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Top 50 Qualifying Interview Questions for CRISC Certified professionals

The Certified in Risk and Information System Control (CRISC) Certification is for professionals who develop information system controls to identify and manage enterprise risks. CRISC Certification ensures that the holder has knowledge, experience, and skills to contribute to the entire organizational perspective on IT risk and control. Certified CRISC professionals further demonstrate their abilities of understandining the impacts of IT risks and apply technical expertise to put effective information security policies in place.

Appearing and passing the interview which might be held virtually or in-person is the first step to secure a position in an organization. Competition exists along with demand, requiring CRISC professionals to be among the best in order to land a job in cybersecurity. Having the necessary skills is only half the battle won; the other half is getting through the interview. Every interviewer has their own method of inquiry, however, the majority of job interviews include a series of questions and responses. We've put up a list of typical CRISC interview questions to help you get ready, and get an idea of what to expect during an interview.

Risk stakeholders are those who are impacted by a choice, course of action, strategy, or procedure. A stakeholder may change at any point during the process and might be an individual, an organization, or a grouping within an organization, such as the management. The possibility of securing social approval for a project can be increased by effective stakeholder risk management.

Information security risk is a type of threat which could occur while operating information systems, and has the potential to damage a firm and its stakeholders. There are many different types of information security risks, including software attacks, intellectual property theft, identity theft, equipment theft, data theft, sabotage, and information extortion.

When security settings are not properly defined during the configuration process or are maintained and deployed with default settings, security misconfiguration occurs. This can be as simple as using the device accounts' default username and password, which are too simple in some cases. A security configuration error could affect the network, cloud, or any layer of the application stack.

A traceroute shows the path taken by data as it moves from its source to its destination through the internet. This is typically used when a packet doesn't get to its destination. Traceroute operates by transmitting Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) packets, which are received by every router involved in the data transfer. The ICMP packets reveal if the routers utilized for the transmission are capable of successfully transferring the data. With the help of Traceroute, CRISC professionals can find the site of failure by looking at where the connection drops or breaks.

CRISC professionals should be able to recognize, analyze, assess, prioritize, and evaluate risks. They must have a solid grasp of the technical knowledge required to create secure networks, identify and solve security problems, and implement risk management strategies. These skills include encryption, firewall management, reverse engineering, application creation, and ethical hacking.

Malware, Phishing, Password Attacks, DDoS, Man in the Middle, Drive-By Downloads, Malvertising, Rogue Software, and Zero-day Exploit are some common cyberattacks that could be a threat to the system. Holders of the CRISC Certification should explain two or three of these cyberattacks to demonstrate their understanding of them.

In a TCP/IP network, the three-way handshake is a method for connecting a local host/client and server. It is a three-step process created to let both communications end establish and negotiate the network TCP socket connection's parameters simultaneously before data such as HTTP and SSH is transmitted. The three steps in a three-way handshake are:
  • Step 1: The server and client establish a connection.
  • Step 2: The server accepts the SYN packet from the client node.
  • Step 3: The client node receives the server's SYN/ACK and sends back an ACK packet in response.

If risk management is vital to the business, individuals at various levels of the organization should have a specific objective or task related to risk management in their individual performance plans. As a result, the performance in relation to these would be assessed periodically.

Data leakage refers to the unauthorized passage of data or information from inside an organization to a destination outside its secured network. Factors that are responsible for data leakage can be copying of the IP to a less secure system or the personal computer, human error, system misconfiguration, a system breach from a hacker, a home-grown application developed to interface to the public, inadequate security control for shared documents or drives, corrupt hard-drive and back up are stored in an insecure place.

Phishing is described as a fraudulent practice used to get sensitive user data, including passwords, credit card numbers, and login credentials. Typically, it is accomplished through the use of email or other electronic communication modes while posing as a trustworthy business entity. Users should be advised by CRISC professionals to not click on links or login requests from any email, even if it seems trustworthy; instead, they should go straight to the website. Furthermore, having a strong firewall and spam filter can stop harmful emails from being sent.

A gap analysis is a method of evaluating the performance of a business unit to see if business needs or objectives are being fulfilled and, if not, what actions need to be done to do so. It is also referred to as a needs analysis, needs assessment or need-gap analysis. In the gap analysis process, the term "gap" refers to the distance between the business's "where we are" (the current condition) and "where we want to be" (the target state or desired state).

Cross-site Scripting (XSS) is a client-side code injection attack. Malicious code is inserted into a genuine web page or web application by the attacker to cause malicious scripts to run on the victim's web browser. When the victim accesses the online page or web application that runs the malicious code, the attack takes place. The online application or website serves as a conduit for the malicious script to reach the user's browser. These practices stop cross-site scripting are special character encoding, using HTML, filter XSS, validating user feedback, and using the services/tools anti-XSS.

