20+ Senior Security Analyst Interview Questions and Answers

Implemented a comprehensive security incident response framework to effectively detect, respond to, and recover from security incidents.

• Developed incident response policies and procedures to outline roles, responsibilities, and escalation paths.

• Established communication protocols for notifying stakeholders and coordinating response efforts.

• Conducted regular tabletop exercises and simulations to test the effectiveness of the framework.

• Integrated incident response tools and tec...read more

Log4j vulnerability is a critical security flaw in the Apache Log4j logging library that allows remote code execution.

• Log4j vulnerability (CVE-2021-44228) allows attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely.

• The vulnerability affects versions 2.0 to 2.14.1 of Apache Log4j.

• Exploiting the vulnerability can lead to serious security breaches and data exfiltration.

• Organizations need to patch affected systems immediately and monitor for any signs of exploitation.

Various types of attacks observed include phishing, malware, DDoS, insider threats, and social engineering.

• Phishing attacks involve tricking individuals into providing sensitive information through deceptive emails or websites.

• Malware attacks involve malicious software designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems.

• DDoS attacks overwhelm a system with a flood of traffic, causing it to become slow or crash.

• Insider threats involve employees or cont...read more

SOC operations involve monitoring, detecting, analyzing, and responding to security incidents within an organization.

• 24/7 monitoring of security alerts and incidents

• Incident detection and analysis using SIEM tools

• Incident response and mitigation strategies

• Collaboration with other teams like IT, network, and application teams

• Continuous improvement through threat intelligence and security assessments

I have extensive experience in maintaining use cases by regularly updating and refining them to align with changing security threats and business needs.

• Regularly reviewing and updating use cases to ensure they reflect current security threats

• Collaborating with stakeholders to gather feedback and make necessary adjustments

• Refining use cases based on new information or changes in the organization's infrastructure

• Documenting changes made to use cases for future reference and aud...read more

Main event IDs to monitor as an SOC analyst

• Event ID 4624 - Successful account logon

• Event ID 4625 - Failed account logon

• Event ID 4768 - Kerberos authentication ticket request

• Event ID 4769 - Kerberos service ticket request

• Event ID 5140 - Network share access

• Event ID 5156 - Firewall rule added

• Event ID 7035 - Service control manager event

• Event ID 7045 - Service installation

• Event ID 800 - Windows update installation

I handle phishing incidents by promptly identifying and blocking malicious emails, educating users on how to recognize phishing attempts, and implementing security measures.

• Promptly identify and block malicious emails

• Educate users on how to recognize phishing attempts

• Implement security measures such as email filtering and multi-factor authentication

The CIA Triad is a foundational security model that consists of three core principles: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability.

• Confidentiality: Ensuring that information is only accessible to authorized individuals or systems.

• Integrity: Ensuring that information is accurate and has not been tampered with.

• Availability: Ensuring that information and systems are accessible when needed by authorized users.

• Example: Encrypting sensitive data to maintain confidentiality, using ...read more

The process for creating use cases involves identifying system requirements, defining actors and goals, outlining main and alternate flows, and validating with stakeholders.

• Identify system requirements and objectives

• Define actors and their roles in the system

• Outline main and alternate flows of events

• Validate use cases with stakeholders

Service Management is the practice of aligning IT services with the needs of the business. ITIL is a framework for implementing Service Management processes.

• Service Management focuses on delivering and supporting IT services that meet the needs of the business

• ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is a framework that provides best practices for IT Service Management

• ITIL processes include Incident Management, Problem Management, Change Management, and more

• ITIL he...read more

Some trending security technologies include zero trust security, cloud security, and AI-driven security solutions.

• Zero trust security: Focuses on verifying identity and enforcing least privilege access controls.

• Cloud security: Addresses security concerns related to cloud computing and storage.

• AI-driven security solutions: Utilize artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect and respond to security threats.

• Blockchain technology: Increasingly used for secure transacti...read more

SMB relay attack is a type of attack where an attacker intercepts and relays SMB traffic to gain unauthorized access to a target system.

