1. Differentiate between Routers and Switches, highlighting their respective functionalities and use cases in a network environment.

2. Can you explain what a VLAN is and why it is used in network environments? Additionally, could you describe some common benefits and potential security considerations associated with implementing VLANs?

3. What is the distinction between a Layer 2 and a Layer 3 switch? How does a Layer 3 switch differ from a traditional router in terms of functionality and use cases within a network? Could you provide an example scenario where a Layer 3 switch would be the preferred choice over a router?

4. Compare Switches and Hubs, outlining the distinctions in terms of collision domains, unicast, multicast, broadcast, half-duplex, and full-duplex communication.

5. Explain the significance of various protocols and ports such as ARP, ICMP, DHCP, DNS, HTTP, HTTPS, RDP, SMTP, and LDAP in network communication.

6. Describe the fundamental components of Active Directory, including assets, forest structure, Group Policy Objects (GPO), and Organizational Units (OU).

7. Discuss the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) and its role in routing protocols, particularly in large-scale networks and the internet.

8. Define the basic functionality of a Firewall and how it helps in safeguarding networks by controlling incoming and outgoing traffic.

9. Explore the OWASP TOP 10 vulnerabilities, such as SQL Injection, XSS, and Clickjacking, and their potential impact on web applications.

10. Elaborate on key web security mechanisms like Content Security Policy (CSP) and HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS), and their role in mitigating web-based attacks.

11. Differentiate between Symmetric Encryption (e.g., AES) and Asymmetric Encryption (e.g., RSA), and compare them to Hashing, Obfuscation, Encoding, and Steganography, discussing their unique applications.

12. Examine DDoS attacks, distinguishing between Volumetric Attacks and Application Layer Attacks, and explore strategies to mitigate these threats.

13. Outline the various phases of Penetration Testing, including Spoofing and Sniffing, and how they aid in identifying vulnerabilities within a system.

14. Describe the phases of Incident Response and their significance in efficiently handling cybersecurity incidents.

15. Analyze different social engineering techniques like Phishing, Spear Phishing, Smishing, and Vishing, discussing their methods of exploitation and prevention.

16. Evaluate the pros and cons of Open Source Solutions versus Commercial Solutions concerning their security capabilities.

17. Explain the importance of compliance standards like PCI DSS and ISO 27001 in ensuring a secure and compliant environment for handling sensitive data.

18. Discuss various file systems, such as NTFS, FAT, FAT32, and Ext4, and their respective features. Also, explain the process of mounting in file systems.

19. Explore aspects of Linux, including different distributions, permissions, processes, and packaging systems commonly used in Linux environments.

20. Outline troubleshooting techniques for resolving issues related to internet connectivity and Blue Screen errors. Also, discuss the role of Print Servers in network printing.

21. Compare the security aspects of Windows, Linux, and macOS operating systems, discussing their strengths and weaknesses.

22. Introduce the concepts of Threat Hunting and OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence), emphasizing their importance in proactively identifying and addressing potential threats.

23. Define and differentiate between vulnerability, risk, and threat, and how they contribute to the overall cybersecurity posture of an organization.

24. Provide an overview of MITRE ATT&CK and Cyber Kill Chain frameworks, illustrating how they are used to map and analyze cyber-attacks.

25. Explore Essential Cybersecurity Controls (ECC) and their significance in establishing a robust cybersecurity framework.

26. Explain the roles of Proxy and Reverse Proxy in enhancing security and privacy, particularly in web applications and networks.

27. Discuss the concept of Network Segmentation and its importance in preventing lateral movement and containing potential security breaches.

28. Introduce various security solutions such as

    • EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response)
    • XDR (Extended Detection and Response)
    • WAF (Web Application Firewall)
    • PAM (Privileged Access Management)
    • SIEM (Security Information and Event Management)
    • FIM (File Integrity Monitoring)
    • SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response)
    • NDR (Network Detection and Response)
    • DLP (Data Loss Prevention)

Highlight their respective roles in enhancing cybersecurity defenses.

