Cyber Security Interview Tips | Interview Topics Cyber Security Interview Preparation 2021

Summary

In this video, Sandra dives into essential cybersecurity interview preparation tips, focusing on both technical and behavioral aspects. She emphasizes the importance of understanding encryption, security protocols, and tools, as well as the CIA triad and the cyber kill chain. Sandra also discusses the significance of OSI model knowledge, security attacks, and common practices. She encourages viewers to leverage resources like CompTIA Security+ for foundational concepts and to practice deductive reasoning for scenario-based questions, highlighting the value of a strong learning mindset in the field.

Takeaways

• 👩‍💻 The video is aimed at helping individuals prepare for cybersecurity job interviews, covering both technical and behavioral aspects.
• 🔒 The script emphasizes the importance of understanding encryption, including algorithms like AES and SHA, and the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption.
• 🔍 It highlights the significance of knowing security protocols and port numbers, which are often tested in cybersecurity interviews.
• 🛠️ The video suggests that having knowledge of common security tools such as Burp Suite, Metasploit, and Fiddler is essential for cybersecurity roles.
• 🔑 The CIA triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability) is presented as a fundamental concept in cybersecurity that interviewees should grasp.
• 💡 The script introduces the Cyber Kill Chain as a critical model for understanding the structure of an attack, useful for pen testing and ethical hacking roles.
• 🚨 The importance of understanding security prevention and detection mechanisms, such as intrusion prevention systems and firewall configurations, is stressed.
• 🌐 The OSI model is mentioned as a key networking concept that interviewees should be familiar with to discuss network layer issues during interviews.
• 🔒 The video covers common security attacks like XSS, SQL Injection, and CSRF, advising to check OWASP's list for more vulnerabilities.
• 👀 It advises on the importance of recognizing and understanding phishing attacks and common security practices to prevent them.
• 🤔 Scenario walkthroughs are presented as a common interview technique, where interviewees must apply their knowledge to given situations and think critically.

Q & A

What are the two main types of cybersecurity interview questions discussed in the video?

The video discusses two main types of cybersecurity interview questions: technical questions related to cybersecurity topics, and behavioral questions that involve answering questions about scenarios and basic 'tell me about yourself' questions.

Why are cybersecurity interview questions often considered difficult to answer?

Cybersecurity interview questions are considered difficult because many of them are straightforward and require specific knowledge. If you are asked a question like 'What port is HTTPS on?', you either know the answer or you don't, making it hard to bluff or talk around the question.

What is the importance of understanding encryption algorithms in cybersecurity interviews?

Understanding encryption algorithms is crucial because interviewers often ask about different types of encryption, their security, and appropriate use cases. Knowing common algorithms like AES, SHA, and MD families, as well as the differences between symmetric and asymmetric encryption, can help in answering these questions confidently.

How does the video suggest preparing for cybersecurity interviews in terms of security protocols and port numbers?

The video suggests that candidates should know standard port numbers and their uses, as well as when to use them. It also recommends reviewing the CompTIA Security+ exam materials for a good list of protocols and port numbers, as this certification covers a lot of the foundational knowledge required for cybersecurity roles.

What is the significance of the CIA triad in cybersecurity, and how does it relate to interviews?

The CIA triad consists of Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability, which are the three pillars of cybersecurity. Understanding these concepts is important for interviews because they form the basis of many security discussions and scenarios, allowing candidates to demonstrate their foundational knowledge of cybersecurity principles.

Why is knowledge of security tools important for cybersecurity interviews?

Knowledge of security tools is important because interviewers may ask about common tools used in the field, such as Burp Suite, Metasploit, and Fiddler. Having a general understanding of these tools and their purposes can help candidates answer questions and demonstrate their readiness for a cybersecurity role.

What is the Cyber Kill Chain, and how does it relate to cybersecurity interviews?

The Cyber Kill Chain is a model that outlines the stages of a cyber attack, from the identification of a target to the execution of the attack and control over the target system. Understanding this model is beneficial in interviews, especially for pen testing or ethical hacking roles, as it helps candidates think like an attacker and understand the structure of an attack.

How can the OSI model help candidates prepare for cybersecurity interviews?

The OSI model represents the different layers of a network, and knowing it can help candidates answer interview questions related to network issues and solutions. It provides a framework for understanding where specific network problems might occur and how they can be addressed.

What are some common security attacks that candidates should be familiar with for cybersecurity interviews?

Candidates should be familiar with common security attacks such as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), SQL Injection, and Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF). The OWASP list of common attacks is a good resource to study, as these vulnerabilities are often the focus of penetration testing and are likely to be discussed in interviews.

Why is understanding network security and access controls important for cybersecurity interviews?

Understanding network security and access controls is important because interviewers may present scenarios involving network diagrams or configurations and ask candidates to identify issues or suggest improvements. Knowledge of network components like routers, proxies, and DNS servers, as well as concepts like honeypots, is crucial for these types of questions.

How can scenario walkthroughs in interviews test a candidate's understanding of cybersecurity?

Scenario walkthroughs in interviews can test a candidate's critical thinking and deductive reasoning skills by presenting them with a situation, such as a network attack or a security configuration issue. Candidates are expected to use their knowledge to analyze the scenario and propose solutions or identify problems.