• The attacker intercepts SMB traffic between two systems and relays it to gain access to the target system.

• The attack can be carried out using tools like Responder or Metasploit.

• The attack can be prevented by disabling SMBv1, using SMB signing, and implementing network segmentation.

• An example of SMB relay attack is the infamous WannaCry ransom...read more

Ransomware attacks encrypt files and demand payment for decryption.

• Encrypts files and demands payment for decryption

• May use social engineering tactics to trick victims into downloading malware

• May spread through phishing emails, malicious websites, or infected software

• Examples include WannaCry, Petya, and Locky

Yes, I have experience in cloud security with a focus on securing data and applications in cloud environments.

• Implemented security measures to protect data stored in cloud services

• Configured and monitored security controls in cloud platforms like AWS and Azure

• Performed regular security assessments and audits to identify vulnerabilities

• Developed incident response plans for cloud security breaches

• Stayed updated on industry best practices and compliance regulations for cloud sec...read more

Investigated a complex phishing alert that targeted multiple employees, revealing a sophisticated attack vector.

• Identified the alert through SIEM tools indicating unusual email patterns.

• Conducted a thorough analysis of the email headers and links.

• Collaborated with the IT team to isolate affected accounts and prevent further access.

• Implemented user training sessions to raise awareness about phishing tactics.

• Documented the incident for future reference and to improve detection ...read more

Log sources are essential for hunting threats in a network environment.

• Collect logs from network devices such as firewalls, routers, and switches.

• Utilize logs from endpoint security solutions like antivirus and EDR tools.

• Incorporate logs from servers, including authentication logs and system logs.

• Monitor logs from cloud services and applications for any suspicious activities.

• Analyze logs from SIEM solutions to correlate and detect potential threats.

EDR stands for Endpoint Detection and Response. It is a security solution that monitors and responds to endpoint threats.

• EDR solutions use agents installed on endpoints to collect data and send it to a central server for analysis.

• They use behavioral analysis and machine learning to detect and respond to threats in real-time.

• EDR solutions can also provide forensic data to investigate incidents and improve security posture.

• Examples of EDR solutions include CrowdStrike, Carbon B...read more

NATting stands for Network Address Translation. It is a technique used in networking to translate private IP addresses to public IP addresses.

• NATting is used to conserve public IP addresses by allowing multiple devices to share a single public IP address.

• There are three types of NATting: Static NAT, Dynamic NAT, and Port Address Translation (PAT).

• Static NAT maps a private IP address to a specific public IP address.

• Dynamic NAT maps a private IP address to an available public I...read more

EDR stands for Endpoint Detection and Response, a security solution that monitors and responds to endpoint threats.

• EDR solutions provide real-time visibility into endpoint activity and behavior.

• They use advanced analytics and machine learning to detect and respond to threats.

• EDR solutions can also provide forensic analysis to investigate incidents and identify root causes.

• Examples of EDR solutions include Carbon Black, CrowdStrike, and Symantec Endpoint Detection and Response...read more

IAM lifecycle refers to the process of managing user identities, their permissions, and access throughout their entire lifecycle within an organization.

• Creation: User identities are created and provisioned with appropriate access rights.

• Maintenance: User permissions are regularly reviewed and updated as needed.

• Deactivation: When a user leaves the organization, their access rights are revoked.

• Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of user activities to detect any unauthorized acces...read more

SIEM architecture refers to the design and structure of a Security Information and Event Management system.

• SIEM architecture typically consists of data collection, normalization, correlation, and analysis components.

• Data collection involves gathering security event data from various sources such as logs, network traffic, and endpoints.

• Normalization standardizes the collected data into a common format for easier analysis and correlation.

• Correlation involves identifying pattern...read more

A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules.

• Acts as a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external network

• Can be hardware-based or software-based

• Filters traffic based on IP addresses, ports, protocols, and other criteria

• Helps prevent unauthorized access and cyber attacks

• Examples include Cisco ASA, Palo Alto Networks, and pfSense