Cyber Security Analyst Interview Prep: Questions + Answers
In This Guide:
So you’ve learned some Cyber Security skills and now you’re about to interview for your first analyst level role.
However, it can be a little stressful the first time around as the tech interview process is a little more in-depth than the average job. They want you to prove you know what you’re talking about, and so will often ask specific technical questions.
Don’t worry though! If you’ve learned from a good source then you’ll know all of this. However, it doesn’t hurt to do a little prep in advance.
Which is why in this guide I’ll walk you through the top 21 interview questions that you’re likely to get, how to answer them, and why the interviewer is asking these so you can understand the context and importance.
So by the end, you’ll feel ready to talk through them confidently and walk into your interview with a clear head.
Ready?
Let’s dive in. Sidenote: If you find yourself struggling to answer any of these questions, or simply want to add to your skills, then check out my complete Cyber Security course:
This course will take you from ZERO to HIRED as a Cyber Security Engineer. You'll learn the latest best practices, techniques, and tools used for network security so that you can build a fortress for digital assets and prevent black hat hackers from penetrating your systems.
As a ZTM member, you’ll also get access to all of my Cyber Security courses, including how to pass the CompTIA+ security certification, How to become an Ethical Hacker, and more!
With that out of the way, let’s get into these questions.
Beginner Cyber Security interview questions
#1. What’s the difference between a threat, a vulnerability, and a risk?
These three terms form the foundation of every risk assessment, incident report, and triage decision you’ll make as an analyst.
A threat is anything that could cause harm to your systems, data, or operations. That could be a malicious actor, a piece of ransomware, or even something non-human like a power outage
A vulnerability is a weakness that a threat can exploit, such as unpatched software, open ports, overly permissive IAM roles, or poor password hygiene
A risk is the potential for loss or damage when a threat successfully exploits a vulnerability. It’s the intersection of likelihood and impact and what teams are constantly trying to identify, reduce, or accept
For example
If a phishing email targets your organization (threat), and someone on the team reuses a weak password (vulnerability), there’s a very real risk of account compromise and lateral movement.
Why interviewers ask this
Analysts need to prioritize based on the potential impact to the business. So if you can clearly distinguish between a threat, a vulnerability, and a risk, it shows you know how to think critically, investigate incidents, and write reports that focus on impact.
#2. What are the most common types of cyber attacks?
Phishing tricks users into revealing sensitive information, usually through fake emails or login pages that look legitimate. It’s one of the most common attack types because it targets people and not protected systems
Malware is any kind of malicious software such as ransomware, viruses, or spyware that can steal data, damage systems, or give attackers remote access
Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks happen when an attacker secretly intercepts communication between two parties, like between your browser and a website. They’re often used to steal data in transit
Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks overwhelm a system with traffic, forcing it to crash or slow down so real users can’t access it. They don’t always involve data theft but can still cause serious disruption
SQL injection targets websites with poorly protected forms or input fields. Attackers insert malicious code into a field to access or tamper with the backend database
Password attacks involve stealing or guessing user credentials either through brute force, password dumps, or reused credentials found in breaches
Zero-day exploits take advantage of software bugs that haven’t been patched yet. Since there’s no fix available, these attacks are especially dangerous and hard to detect
Why interviewers ask this
They want to know if you actually understand what cyber threats look like in the real world, that you know how they work, and what kind of damage they cause. If you can explain these clearly, it shows you’re ready to spot signs of an attack, ask the right questions, and take action when something looks suspicious.
#3. How does a firewall work?
A firewall acts like a security guard between your internal network and the outside world. It watches traffic coming in and out, and blocks anything that doesn’t follow the rules.
For example
Those rules might say “only allow traffic on port 443 from trusted IPs” or “block anything trying to access this database.” Firewalls make these decisions based on things like IP address, port number, protocol, or in more advanced cases, even the contents of the data itself.
There are two common types:
Network firewalls sit between your internal network and the internet. They filter traffic going in and out of the whole environment
Host-based firewalls run on individual machines and filter traffic specific to that device
Some firewalls are stateless, meaning they treat every packet in isolation. Others are stateful, meaning they keep track of active connections and can make decisions based on the overall flow of traffic, not just one packet at a time.
