How does a three-way handshake work in a TCP/IP network?
While networking knowledge is important for a cyber security professional, the interviewer does not expect you to be an expert in this area. They are curious about the depth of your knowledge and how you can apply this to help maintain the security of the organization's IT infrastructure. Therefore, keep your answer brief and to the point when answering this question. The more you elaborate, the more likely you will provide inaccurate information. Long, drawn-out answers also cause the interviewer to become distracted. This may lessen your chance of being offered the position.
Computer networks use a protocol known as TCP/IP. This stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. Network administrators typically manage these networks. However, as a cyber security professional, you need to be intimately familiar with how a network functions, its protocols, and the cyber security vulnerabilities these can create. The interviewer will ask you this question to test your networking knowledge and determine if you can identify the vulnerabilities that need to be addressed within an organization's computer network.
"A three-way handshake is a technique used in a TCP/IP network to create a connection between a host, also known as a server, and a client. It is called a three-way handshake because three steps are required for the client and server to exchange data packets. If any of the steps fail, the information will not be transmitted, and an error message will be issued. This three-step process ensures that both a client and the server are valid and authorized to exchange information."
"TCP/IP networks create a connection between a server and a client using a process known as a three-way handshake. In the first step, a client sends a synchronize packet to the server to verify that the server is available and has open ports. The server responds with a synchronize-acknowledged packet indicating it has open ports. The client acknowledges this and sends an acknowledgment packet back to the server. This establishes a communication channel between the client and the server over which data can be exchanged."
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