23 Network Security Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our Network Security interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 23 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.
1. Describe a situation in which you embraced a new system, process, technology, or idea at work that was a major departure from the old way of doing things.
How to Answer
Although this appears to be a technical question, eliciting a response with a specific solution, it is actually a behavioral question meant to learn about your adaptability and openness to innovation. Rather than describe the innovation and its benefits, focus on how it was presented to you and how you went about implementing it.
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"Recently, one of our team proposed that we consider adding another layer of protection to our network security infrastructure. This involved adopting a technology we had never used and didn't have a great deal of proficiency with. The team member's presentation in support of this innovation was compelling and well researched, so I approved the project with the condition we run a pilot program on a subset of our data. This proved to be successful and led us to implement the addition across our entire network."
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"The field of network security evolves quickly, especially with the proliferation of more complex threats from a growing number of sources. To be effective, you need to be open to exploring new technologies and resources to add to the organization's arsenal of defenses against intrusions and attempts to compromise the company's data. Recently we became aware of a new technology which promised to exponentially increase our security at a modest cost. However, we didn't have any expertise in this area and would have to update our skills in order to implement the new system. I encouraged our team to commit themselves to take the steps needed to upgrade their knowledge and we eventually integrated the new technology into our network security strategy with great success."
Written by William Swansen
2. Describe a situation in which you embraced a new system, process, technology, or idea at work that was a major departure from the old way of doing things.
How to Answer
The purpose of this question is to find out how flexible and adaptable you are and if you are willing to learn and expand your knowledge. Provide the interviewer with a brief description of how you evaluate a new item in the process of doing your job and how you incorporate it into your portfolio of processes, procedures, and skills. State the benefits to the company because of the way you reacte to this situation.
Written by William Swansen on December 14th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"Technology evolves very quickly in the field of network security so one has to be open to considering new processes and systems as part of the job. I always approach new technology with an open mind, gathering as much information as I can in a reasonable amount of time. I then seek out the opinions of my team and other people within the organization whom I trust. Finally, I do a cost/benefit analysis to see what the impact on the organization may be. Once I've completed this process, I make a decision and commit myself to implement it."
Written by William Swansen on December 14th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"New systems, processes, and technologies that depart from the old way of doing things are the 'shiny baubles' of the network security industry. It is tempting to jump on these new developments and implement them immediately. However, I have seen organizations spend a lot of time and money on new technologies only to realize that they are ineffective or even dangerous. My approach is to keep an open mind about new developments in network security systems and processes but to perform due diligence to verify their claims. If I decide to move forward, I run a pilot of the new system to ensure it works before deploying it across the entire network infrastructure."
Written by William Swansen
3. What immediate changes would you make if you came on board?
How to Answer
This is a dangerous question. Many people will jump at the opportunity to suggest improvements, thinking that this will make them look smart and impress the interviewer. However, just the opposite is true. The interviewer is testing whether you will make decisions and recommendations based on insufficient information. Even if you have done a lot of research about the company, you are not in a position to make recommendations for changes.
Written by William Swansen on December 14th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"Since I really don't know all the details about your network operations, I'd prefer not to make any recommendations for changes at this time. However, once I am hired I will strive to learn as much about the company as quickly as I can and will be on the lookout for opportunities to improve the way things are done. Any recommendations I make will be based on a full understanding of the current situation and will include the costs and benefits of the changes I am suggesting."
Written by William Swansen on December 14th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"Although I've done a lot of research on your organization and am familiar with your network topology and the technology you employ, I don't have firsthand knowledge of your network operations, the threats you face, the IT department's operating strategy or the budget the network security team works with. Once on board, I will come up to speed quickly on each of these issues and can then begin to make recommendations to optimize the network security operations and address the issues the organization is dealing with."
Written by William Swansen
4. What would you do if a fellow manager on your own level wasn't pulling their weight and this was hurting your department?
