Security Automation Engineer Interview Questions
Can you describe your experience with Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) platforms? Specifically, how have you developed and deployed playbooks in your previous roles?
Example answer:
In my previous role, I utilized Splunk Phantom extensively to create automated playbooks. I developed a playbook for incident response that automated the initial triage of alerts, gathered additional context from various sources, and executed predefined mitigation steps. This reduced our average response time from hours to minutes and significantly decreased manual efforts.
Tell me about a script you wrote to automate a security process? What was the challenge, and what impact did your script have?
Example answer:
I created a Python script that automated the process of log collection and parsing across multiple systems, which are part of our security operations. The script consolidated logs in a central repository where further analysis could be conducted. This automation saved time and improved our log management process’s consistency and reliability.
Describe a time when you integrated multiple cybersecurity vendor tools using APIs.
Example answer:
I worked on a project integrating CrowdStrike with our SIEM solution, and we used RESTful APIs. The main challenge was ensuring that the data from CrowdStrike’s EDR was ingested in a format that the SIEM could manage. To solve this challenge, I developed a middleware layer that put the data into a format that could be read by the SIEM.
How have you used cyber threat intelligence in the context of security automation to mitigate threats?
Example answer:
I used SOAR with our threat intelligence feeds to give more context to the information we were seeing. By pulling contextual information automatically, my team could prioritize incidents more accurately (reduce false positives and false negatives) and respond faster to active incidents. One example of how this proved to be helpful is during a ransomware attack, where having this additional data helped the team respond faster and isolate the affected systems.
Give me an example of how you have automated security across a public cloud environment.
Example answer:
In the AWS cloud, I automated security group audits and remediations. I did this by using Lambda functions triggered by scheduled events, which ensured the system would verify compliance with our security policies and adjust security groups automatically to close any unauthorized access.
Walk me through your approach to developing automated workflows for security operations. How do you ensure these workflows are effective and efficient?
Example answer:
To develop effective automated workflows, I use a combination of process mapping and pilot testing. Each workflow is initially mapped out, with existing manual processes considered, and then tested in a controlled environment. Adjustments are made based on performance metrics and feedback from stakeholders, and everything is tested again before full deployment in production.
Tell me about a time you had to change legacy systems or processes in an organization. How did you approach stakeholder management and ensure the transition was smooth?
Example answer:
To transition from legacy processes, I focus on comprehensive stakeholder engagement and clear communication. For example, when automating data extraction processes, I conducted workshops with the IT team to understand their concerns and requirements, ensuring the new system addressed these specifications.
In addition to the technical questions that may be asked for a specific job role, you might be asked how you stay up-to-date with trends and emerging threats in cybersecurity:
How do you stay current on cybersecurity trends?
The answer to this question depends on which sources you use for cybersecurity news and trends. The interviewer is just looking to see if you stay up to date on things that are happening, as competent security professionals must remain current on the latest threats that could impact their organization.
Some sources of information include new websites, social media (i.e. LinkedIn or X), blogs, podcasts, white papers, your peers, and newsletters.
The goal here is not for you to try and consume every possible piece of cybersecurity-related content out there. The goal is to just ensure that you have some method to stay current on emerging threats. For example, you might find that the interviewer and you have a shared favorite podcast. This shared interest can help you overcome the similar-to-me bias that some interviewers have.