30. What is the CIA triad, and how does it relate to information security?

31. Can you explain the concept of defense in depth in the context of cybersecurity?

32. What is the principle of least privilege, and how does it enhance system security?

33. Describe the concept of Virtual Private Network (VPN) and its significance in securing communications over the internet.

34. How does Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enhance user authentication and why is it considered a best practice for securing accounts and systems?

35. Explain the concept of a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and its role in enabling secure digital communication and authentication.

36. Describe the principles of secure coding practices and their importance in developing robust and resilient software applications.

37. Can you elaborate on the concept of "zero trust" architecture and its advantages in modern network security designs?

38. What are the essential components of a disaster recovery plan, and how does it differ from a business continuity plan in the context of cybersecurity?

39. Describe the significance of Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security (SSL/TLS) protocols in securing web communications and data integrity.

40. Can you explain the concept of a zero-day vulnerability and discuss strategies for addressing these types of threats proactively?

41. What are the best practices for securing sensitive data stored in databases and how can encryption play a crucial role in this context?

42. Can you explain the role of a mail gateway in an organization's cybersecurity strategy and how SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) technologies contribute to enhancing email security? Could you provide an example of a real-world scenario where the correct implementation of SPF and DKIM could have prevented a potential email-based security breach?

1. What are the scanning strategies for DMZ environment ?

2. How privilege escalation happens ?

3. Any vulnerability from past which grabbed your attention ?

4. What will you do if you find ports 21, 22, 80 and 443 open during a blackbox test on a

particular IP ?

5. Between infrastructure and web application security, which is your strong domain ?

6. Why did Spring4Shell did not gain as much popularity as Log4j ?

7. If you remove the vulnerable JNDI classpaths from the Log4j library, will it be an acceptable

solution ?

8. Recent vulnerability in Microsoft Office ?

9. Why later versions of TLS are better than previous versions ?

10. Tell some KPIs related to VM ?

11. In "MAP" report, what are A, S, L and N ?

12. What are the steps to deploy a scanner appliance and where you will deploy scanner

appliance in a data centre ?

13. After authenticated scan is completed, how will you get to know whether it has picked up

correct authentication record or not ?

14. Types of scan performed in your current organisation ?

15. Highest level of access role in Qualys VM ?

16. How to configure cloud agents ?

17. How to configure PC scans ?

18. What are the differences between agent and scanner based scan ?

19. What are the causes for authentication failures ?

20. Which type of tool are you using to safeguard authentication records ?

21. Inbound and Outbound traffic for a scanner appliance ?

22. Types of URLs which Qualys uses ? Explain them.

23. Explain NTLM and Kerberos.

24. What is SMTP mail relay vulnerability ?

25. What is CORS ? How will you prevent it ?

26. How will you identify sources and sinks in DOM based XSS ?

27. What is residual risk ?

28. How does TLS handshake happens ?

29. What is SSRF attack ? How will you prevent it ?

30. What is CSRF attack ? How will you prevent it ?

31. What actions will you take once you receive notification about a zero day vulnerability ?

32. What is the TLS version used currently ?

33. Explain few infrastructure vulnerabilities.

34. Why do we run discovery scans ?

35. How do we prioritize vulnerabilities ?

36. What happens in backend once you hit the scan button ?

37. Explain CIA triad.

38. Explain CVSS scoring system.

39. What is NetBIOS ?

40. Explain few nmap commands with switches.41. How will you integrate Qualys with ServiceNow ?

41. Explain your roles and responsibilities in your current organization.

42. Explain XSS attack.

43. Explain SMB protocol.

44. How will data flow once you hit a URL in your browser ?

45. What are differences between Tenable.io and Tenable.sc ?

46. Which tool do you use for asset inventory ?

47. Explain the exception management process followed in your organization.

48. Which tool is better, Qualys or Tenable ?

49. Why is there a need to run dedicated policy compliance scan when vulnerability scan can

gather all the required data ?