How to Answer
This is a behavioral question. The interviewer is creating a scenario (which may never happen) and trying to determine how you would deal with it. Remember that 'Behavioral' questions are best answered using the 'STAR' methodology - Situation, Task, Action, Results. If you have experienced this scenario in the past, give a STAR description of how you handled it. If you don't have direct experience with the scenario, create a forward STAR story.
Written by William Swansen on December 14th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"If I encountered this situation, where a fellow executive wasn't cooperating and it impacted my department (S) I would look for ways to get them on board with the goal we were tasked with achieving (T). First, I would discuss it with them to see if I could get them to understand the impact they were having on the task (A). If this wasn't successful, I'd describe the situation to my manager and suggest that they have a conversation with the other person's supervisor, using accomplishing the goal as the incentive for us all to work together (R)."
Written by William Swansen on December 14th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"This has actually happened to me in my current position. I needed the Data Center Manager of our organization to provide me with some resources so my group could add a new firewall to our network. He agreed to do this but kept delaying providing us with what we needed. His rationale was that his team was focused on completing more "urgent" tasks. I met with my manager, explained the situation and suggested he have a conversation with the company's CIO, describing the potential consequences of delaying the implementation of the new firewall. The CIO spoke to the Data Center Manager, who agreed that our project was in fact more urgent than he had originally thought and we received the resources we needed shortly thereafter."
Written by William Swansen
5. What's the most difficult part of being a Network Security Manager?
How to Answer
This question is meant to elicit comments about any hesitation you may have about the position. It provides you with an opportunity to redefine the term used by the interviewer and answer the question in a positive manner, such as using the word 'challenging' in place of difficult. State that a particular aspect of the job is challenging, but that you enjoy challenges and work extra hard to overcome them. Some of your greatest successes have come from challenges because they present opportunities for development and self-improvement.
Written by William Swansen on December 14th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"One of the most challenging aspects of my job is staffing. Network Security Engineers are in high demand. This has resulted in both a shortage of skilled people and the labor pool being populated with credentialed engineers whose training and skills don't match their credentials. I've overcome this by leveraging my network within the industry to identify viable candidates. I then put them through a rigorous interview process to verify their skills and experience. Finally, I've created a program within the organization which provides them with training opportunities and a path to promotions with more responsibility if they meet our strict performance metrics. This has resulted in us being able to both attract and retain the talent we need."
Written by William Swansen on December 14th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"As with any IT organization, one of my biggest challenges has been maintaining a secure network in the face of increasing threats and decreasing resources. We are constantly being asked to do more with less. My solution to this has been to develop strong relationships with our vendors and partners so that we get preferential treatment. Our group has been designated as a beta test site for many of the technology providers we work with. We get early access to some of the most recent technological developments. In return for our willingness to test the products in a production environment and provide feedback to the vendor, we are given free licenses and other benefits. This helps us to keep up with the evolving threat environment while staying within budget."
Written by William Swansen
6. Give me an example of your analytical skills and how you apply them in the field of network security.
How to Answer
This question is meant to address one of the key requirements for someone working in the field of network security. The ability to quickly analyze an issue, identify several alternative solutions for it and then select the course of action that will resolve the situation in a timely and effective manner is key. You should expect this question and prepare for it by having several examples of the process you use to analyze and fix network security problems.
Written by William Swansen on December 15th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"When managing the security of an organization's network, issues occur, the cause of which is sometimes difficult to identify. It often requires a systematic analysis of the problem, research of the probable solutions, then a determination of which fix is most likely to work. I do this in an orderly manner, employing the same process each time and documenting the results in the operations manual for future reference. This methodology helps the team to arrive at a solution in less time and prevents the need to repeat the process when the same or similar problems recur."
