Question 1

How many years of cybersecurity experience do you have?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'Below minimum = Knockout'. The question type is MCQ: 0-1 / 1-3 / 3-5 / 5+.

Question 2

Do you hold any cybersecurity certifications?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'None = Knockout for cert-required roles'. The question type is MCQ: CEH / CISSP / CompTIA Security+ / None.

Question 3

Have you performed vulnerability assessments or penetration testing?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout for pen test roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 4

Have you worked with SIEM tools? (Splunk, IBM QRadar, Microsoft Sentinel)

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout for SOC roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 5

Have you responded to live security incidents?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout for incident response roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 6

Have you conducted security audits or compliance reviews?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout for compliance roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 7

Are you familiar with OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout for application security roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 8

Have you worked with firewalls, IDS/IPS systems?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout for network security roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 9

Have you performed threat modeling on applications?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout for AppSec roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 10

Have you worked with cloud security? (AWS IAM, Azure Security Center)

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout for cloud security roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 11

Are you familiar with compliance frameworks?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'None = Knockout for compliance-heavy roles'. The question type is MCQ: ISO 27001 / SOC 2 / GDPR / HIPAA / None.

Question 12

Have you used ethical hacking tools? (Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nmap)

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout for offensive security roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 13

Have you done phishing simulation or security awareness training?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Red flag for security awareness roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 14

Have you worked with endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Red flag for enterprise security roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 15

Have you written security policies or incident response playbooks?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout for senior security roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 16

Have you worked with zero trust security models?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Red flag for modern enterprise roles'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 17

Are you authorized to work in [country] without visa sponsorship?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Knockout'. The question type is Yes / No.

Question 18

What is your expected salary range?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'Out of budget = Knockout'. The question type is MCQ: Range bands.

Question 19

What is your current notice period?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'Mismatch = Knockout'. The question type is MCQ: Immediate / 2 weeks / 1 month / 2+ months.

Question 20

Are you available for an interview within the next 7 days?

Accepted Answer

This is a knockout question used to screen candidates. The suggested rule for this question is: 'No = Deprioritize'. The question type is Yes / No.

Technical Screening Questions for Cybersecurity Analysts

20 Knockout Questions for Cybersecurity Analysts

Automate Your Cybersecurity Screening

#	Question	Type	Knockout Rule
1	How many years of cybersecurity experience do you have?	MCQ: 0-1 / 1-3 / 3-5 / 5+	Below minimum = Knockout
2	Do you hold any cybersecurity certifications?	MCQ: CEH / CISSP / CompTIA Security+ / None	None = Knockout for cert-required roles
3	Have you performed vulnerability assessments or penetration testing?	Yes / No	No = Knockout for pen test roles
4	Have you worked with SIEM tools? (Splunk, IBM QRadar, Microsoft Sentinel)	Yes / No	No = Knockout for SOC roles
5	Have you responded to live security incidents?	Yes / No	No = Knockout for incident response roles
6	Have you conducted security audits or compliance reviews?	Yes / No	No = Knockout for compliance roles
7	Are you familiar with OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities?	Yes / No	No = Knockout for application security roles
8	Have you worked with firewalls, IDS/IPS systems?	Yes / No	No = Knockout for network security roles
9	Have you performed threat modeling on applications?	Yes / No	No = Knockout for AppSec roles
10	Have you worked with cloud security? (AWS IAM, Azure Security Center)	Yes / No	No = Knockout for cloud security roles
11	Are you familiar with compliance frameworks?	MCQ: ISO 27001 / SOC 2 / GDPR / HIPAA / None	None = Knockout for compliance-heavy roles
12	Have you used ethical hacking tools? (Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nmap)	Yes / No	No = Knockout for offensive security roles
13	Have you done phishing simulation or security awareness training?	Yes / No	No = Red flag for security awareness roles
14	Have you worked with endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools?	Yes / No	No = Red flag for enterprise security roles
15	Have you written security policies or incident response playbooks?	Yes / No	No = Knockout for senior security roles
16	Have you worked with zero trust security models?	Yes / No	No = Red flag for modern enterprise roles
17	Are you authorized to work in [country] without visa sponsorship?	Yes / No	No = Knockout
18	What is your expected salary range?	MCQ: Range bands	Out of budget = Knockout
19	What is your current notice period?	MCQ: Immediate / 2 weeks / 1 month / 2+ months	Mismatch = Knockout
20	Are you available for an interview within the next 7 days?	Yes / No	No = Deprioritize