Network

Question 1

What is Firewalls?

Answer 1

Acts as a gatekeeper to enforce access policies between networks, deciding which traffic should be allowed or blocked based on predefined rules. It can operate at various levels of the OSI model, often at the network or application layer.

Question 2

What is IDS

Answer 2

Does not block traffic; it monitors network traffic to detect suspicious activities and potential threats. It then alerts the system administrators without actively intervening.

Question 3

TCP

Answer 3

Transmission - Manages data transmission.
Control - Controls how data packets are sent.
Protocol - Protocol suite for the internet.

Question 4

IP

Answer 4

Internet Protocol handles the addressing and routing of packets to ensure they reach the right destination. Every device connected to the internet has at least one IP address.

Question 5

Differences between HTTP & HTTPS

Answer 5

HyperText Transfer Protocol is the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web. It defines how messages are formatted and transmitted, and how web servers and browsers should respond to various commands.

HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) is an extension of HTTP that uses encryption (SSL/TLS) to secure communications between a user’s browser and a web server. This is crucial for protecting sensitive data during transmission.

Question 6

Cryptography (Keyword: “Secrets”)

Answer 6

Mnemonic: “KEYS”

Keys - Emphasizes the use of cryptographic keys.

Encryption - The process of converting data into a secure format.

Yield - The resulting secure data that can only be accessed with a key.

Secure - The overall goal of cryptography to secure data.

Question 7

Symmetric encryption

Answer 7

Uses the same key for both encryption and decryption (fast but requires safe key distribution).

Question 8

Asymmetric encryption

Answer 8

Uses a pair of keys (public and private) where the public key encrypts and the private key decrypts (safer for distribution but slower).

Question 9

Incident Response (Keyword: “RIDERS”)

Incident response is the organized approach to managing the aftermath of a security breach or attack.

Answer 9

Recognition - Identifying a security incident.

Investigation - Investigating how the breach happened.

Documentation - Keeping records of the incident and the response.

Eradication - Removing the threat from the system.

Recovery - Restoring and confirming system functionality.

Summary - Reviewing and learning from the incident.

Question 10

How does compliance with regulations like GDPR impact the day-to-day operations of a cybersecurity team

Answer 10

mnemonic “LAW”

Legal requirements could include laws like GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS, which dictate how organizations must protect data.

Audit refers to the regular reviews and checks that ensure compliance with these legal requirements.

Watchfulness means maintaining ongoing vigilance to adapt to new legal standards and compliance requirements.

Question 11

Can you describe the differences between symmetric and asymmetric encryption and give an example of when each might be used

Answer 11

Symmetric encryption uses the same key for both encryption and decryption, which makes it faster and more efficient for processing large volumes of data. For example, AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is widely used for encrypting files and database information due to its speed and security.

Asymmetric encryption, on the other hand, uses a pair of keys—one public and one private. The public key can be shared with anyone, while the private key is kept secret. This type of encryption is ideal for secure communications over insecure channels, such as the internet. A typical use case is the SSL/TLS protocol, which uses asymmetric encryption to establish a secure session over the web. It allows websites to secure sensitive user data during transmission, such as credit card information and login credentials.”

Question 12

How does compliance with regulations like GDPR impact the day-to-day operations of a cybersecurity team

Answer 12

Compliance with GDPR significantly impacts daily operations in several ways. First, it requires that we implement data protection ‘by design and by default.’ This means that any new system or process we develop must consider privacy from the outset, requiring regular privacy impact assessments.

Additionally, GDPR mandates the rights of data subjects, such as access to their data and the right to be forgotten. Our team must have processes in place to quickly respond to such requests.

We also need to ensure that any data breaches are reported to regulatory authorities and affected individuals within 72 hours of discovery, which requires us to have robust detection and reporting mechanisms in place.

Finally, maintaining compliance involves continuous education and training for our team and regular audits to ensure all our practices and systems remain in compliance with the evolving landscape of privacy laws.

Question 13

What are the main security measures you would recommend for a network that frequently transmits sensitive data over the Internet

Answer 13

For a network that transmits sensitive data, I recommend:

Encryption: Use strong encryption protocols like TLS for data in transit to protect against eavesdropping.

Firewalls and IDS/IPS: Deploy firewalls to control traffic and use intrusion detection and prevention systems to monitor for and respond to malicious activities.

VPN: Implement VPNs for secure remote access, ensuring that data remains encrypted even over public networks.

Regular Audits: Conduct security audits and vulnerability assessments regularly to identify and mitigate potential risks

Question 14

What steps would you take to secure a new IoT device being introduced into a corporate environment

Answer 14

“To secure a new IoT device, I would:

Segmentation: Place IoT devices on a separate network segment to limit access and reduce the risk of lateral movement in case of compromise.

Update Management: Ensure the device firmware and software are up-to-date to mitigate known vulnerabilities.

Strong Authentication: Enforce strong authentication mechanisms to control access to the device.

Continuous Monitoring: Implement continuous monitoring to detect unusual behavior indicative of a security breach.”

Question 15

What steps do you take in the risk management process, and how do you prioritize which risks to address first

Answer 15

Mnemonic: “RAMP”

Recognize: Identify risks through assessments.

Assess: Evaluate the likelihood and impact of risks.

Mitigate: Implement strategies to reduce or manage risks.

Periodically Review: Continuously monitor and update risk management strategies

Question 16

Can you explain the importance of having robust security policies in place, and what elements should be included in an effective security policy.

Mnemonic: “SPUR”

Answer 16

Robust security policies are crucial as they provide clear guidelines and standards for managing and protecting organizational assets. Effective security policies should include:

Scope: Define what the policy covers.

Purpose: Clarify why the policy is necessary.

Users: Identify who is affected by the policy.

Rules: Establish clear rules and guidelines to follow.

Question 17

What steps would you take to secure a network from a ransomware attack?

Answer 17

First, I would ensure that all systems are regularly updated with the latest security patches to close vulnerabilities.Next, I’d implement robust endpoint protection that includes anti-malware and antivirus software capable of detecting and isolating ransomware threats.

I would also enforce strict access controls to limit the spread of ransomware if it breaches the initial defenses. This includes restricting user permissions based on roles.

Furthermore, I’d emphasize the importance of regular backups.

Finally, I would conduct ongoing security training for all employees, focusing on recognizing phishing attempts and other common entry points for ransomware, to prevent such threats from entering the network through human error.”

Question 18

Explain the importance of the CIA Triad in cybersecurity

Answer 18

Confidentiality ensures sensitive information is accessed only by authorized users.

Integrity maintains data accuracy and prevents unauthorized alterations. Techniques like cryptographic hash functions and digital signatures help maintain integrity.;

Availability keeps information accessible as needed,This involves protecting systems against attacks that can cause downtime, such as DDoS attacks, and implementing disaster recovery and business continuity plans to ensure that systems can quickly recover from interruptions.

Question 19

Describe a time when you had to implement a security measure to comply with data protection laws.

Answer 19

To comply with GDPR, I led efforts to enhance data encryption, refine access controls, and establish processes for managing data subject requests. We also improved transparency and documentation, updating privacy policies and training staff to ensure all practices aligned with the regulation.