Why interviewers ask this
They want to see if you actually understand how traffic control works in a real environment, and firewalls are one of the most common security tools you’ll run into.
#4. What is the CIA triad, and why is it important?
The CIA triad stands for Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability, and its the foundation of almost every decision in cyber security. Whether you're setting a password policy, responding to an incident, or building access rules, you're thinking in terms of one or more of these three goals.
Confidentiality is about keeping data private. Only the right people should be able to access sensitive information, whether it’s customer records, login credentials, or internal emails. Common protections include encryption, user authentication, role-based access, and even physical security such as keeping servers in a locked room
Integrity means the data hasn’t been changed, tampered with, or corrupted, either by accident or on purpose. A system log, for example, has to be trustworthy if you're investigating a breach. Tools like cryptographic hashes, digital signatures, and file integrity monitoring help ensure that what you're looking at is exactly what it was meant to be
Availability means systems and data are accessible when needed. This is especially critical in healthcare, finance, and emergency services where if users can't access the tools or information they rely on, then the impact can be serious. Protections here include backup systems, load balancing, and mitigation against DDoS attacks or ransomware that locks users out.
An important thing to also understand is that these three pillars often come into tension with each other due to their tradeoffs.
For example
You might encrypt everything to protect confidentiality, but that could slow down a system and hurt availability. Or you might open up system access to make it more available, but that could increase risk to both integrity and confidentiality. Good security decisions balance those tradeoffs.
Why interviewers ask this
They want to know if you understand what you’re protecting and that you understand a system's priorities. So being able to frame problems through confidentiality, integrity, and availability shows you’re not just following checklists but you’re thinking like someone who can explain risks, justify decisions, and help build smarter security policies.
#5. What’s the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption?
Encryption is how we keep data private, whether it’s being stored or sent across a network. The key difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption comes down to how the keys work.
Symmetric encryption uses the same key to both encrypt and decrypt data. That means both the sender and the receiver need to have access to the same secret key. It’s fast and efficient, which makes it a good choice for encrypting large amounts of data such as entire hard drives or internal backups. The downside is key management in that if someone intercepts the key, they can decrypt everything
Asymmetric encryption uses two keys: a public key and a private key. The public key encrypts the data, and only the private key can decrypt it. This is useful when two parties don’t already share a key. It’s slower than symmetric encryption but essential for things like HTTPS, email encryption (like PGP), and digital signatures. RSA and ECC are common examples
Most modern systems use a mix of both.
For example
When you connect to a secure website, asymmetric encryption is used during the initial handshake to exchange a shared key, but after that, symmetric encryption is used for the rest of the session because it’s faster.
Why interviewers ask this
Encryption is used constantly in real-world systems and you’ll see both symmetric and asymmetric methods in play. If you can explain how they differ, when to use them, and what tradeoffs they involve, it shows you’re ready to talk about security architecture in a meaningful way.
#6. What is multi-factor authentication and why is it important?
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a way of making sure someone really is who they say they are by requiring more than just a password. Instead of relying on a single form of authentication, MFA adds one or more additional layers that fall into different categories:
Something you know like a password or a PIN
Something you have like a phone, hardware token, or authentication app
Something you are like a fingerprint, face scan, or other biometric
For example
To log in with MFA, a user might enter their password on a website (something they know) and then login to their phone with the face (something they are), so that they can approve a push notification on their phone (something they have). This drastically reduces the chances of an attacker getting in because even if they’ve stolen the password, they would still need access to the second factor.
This matters because most breaches start with stolen or reused credentials. MFA doesn't make systems unbreakable, but it raises the bar enough that many attackers will move on to easier targets.
Why interviewers ask this
They’re testing whether you understand real-world access control, not just theory. MFA is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce unauthorized access, and it’s used everywhere from cloud platforms to VPNs to email.
If you can explain how it works, why it matters, and how it fits into layered security, you’re showing that you understand both the technical side and the practical impact.