51. Have you used Burp Collaborator ?

52. What are the differences between Encryption and Encoding ?

53. What are SOAP and REST APIs ?

54. Explain insecure deserialization vulnerability.

55. Explain how DNS works.

56. Explain how SMTP works.

57. What is the difference between bind shell and reverse shell ?

58. How will you verify if a firewall is present between the target and nmap ?

59. What are the tools present in Kali Linux for penetration testing ?

60. What are the configuration options available in Qualys's option profile ?

1. What are TTPs?

2. Explain Dictionary attack.

3. Explain Rainbow attack.

4. What is Pass-the-hash attack?

5. What is port scanning?

6. What is Sniffing Attack?

7. Explain Phishing.

8. Explain Spear Phishing.

9. Explain Whaling.

10. Explain Vishing.

11. What is an exploit and payload?

12. What is Spoofing?

13. Explain DOS and DDOS attack.

14. Explain SYN flood attack.

15. Explain ARP poisoning.

16. Explain MITM attack.

17. Explain DNS Poisoning.

18. What is DNS Tunneling?

19. What is drive-by-download?

20. What is a malware?

21. Explain different Types of Malware.

22. Difference between Virus and Trojan and Worm?

23. What is file less malwares or file less attack?

24. What is OWASP?

25. Explain SQL Injection.

26. Explain Cross Site Scripting (XSS).

27. Explain Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF).

28. Explain Broken Authentication.

29. Explain Broken Access Control.

30. How do you keep yourself updated with information security?

31. What are black hat, white hat and gray hat?

32. Do you know any programming language?

33. How can you define Blue Team and Red Team basically?

34. What is firewall?

35. Explain Security Misconfiguration

36. Explain vulnerability, risk and threat.

37. What is compliance?

38. What is MITRE ATT&CK?

39. Do you have any project that we can look at?

40. Explain 2FA.

41. Could you share some general endpoint security product names?

42. What are HIDS and NIDS?

43. What is CIA triad?

44. What is AAA?

45. What is Cyber Kill Chain?

46. What is SIEM?

47. What Is Indicator Of Compromise (IOCs)?

48. What is Indicators of Attack (IOAs)?

49. Explain True Positive and False Positive.

1. What is OSI Model? Explain each layer.

2. What is three-way handshake?

3. What is TCP/IP Model? Explain the difference between OSI and TCP/IP model

4. What is ARP?

5. What is DHCP?

6. Could you share some general network security product names?

7. What is the key difference between IDS and IPS?

8. How can you protect yourself from Man-in-the-middle attacks?

1. What are the HTTP response codes?

2. Explain OWASP Top 10.

3. What is SQL injection?

4. Explain SQL injection types.

5. How to prevent SQL injection vulnerability?

6. What is XSS and how XSS can be prevented?

7. Explain XSS types.

8. What is IDOR?

9. What is RFI?

10. What is LFI?

11. Explain the difference between LFI and RFI?

12. Explain CSRF.

13. What is WAF?

1. What are encoding, hashing, encryption?

2. What is the difference between hashing and encryption?

3. Explain salted hashes?

4. What are differences between SSL and TLS?

1. What is the name of the software that compiles of the written codes?

2. What is the name of the software that translates machine codes into assembly language?

3. What is the difference between static and dynamic malware analysis?

4. How does malware achieve persistence on Windows?

1. Which event logs are available default on Windows?

2. With which security Event ID can the Successfully RDP connection be detected?

3. With which event id can failed logons be detected?

4. Which field of which event should I look at so that I can detect RDP logons?

1. What is Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI)?

2. What is TAXII in Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI)?

3. Name some of the Threat Intelligence Platforms

4. What are the types of Threat Intelligence?

1. What is a specific definition of pentesting?

2. What is the primary purpose of pentesting?

3. What are the goals of conducting a pentesting exercise?

4. There is very often confusionbetween vulnerability testing and pentesting. What is the primary difference between the two?

