40+ SOC Analyst Interview Questions and Answers

Educating users about cybersecurity attacks is crucial for their protection.

• Conduct regular cybersecurity awareness training sessions

• Provide clear and concise guidelines on safe online practices

• Share real-life examples of cyber attacks and their consequences

• Encourage the use of strong and unique passwords

• Promote the use of multi-factor authentication

• Teach users how to identify phishing emails and suspicious links

• Advise against downloading files from unknown sources

• Highlight t...read more

TLS is the successor of SSL protocol, providing more secure communication over the internet.

• TLS is the newer version of SSL.

• TLS uses stronger encryption algorithms.

• TLS supports more secure cipher suites.

• TLS provides better authentication and key exchange mechanisms.

• TLS is backward compatible with SSL, but SSL is not forward compatible with TLS.

There are various types of attacks, including malware, phishing, DDoS, ransomware, and social engineering.

• Malware attacks involve malicious software that can harm or exploit systems.

• Phishing attacks aim to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information.

• DDoS attacks overwhelm a network or website with excessive traffic, causing it to become unavailable.

• Ransomware attacks encrypt files or systems and demand a ransom for their release.

• Social engineering attacks manipulat...read more

Symmetric encryption uses the same key for both encryption and decryption, while asymmetric encryption uses different keys.

• Symmetric encryption is faster and more efficient than asymmetric encryption.

• Examples of symmetric encryption algorithms include AES and DES.

• Asymmetric encryption is more secure as it uses a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption.

• Examples of asymmetric encryption algorithms include RSA and ECC.

Multiple processes can run in the background when opening .EXE and .DOCX files.

• When opening an .EXE file, the process associated with the executable runs in the background.

• Opening a .DOCX file can trigger processes like the Microsoft Word application, antivirus scanning, indexing services, and more.

• Some processes may be specific to the user's system configuration and installed software.

• Processes running in the background can vary depending on the file's content and associated...read more

DHCP is a network protocol that assigns IP addresses to devices, a router is a networking device that forwards data packets between computer networks, hub broadcasts data to all devices while switch forwards data to specific devices.

• DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

• DHCP assigns IP addresses to devices on a network

• Router is a networking device that forwards data packets between computer networks

• Hub broadcasts data to all devices connected to it

• Switch forwards...read more

To enable DKIM in your domain, you need to generate a DKIM key pair, add a DKIM record to your DNS, and configure your email server to sign outgoing messages with the DKIM key.

• Generate a DKIM key pair using a tool or service

• Add a DKIM record to your DNS by creating a TXT record with the DKIM public key

• Configure your email server to sign outgoing messages with the DKIM private key

• Test the DKIM setup using online tools or by sending test emails

To solve or scan vulnerabilities, utilize vulnerability scanning tools, conduct penetration testing, implement security patches, and regularly update software.

• Utilize vulnerability scanning tools such as Nessus, Qualys, or OpenVAS to identify vulnerabilities in systems and networks

• Conduct penetration testing to simulate real-world attacks and identify potential vulnerabilities

• Implement security patches provided by software vendors to address known vulnerabilities

• Regularly upd...read more

Zero day attack is a cyber attack exploiting a vulnerability that is unknown to the software developer or vendor.

• Zero day attack occurs when hackers exploit a software vulnerability before the developer releases a patch.

• These attacks are dangerous because there is no defense or fix available at the time of the attack.

• Examples include the Stuxnet worm and the WannaCry ransomware attack.

Cyber attacks can be classified into various types based on their methods and targets.

• Malware attacks (e.g. viruses, worms, trojans)

• Phishing attacks (e.g. social engineering, email scams)

• Denial of Service (DoS) attacks

• Man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks

• SQL injection attacks

• Cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks

• Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)

• Ransomware attacks

• Cryptojacking attacks

• IoT-based attacks

• Password attacks (e.g. brute force, dictionary attacks)

Symmetric encryption uses a single key for both encryption and decryption, while asymmetric encryption uses a pair of keys - public and private.

• Symmetric encryption is faster and more efficient than asymmetric encryption.

• Asymmetric encryption provides better security as the private key is never shared.

• Examples of symmetric encryption algorithms include AES and DES.

• Examples of asymmetric encryption algorithms include RSA and ECC.

Isolate infected systems, disconnect from network, report incident to management, restore from backups.