#7. What’s the difference between a virus, a worm, and a Trojan horse?
These are all types of malware, but they spread and operate in different ways, and they’re often used for different goals. Understanding those differences helps analysts assess how an infection started, how it might spread, and what it’s designed to do.
A virus is a piece of malicious code that attaches itself to a legitimate file or program. It can’t run on its own and needs a user to trigger it, usually by opening an infected file. Once activated, a virus can corrupt data, damage system files, or spread to other files on the same system. The goal is often disruption or destruction, though some viruses are used to quietly create backdoors or disable defenses
A worm spreads automatically through a network, without needing a user to do anything. It often takes advantage of a software vulnerability to copy itself across systems. Worms are designed for scale so they replicate quickly, often with the goal of consuming bandwidth, crashing services, or acting as a delivery system for payloads like ransomware
A Trojan horse pretends to be something harmless like a game, a PDF, or a software installer, but contains hidden malicious code. The user willingly installs it, not realizing what it really does. Trojans are usually designed for stealth. They’re often used to steal credentials, capture keystrokes, or open remote access so an attacker can quietly take control of a system
Why interviewers ask this
Malware isn’t just about infection, it’s about intent. If you can explain how different types operate and what they’re designed to do, it shows you’re ready to analyze alerts, investigate infections, and understand how attackers work.
Intermediate Cyber Security interview questions
#8. What’s a SIEM, and how do analysts use it?
A SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) is a tool that collects, analyzes, and correlates security data from across an organization’s systems. It's a central hub that can pull in events from firewalls, servers, endpoints, applications, and more so analysts can detect suspicious activity and investigate incidents in one place.
At a basic level, a SIEM does two main things:
Log aggregation. It collects and stores logs from across the environment. This gives analysts a historical view of activity across the network, which is critical during investigations
Real-time monitoring and alerting. It applies rules to detect patterns that could indicate threats such as multiple failed logins, unusual outbound traffic, or privilege escalation
But a good SIEM isn’t just about detection. It’s also a key part of incident response. Once an alert comes in, analysts use the SIEM to dig deeper, see what else happened around the same time, and trace an attack back to its source. You might also use it to generate reports for compliance, monitor threat trends over time, or identify gaps in coverage.
Popular SIEMs include Splunk, IBM QRadar, LogRhythm, and Microsoft Sentinel. Many teams also use open-source options like Wazuh or Graylog.
Why interviewers ask this
SIEMs are central to how most security teams operate, especially in larger environments. Interviewers want to know if you’ve seen one in action or at least understand how it’s used to detect and respond to threats.
#9. How would you respond to a phishing email incident?
Phishing emails are one of the most common entry points for attackers, so knowing how to respond is critical for any analyst. A good answer here shows that you can stay calm, follow a process, and think both tactically and strategically.
Here’s how a typical response might look:
Report and preserve the evidence If a user reports a suspicious email, your first step is to preserve it. Don’t delete it. You’ll want to analyze the headers, links, attachments, and content. If the email hasn’t been opened or clicked yet, that’s a best-case scenario but it should still be treated as a potential threat without assuming compromise.
Check for impact If the email was clicked or an attachment was opened, you’ll need to assess whether any malicious payload was executed. Look for signs like unexpected processes, network connections, or downloads on the user’s machine. This is where tools like endpoint detection and the SIEM come into play.
Isolate and contain If you find signs of compromise, isolate the affected device from the network to stop any lateral movement or data exfiltration. At the same time, check if similar emails were sent to others in the organization as many phishing campaigns will try to hit multiple inboxes at once.
Remove the threat and clean the system Once the immediate risk is contained, you’ll want to remove any malware, close off any backdoors, and reset credentials if login data may have been stolen. This might involve scanning the device, restoring from backup, or rebuilding the machine entirely depending on severity.
Report and communicate Document the timeline, what was affected, and what was done in response. Communicate clearly with both technical teams and leadership. If user awareness is part of the issue, this is also a teaching opportunity to prevent future incidents.
