Top interview questions to expect

1. Tell me about your experience with DevSecOps.
2. Describe a time you implemented a security measure in a development process.
3. How do you stay up-to-date with the latest DevSecOps tools and technologies?
4. What are some common security vulnerabilities you’ve encountered and how did you address them?
5. Describe a time you had to collaborate with different teams on a security issue.
6. How do you approach automation in a DevSecOps environment?
7. What are your thoughts on the future of DevSecOps?

Check the latest questions for this role:

Answering interview questions with STAR structure

The STAR method is a powerful framework for answering behavioral interview questions. It stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. By using this structure, you can clearly demonstrate your skills and experience to the interviewer:

* Situation: Briefly describe the context of the situation you’re referencing.
* Task: Explain the specific task or problem you were facing.
* Action: Detail the actions you took to address the situation.
* Result: Highlight the positive outcome or result of your actions.

This method helps you provide concise and impactful answers that showcase your abilities in a structured manner.

Sample answers to above interview questions

1. Tell me about your experience with DevSecOps.

Example Answer:
“In my previous role at [Company Name], I was responsible for implementing and maintaining a DevSecOps pipeline for our web application. I worked closely with developers and security engineers to integrate security testing and vulnerability scanning into the CI/CD process. This involved implementing tools like [Tool 1] and [Tool 2] to automate security checks and ensure code quality. I also played a key role in developing and enforcing security policies and best practices within the development team.”

Why this answer is strong:
This answer effectively uses the STAR method by:

* Situation: Describing the context of the previous role at [Company Name] and the responsibility for implementing and maintaining a DevSecOps pipeline.
* Task: Explaining the specific task of integrating security testing and vulnerability scanning into the CI/CD process.
* Action: Detailing the actions taken, including implementing specific tools and developing security policies.
* Result: Highlighting the positive outcome of ensuring code quality and enforcing security best practices.

2. Describe a time you implemented a security measure in a development process.

Example Answer:
“At [Company Name], we were facing a growing concern about potential vulnerabilities in our API endpoints. I proposed and implemented a solution using [Tool Name], a dynamic application security testing (DAST) tool, which automatically scanned our APIs for vulnerabilities. This process helped us identify and address security issues early in the development lifecycle, preventing potential breaches and improving our overall security posture.”

Why this answer is strong:
This answer effectively uses the STAR method by:

* Situation: Describing the context of the security concern at [Company Name].
* Task: Explaining the specific task of implementing a security measure to address the concern.
* Action: Detailing the implementation of a DAST tool to automatically scan APIs for vulnerabilities.
* Result: Highlighting the positive outcome of identifying and addressing security issues early, preventing potential breaches and improving security posture.

3. How do you stay up-to-date with the latest DevSecOps tools and technologies?

Example Answer:
“I actively engage in the DevSecOps community by attending industry conferences like [Conference Name] and reading technical blogs and articles from reputable sources like [Blog 1] and [Blog 2]. I also participate in online forums and communities like [Forum Name] to learn from other professionals and stay informed about emerging trends and best practices. I believe continuous learning is crucial in this rapidly evolving field.”

Why this answer is strong:
This answer effectively demonstrates the candidate’s commitment to continuous learning by:

* Situation: Describing the candidate’s proactive approach to staying up-to-date.
* Task: Explaining the specific activities of attending conferences, reading blogs, and participating in forums.
* Action: Detailing the specific resources used for learning, such as specific conferences, blogs, and forums.
* Result: Highlighting the candidate’s belief in continuous learning as a key factor in staying relevant in the field.

4. What are some common security vulnerabilities you’ve encountered and how did you address them?

Example Answer:
“In my experience, common vulnerabilities I’ve encountered include [Vulnerability 1], [Vulnerability 2], and [Vulnerability 3]. When I encountered [Vulnerability 1] in a previous project, I used [Tool Name] to identify the affected code and implemented a solution by [Action Taken]. This resulted in [Positive Outcome], demonstrating my ability to effectively address security vulnerabilities.”

Why this answer is strong:
This answer effectively uses the STAR method by:

* Situation: Describing the context of encountering common security vulnerabilities.
* Task: Explaining the specific task of addressing a particular vulnerability, [Vulnerability 1].
* Action: Detailing the actions taken to identify the affected code and implement a solution.
* Result: Highlighting the positive outcome of effectively addressing the vulnerability and demonstrating the candidate’s ability to resolve security issues.

5. Describe a time you had to collaborate with different teams on a security issue.

Example Answer:
“In a previous project, we discovered a critical security vulnerability in our application’s authentication system. I collaborated with the development team to identify the root cause and with the security team to implement a patch. We then worked with the operations team to deploy the fix to all production servers. This collaborative effort ensured a swift and successful resolution of the security issue.”

Why this answer is strong:
This answer effectively uses the STAR method by:

* Situation: Describing the context of discovering a critical security vulnerability.
* Task: Explaining the specific task of collaborating with different teams to resolve the issue.
* Action: Detailing the actions taken, including identifying the root cause, implementing a patch, and deploying the fix.
* Result: Highlighting the positive outcome of successfully resolving the security issue through collaboration.

6. How do you approach automation in a DevSecOps environment?

Example Answer:
“I believe automation is key to achieving efficiency and scalability in DevSecOps. My approach involves identifying repetitive tasks and processes that can be automated, such as [Task 1] and [Task 2]. I then research and select appropriate tools and technologies, like [Tool 1] and [Tool 2], to automate these tasks. By automating these processes, we can reduce human error, improve efficiency, and free up developers to focus on more complex tasks.”

Why this answer is strong:
This answer effectively demonstrates the candidate’s understanding of automation in DevSecOps by:

* Situation: Describing the candidate’s belief in the importance of automation.
* Task: Explaining the specific approach of identifying repetitive tasks and automating them.
* Action: Detailing the steps involved in selecting tools and technologies for automation.
* Result: Highlighting the positive outcome of reducing human error, improving efficiency, and freeing up developers’ time.

7. What are your thoughts on the future of DevSecOps?

Example Answer:
“I believe the future of DevSecOps is bright and will continue to evolve rapidly. We’ll see more integration of AI and machine learning for automated security testing and vulnerability detection. The shift towards cloud-native development will also drive the adoption of DevSecOps practices. I’m excited to stay at the forefront of these advancements and contribute to the development of innovative solutions that enhance security and efficiency in software development.”

Why this answer is strong:
This answer demonstrates the candidate’s forward-thinking perspective and enthusiasm for the field by:

* Situation: Describing the candidate’s positive outlook on the future of DevSecOps.
* Task: Explaining the candidate’s vision of future trends, including AI/ML integration and cloud-native development.
* Action: Detailing the candidate’s desire to stay at the forefront of these advancements.
* Result: Highlighting the candidate’s commitment to contributing to the development of innovative solutions in DevSecOps.