability, and risk?

3.How do you protect connected mobile devices on your network from cyber attacks?

4.Do you have a Cyber Security Incident Response Plan?

5.What are your contingency protocols if your company gets hacked?

6.Which user applications have you found are most susceptible to being hacked?

7.What practices do you have in place to monitor and protect against suspicious malware, ransomware, and phishing activity?

8.How do you enforce the use of SSO (Single Sign-On) & MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) within your company?

9.Can you tell me the difference between coding, encryption and hashing, and why they are important?

10.What is the difference between ECB and CBC in an IT security environment?

11.As a site administrator, what steps do you take to prevent incoming CSRF attacks?

12.What is PKI, and does it bolster your cyber security defense?

13.Explain the differences between TLS, SSL, and HTTPS, and what are the cyber security benefits?

14.What does it mean when there is a Googlebot breach?

15.How do Ahrefs and SERP impact the security of a website?

16.Does Google penalize websites with no cyber security?

17.Can you describe the difference between a Black Hat, White Hat and Grey Hat hacker?

18.Recently, there have been several virus attacks; what have you done to protect your organization from these cyber attacks?

19.What is a false positive and false negative alert in the case of Intrusion Detection Systems?

20.There are different levels of data classification; how are they structured, and why are they required?

21.In a situation where a user needs admin rights on his system, what protocol do you follow to grant or restrict admin access?

22.Give me your opinion on Blockchain technology, and how do you think it will revolutionize cyber security?

23.What are the various ways to inform employees about information security policies and procedures?

24.How will you detect an incident or data breach, and what steps do you take to prevent it from happening?

25.Please discuss the CIA triad in the context of cyber security.

26.Can you describe the differences between a Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing?

27.How does a three-way handshake work in a TCP/IP network?

28.What steps would you recommend our employees take to prevent identity theft?

29.What are the two main types of DDOS attacks, and how can you prevent them?

30.Can you explain what cognitive cybersecurity is?

31.Can you describe a time you were asked to do something you had never done before? How did you react?

32.Please describe a situation where you needed to adapt a process, procedure, or technology differently from how you usually did things.

33.Can you recall a time you were assigned a task that wasn't a part of your job description? How did you handle this, and what was the outcome?

34.Tell me about an aspect of your profession that makes you the most satisfied, energized, and productive at work.

35.Can you give me an example of when you had to work with someone difficult to get along with? How did you handle the situation?

36.Please tell me about a time when something major didn't go according to plan at work.

37.Describe a situation where you needed to persuade someone about an idea or process.

38.Can you give me an example of a time you led by example and describe what you did and how your team reacted?

39.Tell me about a difficult decision you had to make in one of your previous roles.

40.Can you recall a time your manager was unavailable when a situation arose that demanded an immediate resolution? How did you react?

41.When was the last occasion you asked for direct feedback from your manager?

42.Can you tell me what your home network consists of?

43.What is a professional achievement that you are proud of?

44.Why did you choose to interview with our organization rather than with others in our industry?

45.What's the most interesting thing about you that I didn't see on your resume?

46.What motivated you to make a move from your current role?

47.What's a misconception your coworkers have about you, and why do you believe they feel this way?