20 F5 ASM Interview Questions and Answers

F5 ASM is a web application firewall that helps protect websites and web applications from attacks. When interviewing for a position that involves F5 ASM, you can expect to be asked questions about your experience and knowledge of the product. Answering these questions confidently can help you land the job. In this article, we review some of the most common F5 ASM interview questions.

F5 ASM Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked F5 ASM interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is the F5 ASM?

The F5 ASM is a web application firewall that helps to protect web applications from attacks. It does this by inspecting incoming traffic and blocking requests that are deemed to be malicious. The F5 ASM can also be used to monitor traffic and generate reports on activity, which can be helpful in identifying potential threats.

2. Can you explain how the F5 ASM works?

The F5 ASM is a web application firewall that works by inspecting all incoming traffic and blocking any requests that are deemed to be malicious. It does this by looking at the headers, cookies, and other parameters of each request and comparing it to a database of known attacks. If a request matches an attack signature, then it is blocked. The F5 ASM is constantly updated with new attack signatures, so it is able to keep up with the latest threats.

3. Can you tell me about the different components of the F5 ASM solution?

The F5 ASM solution is made up of several different components, all of which work together to provide protection for web applications. The first component is the ASM Policy Manager, which is used to create and manage security policies. The second component is the ASM Web Application Firewall, which enforces the security policies created in the Policy Manager. The third component is the ASM Application Security Monitor, which monitors web traffic and provides visibility into attacks and vulnerabilities. Finally, the fourth component is the ASM Threat Intelligence Service, which provides real-time intelligence on the latest threats and attacks.

4. How do you install an F5 ASM module?

The F5 ASM module can be installed through the use of the BigIP web-based user interface, or through the use of the BigIP command line interface.

5. Where can you find the log files for the F5 ASM application?

The log files for the F5 ASM application can be found in the /var/log/f5-asm directory.

6. Can you give me some examples of what types of attacks are detected and prevented by F5 ASM?

F5 ASM is designed to protect web applications from a variety of attacks, including SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and session hijacking. It does this by inspecting all incoming traffic and blocking any requests that contain malicious code or that are attempting to exploit vulnerabilities in the web application.

7. What’s the best way to view traffic logs on the F5 ASM console?

The best way to view traffic logs on the F5 ASM console is to use the “Logs” tab. This tab will show you all of the traffic logs that have been generated by the F5 ASM system.

8. How do you configure a security policy using the F5 ASM?

You can configure a security policy using the F5 ASM by creating a new security policy and then adding the desired rules. To do this, you will first need to log into the ASM Policy Builder. Once you are in the Policy Builder, you will click on the “Create Policy” button. This will open a new window where you will need to enter the policy name, description, and choose the type of policy you want to create. After you have entered all of the required information, you will click on the “Create” button. This will add the new policy to the Policy Builder. Next, you will need to add the desired rules to the policy. To do this, you will click on the “Add Rule” button. This will open a new window where you will need to enter the rule name, description, and choose the type of rule you want to create. After you have entered all of the required information, you will click on the “Create” button. This will add the new rule to the policy.

9. Does F5 ASM support IPv6 addresses?

Yes, F5 ASM supports IPv6 addresses.

10. Why would I need to use F5 ASM in conjunction with a Web Application Firewall (WAF)?

F5 ASM provides application-level protection for web applications, while a WAF provides protection at the network level. By using both ASM and a WAF, you can create a layered defense system that will protect your web applications from a variety of attacks.

11. Are there any limitations when using the F5 ASM security policies?

There are some potential limitations to be aware of when using F5 ASM security policies. One is that the policies are not always compatible with all web browsers, so you may need to take that into account when choosing which policy to use. Additionally, the policies can be resource intensive, so you’ll need to make sure your server can handle the load.

12. How does F5 ASM compare with other WAFs like ModSecurity or Imperva SecureSphere?

F5 ASM is a web application firewall that provides protection for web applications from attacks such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and session hijacking. It does this by inspecting all incoming traffic and blocking malicious requests. F5 ASM is unique in that it is fully integrated with the F5 BIG-IP platform, which provides additional features and benefits such as load balancing, application security, and traffic management.

13. Can you provide an example of when you might want to use auto-blocking mode for the F5 ASM?

Auto-blocking mode is useful for automatically blocking malicious traffic before it can reach your application. This can be helpful in preventing attacks such as denial of service attacks or SQL injection attacks.

14. What is the difference between active and passive blocking modes for the F5 ASM?

Active blocking mode is the more aggressive of the two, and will immediately block any traffic that it deems to be malicious. Passive blocking mode will instead just monitor traffic and log any potential threats, without taking any immediate action.

15. What are some of the most common ways that users try to bypass web application firewalls?

Some of the most common ways that users try to bypass web application firewalls are by using URL encoding, SQL injection, and cross-site scripting.

16. Is it possible to add custom attack signatures for the F5 ASM?

Yes, it is possible to add custom attack signatures for the F5 ASM. This can be done by creating a new signature file and adding it to the ASM policy.

17. How does F5 ASM work with IP Geolocation services?

F5 ASM uses IP Geolocation services to provide contextual information about the location of an IP address. This information can be used to help determine whether or not traffic from a particular IP address is likely to be malicious.

18. What are some important metrics that should be monitored when using the F5 ASM?

There are a few important metrics to keep in mind when using the F5 ASM. First, you want to make sure that you are monitoring traffic levels and patterns so that you can identify any potential attacks early on. Additionally, you want to keep an eye on your ASM policy to ensure that it is effective in blocking attacks and not causing false positives. Finally, you also want to monitor your system resources to ensure that the ASM is not causing any performance issues.

19. What is the best way to troubleshoot issues with the F5 ASM?

The best way to troubleshoot issues with the F5 ASM is to use the F5 ASM troubleshooting guide. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to identify and resolve common issues with the F5 ASM.

20. What tools and techniques can be used to test the effectiveness of the F5 ASM as part of an overall security strategy?

There are a few different tools and techniques that can be used to test the effectiveness of the F5 ASM. One is to use a web application scanner, such as Burp Suite, to scan for vulnerabilities. Another is to use a traffic analyzer, such as Wireshark, to look for suspicious or anomalous traffic. Finally, you can also use a load testing tool, such as JMeter, to test how the F5 ASM performs under heavy load.