Written by William Swansen on December 15th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"Analyzing network security issues and developing solutions to problems quickly is a key skill for a Network Security Manager. I learned to do this both in my initial training and from on the job experience. I have developed a methodology that helps me solve the problem in less time, prevents me from considering ineffective solutions and ensures the issue is less likely to recur. The key to this is documenting all of the team's activity and processes in an operations manual which can then be referred to when issues crop up. The staff can then check the manual to see if the issue has been addressed before, and if not, use a methodical analytical process to search for the solution, which is then added to the operations guide after it has been confirmed that it works."
Written by William Swansen
7. Are you familiar with the concept of 'Unified Threat Management' and can you describe it?
How to Answer
This is another technical question which the interviewer is using to test your knowledge, discover more about your experience and determine if you make it a practice to keep up with trends in the network security space. You should be able to answer this, but if you can't simply explain that while this is something you are unfamiliar with, you are eager to learn and expand your expertise.
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"Unified Threat Management, or UTM, is described as the 'next-generation firewall.' In addition to a firewall (Class 1-5,) it incorporates intrusion prevention, antivirus software, data loss prevention policies, and content filtering. Together, this solution provides the most secure network environment an organization can attain."
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"While I have heard of the concept of Unified Threat Management (UTM) and read some information about it, I am not first-hand familiar with this approach to network security nor have I used it in my previous roles. However, I strive to stay abreast of developments in the network security field and find it easy to learn about new technologies and adopt proven solutions into my network security strategy. I'm confident I can become competent in UTM and implement it into your network."
Written by William Swansen
8. Can you discuss the key features of a Class 1 Firewall?
How to Answer
This is a very straight forward question which is meant to learn about your knowledge of a basic network security technology. Answer it directly and succinctly with minimum additional details. The interviewer will request more details if they are interested in them.
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"The four key components of a Class 1 firewall are it is host-based, performs both packet filtering and stateful packet inspection, may offer Network Address Translation and can filter or allow applications to access the network based on specific HTTPS and DNS rules."
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"There are four key components of a Class 1 firewall, each of which distinguishes this enterprise-level firewall solution from less robust ones. The first and second features are that it is host-based, performing both packet filtering and stateful packet inspection. The firewall may offer Network Address Translation, providing the organization with more flexibility. Finally, the firewall can filter or allow applications to access the network based on specific HTTPS and DNS rules. Together these features create the most secure firewall available."
Written by William Swansen
9. The three key components of network security are securing the network infrastructure, user policies, and physical access. You've addressed how to secure the network infrastructure, so how do you address the other two challenges?
How to Answer
This question is two-fold; it is attempting to both discover your expertise in completely securing the network while also exploring your ability to collaborate with other organizations whose resources will be needed and over whom you have no direct control. Make sure your answer addresses both of these issues.
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"You're correct, in order for the network to be secure, measures must be taken to prevent unauthorized access to the information from online, internal and physical threats. Online is actually the easiest to manage since it is addressable with a wide array of technical resources. Creating user policies such as authorizations, password policies and information sharing within the organization requires the cooperation of other departments within the company. The same is true when preventing unauthorized persons from physically accessing the network infrastructure. My approach to this is to develop strong relationships with all the stakeholders and create policies and procedures which enable them to accomplish their business objectives while still ensuring the security of the information the company depends on."
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"I have found that protecting the network infrastructure from online intrusion is the easiest part of my job. This is because there are many tools and resources available to address this and the IT organization has complete control of this component of network security. Creating policies and procedures for the organization's other stakeholders and preventing unauthorized physical access to the network is more difficult. This is due to the need to work with a wide range of stakeholders and having to negotiate for their cooperation and the necessary resources. What has been effective for me is to provide the other decision-makers with compelling reasons to cooperate with our group, demonstrating the benefits to their departments and the consequences of not fully securing the organization's information assets."
Written by William Swansen
10. Tell me about a time when you had to juggle several projects at the same time. How did you organize your time? What was the result?
How to Answer
Multitasking is a critical skill in many roles, but especially in a dynamic environment like Network Security. Being able to describe your ability in this area is important.
