Security Engineer – Interview

Aqui vai um conjunto de 50 perguntas em inglês para uma entrevista de Security Engineer, com respostas-modelo claras, profissionais e realistas, no nível esperado para entrevistas técnicas e comportamentais.

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## 🔐 Security Engineer – Interview Questions & Best Answers

### 1. What does a Security Engineer do?

A Security Engineer designs, implements, and maintains security systems to protect an organization’s networks, applications, and data from cyber threats.

### 2. What is the CIA triad?

The CIA triad stands for **Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability**, which are the three core principles of information security.

### 3. How do you ensure data confidentiality?

By using encryption, access controls, authentication mechanisms, and least-privilege policies.

### 4. What is the principle of least privilege?

It means users and systems should have only the minimum access necessary to perform their tasks.

### 5. What is a firewall?

A firewall is a security device or software that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined rules.

### 6. Difference between IDS and IPS?

An **IDS** detects threats and alerts, while an **IPS** actively blocks or prevents malicious traffic.

### 7. What is encryption?

Encryption is the process of converting data into a coded form to prevent unauthorized access.

### 8. Symmetric vs asymmetric encryption?

Symmetric uses one shared key, while asymmetric uses a public and a private key.

### 9. What is multi-factor authentication (MFA)?

MFA requires two or more verification factors, such as a password and a one-time code, to access a system.

### 10. What is a vulnerability?

A vulnerability is a weakness in a system that can be exploited by an attacker.

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### 11. What is penetration testing?

It is a controlled attack simulation used to identify security weaknesses before real attackers do.

### 12. What tools have you used for security testing?

Tools like Nmap, Burp Suite, Metasploit, Wireshark, and Nessus.

### 13. What is a zero-day vulnerability?

A vulnerability that is unknown to the vendor and has no available patch.

### 14. How do you handle incident response?

By identifying the threat, containing it, eradicating the cause, recovering systems, and documenting lessons learned.

### 15. What is SIEM?

SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) collects and analyzes security logs in real time.

### 16. Why is log monitoring important?

It helps detect suspicious activities, security breaches, and system anomalies.

### 17. What is phishing?

Phishing is a social engineering attack that tricks users into revealing sensitive information.

### 18. How can phishing be prevented?

Through user training, email filtering, MFA, and security awareness programs.

### 19. What is a DDoS attack?

A Distributed Denial of Service attack overwhelms a system with traffic to make it unavailable.

### 20. How do you mitigate DDoS attacks?

Using rate limiting, CDNs, traffic filtering, and cloud-based protection services.

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### 21. What is endpoint security?

It protects devices like laptops and servers from threats using antivirus, EDR, and policies.

### 22. What is EDR?

Endpoint Detection and Response monitors endpoint activity and responds to threats in real time.

### 23. What is network segmentation?

Dividing a network into smaller parts to limit the spread of attacks.

### 24. What is a secure SDLC?

A Secure Software Development Life Cycle integrates security at every development stage.

### 25. What is OWASP Top 10?

A list of the most critical web application security risks.

### 26. What is SQL injection?

An attack that exploits database queries by inserting malicious SQL code.

### 27. How do you secure APIs?

By using authentication, authorization, rate limiting, encryption, and input validation.

### 28. What is IAM?

Identity and Access Management controls who can access systems and resources.

### 29. What is cloud security?

It involves protecting cloud infrastructure, data, and services from threats.

### 30. Shared responsibility model?

In the cloud, the provider secures the infrastructure, and the customer secures data and configurations.

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### 31. How do you keep systems secure?

By applying patches, monitoring logs, conducting audits, and enforcing security policies.

### 32. What is risk assessment?

Identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing security risks to reduce potential impact.

### 33. What is compliance?

Following legal, regulatory, and industry security standards like ISO 27001 or GDPR.

### 34. How do you explain security to non-technical people?

By using simple language, real examples, and focusing on business impact.

### 35. What is a security policy?

A document defining rules and best practices for protecting information assets.

### 36. What is social engineering?

Manipulating people into revealing confidential information.

### 37. How do you stay updated on security trends?

By reading security blogs, attending conferences, and following threat intelligence sources.

### 38. What is threat modeling?

Identifying potential threats and designing defenses during system design.

### 39. What is backup and why is it important?

Backup copies data to recover from attacks, failures, or accidental deletion.

### 40. What is ransomware?

Malware that encrypts data and demands payment for recovery.

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### 41. How do you respond to ransomware?

Isolate systems, restore backups, investigate the breach, and improve defenses.

### 42. What is PKI?

Public Key Infrastructure manages digital certificates and encryption keys.

### 43. What is a secure configuration?

System settings that reduce vulnerabilities and attack surfaces.

### 44. Why is patch management important?

It fixes known vulnerabilities and prevents exploitation.

### 45. What is defense in depth?

Using multiple layers of security controls instead of a single solution.

### 46. What is an audit?

A review of systems and processes to ensure security compliance.

### 47. What soft skills are important for a Security Engineer?

Communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and attention to detail.

### 48. How do you prioritize vulnerabilities?

Based on risk, exploitability, and business impact.

### 49. Why do you want to work as a Security Engineer?

Because I enjoy protecting systems, solving complex problems, and continuously learning.

### 50. Why should we hire you?

I combine technical expertise, security best practices, and strong communication skills to protect the organization.