20 ReliaQuest Interview Questions and Answers

ReliaQuest is a company that provides a software as a service security platform. The company’s main focus is on data loss prevention and business continuity. ReliaQuest has a team of experienced security professionals who are dedicated to helping businesses secure their data and prevent disruptions. The company offers a variety of services, including data loss prevention, business continuity planning, and security consulting.

ReliaQuest Interview Process

The interview process at ReliaQuest is lengthy, and can be quite difficult. It typically consists of four rounds of interviews, including a phone screening, behavioral, technical, and personality assessment. The final interview is usually with management. Candidates should expect to be asked very difficult questions about cyber security, and should be familiar with common linux commands and microsoft administration.

1. Tell us about a time when you had to make decisions without consulting your direct manager.

This question can help interviewers understand your ability to make independent decisions and how you use your own judgment. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific example of when you used your own judgment and the results that followed.

Example: “In my previous role as a security analyst, I was tasked with monitoring our company’s network for any signs of cyberattacks or data breaches. One day, I noticed some unusual activity on one of our servers. At first, I thought it might have been an attack, but after further investigation, I realized it was just a glitch in the system. Rather than contacting my manager right away, I decided to monitor the server for a few more hours to see if there were any other issues. After doing so, I determined that everything was fine and reported back to my manager.”

2. What is your experience with security engineering? Processes and tools used?

Security engineering is a specialized field that requires extensive knowledge and experience. Your answer should show the interviewer your expertise in this area, as well as how you can apply it to their organization.

Example: “I have worked with security engineers for several years now, so I understand the importance of data protection. In my previous role, I was responsible for creating an incident response plan for our company. This involved working with the IT team to create a system that would protect our data from cyberattacks. We also created a backup system that could be used if we lost access to our primary servers.”

3. How would you handle a client that was not satisfied with the service they received from ReliaQuest?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle customer service issues and complaints. Use your answer to show that you are willing to go above and beyond for clients, even if they’re not satisfied with the company’s services.

Example: “I would first ask them what I could do to improve their experience with ReliaQuest. If they were still unsatisfied after our conversation, I would offer a refund or credit on their account. I believe in providing excellent customer service at all times, so I would make sure to resolve any issue as quickly as possible.”

4. Have you ever experienced failure in a project, how did you react to it?

This question is a great way to determine how you react to failure and how you learn from it. When answering this question, be sure to highlight your ability to analyze the situation and implement changes that will improve future projects.

Example: “In my last position as a security analyst, I was tasked with creating a new firewall for our company’s servers. After installing the firewall, we experienced several data breaches in which sensitive information was leaked online. I immediately analyzed the problem and determined that the firewall had not been configured properly. I then reconfigured the firewall and implemented additional security measures to ensure no further data breaches occurred.”

5. Give me an example of a time where you were asked to do something you disagreed with, what happened?

This question is a great way to see how you handle conflict and your ability to work with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention that you were able to compromise or find a solution that worked for everyone involved.

Example: “When I first started working at my previous company, the IT department was asked to cut costs by 10%. While we all agreed that cutting our budget would be beneficial in the long run, we also knew that doing so could cause some issues. We decided to meet with the C-level executives to discuss our concerns and come up with a plan that would allow us to reduce spending while still maintaining security.”

6. What are some recent trends in cyber security?

Cyber security is a rapidly changing field, and the interviewer may want to know if you are aware of recent trends. You can use this question as an opportunity to show your knowledge about current cyber threats and how they affect businesses.

Example: “There has been a lot of news recently about data breaches, which have become more common in recent years. In fact, there were over 1,000 reported data breaches in 2017 alone. I think that companies need to be more proactive when it comes to protecting their data. For example, many organizations still don’t encrypt all of their sensitive data, even though encryption is one of the most effective ways to protect against data loss.”

7. Have you worked remotely before?

If the position requires you to work remotely, employers may ask this question to make sure you’re comfortable with it. If you haven’t worked remotely before, explain why and what your experience is working from home or another location.

Example: “I have worked remotely in my previous positions, but I prefer a traditional office setting. However, I am very familiar with remote access software like TeamViewer and Slack, so I’m confident that I could handle any issues that might arise if I had to work remotely.”

8. How would you approach the task of writing a whitepaper on a new threat facing companies today?

This question is a great way to assess your critical thinking skills and ability to write. Whitepapers are often used by companies to educate their customers about the latest threats, so it’s important that you can effectively communicate information in this format.

Example: “I would start by researching the threat thoroughly, including what it is, how it works and its potential impact on businesses. I would then use my findings to create an outline for the whitepaper, which I would fill out with detailed explanations of each aspect of the threat. Finally, I would proofread the paper carefully before submitting it.”

9. If a company you were working for was hacked, what would be your first step?

This question is a great way to see how the candidate would handle an emergency situation. It’s important for security professionals to be able to respond quickly and effectively when there are breaches in security, so it’s helpful to know what their plan of action would be.

Example: “If I were working for a company that was hacked, my first step would be to assess the damage. I’d want to find out exactly what information was compromised and who may have been affected by the breach. Then, I’d work with IT to implement new security measures to prevent future hacks.”