Why interviewers ask this
Phishing attacks happen constantly, and how you respond makes a huge difference. If you can walk through a clear, structured process, it shows you know how to protect data, prevent escalation, and work within a security team to limit the damage.
#10. What’s the difference between IDS and IPS?
An IDS (Intrusion Detection System) and an IPS (Intrusion Prevention System) both monitor network traffic for suspicious or malicious activity, but the key difference is what they do when they detect something.
IDS is passive. It detects and alerts. If it sees unusual behavior like port scanning, malware signatures, or protocol anomalies then it raises a flag, but it doesn’t block the traffic. Think of it like a smoke detector: it warns you there’s a problem, but it doesn’t put out the fire
IPS is active. It detects and blocks. When it sees something malicious, it can drop the packet, reset the connection, or block the offending IP address on the spot. This makes IPS more proactive, but also more sensitive. If not configured carefully, it can create false positives that block legitimate traffic
Both systems often use similar detection methods:
Signature-based detection looks for known patterns of malicious behavior
Anomaly-based detection flags behavior that deviates from the norm, even if it doesn’t match a known threat
In many environments, IDS and IPS are combined into a single system (often called IDPS), or are built into next-generation firewalls. Analysts may still review alerts manually even in IPS setups, especially when there’s a risk of blocking business-critical traffic.
Why interviewers ask this
They’re checking whether you understand how network monitoring works and what the tradeoffs are between detection and prevention. If you can explain the difference clearly and talk about where each system fits in a layered defense strategy, then it shows that you’re ready to reason through real-world security architecture decisions.
#11. Can you walk me through how SSL/TLS works?
SSL (now deprecated) and TLS (its modern replacement) are cryptographic protocols that secure data as it moves across a network - especially the internet. When you visit a secure website (the kind with “https”), you’re using TLS to protect the connection between your browser and the web server.
Here’s how it works at a high level:
The handshake When a client (like a browser) connects to a server over HTTPS, they begin with a TLS handshake. This involves negotiating which version of TLS to use, selecting encryption algorithms, and exchanging digital certificates to prove the server’s identity.
Certificate validation The server sends a public certificate which is usually issued by a trusted certificate authority (CA). The client checks this certificate to make sure it’s valid, hasn’t expired, and matches the domain. This step ensures you're talking to the right server, not an impersonator.
Key exchange Once the certificate is validated, the client and server agree on a shared session key using asymmetric encryption (like RSA or Diffie-Hellman). This key will be used to encrypt the rest of the session using faster symmetric encryption.
Secure communication From that point forward, all data sent between the two is encrypted using the shared key. This protects against eavesdropping (confidentiality) and tampering (integrity).
TLS also includes protections like message authentication codes (MACs) to verify the data hasn't been altered, and sequence numbers to prevent replay attacks.
Why interviewers ask this
TLS is everywhere, from web browsing to APIs to email encryption. If you can explain the handshake, the use of certificates, and why symmetric and asymmetric encryption are both involved, it shows you’ve got a practical handle on how secure systems are built.
#12. How do you stay current with security news and emerging threats?
Cyber security changes fast. New vulnerabilities are discovered daily, attackers constantly evolve their tactics, and tools you learned a few months ago might already be outdated, so it’s vital to stay current.
A strong answer here isn’t about listing every blog you follow, but showing that you treat staying informed as an active habit, not a one-off task.
Here's how many analysts do it:
Security news sources. Sites like Krebs on Security, The Hacker News, and Dark Reading offer daily updates on breaches, threat actor activity, and major vulnerabilities
Threat intelligence feeds. Free or commercial feeds (like AlienVault OTX, Recorded Future, or CISA advisories) help you track active IOCs and attack patterns
Podcasts and YouTube channels. For passive learning during a commute or downtime. Examples include Malicious Life, CyberWire Daily, or John Hammond for hands-on content
Twitter/X and LinkedIn. Many researchers and vendors post zero-day alerts or PoCs here before they make it into official channels
Hands-on platforms. Labs and CTFs (like TryHackMe, Hack The Box, or Immersive Labs) often tie exercises to recent attacks, letting you learn by doing
More important than the sources themselves, is showing how you use them.
