41+ Cybersecurity Interview Questions and Answers to Help You Ace Your Next Interview

The job market has come a long way in the past two years with some segments witnessing higher demand than others.

Cybersecurity remains a niche industry. However, with the increase in online payments and transactions along with the rising number of fintech startups, cybersecurity analysts and project managers are in great need.

Not to mention the increasing number of cyberattacks around the world has ensured that network security and cybersecurity personnel remain in high demand everywhere.

In 2020, the global cybersecurity market was estimated to be worth $171 billion. (Research and Markets)

The cybersecurity market's revenues are forecast to reach $146.32 billion in 2022. Meanwhile, global cybersecurity revenues are expected to continue growing by a 9.67% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to $211.67 billion by 2026. (Statista)

But what if you want to join the cybersecurity field, what can you expect in a cybersecurity job interview? How do businesses hire cybersecurity analysts? What types of questions do managers ask in those interviews?

And how can you, as a candidate, impress your future manager in this niche and demanding market?

Keep reading to discover the answers to these questions and more. We'll be featuring basic and technical cybersecurity interview questions.

What is Cyber Security and Why is it Important?

Cybersecurity is a set of technologies, practices, and processes that ensure that internet-connected devices and systems, including mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops, as well as servers, networks, and data, are safe from hackers.

Part of cybersecurity is data protection. It ensures that any attempt by unauthorized people, such as hackers, or technology to access, change or damage your data will be blocked.

Companies, especially those that conduct online financial transactions or that have large amounts of customer data, need to ensure that this data is safe. To do so, they often hire a cybersecurity analyst or a project manager.

Smaller companies hire network security engineers or use antivirus and other cybersecurity software to prevent attackers from accessing information.

As for its importance, cybersecurity is a multi-billion-dollar industry. There are tons of private information, corporate and government secrets, and data that would be problematic if uncovered by hackers.

Cybersecurity is sometimes referred to as IT security and electronic information security. With almost everything being conducted online or at least connected via servers and networks, there's a strong need for cybersecurity.

From hospitals with tons of patient records to banks with millions of accounts and transactions to schools with student and teacher records to many kinds of businesses to government bodies – there's lots of information online. And hackers are looking for ways to get their hands on that data. 

Cybersecurity analysts, project managers, chief information officers (CIOs), and chief information security officers (CISOs) are all hard at work to ensure this data remains safe and secure.

And that's why cybersecurity interviews differ from other job interviews.

Let's look at how candidates, like you, can prepare for cybersecurity interviews along with the type of questions managers and recruiters ask during those interviews.

How to Prepare for a Cybersecurity Interview?

It's safe to say that cybersecurity jobs are among those where technical skills are truly important. It's, of course, required that you know the basics of securing a network and installing a firewall, but technical skills are of equal importance.

While most managers will start the interview with some general questions like 'what do you hope to achieve here?' and 'where do you see yourself in five years?' or 'tell us something that's not on your resume,' they are eventually looking at your technical skills.

Interpersonal and soft skills are also important but in cybersecurity, technical knowledge is critical.

And that's something you need to remember when preparing for your next cybersecurity interview.

Here are a few more tips to help you ace your interview:

-  Research the Company you're Interviewing at 

While this isn't related to the job requirements, knowing what your potential future employer does, the size of their business, and some basic information about them can impress a hiring manager.

People who skip this step end up asking questions that indicate they're not familiar with the company and therefore hurt their chances of getting hired.

- Show your Business Knowledge 

Technical skills are important and so is previous experience in cybersecurity or network engineering, especially in entry and mid-level positions.

Your knowledge of the broader industry and various business segments will go a long way in demonstrating how you go about your personal development and your ability to support your future employer's business objectives.

- Showcase your Passion and Professional Development

While many candidates often say they are passionate about a certain industry, hiring managers can easily pick out those who use 'passion' as a keyword and those who really mean it.

If you're passionate about the work you do and the cybersecurity field, you can mention courses or internships you've taken in your resume and talk about them briefly during the interview.

You can also take this opportunity to back up any claims or accomplishments you mentioned in your resume.

- Be Clear about What you Know and What you don't

Contrary to common belief, it's ok to say 'I don't know' in a job interview. After all, the interview experience gives you the opportunity to understand what you need to work on.

It's better to say you don't know something than try to answer it and appear like you have no idea what you're talking about.

If you're asked a question, especially a technical one you're not familiar with, share what you do know or inform the recruiter that you simply don't know this piece of information.