5. What are the three types of pentesting methodologies?

6. What are the teams that can carry out a pentest?

7. What are some of the most common network security vulnerabilities that a pentester comes across?

8. What are the different pentesting techniques?

9. What network ports are commonly examined in a pentesting exercise, and what tool can be used for this?

10. What is a specific pentesting exercise that can be done with a Diffie-Hellman exchange?

11. After a pentest is conducted, what are some of the top network controls you would advise your client to implement?

12. Describe the theoretical constructs of a threat model that can be used in a pentesting exercise

13. You need to reset a password-protected BIOS configuration. Whatdo you do?

14. How would you login to Active Directory from a Linux or Mac box?

15. How would you judge ifa remote server is running IIS or Apache?

16. What is data protection in transit vs data protection at rest?

17. You see a user logging in as root to perform basic functions. Is this a problem?

18. How do you protect your home wireless access point?

19. What is an easy way toconfigure a network to allow only a single computer to login on a particular jack?

20. You are remoted in to a headless system in a remote area. You have no physical access to the hardware and you need to perform an OS installation. What do you do?

21. What is the difference between information protection and information assurance?

22. What is the difference between closed-source and open-source? Which is better?

23. What is your opinion on hacktivist groupssuch as Anonymous?

24. Why are internal threats oftentimes more successful than external threats?

25. What is residual risk?

26. Why is deleted data not truly gone when you delete it?

27. What is the chain of custody?

28. What is exfiltration?

29. I’m the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. I make more in an afternoon than you make in a year. I don’t care about this stupid security stuff. It just costs time and money and slows everything down. Why should I care about this junk?

30. What are the hacking stages? Explain each stage

31. What is footprinting? What are the techniques used for footprinting?

32. What are some of the standard tools used by ethical hackers?

33. How canyou avoid or prevent ARP poisoning?

34. Do you prefer Windows or Linux?

35. What should be implemented on a login page?

36. What is an ACL?

37. Describe a proxy.

38. What are MAC, DAC and RBAC?

39. How can you ensure the privacy of a VPN connection?

40. What is UTM?

41. What is the difference between Diffie Hellman and RSA?

42. What is Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)?

43. What are the several indicators of compromise(IOC) that organizations should monitor?

44. What is the use of Patch Management?

45. What do you understand by compliance in Cybersecurity?

Interviews are nothing if not opportunities to drive yourself crazy.

Just remind yourself to look good, appear confident, say all the right things and don't say any of the wrong ones.

It shouldn't be so hard to follow these guidelines except you'll be on the receiving end of an endless line of questions. Factor in your nerves and you'll be lucky to remember your own name.

Don't fret.

If you walk into the interview prepared, you can make sure you know what right things to say, and you can stop yourself from saying the following wrong things.

1. "I hated my last boss." Your last boss was a miserable person whose main concern was making your life miserable. Of course you don't have a lot of nice things to say; however, don't mistake honesty, which is admirable, for trash-talking, which is despicable.

"If you truly did hate your last boss, I would be prepared to articulate why your last organization and relationship was not right for you," says Greg Moran, director of industry sales and partnerships for Talent Technology Corp. "Then be prepared to explain what type of organization is right for you and what type of management style you best respond to."

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2. "I don't know anything about the company." Chances are the interviewer will ask what you know about the company. If you say you don't know anything about it, the interviewer will wonder why you're applying for the job and will probably conclude you're after money, not a career.

"With today's technology," Moran says, "there is no excuse for having no knowledge of a company except laziness and/or poor planning -- neither of which are attributes {of potential employees} sought by many organizations."

3. "No, I don't have any questions for you." Much like telling the interviewer that you don't know anything about the company, saying you don't have any questions to ask also signals a lack of interest. Perhaps the interviewer answered every question or concern you had about the position, but if you're interested in a future with this employer, you can probably think of a few things to ask.

"Research the company before you show up," Moran advises. "Understand the business strategy, goals and people. Having this type of knowledge will give you some questions to keep in your pocket if the conversation is not flowing naturally."

4. "I'm going to need to take these days off." "We all have lives and commitments and any employer that you would even consider working for understands this. If you progress to an offer stage, this is the time for a discussion regarding personal obligations," Moran suggests. "Just don't bring it up prior to the salary negotiation/offer stage."

Why? By mentioning the days you need off too early in the interview, you risk coming off presumptuous as if you know you'll get the job.