What do I mean?
Well, reading about a CVE is one thing but pulling it into your lab, trying to exploit it safely, and understanding how to detect or block it in your environment is what sets professionals apart.
Why interviewers ask this
If you treat security like a static checklist, you’ll quickly fall behind. But if you’re proactive then it shows you’re growing into the kind of analyst teams rely on to stay ahead of the curve.
#13. What’s the difference between encoding, encryption, and hashing?
These three techniques all involve transforming data but their purpose, reversibility, and security are completely different.
Let’s break them down:
Encoding is about formatting data so it can be safely transmitted or stored. It’s not meant for security. Anyone who knows the encoding method can reverse it. For example, Base64 encoding takes binary data and turns it into ASCII characters so it can be sent in an email or URL. It’s reversible and not designed to hide or protect data
Encryption is about securing data by making it unreadable to anyone without the proper key. It’s reversible but only if you have the right key. This is what we use to protect data in transit (like HTTPS) or data at rest (like encrypted hard drives). It’s all about confidentiality
Hashing is about verifying data integrity. It transforms input data into a fixed-length value (a hash), and this process is one-way. You can’t reverse it to get the original input. Even a small change in the input will produce a completely different hash. This is how passwords are stored securely, or how files are checked for tampering. If two hashes match, you can trust the data hasn’t changed
Why interviewers ask this
They want to see whether you understand what these tools are actually for. Misunderstanding them and thinking something like Base64 is a secure way to store passwords is a big red flag. But if you can clearly explain the purpose and limitations of each, it shows you’re ready to use the right technique for the right job.
#14. What steps would you take if you saw unusual outbound traffic from a user’s machine?
Unusual outbound traffic can be an early sign that something’s wrong, such as malware communicating with a command-and-control (C2) server, data being exfiltrated, or a compromised account misbehaving. So how you respond shows whether you can investigate without jumping to conclusions, contain the issue, and prevent damage.
Here’s how most analysts approach this:
Validate the alert First, confirm whether the traffic is actually unusual. False positives are common, so check the destination IP or domain. Does it look suspicious? Is it known on threat intel feeds? What protocol is being used, and what port?
Correlate with other logs Use your SIEM or EDR tool to see what else the system or user was doing around the same time. Were there failed login attempts? New processes? File access or downloads? This helps you understand the broader picture and whether the traffic is part of a larger pattern.
Check for known threats Look up indicators of compromise (IOCs) tied to the destination. Use tools like VirusTotal, URLhaus, or commercial threat intel platforms to see if others have flagged it as malicious.
Isolate the host if needed If you suspect compromise, isolate the system from the network to stop further damage. This might be as simple as disabling the port, blocking outbound traffic, or using EDR containment features.
Dig into the root cause What initiated the traffic? Was it a user action, a scheduled task, or malware? Check process trees, command history, browser sessions, or installed applications to find out what triggered the connection.
Remediate and monitor If you confirm a threat, remove any malware or unauthorized software, reset credentials if needed, and tighten firewall rules or endpoint controls. Keep monitoring the host after remediation to ensure there’s no reinfection or missed backdoor.
Why interviewers ask this
They’re looking for a structured, thoughtful approach and not just “block it and move on.” If you can show that you know how to investigate thoroughly and balance action with caution, it proves you’re ready to respond to incidents in a real-world environment.
Advanced Cyber Security interview questions
#16. How would you perform a root cause analysis after a security incident?
Root cause analysis (RCA) is about understanding why an incident happened and not just what it was. It’s how security teams move from reacting to a current issue to preventing future ones, by identifying the real weakness that let the incident occur and making sure it doesn’t happen again.
Here’s how a solid RCA typically unfolds:
Confirm the timeline Start by establishing when the incident began, when it was detected, and when it was contained. Use SIEM logs, endpoint data, alerts, and timestamps from involved systems to create a reliable sequence of events.
Trace the initial access point Figure out how the attacker got in. Was it a phishing email, a vulnerable public-facing service, stolen credentials, or insider activity? Look for signs in web logs, firewall rules, email headers, or authentication logs.
