Security Analyst (Checkpoint) Interview help

So I think I posted this in another thread, but I had a few bad weeks at my current job lately, and decided to apply for few jobs. It's very slow during Christmas but to my luck a recruiter gave me a call!

My expertise is with Unix and Linux, yet I thought I'd try and apply for a security position, and I got a phone interview with the recruiter.

They need someone with Linux and Unix administration experience, scripting experience, TCP/IP troubleshooting(I think they mean on the application level), and CheckPoint firewall knowledge.

I was upfront and I told the recruiter that I haven't used CheckPoint firewall before and all my firewall knowledge comes from configuring local firewall on Linux boxes. Recruiter seems happy with me and he promised to get me an interview with the client after the Christmas holidays.

Now the job is a dream job for me, because I'll get to learn new stuff, and get to break into the security field. There is also a nice pay pump for me.

I have time to prepare for the interview, so do you guys have any recommendation? Any good videos/websites that explains how CheckPoint firewalls (or appliance firewalls in general) work?

I know that little bit of preparation can go a long way with me because I have strong foundation and I understand the concepts very well, it's just that I never had the opportunity to configure a proper firewall before.

So any tips? Common troubleshooting scenarios? Common tricky things in configuring firewalls?

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Comments

chanakyajupudi

Best of Luck!

Zoovash

I don't have any experience with CheckPoint but I know CBTNuggets has a video series dedicated to them, you might want to get a trial account and power through that. There's also a few free materials on CheckPoint's website.

Good luck !

Cyberscum

1. Learn as much as you can about the employer and technologies they utilize and how your skills relate to their mission. Be sure to somehow insert this into the interview.

2. Know the most asked questions for security specialists in this specific field.

3. Have about 5-6 answers ready for common behavioral questions.

4. Accentuate the fact that this is your career goal and that you are a go getter.

5. Have an answer ready for why security? And what have you done to further your knowledge in security?

There are so many variables it is impossible to prep but this will get you in the frame of mind for an interview.

Look on glass door for that specific companies interview questions even if it is not in security.

From what I have experienced companied tend to use a blanket set of interview questions with a few technical questions thrown in.

Take it easy and good luck!

UnixGuy

Thanks guys!

From what the recruiter told me, they are a massive CheckPoint shop (they are a financial institution), and the requirements said that they need someone with strong Unix/Linux administration (required), knowledge of or experience with CheckPoint is highly desirable. The mention Shell scripting as being a requirement.

I'm not sure I understand the position properly, but I assume it involves writing shell scripts to parse information from CheckPoint firewalls and other network gear?

Requirements also mention basic networking setup, nagios, IPS, and proxy.

The position is within a security operations center.

Do you guys know what these positions are like? any guess?

UnixGuy

=== UPDATE ===

Good news to end the year with, the recruiter called me again and told me that the manager liked my CV, and they're okay with me not knowing anything about CheckPoint, they want someone with Unix experience yay.

I'm meeting the recruiter today for a face to face interview, I think he wants to see what I'm like in person, he seems confident that I'm almost gonna get the job

UnixGuy

UPDATE::

I got the job

I'll join them mid February!! The salary is almost the same as my current on (which is pretty good), plus there is a nice bonus!

The interview went amazing!! They really liked my Unix skills, and my networking knowledge. I should learn CheckPoint on the job, and I should learn how to do network and CheckPoint troubleshooting. Having said that, looks like I'll be doing a lot of traditional Linux/Unix administration, SOE, monitoring, patching, ...etc. But I'm gonna be part of the Security Operations team

Yay great start!!

chanakyajupudi

Congratulations ! Hope to do something like that soon as well!

puertorico1985

Congratulations! Great to hear of your success story. Never stop learning and reaching for higher goals.

H3||scr3am

Congrats on the new job, and welcome to the security field

novovictus

Congrats and best of luck!

JoJoCal19

Congrats on the new job UnixGuy!

jamthat

UnixGuy wrote: »

UPDATE::

I got the job

I'll join them mid February!! The salary is almost the same as my current on (which is pretty good), plus there is a nice bonus!

The interview went amazing!! They really liked my Unix skills, and my networking knowledge. I should learn CheckPoint on the job, and I should learn how to do network and CheckPoint troubleshooting. Having said that, looks like I'll be doing a lot of traditional Linux/Unix administration, SOE, monitoring, patching, ...etc. But I'm gonna be part of the Security Operations team

Yay great start!!

Congrats! With a quote like that below your name, I can tell you have great taste in TV and therefore deserve this job.

Congrats!

Congrats!

Congrats brother!!

Congrats. How much did your preparation help you in the interview?

N2IT

Awesome work! Sorry for the late gratz!

coffeeluvr

Congratulations on the new job! What a way to start the New Year!

UnixGuy

pramin wrote: »

Congrats. How much did your preparation help you in the interview?

I didn't do any preparation, got too busy with new years & other stuff. I kind of answered all of the questions asked during the interview, they asked me basic troubleshooting stuff to know the level of my understanding of networking. They liked my personality I think (that's what they told the recruiter), and thought I'd fit in. They needed someone to take care of their Linux servers as well so it worked out well.

Pupil

Gratz on landing the job OP. Sounds like a lot of fun. Hybrid role of Linux, networking, and security. That's something I'd like to do in the near future.