5. "How long until I get a promotion?" While you want to show that you're goal-oriented, be certain you don't come offas entitled or ready to leave behind a job you don't even have yet.

"There are many tactful ways to ask this question that will show an employer that you are ambitious and looking at the big picture," Moran offers. "For example, asking the interviewer to explain the typical career path for the position is fine."

Another option is to ask the interviewer why the position is open, Moran adds. You might find out it's due to a promotion and can use that information to learn more about career opportunities.

6. "Are you an active member in your church?" As you attempt to make small talk with an interviewer, don't cross the line into inappropriate chitchat. Avoid topics that are controversial or that veer too much from work.

"This sounds obvious but many times I have been interviewing candidates and been asked about my personal hobbies, family obligations, et cetera," Moran says. "Attempting to develop a rapport is essential but taking it too far can bring you into some uncomfortable territory."

7. "As Lady Macbeth so eloquently put it..." Scripted answers, although accurate, don't impress interviewers. Not only do they make you sound rehearsed and stiff, they also prevent you from engaging in a dialogue.

"This is a conversation between a couple humans that are trying to get a good understanding of one another. Act accordingly," Moran reminds.

8. "And another thing I hate..." Save your rants for your blog. When you're angry, you don't sway anybody's opinion about a topic, but you do make them like you less. For one thing, they might disagree with you. They also won't take kindly to your bad attitude.

"If you are bitter, keep it inside and show optimism. Start complaining and you will be rejected immediately," Moran warns. "Do you like working with a complainer? Neither will the interviewer."

OVERVIEW:

Advance preparation for the interview is KEY to calming down the “jitters” before the actual interview. It is normal to be nervous for the interview but lack of preparation will only enhance that tense, uneasy feeling. Please review the below to insure you perform at your peak for each and every interview. Remember to NEVER take any interview for granted as it may result in a strong, future contact even if the job you are interviewing for is not the ideal fit.

1. Researching a company (and a specific business unit) is a critical first step in preparing for an interview. Review the web-site, perform an internet search using Google and review Bloomberg/Reuters for recent company news. It is vitally important to be able to respond confidently to the question: "Why would you want to work for our company and/or our business unit?”

2. Proper business attire is very important which include a dark grey or blue suit with solid white or light blue shirts/blouses. In a corporate environment, the following is usually frowned upon: long hair (on men), goatees (on men), ear rings (on men), nose rings, etc. Please be sure to use your judgment and always put your best foot forward. Additionally, remember to bring an extra copy of your resume including 2-3 professional references from a direct supervisor/manager and an attaché or briefcase to carry your professional belongings.

3. Arrive to the interview 10-15 minutes early - NEVER be late for an interview. Be sure to have all interview contact information readily accessible in the event there is a mix-up or you’re running late. In circumstances beyond your control, first call the interviewer directly to advise that you are running late; and then, secondly, call your Recruiter to give us an opportunity to call the employer, as well.

4. Upon initial greetings, always give a firm handshake, warm smile and direct eye contact. Please try to avoid excessive hand movements, poor eye contact and slouching in your seat. Integrate your personality and don’t be afraid to smile sinceyou will most likely be working with this person in close proximity. Both your skill sets and personality fit can be equally important to the interviewer.

5. Selling your skills is as important as listening to what the interviewer is looking for in his/her ideal candidate. Be prepared to sell your SRA (skills, responsibilities and 3-5 accomplishments) but it is critical you know which of those SRAs are requirements of the role. It is recommended that you ask questions that serve more as “information gathering” rather than “preferential”: i.e. “How much of the role involves accounting work versus the analytical component” (information gathering) rather than “I’d love to get more involved with the analysis” (preferential question).

Avoid over talking and instead focus on concise, clear, direct answers to the Interviewers’ questions. Also, remember NOT to over-talk the interviewer and wait until the appropriate time to respond to all questions/inquiries. Always make sure to answer questions honestly and never put information on your resume that you can’t back up on the interview. First impressions are critical and you don’t want to create any false perceptions of your capabilities.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS “You May Be Asked”:

-Please give us examples of how you handled an adverse situation (i.e. tough client) or a stressful deadline?