10. Do you have any experience developing software applications or platforms?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have any experience with similar software to that of ReliaQuest. If you do, you can share your experience and how it relates to the job description.

Example: “I’ve worked on several projects where I developed security platforms for clients. In my last role as a senior developer, I was responsible for creating an enterprise-level security platform for one of our largest clients. This project required me to work closely with other developers and IT professionals to ensure we were meeting all client needs.”

11. Describe how you would respond to a breach within your organization.

This question is a great way to assess your problem-solving skills and ability to respond quickly in an emergency situation. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the steps you would take to identify the breach, contain the damage and implement preventative measures to ensure future breaches do not occur.

Example: “If I discovered that there was a security breach within my organization, I would first make sure all employees were aware of the situation so they could take appropriate precautions. Then, I would immediately contact our IT department to begin investigating the source of the breach. Once we determined the cause of the breach, I would work with our team to develop a plan for containing the breach and preventing similar incidents from occurring in the future.”

12. Where do you think the future of cyber security is going in the next 5 years?

This question is a great way to see how the candidate thinks about trends in their industry. It also allows you to gauge whether they are up-to-date on current cyber security news and developments.

Example: “I think that we will continue to see more attacks from hackers, especially as businesses become more reliant on technology. I believe that there will be an increase in data breaches due to poor password management practices. As a result, I expect companies to invest more into cyber security solutions that can help them protect themselves against these types of threats.”

13. What kind of information gathering techniques would you use if there was a suspected malicious process running on a clients system?

This question is a great way to show your technical knowledge of the security platform and how you would use it in real-world situations. When answering this question, try to provide specific examples of what steps you would take to identify malicious processes on a client’s system.

Example: “If I suspected there was a malicious process running on a client’s system, I would first run an antivirus scan to see if any viruses were present. If no viruses are found, I would then run a full system scan to look for other signs of malware or suspicious activity. After that, I would check the firewall logs to see if there were any unusual network connections made by the computer.”

14. Why should we hire you over other applicants?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you are qualified for this position. You can highlight your relevant experience, skills and education in relation to what the employer is looking for.

Example: “I am a highly motivated individual with excellent communication skills who has proven my ability to work well as part of a team. I have five years of experience working in IT security and data loss prevention, which makes me an ideal candidate for this role. My previous employers would agree that I am always willing to learn new things and take on additional responsibilities.”

15. Are you comfortable working in a start-up environment?

Start-ups often have a fast pace and require employees to wear many hats. The interviewer wants to know if you are willing to work in this type of environment. If you’re not, it’s important to let them know that you can adapt to change quickly.

Example: “I’m excited about the opportunity to work for ReliaQuest because I’ve heard great things about the company culture. I am used to working in start-up environments, so I understand what is required of me. In my last job, I was tasked with creating new processes and procedures as we grew. This experience has prepared me for any challenges that may arise.”

16. What type of questions would you ask during a social engineering attack?

This question is designed to test your knowledge of the security measures you would take in a variety of situations. Use examples from past experiences and explain how you used them to protect yourself or others from social engineering attacks.

Example: “I would ask questions that are relevant to the situation, such as what type of business I’m talking to and if they have any current issues with their network. This helps me determine whether the person on the other end of the line is an actual employee or someone who’s trying to gain access to sensitive information.”

17. What are some ways a company can prevent themselves from being breached?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the security industry and how you can help prevent data breaches. When answering this question, it’s important to provide specific examples that relate to your previous experience.

Example: “There are many ways companies can protect themselves from being breached. One method is by using multifactor authentication. This requires users to enter a second form of identification when logging in to their accounts. Another way is through encryption. Encryption scrambles information so only authorized people can access it. Finally, I would recommend implementing an intrusion detection system. An IDS monitors network activity for suspicious behavior.”

18. What are some good resources to stay up to date on cyber security threats?

Cyber security is a fast-paced industry, and it’s important to stay up to date on the latest threats. Your answer should show that you are committed to learning more about cyber security as it changes over time.

Example: “I subscribe to several newsletters and blogs that provide information on new cyber security threats. I also attend conferences and seminars where experts share their knowledge of current trends in cyber security. These resources help me understand how to protect my clients from the most common cyber attacks.”

19. How familiar are you with Linux operating systems?

Linux is a free open-source operating system that’s commonly used in servers. Linux systems are often more secure than Windows systems, so if you have experience with Linux, it can be beneficial to mention this during your interview.

Example: “I’ve worked with Linux for the past five years and I find it to be an effective way of securing data on servers. In my last role, I was responsible for maintaining our company’s Linux server, which included installing new software updates and making sure all security patches were up to date.”

20. Tell me about a technology that has failed because it was too early or too late to market.

This question is a great way to show your critical thinking skills and how you learn from past experiences. When answering this question, it can be helpful to explain what you learned from the experience so that you can apply those lessons to future projects.

Example: “I once worked on a project where we were tasked with creating an app for a new smartwatch. The watch was supposed to have many features, including being able to make calls, send texts and connect to Wi-Fi. At the time, there weren’t many people who owned smartwatches, so I wasn’t sure if these features would be useful or not. We ended up developing the app, but after launch, we found out that most users didn’t want all of these extra features. It was too early in the smartwatch market to develop such an app.”