A firewall is a network security tool that keeps track of and filters incoming and outgoing network traffic in accordance with previously specified security rules for an organization. It creates a barrier between regulated yet guarded internal networks and unsecured external networks, such as the Internet. Firewalls aid in protecting networks and systems against malware, viruses, and worms. They also prohibit content screening and remote access.

Cryptography is a technique of securing information and communications through use of codes so that only those persons for whom the information is intended can understand and process it. Algorithms and ciphers, such as 128-bit and 256-bit encryption keys, are used in contemporary cryptography techniques to permit the encryption and decryption of data. Modern ciphers are thought to be nearly impenetrable, such as the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

A denial-of-service (DoS) attack is a cyberattack in which a malicious attacker attempt to prevent authorized users from accessing a system by interfering with the device's normal operation. A DoS attack involves delivering information that crashes the target website or bombards it with traffic. DoS attacks target the web servers of organizations, such as media, financial, and commercial firms, as well as governmental and commercial ones.

A quantitative risk analysis is a methodical procedure for assessing risks arising from threats. It is used to swiftly pinpoint risk areas associated with regular business operations. There are many frameworks and methodologies for conducting such a risk assessment. Qualitative risk analysis is performed on all business risks as it provides conveniently accessible, useful information.

This inquiry is meant to ascertain how well-versed CRISC professionals are in organizational internal problems. The lack of funding for purchasing security software or a lack of support from the management team is two internal factors that increase security risk. Candidates can elaborate on this answer by providing solutions to those issues.

CRISC professionals use risk registers to track and measure risk. It is used to identify potential risks in a specific project or over an entire organization. Teams are better positioned to support key initiatives and resources, time, and labor are saved. Professionals use a risk register to improve their cybersecurity by using compliance, scope, and efficacy.

A bowtie diagram is an efficient tool for visualizing complicated IT risks. It offers CRISC practitioners a useful framework for implementing controls and aiding in incident prevention. this aids in clear risk visualization and makes an IT process valuable to a business. Additionally, it provides the opportunity to show employees why the IT department insists on the restrictions that are sometimes criticized for being burdensome and obstructive.

CRISC professionals use quantitative risk analysis, which gives monetary terms and reflects how much money an organization may lose as a result of the cited risks. Quantitative evaluations of information security risks depend on empirical evidence that may be quantified numerically or through other computational methods. It offers exact information that aids in determining the risks' effects and how much resources they should budget to spend on remedial measures.

A buffer overflow attack is a common cyberattack that purposefully takes advantage of a vulnerability where user-controlled data is written to memory. This modifies the program's execution route, resulting in a response that corrupts files or divulges personal data. An attacker adds extra code to modify the application's instructions and obtain access to IT systems.

The OSI model is a standard framework for analyzing how computer networks function and interact. It aids businesses in identifying potential network vulnerabilities within their infrastructure and implementing necessary safeguards. Furthermore, the hierarchical model aids in comprehending how packets flow throughout a network and how disruptions can happen at any level.

A DoS attack is a denial of service attack in which a computer shuts down a victim's computer by flooding it with traffic. It is an online attack that is used to prevent users from accessing the website. A DDoS attack occurs when several systems launch DoS attacks on a single system. This is carried out using numerous systems and from different places.

Address Resolution Protocol is a communication protocol of the network layer in the OSI model. It links a media access control (MAC) address, also known as a fixed physical machine address, to an ever-changing Internet Protocol (IP) address in a local-area network (LAN). Additionally, it changes the 32-bit IPv4 address into a 48-bit MAC address.

The term "cognitive cybersecurity" emphasizes the use of AI and machine learning technologies that are based on how people think to identify security issues. Its goal is to provide the cognitive system with human knowledge so that it may function as a self-teaching system. This makes it easier to recognize threats, evaluate their implications, and implement defensive measures.

This question allows the interviewer to gauge your level of risk management expertise. A method to track and record information regarding risks that have been recognized is the risk register. It offers a methodical and systematic approach to managing risks from identification to mitigation throughout their lifecycle.

A vulnerability is a risk that an attacker may use to carry out illegal activities. Vulnerabilities can be found in software, hardware, network configurations, and even in organizational processes. To exploit a vulnerability, an attacker requires a tool or technique that connects to the fault in the system.

You can respond by highlighting any relevant projects you've been involved in risk analysis methodologies. If not, you can demonstrate your expertise in risk analysis approaches including qualitative and quantitative risk analysis. Additionally, you might emphasize that you're eager to hone your practical skills in a real-world professional setting.