• What attributes or skills separates you from other professionals in your field?

• List 3 of your biggest accomplishments and 1-2 weaknesses (or areas requiring improvement). Be careful with the “weakness’ question; ask your recruiter how to handle.

• Why are you looking to leave your current position and what are you looking for in your next role?

• What do you know about our company and why are you interested in this position?

• What have you liked and disliked about your current & previous positions? (Remember to stay positive; negative comments about former employers are frowned upon)

• What are your short-term and long-term career goals?

• Do you have any supervisory experience? If so, is that a requirement of your next position?

• Tell me the biggest challenge in yourcareer to date.

• Is there a particular industry or company size preference you have? For example, small versus large firm and tell me the advantages of each.

• Please explain your job moves and if applicable, why you were laid off or stayed less than a year in any position?

• How long have you been looking for a new job? If applicable, why do you feel it is taking so long for you to find the right position?

• How best would your supervisor/manager and staff (if applicable) describe you as a professional?

• What are you looking for in your base salary and/or total compensation? How did you arrive at these numbers? (Best answer: “My main focus is finding the right opportunity and a Fair Market Offer. I’d also prefer to have your recruiter negotiate on my behalf and leave you with the fact that I’m extremely interested & excited about this position and your company.”)

• Do you have any questions about the position or the company that I can answer for you? (Note, it is critical that you have relevant questions for the interviewer – see “next section.”)

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS “You Should Ask”

• I have a solid overview of the position; can you tell me more about the specific skills and responsibilities that are keys to my success in this role?

• How would you describe your ideal candidate?

• How would you describe a typical day for this role? What are some of the daily, weekly & month-end deadlines that I need to be aware of?

• Which groups will I be interfacing with and have exposure to on a regular basis?

• What has been the short and long-term career path for others that have been in this or similar positions within your company?

• Can you tell me more about your background and other members of the group?

• What do you like most about your current role?

• Is there anything else in my background that I can expand upon?

• IMPORTANT: Do not ask any questions regarding Compensation, Hours or Benefits.

INTERVIEW “STUFF TO ALWAYS AVOID”:

• NO backup copies of your resume; remember to always bring multiple copies

• Poor attention detail including an incomplete, inaccurate or sloppy application

• Arriving to an interview late and without a preemptive call to notify interviewer

• Unprofessional attire including jeans or casual clothes

• Poor eye contact & a weak, limp handshake

• Discussing compensation, hours & benefits INSTEAD of focusing on the opportunity

• Negative portrayal of past employers and/or job responsibilities

• Over-confident or lacking confidence – both can “hurt” your chances

• Indirect/vague answers to questions as opposed to direct/concise answers

• Lack of short term and long term career goals that are in sync with the responsibilities of the position

• Lacking any relevant questions for the interviewer; this is often interpreted as a lack of interest or motivation in the role

• Overanxious to bypass current role for future opportunities…”not willing to pay your dues”

• Too lackadaisical; interviewing only to get a better sense of market value OR to draw better compensation from current employer in the form of a “counter-offer”

• Obvious lack of interest or enthusiasm in the company or the role

• Unable to take criticism or responding harshly to aggressive questioning from the interviewer i.e. low GPAs or a lot of job moves should be accompanied by a concise, non-evasive explanations

• Inability to handle pressure; appearing too nervous during the interview. Remember, some nervousness is healthy BUT don’t allow it to prevent you from performing at a high level during the meeting

1. What would you consider to be the most important aspects of this job?

2. What are the skills and attributes you value most for someone being hired for this position?

3. Could you describe a typical day or week in this position? The typical client or customer I would be dealing with? The expectations To determine how and when you will evaluated, Payne recommend advises asking:

4. What are the performance expectations of this position over the first 12 months?

5. What types of skills do you NOT already have onboard that you're looking to fill with a new hire? The department asking about your department's workers and role in the company can help you understand more about the company's culture and hierarchy.

6. What is the overall structure of the company and how does your department fit the structure?