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Interview
What is a Cybersecurity Interview?
In the context of cybersecurity, an “interview” within the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) refers to a type of assessment method used to gather information and evidence. It involves structured discussions with individuals or groups within an organization to understand their knowledge, perspectives, and experiences related to security controls.
Definition
A type of assessment method that is characterized by the process of conducting discussions with individuals or groups within an organization to facilitate understanding, achieve clarification, or lead to the location of evidence, the results of which are used to support the determination of security control effectiveness over time.
SOURCE: SP 800-53A
Purpose of Interviews in Cybersecurity Assessments
- Evidence Gathering: Interviews help assessors gather evidence to support the determination of whether security controls are effective.
- Understanding and Clarification: They facilitate understanding of how security controls are implemented, how they function, and how they are maintained.
- Identifying Gaps: Interviews can reveal areas where security controls may be weak or ineffective, or where there are gaps in understanding or implementation.
- Building Relationships: Interviews can help build relationships between assessors and the organization, which can be valuable for future engagement and collaboration.
Types of Interviews:
- Individual Interviews: May focus on specific individuals with relevant expertise, such as IT administrators, security managers, or system owners.Group Interviews: Can involve multiple individuals, such as a management team or a cross-functional group, to gain diverse perspectives and insights.Informal Discussions: Interviews can also involve informal discussions with employees from various departments to gather broader insights into their understanding and adherence to security policies and procedures.
How Interviews get Conducted:
- Structured Questions:Assessors typically use a structured set of questions to guide the interview and ensure that key areas are covered.
- Open-Ended Questions: These allow for more in-depth responses and the opportunity for interviewees to share their experiences.
- Active Listening: Risk Assessors should actively listen to interviewees’ responses, and they should ask clarifying questions to ensure a thorough understanding of the information being provided.
- Documentation: All interview findings should be carefully documented to support the overall assessment process.
Examples
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework: Interviews can be used to assess how an organization is implementing the Identify, Protect, Respond, and Recover functions of the CSF.
- Security Control Effectiveness: Interviews can be used to assess the effectiveness of specific security controls. These may include access control, data encryption, or incident response procedures.
- Gap Analysis: Interviews can help identify gaps in security awareness training, policy implementation, or technology deployment.
CIA Triad
In the context of an interview, the CIA Triad is an approach that is often used. The CIA triad consists of three core principles: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. Confidentiality ensures that sensitive information is accessed only by authorized individuals, protecting it from unauthorized access and breaches.
Interviews are an extremely valuable assessment method in cybersecurity. They help organizations gain a deeper understanding of an organizations security posture. They help identify potential vulnerabilities, and they improve their overall security program.