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"My job has always involved managing multiple projects and tasks concurrently. I have found that the key to this is determining the relative importance of each task and weighing this against how critical it is. I then allot enough time for each task to ensure it is completed accurately and on time. This system also helps me identify which tasks can either be eliminated or delegated."
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"During my career, I have developed the ability to effectively multitask. I was recently required to complete several network security tests, application upgrades and staff evaluations in a relatively short period of time. I created a plan which enabled me to allot the appropriate amount of time to each project daily. I was able to easily accommodate the changing priorities and urgencies of the projects by remaining flexible to changing my schedule when it was necessary. I also looked for ways to combine tasks, such as assigning a software upgrade to one of the staff as part of their evaluation. The result was that each project was completed successfully and effectively."
Written by William Swansen
11. Tell me about a project that you planned. How did you organize and schedule the tasks?
How to Answer
The purpose of this question is to determine your organization, project management, and delegation skills. This type of question is usually reserved for more senior professionals and managers. It helps to anticipate this question if you are applying for a role requiring these skills and to have a specific example prepared.
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"During our last network upgrade project, I spent a great deal of time planning the project to determine the timeline, resources required, budget, potential issues and solutions for them. I then created a detailed project schedule with provisions for unforeseen delays, assigned each task to the appropriate staff member and assembled the required resources. I conducted periodic reviews to ensure the project was on schedule, including a final debriefing to discuss how we could improve the process. I ensured everything was documented for use in subsequent projects."
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"I believe communication is the key to successful projects. We recently executed a stress test on our network to ensure the security infrastructure would withstand a strong attack. Our team collaborated on creating a test plan, assigning specific tasks to the appropriate staff member. I ensured that the project plan was clear and that each person knew their role in the test. I scheduled the test during a holiday break to minimize the impact on the business organization and monitored the test closely so it proceeded on schedule. The entire project was documented so it could be reviewed, improved and replicated."
Written by William Swansen
12. What are the three things that are most important to you in a job?
How to Answer
This is a straightforward question that you should be able to easily answer. The key is, to be honest, and avoid the temptation to provide information you think the interviewer is looking for. Your answer and the interviewer's reaction to it will help you determine if you are a good match for this job and organization, which is your objective during the interview. You can organize your answer by citing your preference for supervision, the environment you thrive in, and what you enjoy about the work you do.
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"The top three things that I look for in a job are the ability to act with minimal supervision combined with a supportive manager, an environment which offers challenges and rewards achievement, and the opportunity to celebrate success with a dynamic team."
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"My top three criteria when evaluating a job opportunity include having a management team that has a clear vision, is supportive and encourages initiative, a culture of teamwork where each member of the group contributes to the organization's success, and the opportunity for self-development and career growth."
Written by William Swansen
13. Since you are interviewing for a position in which you will make recommendations to customers about protecting their company's network, I'm curious about what you do to protect your own network at home.
How to Answer
This is a 'trick' question which many applicants won't expect. You need to be prepared for this and should answer it honestly.
If you do not protect your own home as you would a client's network, then suggest to the interviewer the main reason being is that you don't work from home.
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"That's a great question and one I've never been asked before. I take my family's security as serious as I do that of the companies I work with. My home network has all the same security measures I recommend to my customers at work. These include a strong firewall, user authentication, access control, and frequent audits. I also upgrade my network hardware, such as routers and NICs periodically as new security features are released."
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"Funny you should say that. Many of the practices I recommend to secure a company's network I learned while setting up my personal network. These include using the latest versions of the network hardware and software with the most current virus protection, maintaining a strong firewall, and implementing strong user authentication, or passwords, which are updated frequently. I also monitor the network traffic on my home system to determine if any threats exist. To date, I have discovered many attacks on my system from sources around the world, but so far none of them have been successful at breaching my network."