• Isolate infected systems to prevent further spread of ransomware

• Disconnect infected systems from the network to prevent communication with the attacker

• Report the incident to management and IT security team for further investigation

• Restore affected systems from backups to recover data without paying ransom

HTTP response codes are status codes returned by a server in response to a client's request.

• HTTP response codes indicate the status of a requested HTTP resource

• They are three-digit numbers grouped into different categories

• Some common response codes include 200 (OK), 404 (Not Found), and 500 (Internal Server Error)

Different types of malwares include viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, spyware, adware, and rootkits.

• Viruses: Malicious software that can replicate itself and infect other files.

• Worms: Self-replicating malware that spreads across networks.

• Trojans: Malware disguised as legitimate software to trick users into installing it.

• Ransomware: Malware that encrypts files and demands payment for decryption.

• Spyware: Malware that secretly monitors and collects information about a user's ...read more

ISO-OSI layers are a conceptual framework used to understand network communication. ADSL is a type of broadband internet connection.

• ISO-OSI layers refer to a model that divides network communication into seven layers, each with specific functions.

• ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) is a type of broadband internet connection that allows faster download speeds compared to upload speeds.

• ISO-OSI layers include physical, data link, network, transport, session, presentation, ...read more

MITRE ATT&CK framework categorizes DDoS attacks under Impact (T1498) and SQL injection attacks under Execution (T1210)

• MITRE ATT&CK framework categorizes DDoS attacks under Impact (T1498)

• Types of DDoS attacks include UDP flood, SYN flood, HTTP flood, etc.

• MITRE ATT&CK framework categorizes SQL injection attacks under Execution (T1210)

• Types of SQL injection attacks include Union-based, Error-based, Blind SQL injection, etc.

ArcSight is a security information and event management (SIEM) software that helps organizations detect and respond to security threats.

• ArcSight uses a hierarchical structure of components such as connectors, Logger, ESM, and Command Center.

• Connectors collect and normalize data from various sources.

• Logger stores and indexes the collected data for analysis.

• ESM (Enterprise Security Manager) correlates and analyzes the data to detect security incidents.

• Command Center provides a ...read more

The OSI model is a conceptual framework that standardizes the functions of a telecommunication or computing system into seven layers.

• Layer 1 - Physical: Deals with physical connections and data transmission. Example: Ethernet cables

• Layer 2 - Data Link: Manages data transfer between devices on the same network. Example: MAC addresses

• Layer 3 - Network: Handles routing and forwarding of data packets. Example: IP addresses

• Layer 4 - Transport: Ensures reliable data transfer betwee...read more

I hold certifications such as CISSP, CEH, and CompTIA Security+.

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

• CompTIA Security+

Phishing attacks are fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by disguising as a trustworthy entity.

• Phishing attacks often involve emails that appear to be from legitimate sources, asking recipients to click on a link or provide personal information.

• Common types of phishing attacks include spear phishing, whaling, and pharming.

• Phishing attacks can also be carried out through phone calls (vishing) or text message...read more

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting computer systems and networks from digital attacks, theft, and damage.

• Cybersecurity involves protecting computer systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, theft, and damage.

• It includes measures such as firewalls, antivirus software, encryption, and intrusion detection systems.

• Cybersecurity is important for individuals, businesses, and governments to prevent data breaches and cyber attacks.

• Examples of cyber attacks includ...read more

SQL injection is a type of cyber attack where malicious SQL code is inserted into input fields to manipulate a database.

• SQL injection allows attackers to access, modify, or delete data in a database.

• Attackers can also execute commands on the database server.

• Preventing SQL injection involves using parameterized queries and input validation.

• Example: Inputting ' OR 1=1 --' into a login form to bypass authentication.

I handle security incidents by following established incident response procedures and utilizing various security tools.

• Immediately isolate affected systems to prevent further damage

• Collect and analyze relevant data to determine the scope and impact of the incident

• Contain the incident by blocking malicious activity and removing threats

• Communicate with stakeholders to keep them informed of the situation

• Document the incident response process for future reference and improvement

The port number for RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) is 3389.

• Port number for RDP is 3389

• RDP uses TCP protocol

• Commonly used for remote desktop connections

SIEM tools are security information and event management tools used to collect, analyze and correlate security events.