Map the attack path What did the attacker do once inside? Did they move laterally, escalate privileges, or access sensitive data? Use endpoint telemetry, command histories, or file access logs to recreate their movements. Pay close attention to what tools or scripts they used.
Identify what failed This is the actual “root cause.” Was it a missing patch, poor logging, overly permissive access, or lack of monitoring? You’re looking for the underlying gap in controls or process that made the attack possible or allowed it to escalate.
Document the findings Write a clear, structured report that explains the timeline, impact, and root cause in plain language. Include any assumptions made, evidence collected, and technical indicators. Your report may also go to non-technical stakeholders, so clarity matters.
Recommend corrective actions RCA is only useful if it leads to change. That might mean improving detection rules, tightening access policies, patching systems, updating response procedures, or training staff.
Why interviewers ask this
They want to know if you think beyond alerts and symptoms, so if you can walk through how you'd reconstruct an attack, isolate the true cause, and help the team learn from it, you’re showing you’re ready to contribute at a higher level, not just react to alarms.
#17. Describe a threat-hunting approach you would use in a large network
Threat hunting is about proactively looking for signs of compromise that your tools didn’t catch. It’s different from alert-driven investigation where you respond to something the system flagged. Hunting starts with curiosity and experience, not a triggered rule.
In a large network, you often don’t get a clean signal. Attackers can blend in with legitimate traffic, use stolen credentials, or exploit tools already used by admins. So a strong threat-hunting process is methodical and grounded in attacker behavior.
Here’s how it typically works:
Form a hypothesis based on threat intel or behavior This hypothesis might come from recent alerts, intelligence about active groups, or gaps in your existing detection coverage. Starting with behavior (rather than just indicators) is key because it leads to better long-term detection. For example,“What if a threat actor is using a legitimate service account to move laterally via RDP?”
Identify relevant data sources Choose which logs or telemetry can confirm or disprove the hypothesis. That might include authentication logs, network traffic, endpoint process data, DNS queries, or cloud activity logs. In large networks, narrowing your scope (to a department, time range, or known high-risk system) helps avoid drowning in data.
Hunt for patterns that match attacker tactics For example, if you’re hunting for lateral movement, you might look for:
Unusual RDP sessions outside business hours
Service accounts logging into user endpoints
Windows Event ID 4624 logons with suspicious process activity
Sort the data Tools like Splunk, Elastic, Velociraptor, or Jupyter notebooks can help sift through large volumes of data quickly. If your org uses the MITRE ATT&CK framework, it can guide which behaviors to hunt for and help map what techniques you already cover.
Investigate anything that stands out If you see something odd like a PowerShell script executed by a user who rarely uses PowerShell and then trace it further. What host was it run on? What happened before and after? What other systems did that user touch? This is where pivoting through log data is critical.
Document your findings and improve detection Even if you don’t find an active threat, the hunt still has value. You may identify noisy logs, blind spots in coverage, or gaps in existing rules. Any useful patterns you uncover can be turned into new detection rules to automate alerts next time.
Why interviewers ask this
They’re testing whether you understand how advanced threats behave and whether you can take initiative without waiting for an alert.
If you can walk through a real hunting process, grounded in attacker behavior and backed by smart use of data, it shows you're ready to contribute beyond the basics of alert triage and into long-term defense improvement.
#18. What steps would you take to reduce false positives in IDS alerts?
False positives can overwhelm security teams, waste time, and hide real threats. The goal is to tune the system so it detects real threats, not routine business activity, without suppressing anything important.
Here’s how you’d approach that:
Prioritize the noisiest rules Start by identifying which signatures are firing the most. For example, maybe a rule is flagging internal vulnerability scans as port scans, or triggering on encrypted traffic that can’t be inspected. Group alerts by signature ID, source, and destination so you can focus on what’s creating the most noise.