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
14. What do you see as the primary business objective of someone in this position?
How to Answer
This is another question which the interviewer may use to determine the strength of your leadership skills and the vision you will bring to the role. Your answer has to address three key elements: The company's priorities, industry trends and your ability to merge these into a cohesive strategy. You can organize your answer as follows (inserting the specifics relative to the job you are interviewing for:
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"Recent developments in the field of network security indicate that intrusion attempts are utilizing more sophisticated methods and are originating from new sources around the world. I've also noted the company's global expansion and the recent acquisition of organizations with less secure networks. Therefore, the primary objective of the Network Security department is to unify the entire organization under a compressive security system utilizing the most up to date tools and technologies."
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
" The primary objective of the Network Security department is to ensure the safety and security of the organization's data assets. However, the primary business objective of the department is to achieve security in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Since the standard for network security is zero incidents, services can't be compromised, So the Network Security Manager needs to find the right resources at the lowest cost and to implement best practices to leverage both technology and personnel resources in the most efficient manner possible."
Written by William Swansen
15. What do you consider the greatest obstacle you've had to overcome as a Network Security Professional thus far? What steps did you take to overcome it?
How to Answer
An interviewer may ask this question to learn how persistent you are in overcoming a challenge and the scale of the challenges you have had to face during your career. This will let them better determine the extent of your experience, especially if you are applying for a senior role. Answer with a real obstacle and how you overcame it so you will be prepared to answer any follow-up questions the interviewer may ask.
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"By far my greatest challenge as a Network Security Professional has been creating an online security strategy for a large and disparate technology organization which had abnormally high amounts of traffic involving very sensitive data. I overcame this by assembling an innovative team of security specialists and convincing the company to provide us the resources necessary to accomplish the job. The results were no major security breaches and long-term cost savings compared to the organization's previous solution. "
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"As a Network Security Professional, I've encountered many difficult challenges involving both technology and business issues. Ironically, the hardest ones to overcome were the business challenges that centered on resource allocation and budgets. I was able to overcome these by creating compelling business cases for innovative network security strategies and the resources needed to implement them. I then delivered the results I had proposed, thereby justifying the investments the organizations had made in my plans."
Written by William Swansen
16. How do you determine if a Network Security project has been successful? How do you measure up to your own definition?
How to Answer
This is a two-part question that seeks to understand both your knowledge of Network Security and the standards you hold yourself to. The interviewer may also be attempting to see if you have direct experience in the areas they need help with. Answer this question directly by first define the metric you use to measure success in either a common criteria or one you know the company uses. You can then describe a situation in which you exceed this metric.
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"When managing the security of a network infrastructure, I strive to attain zero successful intrusions despite a high number of attempts. In my previous position, I was successful in achieving this during my entire tenure with the company."
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"I hold both myself and my team to very high standards, realizing that our efforts are the only thing standing between the company's safety and a hostile attack which would put the company's data and financial security at risk. During my career and despite a growing number of cybersecurity threats and bad actors, I have a record of zero successful intrusions into the networks my team and I have managed."
Written by William Swansen
17. Why are you looking to change jobs?
How to Answer
This question can really make a lot of job seekers nervous. If you were literally fired from your last job, you're going to have to own up to it and show what you learned from the experience and what measures you have taken to address the reasons you were let go. If you left voluntarily be sure to explain why. For i, you want a different challenge.
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"While I enjoyed my last job and learned a lot while I was there, it became apparent to me that I was not going to be able to advance my knowledge in the field of Network Security if I stayed in that position. The company had decided to 'lockdown' its security by standardizing on the solution it had already adopted and simply updating the system when the vendor offered periodic revisions. I'm looking for an opportunity in which I can continue to learn more about network security practices, products, and techniques. Your company has a reputation for being on the leading edge of network security technology and being open to exploring new and innovative solutions. This aligns better with my career ambitions."