Bonus Tip: When you leave the interview, do your research, and email the hiring manager with the answer to their question. This will make you stand out among your peers.

- Practice your Answers before the Interview

Cybersecurity interviews are divided into several parts, which we'll handle below. One part covers the generic questions recruiters ask in any field, while one part focuses on your technical skills, and one section focuses on your knowledge of cybersecurity basics.

It's best you review those questions and practice them before your interview. And no, this isn't an attempt to get you to memorize things just to pass an interview or test.

This step not only helps you see which questions you need to research and understand more thoroughly but also gives you confidence when responding to the interviewer's questions.

Bonus Tip: Don't practice in front of the mirror. Ask a friend or colleague, especially one in a related field to role-play the interview and ask you those questions.

 - Listen to the Questions Asked

You know how college professors like to remind students to “thoroughly read the questions” on their exam papers? This is quite similar.

Many candidates who review interview questions and answers jump into answering questions without listening to what the interviewer is really saying. And this gives a really bad impression!

Listen carefully to what the hiring manager is asking you. If the question isn't clear, ask them to rephrase it.

 - Consider Stories to Share

A common interview question, whether in cybersecurity or other fields, is "Tell me about a problem you faced and how you solved it."

Use this opportunity to share a problem you faced at your previous work – especially one that may be related to the position you're applying for – and tell them about it and how you solved it.

Sometimes it doesn't have to be entirely about how you handled a challenging situation. You can tell them about an achievement you made. Your interviewer will be able to see your passion when you talk about your progress and achievements.

- Dress Appropriately

While you may think this is an old tip, it's not. With more people taking online interviews, you'll be surprised what people may show up with.

Whether you're taking your cybersecurity interview online or at the company's premises, be sure to dress appropriately.

If you're taking your interview online, be sure to keep your camera open and avoid distractions.

- Bonus Tip: Let your Personality Shine

Cybersecurity interviews aren't just about technical skills and how well you answer questions. Every interviewer wants to see a bit of the candidate's personality. And the cybersecurity field is no exception.

Personality indicates what type of person you are. Just because this may be a formal interview doesn't mean you can't smile and be casual about it. Whether you're meeting with a recruiter, hiring manager, or even the CEO, let a bit of your personality shine.

Hierarchy of Cybersecurity Jobs and Ranks

In the world of cybersecurity, you'll find various positions that mean the same thing and others that may seem different but really aren't.

Here's a quick overview of the hierarchy of positions in the industry. This may differ from one country to another.

For entry-level jobs, you can find titles such as entry-level cyber security engineer, information security intern, cyber intern, cybersecurity apprentice, and junior cybersecurity associate.

If you're an individual contributor, your title might be IT analyst, cybersecurity analyst, SOC analyst, penetration tester, security engineer, cryptographer, AWS cloud architect, data security analyst, cybersecurity technician, or a white-hat hacker.

After that, you may become an IT Manager. Positions in this stage include distribution manager, production manager, and quality assurance manager (QA).

The next main role would be IT Director, which included cybersecurity leader or cybersecurity team leader, cybersecurity director, or Director of Information Security.

Going higher up in the chain of command, you'd become the Vice President of Cybersecurity. Under this title, we have a cybersecurity executive or security executive.

The top position in this chain is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), who doubles as a chief security officer, head of cybersecurity, and president of cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity Interview Questions and Answers

Now, let's look at the common or basic cybersecurity interview questions candidates are expected to answer during a job interview.

Remember: While we'll provide sample answers to questions, these are by no means answers to be memorized. You need to add a bit of personality when answering questions so you can avoid providing textbook answers.

1. Q: Explain the differences between risk, vulnerability, and a threat.

Bonus Tip: Start by explaining what vulnerability is and then move on to threat and then risk.

A: Vulnerability is a weakness or gap in a company's security efforts, while a threat is a hacker who has noticed this weakness and exploits it. A risk, on the other hand, is a measure of how much the vulnerability has been exploited.

2. Q: What are the differences between symmetric and asymmetric encryption? And which is better?

Bonus Tip: This is a broad topic so keep your answer simple and to the point. You don't want to lose the interviewer in unnecessary details.

A: Symmetric encryption is a type of encryption that uses a single key, a secret key, to both encrypt and decrypt electronic information. Entities communicating via symmetric encryption must exchange the key so they can be used in the decryption process.

On the other hand, Asymmetric encryption uses two keys, one public and one private, to encrypt and decrypt messages.