• SIEM tools help in detecting and responding to security incidents

• They collect data from various sources like firewalls, IDS/IPS, and endpoints

• SIEM tools use correlation rules to identify potential security threats

• Examples of SIEM tools include Splunk, IBM QRadar, and ArcSight

CIA Triad is a security model that stands for Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability.

• Confidentiality: ensuring that data is only accessible to authorized individuals or systems

• Integrity: ensuring that data is accurate and unaltered

• Availability: ensuring that data is accessible to authorized individuals or systems when needed

• Examples: encryption, access controls, backups, firewalls

DHCP protocol is used to automatically assign IP addresses to devices on a network.

• DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

• It allows devices to obtain IP addresses, subnet masks, default gateways, and DNS servers automatically

• DHCP servers manage a pool of IP addresses and lease them to devices for a specific period of time

• DHCP uses a four-step process: Discover, Offer, Request, Acknowledge

• Example: When a new device connects to a network, it sends a DHCP Discover me...read more

Splunk architecture is a distributed system with multiple components for data ingestion, indexing, and search.

• Splunk has forwarders to collect data from various sources

• Data is indexed and stored in Splunk indexers

• Search heads provide a user interface to search and analyze data

• Deployment server manages configurations across the distributed system

• Heavy forwarders can perform additional processing before sending data to indexers

Event IDs are unique identifiers for specific events in a system or network.

• Event ID 4624 - Successful account logon

• Event ID 4625 - Failed account logon

• Event ID 4768 - Kerberos authentication ticket request

• Event ID 4776 - Domain controller authentication

• Event ID 7036 - Service control manager event

Various types of cyber attacks and vulnerabilities that SOC Analysts need to be aware of

• Types of attacks: phishing, malware, ransomware, DDoS, insider threats

• Vulnerabilities: software bugs, misconfigurations, weak passwords

• Examples: WannaCry ransomware attack, Equifax data breach

Man-in-the-middle attack is a form of cyber attack where the attacker intercepts communication between two parties without their knowledge.

• Attacker intercepts communication between two parties

• Attacker can eavesdrop on the communication or alter the messages

• Commonly used in public Wi-Fi networks or compromised routers

Alert analysis involves reviewing and investigating security alerts generated by various security tools.

• SOC analysts review alerts to determine if they are true positives or false positives.

• They investigate the alerts to determine the root cause and severity of the threat.

• They prioritize alerts based on the level of risk and potential impact to the organization.

• Alert analysis helps identify potential security incidents and enables timely response to mitigate the risk.

I have previously worked with various security tools such as Splunk, Wireshark, and Nessus.

• Experience with Splunk for log analysis and SIEM

• Proficient in using Wireshark for network traffic analysis

• Familiarity with Nessus for vulnerability scanning

• Knowledge of other tools such as Snort and Metasploit

DNS stands for Domain Name System, which translates domain names to IP addresses.

• DNS is like a phone book for the internet, translating human-readable domain names (like google.com) to IP addresses (like 172.217.3.206).

• It helps users access websites and other online services by resolving domain names to their corresponding IP addresses.

• DNS also plays a crucial role in email delivery, ensuring that emails are routed to the correct mail servers based on domain names.

EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) solution is a cybersecurity technology that continuously monitors and analyzes endpoint activities to detect and respond to threats.

• Continuous monitoring of endpoint activities

• Real-time detection of threats

• Immediate response to security incidents

• Behavioral analysis of endpoints

• Integration with SIEM for centralized monitoring

• Examples: CrowdStrike Falcon, Carbon Black, SentinelOne

A honeypot is a decoy system designed to lure cyber attackers and gather information about their tactics, techniques, and procedures.

• Honeypots are used to detect and analyze cyber threats in a controlled environment.

• They can be deployed within an organization's network to attract and monitor malicious activities.

• Honeypots can help organizations improve their security posture by identifying vulnerabilities and understanding attacker behavior.

• Examples of honeypot software inclu...read more

Antivirus software is a crucial tool for protecting systems from malware and other cyber threats.

• Antivirus software scans files and programs on a computer for known malware signatures.

• There are different types of antivirus software, including signature-based, heuristic-based, and behavior-based.

• Examples of popular antivirus software include Norton, McAfee, and Bitdefender.

Well known ports are standardized port numbers used by network protocols to identify specific services.

• Well known ports range from 0 to 1023

• Some examples of well known ports include port 80 for HTTP, port 443 for HTTPS, and port 22 for SSH