Interview Preparation
Welcome to the Interview Preparation section — a collection of quick-reference modules designed to help you refresh foundational cybersecurity concepts. This content is intended to provide a concise review of core topics frequently covered in technical interviews for cybersecurity roles, including Networking, Active Directory, Linux Command Line, PowerShell, and more.
Unlike comprehensive guides or tutorials, these modules assume you already have a working knowledge of these subjects. Their purpose is to serve as “warm-up” material, helping you quickly recall key details that may have faded from memory. For example, as a SOC engineer working primarily with Kibana, you might find yourself forgetting some critical PowerShell commands. Similarly, it’s common to mix up protocols and their associated services if you aren’t using them regularly.
Refreshing Path
If you’re preparing for a cybersecurity interview, a structured review of key topics can be helpful. Here’s the recommended path:
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Networking Basics 00 Networking Start by revisiting the Networking page. It’s essential to have a strong understanding of foundational networking concepts like IP addressing, subnets, VLANs, and routing. This section will help you understand the core infrastructure on which most security concepts rely.
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Common Ports and Protocols 01 Ports & Protocols After refreshing your networking knowledge, head over to the section that covers the most common ports and protocols. This topic is frequently tested in interviews, as understanding which ports are associated with which services (HTTP, FTP, DNS, etc.) is crucial for both blue and red team roles.
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Active Directory Basics 00 Active Directory Basics The next important topic to dive into is Active Directory (AD). AD is a directory service used by Microsoft to manage permissions and access to network resources. Understanding its role in cybersecurity is essential, as many attacks focus on compromising AD to escalate privileges or gain access to sensitive data
These two areas are vital stepping stones to mastering the more advanced topics you’ll encounter in your interview prep.
Why This Matters
Throughout my career — spanning interviews for both blue team and red team roles — I’ve noticed a consistent pattern. Many interviews begin with foundational “warm-up” questions that cover basic but essential cybersecurity knowledge. Having a solid grasp of these topics can boost your confidence and give you that valuable “I’m ready” feeling as you head into your next interview.
Whether you’re brushing up on core concepts or filling in small gaps, I hope you find these refreshers helpful. Happy studying, and good luck with your interviews!