While the symmetric encryption is faster, the key needs to be transferred using an unencrypted channel, the asymmetric encryption is slower but more secure.

Each has its pros and cons, which means a better approach is to combine the two types of encryption. This means we'll need to set up a channel with asymmetric encryption and send the data using a symmetric process.

 

3. Q: What does a white-hat, black-hat, and grey-hat hacker mean?

A: A white-hat hacker, known as an ethical hacker, is a person who uses their hacking skills to find vulnerabilities in companies' networks. White-hat hackers are usually employed by the company under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to hack their systems and servers so that the company can then reinforce its firewalls and cybersecurity protocols.

A black-hat hacker or a malicious hacker is a cybercriminal. Black-hat hackers attack companies' and organizations' networks to uncover private information whether for personal or political gain or for fun. 

A grey-hat hacker is someone who is in-between the other two. They might hack into systems and networks and violate laws but they usually don't have the malicious intentions of black-hat hackers.

4. Q: What is the difference between a data leak and a data breach?

A: A data leak is when unauthorized information is released either through an unauthorized person or because the information was accessed by a hacker. A data breach is part of a cyberattack and involves a cybercriminal attacking a system, server, or email.

5. Q: What are the main elements of cybersecurity?

A: They are:

        - Information security

        - Network security

        - Application security

        - Operational security

        - End-user security

        - Business continuity planning

6. Q: What is Cryptography?

A: This is one of the most common cybersecurity interview questions. Interviewers use it to see if you have the basic knowledge of cybersecurity processes. Your answer should include both a definition of cryptography and how you've used it in the past (if you have).

Cryptography is a method of secure communication to protect data from third parties that the data isn't intended for.

You can say something like: 'In my previous position, I used cryptography to encrypt the company's data and ensure that the information is transferred securely via the company's private network.'

7. Q: What is the CIA triad?

Bonus Tip: Most employers ask about the CIA triad to gauge how you view your role when protecting a large operational system. Provide a definition of the CIA triad and let the hiring manager know if you've used it before and how it worked out.

A: CIA stands for confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The CIA triad is used to secure both systems and operations.

 8. Q: What's the difference between hashing and encryption?

A: Hashing is the process of converting data into a different format that only an authorized person can access, whereas encryption involves coding the data where a person with an encryption key or a password can access the data. Hashing offers more data security than encryption.

9. Q: What are the differences between IDS and IPS?

A: An intrusion detection system or IDS is a system that detects possible intrusions. However, it's often less efficient compared to the intrusion prevention system (IPS). The IPS helps streamline the security process as a whole.

Both IDS and IPS compare network packets to databases that contain signatures of cyberattacks. They also flag any packets that match the cyberattack signatures.

 

10. Q: What is a firewall?

Another basic cybersecurity interview question interviewers use to see how junior cybersecurity personnel will respond.

A: A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls traffic to protect a company's network from viruses, malware, and other cybersecurity risks. Firewalls are used across organizations of all sizes and by individuals.

Top Cybersecurity Analyst Interview Questions

If you're applying for a cybersecurity analyst role, then you're likely to see several of the following questions in your job interview.

11. Q: How can you strengthen user authentication in the company?

The interviewer may ask you this question to gauge your process when considering prevention methods against unauthorized users. You can include your experience maintaining authentication protocols as well as how you would do so for the company.

A: To enhance user authentication, I'd use two-factor authentication or, depending on the company's needs, a non-repudiation approach. After that, I'd use these two methods with the network for failsafe authentication.

12. Q: What is a VPN?

Your interviewer may ask about VPNs to see if you're familiar with the basics of network processes. To take this answer a step further, provide the definition along with an example of how a VPN works.

A: A VPN is a virtual private network. It can be applied to both small-scale networks and to large informational data systems.

13. Q: How would you set up a firewall?

A: These are the steps I would follow to set up a firewall:

1. For the username and password: We'll need to change the default password for a firewall device.

2. For remote administration: We'll need to disable this feature.

3. For port forwarding: We'll have to configure the correct port forwarding to ensure that applications, like a web server or an FTP server, work properly.

4. We'll need to ensure that the network's DHCP server is disabled before installing the firewall. Otherwise, it will cause a conflict.

5. We'll need to make sure that logging is enabled so that we can troubleshoot any firewall issues or possible attacks.

6. In terms of policies, we should have clear security policies. The firewall should enforce those policies.

14. Q: How would you prevent identity theft? Mention the steps you'd use.

The purpose of this question is to see how you assess a security risk.