ALE is a risk management formula used to estimate the annual financial loss expected from a specific risk. The formula ALE = ARO x SLE is calculated by multiplying the Annual Rate of Occurrence (ARO) with the Single Loss Expectancy (SLE).

KPIs are measurements that are used to assess how well an organization's security procedures are working, spot any problems, and monitor progress to maintain a secure environment. It enables businesses to demonstrate the significance of their cybersecurity efforts, identify areas for development, and proactively manage cybersecurity threats.

Risk owner is an individual who is accountable for ensuring the risk is managed appropriately. His/ her responsibility is to recognize and eliminate cybersecurity threats connected to IT networks, systems, apps, and data. In addition, in collaboration with different parties that have stakes in the risk, he or she organizes efforts to manage and reduce it.

Blind spots are gaps or weak points in an organization's security measures that are not adequately secured, identified, or monitored. Insider threats, emerging threats, invisibility, and inadequate security awareness are prominent cybersecurity blind spots.

A cyberattack that targets a software vulnerability that neither antivirus nor software makers are aware of is known as a zero-day exploit. The term "zero-day" describes a situation in which the vendor or developer has "zero days" to address the issue since they have only recently become aware of it.

A threat is the potential harm to one's reputation or breaches that might result from a vulnerability being exploited. Cybersecurity threats can include malicious software (malware), phishing attacks, hacking attempts, denial-of-service attacks, and insider threats.

Key risk indicators (KRIs) are metrics that can provide an organization with information about possible hazards and aid in setting priorities for responding to various threats. KRIs assist businesses in monitoring their risk environment and offer early warning indicators of developing threats.

The amount of risk that an organization is willing to accept in order to accomplish its goals is known as its cyber risk appetite. It indicates the organization's readiness to assume risk in the knowledge that complete security can often be unattainable or impossible.

A risk matrix offers an organized method for evaluating and conveying the degree of risk connected to various vulnerabilities, risks, or occurrences in the information systems of a business. It is used to assess and prioritize cybersecurity risks based on their likelihood and impact.

Weak passwords, system flaws or configuration issues, ransomware emails, stealing company property, hackers taking advantage of weaknesses, phishing, Unreliable backup, and a lack of security security measures for shared files and data.

A cryptographic mechanism called the Diffie-Hellman key exchange enables two parties to safely create a shared secret key over an unsecured communication channel. It functions by enabling two parties to decide on a shared secret key across an unprotected channel, keeping the key secret and preventing any third party from discovering it.

Hashing is a one-way encryption technique that prevents the original input from being recovered by reversing it. Cybersecurity professionals use the hashing technique to reduce a huge block of input data to a smaller fixed-length string as the output.

CIA triad stands for Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. It provides businesses with a framework for addressing the fundamentals of information security. These three aid companies in building a strong and resilient cybersecurity foundation.

Rogue Antivirus software is a type of malware that poses as having discovered an infection on the computer of the victim. It is intended to damage the user's computer, steal information, or perform malicious activities.

Phishing can be stopped by two-factor authentication, emails with a high-risk rating, increased use of identity references in password logins, educating your employees on how to avoid sending personal emails that reveal personal information.

Key control indicators are used to evaluate the effectiveness of controls implemented in the organization to manage and reduce risks. It helps businesses keep a proactive and adaptable cybersecurity posture by making sure that control mechanisms are consistently evaluated, modified, and aligned with the changing environment of threats.

Enterprise architecture, IT operations management, Project management, Disaster recovery management (DRM), Data lifecycle management, System development life cycle (SDLC) and Emerging technologies are the elements of Information Technology principles.

In cybersecurity, disaster recovery management entails organizing and implementing measures that ensure business continuity and prompt recovery of IT systems and data in the case of a cyberattack or natural disaster.

Threat modeling is a technique for improving network security. It involves identifying targets, finding weak points in the system, and creating countermeasures to either stop or lessen the impact of cyberattacks.

Threat modeling frameworks and methodologies guide organizations through the Threat Modeling process. Threat Modelling Frameworks are STRIDE, OCTAVE, TRIKE, PASTA, VAST, and NIST.

The components of a Cybersecurity Risk Register are Risk Identification, Risk Assessment, Risk Classification, Risk Ownership, Risk Mitigation, Risk Monitoring, Response and Recovery.

The targets for a zero-day exploit are Government departments, Large enterprises, Individuals with access to valuable business data, Hardware devices, firmware, and Internet of Things (IoT), Critical Infrastructure Providers, and Individuals of Interest.