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"Leaving my current company is a difficult decision. I enjoy the work I do and have developed a lot of strong relationships with the people I work with. However, I have realized that I have learned all I can from the organization and that my knowledge of network security had surpassed the organization's requirements. I need to find an opportunity to both apply what I know about network security and continue to expand my knowledge and experience in this area. I'm confident I can bring new ideas to your company and can learn from the rest of the staff. I also understand that you encourage employee development and offer programs to help your workers become more proficient in their jobs."
Written by William Swansen
18. What motivated you to enter the field of Network Security?
How to Answer
The purpose of this question is to explore your passion for your profession and determine how committed you are to pursuing this career path. Your answer to this question should be delivered with enthusiasm, thereby demonstrating your desire to attaining this position and advance in the career.
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
Answer Example
"Ever since I was a child I enjoyed solving puzzles and addressing new challenges. The field of Network Security is very dynamic and changes daily. This is what originally attracted me to pursue a career in the filed and is what has kept me interested in it. I wake up every day knowing that I will be encountering a new challenge and will likely be successful in overcoming it. This is extremely rewarding and keeps me motivated at work."
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
Experienced
"When I was exploring different careers and trying to decide what type of work I wanted to do, the key criteria were something that was challenging and that changed quickly. I also wanted a job where I could make an impact and the results of my work were tangible. Network Security met all of my requirements. The field is dynamic and changes daily, it requires me to stay up to date and to continuously learn new things, and the results are immediately visible, having countered an attempted breach or prevented it from happening in the first place. I can't think of any other career that would provide me with these same benefits."
Written by William Swansen
19. Why should I hire you from the outside when I could promote someone from within?
How to Answer
An interesting question, since research shows that the majority of jobs are either filled by an internal candidate or through a referral from an employee or someone the hiring manager knows. This a great opportunity for you to summarize your qualifications for the job and state how you can help the company achieve its business objectives.
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"I have all the qualifications you mentioned in the job posting and I'm confident my expertise and experience in network security will enable me to excel in this position. Additionally, since I am coming from outside of the organization I will be able to contribute new ideas and techniques that have been proven at the other organizations I have worked for. I will bring a fresh set of eyes that can spot opportunities for process improvements and won't have the bias based on the legacy of how things have been done in the past."
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"Hiring from within the organization is always an option and rewards the current staff by providing them with advancement opportunities. However, when you bring in someone from outside of the organization, you get a fresh set of eyes and a new perspective on how things are done. Since I have worked with organizations similar to yours, I will be able to share my experience and knowledge from my previous jobs and will provide an unbiased and objective opinion on where processes and procedures can be modified and improved. I also bring with me a new network of industry connections that may be helpful in developing additional partnerships and recruiting new employees."
Written by William Swansen
20. We recently had a situation occur where a security problem occurred on our network and the person who detected it wasn't directly responsible for resolving it, even though they had the skills to do so. How would you have handled this situation?
How to Answer
This type of question is known as a 'behavioral question'. It is meant to determine how you react to a common scenario and if your response is compatible with the company's policies. The best way to answer this type of question is to describe how you performed in a similar situation in your current or previous position. You can use the 'STAR' method to answer this - Situation, Tactic, Action, Result.
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"I had to face a similar situation recently at my current job. I discovered a threat to one of our customer's network security, but it wasn't within the scope of my job to notify the network administrator since they worked on another team. I could have easily just asked one of our team members to log in and fix the problem, but this would have gone against our company's policy. Instead, I notified the manager of the other team, identified the issue and suggested a way to resolve it. The manager appreciated my help, and his team quickly fixed the problem. He even let my manager know how I had helped."
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"When I encounter an issue outside my sphere of influence, I always follow company protocol. This is not always the quickest way to address the issue, but the final results usually justify the slight delay. I recently discovered a hole in our network security that could have easily been patched by one of our network administrators, but it was on a piece of equipment our team wasn't responsible for. Since there was no immediate threat, I notified the Sys Admin from another group who was responsible for the hardware of the issue. They immediately fixed the problem and thanked me for bringing it to their attention. "
Written by William Swansen
21. Although you are not an experienced network administrator, you should be fluent in the terminology used in our industry. Can you explain to me the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption and the benefits of each one?