A: To prevent identity theft, I'd start with ensuring that all company passwords are strong, unique, and hard to break. After that, I'd use specialized security solutions such as encrypting data files including sensitive information like customer data, credit card information, and social security numbers, and updating system networks.

15. Q: How would you advise other employees in the organization to avoid identity theft?

A: I would offer them the following tips:

- Make sure you use a strong password including letters, numbers, and special characters

- Only shop via popular and trusted websites

- Don't share any passwords with anyone

- Install advanced spyware and malware protection tools on your computers

- Keep your system and software up-to-date

- Don't share confidential information online or on social media

- Make sure your browser is up-to-date

16. Q: What is a MITM attack?

A: A man in the middle (MITM) attack is when an unauthorized person eavesdrops on or enters a conversation between a user and application.

This unauthorized person may also impersonate the application or chatbot, making it seem like a normal conversation when their actual target is to steal the user's personal information such as login credentials, credit card information, or account details.

17. Q: How would you prevent a MITM attack?

This network security question indicates your knowledge and skills in ensuring a company's networks are secure.

A: To prevent a MITM attack, I'd log onto the company's VPN and use a strong WPA or WEP encryption. After that, I'd use an IDS to review potential risk factors. Then, I'd set up the PKI infrastructure for public key pair-based authentication.

Never miss an opportunity to briefly share your experience with one or more defensive methods against attacks.

18. Q: What is a Traceroute?

Most interviewers ask about Traceroutes to evaluate a candidate's familiarity with network diagnostics.

A: I've used Traceroute to monitor and assess where connections break in company packet path systems. Traceroute helps me identify areas of failure in packet pass-throughs.

19. Q: How can you prevent an XSS attack?

A: If the organization uses anti-XSS tools, I'd use those tools to create high-level encryption and prevent XSS attacks.

If the company doesn't have anti-XSS tools, I'd create and enforce measures that guarantee user input validation and set up a CSP (content security policy) for the firm's network. After that, I'd encode special characters.

20. Q: How often do you conduct patch management?

The purpose of this question is to see how often you'll be monitoring patches and new updates for the company's network. Use this opportunity to show the hiring manager that you keep up with the latest trends and security methods.

A: I like to perform patch management as soon as it's released. From experience, I know that Windows patches are released monthly. I'd apply the patch to all of the organization's networks, devices, and servers within a month at most.

21. Q: How would you secure the company's server?

A: To secure the company's server, I'll first need to ensure that all of the company's passwords – for both root and administrative users – are secure.

After that, I'd create new users that I'll use to manage the system and take away remote access from root accounts and the default administrator.

After completing this step, I'd create firewall boundaries for remote access.

22. Q: What are the main transmission modes between devices in a computer network?

A: The three transmission modes are the Simplex Mode, the Half-Duplex Mode, and the Full-Duplex Mode.

In the Simplex Mode, data can be sent in only one direction. That is, the message cannot be sent back to the sender.

In a Half-Duplex Mode, the data can be transmitted in two directions using a signal carrier. However, the transmission cannot be done in both directions at the same time.

In the Full-Duplex Mode, the data is bidirectional, that is, it can be sent in both directions at the same time.

 23. Q: What are the different types of networks?

A: The types of networks are LAN, WAN, WLAN, system area network, storage area network, personal area network, and Metropolitan.

 24. Q: Explain what SSDP is.

A: SSDP stands for Simple Service Discovery Protocol, which is a network protocol that uses the internet protocol suite to discover network services and information and for advertisement purposes.                             

25. Q: Explain to me what a brute-force attack is and how you can avoid it or mitigate it.

A: A brute-force attack is when a hacker attempts to uncover a target's password using a permutation or fuzzing process. This type of attack takes a long time and process. And it's because of that, that attackers use software such as Hydra or Fuzzer to automate the password creation process.

To prevent a brute force attack, you'll need to carry out one or more of the following options:

1)  Use strong passwords for your public server or web app: Include numbers, small and capital letters, and special characters to create a long and strong password.

2)  Limit the number of login attempts: Either use a plugin to reduce the number of logins allowed per user. If users add their password incorrectly two or three times, they'll be banned from accessing their account for some time.

3)  Keep an eye on IP addresses: This can be considered an extension of point #2. Monitoring IP addresses allows you to see where potential hackers for a brute force attack are coming from. It also indicates suspicious activity. This step is important for businesses whose employees work remotely.