Understand the traffic and business context Work with IT or networking teams to understand what that traffic actually is. Maybe a daily database backup to cloud storage is triggering a data exfiltration alert. Or maybe an in-house monitoring tool is sending pings that the IDS interprets as a reconnaissance scan. If you don’t understand what “normal” looks like, you’ll keep chasing harmless events.
Tune the rules This is where you adjust the logic of the rule:
Add exceptions based on IP address or port (e.g. exclude internal tools or trusted services)
Modify the pattern to be more specific (e.g. match only on a certain payload size or header)
Tighten the time window or event threshold (e.g. only trigger on 5+ failed logins within 60 seconds)
In tools like Snort or Suricata, this often means editing rule files directly or writing suppression rules. In commercial tools, it may involve using built-in filters or UI-based rule editors.
Layer in contextual detection If your IDS supports it, integrate threat intelligence, geolocation, or asset criticality. For example, you might accept certain traffic from internal dev systems but alert if the same activity comes from a public IP or hits a production database.
Test, monitor, and iterate After tuning, test against both real traffic and simulated attacks. Did you eliminate noise without silencing something important? Add logging to track suppression hits over time so you can revisit them if behavior changes.
Document everything False positive tuning decisions should be recorded: what was changed, why it was safe, and who approved it. This helps with audits, team transparency, and long-term tuning hygiene.
Why interviewers ask this
They’re testing whether you understand the balance between visibility and signal quality. Anyone can say “tune the IDS,” but they’re looking for someone who can explain how to do it, why it's necessary, and how not to break detection in the process.
So if you can talk through real examples of reducing alert fatigue while preserving coverage, it shows you’re ready to own part of the detection engineering pipeline.
#19. How would you secure an AWS-hosted web app from common vulnerabilities?
Securing a web app in AWS means protecting both the application layer and the cloud infrastructure it runs on. (Attackers don’t care where the weak spot is, whether it’s in your code, your misconfigured S3 bucket, or your overly permissive IAM roles).
So a good answer here shows that you understand how to think across layers and not just at the surface.
Here’s how you’d approach it:
Start with application security basics Make sure the app itself follows best practices:
Input validation and output encoding to prevent injection attacks (like SQLi or XSS)
Use modern authentication protocols (like OAuth or OpenID Connect)
Store passwords with strong hashing algorithms (e.g., bcrypt, Argon2)
Sanitize file uploads, enforce HTTPS, and implement rate limiting for brute-force protection
Use AWS services to your advantage AWS offers tools built for secure deployment:
Use WAF (Web Application Firewall) to block common attack patterns like SQL injection or XSS
Set up Shield or Shield Advanced to mitigate DDoS attacks
Enable CloudFront for CDN-level security and TLS termination
Store secrets using AWS Secrets Manager, not in environment variables or code
Lock down S3 and other storage buckets One of the most common AWS mistakes is making S3 buckets public by default.
Enable bucket policies to restrict access to trusted services or users only
Use server-side encryption to protect stored data
Enable logging to monitor access and detect misconfigurations early
Harden the EC2 and Lambda environments If you're using EC2:
Only allow required inbound traffic (e.g., HTTPS on port 443)
Apply patches regularly using AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager
Use IAM instance roles instead of hardcoded credentials
If you're using serverless (Lambda):
Limit each function’s permissions to exactly what it needs (principle of least privilege)
Monitor invocation patterns to detect abuse or compromise
Use IAM and access control carefully IAM roles and policies are dangerous if misused.
Avoid wildcard permissions (e.g., "s3:*")
Enable MFA for all users, especially root
Regularly audit IAM policies and rotate credentials
Monitor, log, and alert
Enable CloudTrail for auditing AWS API activity
Use GuardDuty to detect suspicious behavior across AWS services
Centralize logs in CloudWatch and set up alerts for anomalies (e.g., unauthorized API calls or sudden traffic spikes)
Why interviewers ask this
Securing an AWS-hosted web app isn’t just about writing safe code, It’s also about using cloud-native tools, locking down infrastructure, and understanding shared responsibility.
So if you can walk through multiple layers of protection you’re showing you’re ready to secure real-world cloud deployments.
#20. What’s your approach to creating a layered security strategy?