How to Answer
This is a direct question meant to test your knowledge of network security management and determine if you are qualified to make recommendations to the customers of the firm you are interviewing with. You should answer this directly and succinctly.
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"Sure, I'd be happy to. Symmetric encryption uses the same key at both ends of the packet transmission. The two processes involve encrypting and then decrypting the packet. Asymmetric encryption employs two different keys for the two processes. Symmetric encryption is faster but poses a bigger risk since the channel the packet is sent through is unencrypted."
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"Symmetric and asymmetric encryption differ in terms of the keys used to encrypt the data packets. Symmetric encryption involves using a signal key to encrypt and decrypt the packet. This is faster but increases the risk of data loss due to the channel being unencrypted. Asymmetric encryption uses two keys' one to encrypt the packet and a different one to decrypt it. This is a more secure method to transmit data, but the additional key slows the process down. Symmetric encryption is best for low-risk, low-latency applications while asymmetric is best for more secure situations."
Written by William Swansen
22. Many of our clients have been subject to repeated attempts to access their network from unauthorized sources. One type of attack we often see is brute force logins. How do you recommend they defend against this type of attack?
How to Answer
This is a direct question to determine your knowledge in this area. This type of attack is one of the more common ones related to network security, and you should be aware of and able to recommend measures to defend against it.
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
Answer Example
"Brute force login attacks are common, and there are three measures you can use to defend against them. The first is account lockout. Any account attempting this type of access can be locked until the administrator decides if it has been compromised or not. The second defense is called progressive delay. This involves locking the account for a set period of time after several unsuccessful login attempts. Finally, there is the challenge-response test, where users are asked to verify a predetermined security question they set up when registering for their account. I would recommend either one or a combination of these which best meet the client's business model."
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
Experienced
"There are three common methods used to defend a company's network from unauthorized access via a brute force login attack. These are account lockout, progressive delay, and challenge response. Account lockout involves intervention by a system administrator to lock out a user until the admin is satisfied that they are actually who they say they are and simply forgot their password. A progress delay defense employs a timed lockout, ranging from minutes to days to give the user time to legitimately retrieve or reset their password. The final defense, known as the challenge-response requires the user to provide a security reminder that they set up when they registered their account. All three are effective and can be used either alone or together."
Written by William Swansen
Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback
Anonymous Answer
2. 2FA Two factor authentication. Phone or SMS required as a security measure to verify the identity.
3. Specifying the IP from where you can log in."
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23. As I understand it, the network is the most vulnerable part of a company's IT infrastructure. What is your opinion of this and how would you define the threat and risk to a company in terms of network security?
How to Answer
This is a 'set the table' question which provides the interviewer with an overview of your knowledge of and perspective on network security.
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
1st Answer Example
"The network infrastructure is the most vulnerable part of the IT system because it is the easiest part to access. Since all the company's data is transmitted via the network, hackers focus on this to get the data for malevolent uses. This is a threat to the system. The risk is the company's responsibility to secure their users' and customers' information or be subject to fines, injunctions or even shut down. Measures need to be taken to minimize both the threats and the risks related to network security. I am well versed in these and can expound on them if you would like me to."
Written by William Swansen on December 7th, 2019
2nd Answer Example
"I agree with you that the greatest threat to a company's IT infrastructure is the network. Hackers target the network because it is the easiest part of the system to access and because all the data is transmitted over the network. It's the data that hackers want and can cause the most disruption with. The risk to the company if the data is compromised is the loss of business, fines and injunctions and the possibility of being shut down. While the threat associated with network security will always remain, the risk can be minimized through prudent network security practices and procedures."
Written by William Swansen
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