4)  Use two-factor authentication: You'll notice that many social media apps are beginning to rely on this add-security method. Google is one of those websites that uses a two-factor authentication method for when you log in for the first time via a new browser.

5)  Use CAPTCHAs: An acronym for "Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart," a CAPTCHA is a challenge that involves clicking certain images or writing certain letters and numbers to indicate that the person on the other end is, in fact, a person and no AI.

26. Q: What are common tools used to secure a standard network?

A: Tools include firewalls, password managers, IDS and IPS, end-point antiviruses, as well as security policies and procedures.

27. Q: Explain what SNMP is.

A: SNMP stands for simple network management protocol, which is considered an internet standard protocol and application layer protocol.

The SNMP is used to collect and organize information for managed devices on IP networks. It's also used to modify that information so you can change the device's behavior.

28. Q: Explain to me what a sniffing attack is.

A: A sniffing attack is similar to stealing or intercepting data. The attacker does this by using a sniffer, such as Wireshark, to capture network traffic.

If the data isn't encrypted when it's being transferred across the network, the attacker can read the data in the network packet using the sniffer.

29. Q: Name the different layers of the OSI model.

A: OSI stands for Open Systems Interconnection and there are 7 layers in the OSI model. These are:

- Physical layer

- Datalink layer

- Network layer

- Transport layer

- Session layer

- Presentation layer

- Application layer

30. Q: What is VLAN? And what are the differences between a VPN and a VLAN?

A: The VPN is a remote access network with an encrypted and secured tunnel. A VPN prevents hackers from accessing the network and doesn't allow people to capture the data packets.

Meanwhile, the virtual LAN (VLAN) is a broadcast domain that is isolated within a computer network at the data link layer. Using a VLAN, we can group work stations that aren't found in the same location as the broadcast network. A VLAN doesn't require or involve encryption and it can divide networks without physically segregating the switches.

31. Q: What is port blocking within LAN?

A: Port blocking in LAN means restricting users' access to several services within the local area network.

32. Q: Name some common types of cyberattacks.

A: The most widely-seen cyberattacks are:

- Malware

- Password attacks

- Phishing

- Malvertising

- Man in the Middle (MITM)

- DDoS

- Drive-by Downloads

- Rogue software

33. Q: What are the differences between HIDS and NIDS?

A: A Host IDS (HIDS) and a Network IDS (NIDS) are Intrusion Detection Systems. However, the HIDS can only be set up on a particular device or host, where it will monitor the traffic of this device or host and any suspicious activities.

On the other hand, the NIDS is set up on a network where it monitors all the traffic and suspicious activities of all devices connected to the entire network.

34. Q: What is cybercrime? Can you give some examples?

A: Cybercrime is a type of crime that happens on the internet. Examples include identity theft, hacking of sensitive information online, ransomware, stealing intellectual property, online predators, and business email compromise (BEC).

35. Q: What kind of cookie can be used in a spyware attack?

A: Tracking cookies are most commonly-used in spyware attacks because they can last through multiple sessions, unlike the session cookie which lasts for only one session.

36. Q: What is SSL and how is it used?

A: SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It's a type of technology used to protect the information in online payments and transactions by creating and using encrypted connections between a web browser and a web server. SSL certificates are used to provide data privacy.

37. Q: What is Vulnerability Assessment (VA) and how is it different from Penetration Testing (PT)?

A: Vulnerability Assessment is the process of locating flaws or vulnerabilities on the target. For example, a company may be aware that its security system has flaws or weaknesses. To find those flaws, prioritize them, and fix them, they would need to conduct a Vulnerability Assessment.

On the other hand, Penetration Testing (PT) is the process of finding vulnerabilities on the target. In this situation, the company would have set up all possible security measures they could think of and test other ways their system or network may be hacked.

Top Cybersecurity Project Manager Interview Questions

Before we dive into the questions a cybersecurity project manager will likely see in an interview, let's first define what a cybersecurity project manager does – as opposed to an entry-level executive or an analyst.

What does a Cybersecurity Project Manager do?

"Project managers are change agents…They make project goals their own and use their skills and expertise to inspire a sense of shared purpose within the project team." (The Project Management Institute - PMI)

Add in the needs and tasks performed by a cybersecurity executive and you have a role that juggles both tech, security, and a lot of responsibility.

Often part of the IT team, cybersecurity project managers are tasked with defending their company or organization against hackers and cyberattacks.