A layered security strategy, (also called defense in depth), means building multiple overlapping defenses so that if one control fails, others are still in place to protect the system. No single solution is perfect. Attackers often exploit the gaps between layers, so the idea is to minimize those gaps and make compromise as difficult and time-consuming as possible.
Here’s how to approach it in practice:
Start with understanding what you're protecting Every security decision should be tied to an asset. Is it customer data, intellectual property, critical infrastructure? Understanding what's most valuable helps prioritize the strongest protections where they matter most.
Build layers across different domains A good layered strategy includes controls at multiple levels:
Network layer. Use firewalls, network segmentation, VPNs, and traffic filtering
Endpoint layer. Use EDR tools, host-based firewalls, app whitelisting, local encryption
Application layer. Use secure coding practices, web application firewalls, authentication controls
Data layer. Make sure to use encryption at rest and in transit, access controls, data loss prevention
Identity layer. Employ role-based access, MFA, least privilege, SSO
Monitoring and detection. Use SIEM, anomaly detection, alerting, centralized logging
Response and recovery. Make sure to have backup systems, playbooks, incident response planning
Apply the principle of least privilege everywhere Every user, system, and process should only have the access it absolutely needs and nothing more. This reduces the blast radius of a breach and helps limit lateral movement.
Assume breach Don’t just focus on keeping attackers out. Design your layers assuming someone will eventually get in. That means building detection and containment into your strategy, not just prevention. For example, even if a phishing email gets through, endpoint detection and rapid isolation can stop it from spreading.
Regularly test and validate the layers Run tabletop exercises, red team engagements, or even internal audits to make sure the layers are working together. Just because a control exists doesn’t mean it’s effective or properly configured.
Prioritize usability and maintainability A layered strategy is only effective if it’s usable. If your controls are too restrictive, users will find workarounds. If they’re too complex, they’ll be misconfigured. Balance matters just as much as coverage.
Why interviewers ask this
They’re looking for strategic thinking and not just whether you know tools, but whether you understand how to build resilience. If you can walk through how to combine prevention, detection, and response across layers and explain why each matters, you’re showing that you think like someone who can help design secure systems, not just patch them.
#21. What’s the difference between red teaming, blue teaming, and purple teaming?
Red, blue, and purple teaming is a structured approach to testing and improving security defenses. It’s a deliberate framework used across the industry to simulate attacks, measure detection, defense, and response, and improve over time.
Here’s how it works:
Red teams simulate real-world attackers. Their job is to find weaknesses and exploit them such as phishing users, exploiting vulnerabilities, moving laterally across systems. The goal is to test how well defenses hold up, not just whether a tool catches something
Blue teams are the defenders. They monitor logs, detect suspicious activity, investigate alerts, and respond to threats. In a red team exercise, they often don’t know what’s coming, which helps simulate the stress and unpredictability of real-world incidents
Purple teaming is about collaboration. So instead of testing defenses in a silo, red and blue teams work together. They share what was done, what was missed, and what needs to improve. Purple teaming turns red vs. blue into a feedback loop that strengthens both offense and defense
Why interviewers ask this
Knowing the difference between red, blue, and purple teaming shows that you’re thinking beyond isolated tools and alerts. You’re thinking in terms of long-term, structured resilience.
How did you do?
So there you have it - 21 of the most common cyber security analyst interview questions and answers you’re likely to encounter.
What did you score? Did you nail all 21 questions? If so, it might be time to move from studying to actively interviewing!
Didn't get them all? Got tripped up on a few or some of the details? Don't worry because I'm here to help!
If you want to fast-track your skills, build hands-on experience, and get even more interview-ready, then check out my full Cyber Security Analyst course:
This course will take you from ZERO to HIRED as a Cyber Security Engineer. You'll learn the latest best practices, techniques, and tools used for network security so that you can build a fortress for digital assets and prevent black hat hackers from penetrating your systems.
Plus, once you join, you'll have the opportunity to ask questions in our private Discord community from me, other students and working tech professionals.
If you join or not, I just want to wish you the best of luck with your interview!
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