IT Security Risk and Compliance Interview Questions with Answers

risk and compliance interview questions

IT Security Risk and Compliance jobs are in-demand across the globe. With the ever increasing cyber attacks, both middle-size organizations and enterprises are worried about their cyber security postures. In order to check and maintain their readiness for the foreseen attacks from cyber criminals, organizations try to maintain compliance with the globally accepted security standards like ISO 27001, ISO 22301, NIST CSF, PCI DSS, HIPAA and any more. If you are looking for a job in the  IT Security Risk and Compliance sector and have an upcoming interview planned, the following frequently asked governance risk and compliance interview questions and answers will definitely help.

Please feel free to leave more risk and compliance interview questions in the comments and our team will be happy to share the answers. 

1. What is a risk matrix. Why its important?

Risk Matrix is a methodology adopted to map the results of  risk assessment process for appropriate handling. An organization management typically adopts risk treatment for “Extreme” and “High” risks. “Medium” risks are usually decided upon the risk appetite of the organization.

L : Low Risk

M:Medium Risk

H: High Risk

E: Extreme Risk/Very High Risk/Critical Risk

2. What is risk vulnerability and threat. Explain with example

3. Which Security Standard have your worked upon.

Make sure you prepare an answer to this question as it is most commonly asked in compliance interviews. Ensure that you mention the ones specifically mentioned in the Job Description provided earlier and go through the domains of these standards to use as keywords if asked. ISO 27001 is the most basic for Information Security and Risk Management related profiles. Additionally understanding of the fundamentals of 22301, COBEC and GDPR will surely help.

4. What do you understand by Gap Analysis

A security gap analysis highlights the differences between the current state of information security implementation(as-is) and ideal state (to-be) of information security within your organisation.  The results of the analysis shows the improvement areas for the organization to achieve the desired target state and organizations can devise the necessary budget and action plan to achieve the same. 

5. Explain the difference between process, guidelines, and policies?

Again a very basic question but very frequently asked.

  • Policy : It is a High-level document that outlines senior management’s intent on security directions
  • Procedure : It is a detailed step-by-step list of tasks (SOP) that should be performed in order to achieve the desired output. 
  • Guideline : It is a list of recommendations/best practices and are optional to follow.  

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One Thought to “IT Security Risk and Compliance Interview Questions with Answers”

  1. Marguerite

    Thanks for finally talking about > IT Security Risk and Compliance Interview Questions with
    Answers » Digi Aware auto approve list

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