Here's what one cybersecurity project manager has to say about his role:

“I work to ensure my organization’s critical infrastructure, their assets, things that are critical to the organization’s survival has security built-in, preferably from the very beginning,” cybersecurity project manager Jackie Olshack, PMP tells The INFOSEC Institute.

Top Cybersecurity Project Manager Interview Questions

So what questions can you expect in a cybersecurity project manager job interview?

Here's a list of common questions:

38. Q: What is a data leak? How can you detect it and prevent it?

A: A data leak is when a company's or organization's private data is released to the public in an unauthorized manner. Data leaks can come in many ways such as hacked emails and networks, stolen or lost laptops, or released photos.

To prevent a data leak, a company needs to restrict internet uploads, add restrictions to email servers, and restrict the printing of confidential information and data.

To detect a data leak, you'll need to:

1) Monitor access to all your networks

2) Evaluate the risk of third-parties

3) Identify and secure sensitive data

4) Encrypt data

5) Secure all endpoints

6) Evaluate permissions across the organization

7) Use cybersecurity risk assessments

 39. Q: What is a cybersecurity risk assessment?

A: A cybersecurity risk assessment is part of an organization's risk management strategy because it helps them see how their security is performing along with current vulnerabilities and potential risks.

A cybersecurity risk assessment also covers the different types of assets owned by a company that may be prone to cyberattacks. These assets can include physical assets such as hardware, laptops, or non-physical assets such as customer data.

Companies that use a cyber risk assessment can prioritize addressing those risks based on their importance and the available budget.

 40. Q: What is phishing? And how can you prevent it?

A: Phishing is a type of cyberattack where a hacker pretends to be a trustworthy person or company in order to steal personal and sensitive data and information using a fraudulent email or another type of message.

To prevent phishing attacks, a user or company can follow these best practices:

- Avoid entering sensitive information – such as credit card data or passwords – in websites you don't know or trust

- Use firewalls so they can detect unsafe and spammy sites

- Use antivirus software with internet security

- Verify the site's security

- Use an anti-phishing toolbar

 41. Q: What is an SQL injection? And how can you prevent it?

A: An SQL injection (SQLi) is an attack by injecting a code so that the hacker can manipulate any data that's being sent to the server to carry out malicious SQL statements and thereby control the web application's database server.

In other words, the SQL injection allows the hacker or attacker to access, change, or even delete data on a server. Hackers use SQL injections to take over database servers.

To prevent an SQL injection, you need to:

- Use prepared statements

- Use stored procedures

- Validate user input

 42. Q: What is MAC spoofing?

MAC stands for Media Access Control. A MAC Address is a physical and unique identification number that's placed on every network-connected device.

A: The MAC address is virtually etched to the hardware by the device manufacturer, which means users cannot change or rewrite the MAC address. However, it's possible to mask the address on the software side. This masking is called MAC spoofing.

Hackers use MAC spoofing to hide their identity and imitate others. In network terminology, spoofing is manipulating or infiltrating the address system in computer networks. Other targets that hackers can spoof or manipulate are internet protocol (IP), address resolution protocol (ARP), and the domain name system (DNS).

 43. Q: What is a Botnet? And how does it work?

A: A Botnet is a network of devices connected to the internet that has been hijacked by a number of malicious bots.

Sometimes these bots are referred to as zombies, making the botnet a zombie army. The person in charge of the botnet is called a bot herder and they can direct each malicious bot to perform an illegal action.

Botnets are often used to send spam messages, steal data, or carry out a DDoS attack.

 44. Q: What is cognitive cybersecurity?

A: Cognitive Cybersecurity is using AI that relies on human thought processes to uncover threats and protect both digital and physical systems.

Using a high-powered computer model, self-learning security systems use natural language processing, data mining, and pattern recognition to mimic the human brain.

Other Cybersecurity Interview Questions Include:

- How do you stay up-to-date with cybersecurity news and developments?

- What types of security breaches have you dealt with? Tell us how you dealt with them and what you learned from those experiences.

Conclusion

By now you should have a clear idea about the types of questions interviewers will likely ask you during a cybersecurity job interview. There are certainly more questions out there.

And whether you're applying to be a network administrator, cybersecurity analyst, project manager, or something else, we highly recommend that you keep up with the latest news and blogs about cybersecurity trends.

Visit our talent page and join the fastest-growing community for cybersecurity experts and job seekers. We'll help you learn new skills, practice, and get hired.