OWASP

Question 1

What is the role of a cybersecurity analyst?

Answer 1

To help keep data safe and reduce risk for an organization using security frameworks, controls, and principles.

Question 2

What is OWASP?

Answer 2

Open Worldwide Application Security Project, a foundation that promotes secure software development.

Question 3

What does OWASP stand for?

Answer 3

Open Worldwide Application Security Project.

Question 4

What are security principles?

Answer 4

Guidelines embedded in daily tasks of cybersecurity to protect systems and data.

Question 5

What is the ‘Minimize attack surface area’ principle?

Answer 5

Reducing all potential vulnerabilities a threat actor could exploit.

Question 6

What is meant by ‘attack surface’?

Answer 6

All the potential vulnerabilities a threat actor could exploit.

Question 7

What is the ‘Principle of least privilege’?

Answer 7

Users are given the least amount of access necessary to perform their tasks.

Question 8

Why is ‘Principle of least privilege’ important?

Answer 8

It limits access to reduce potential damage from breaches.

Question 9

What is ‘Defense in depth’?

Answer 9

Using multiple, varied security controls to mitigate risks and threats.

Question 10

What does ‘Separation of duties’ mean?

Answer 10

Critical actions are performed by multiple people, each with limited privileges.

Question 11

Why is ‘Separation of duties’ used?

Answer 11

To prevent abuse of power and reduce insider threats.

Question 12

What does ‘Keep security simple’ mean?

Answer 12

Avoiding unnecessary complexity in security solutions.

Question 13

Why should security be kept simple?

Answer 13

Complexity makes security difficult and error-prone.

Question 14

What is ‘Fix security issues correctly’?

Answer 14

Identify root cause, contain impact, and verify the remediation.

Question 15

What are additional OWASP principles?

Answer 15

Establish secure defaults, Fail securely, Don’t trust services, Avoid security by obscurity.

Question 16

What does ‘Establish secure defaults’ mean?

Answer 16

Applications should default to the most secure settings.

Question 17

Why use secure defaults?

Answer 17

So users are protected without needing to configure settings.

Question 18

What is ‘Fail securely’?

Answer 18

When a control fails, it should default to its most secure state.

Question 19

Example of ‘Fail securely’?

Answer 19

A firewall fails by closing all connections and blocking new ones.

Question 20

What does ‘Don’t trust services’ mean?

Answer 20

Organizations shouldn’t trust third-party services by default.

Question 21

Why shouldn’t organizations trust services?

Answer 21

Third parties may have different security policies.

Question 22

Example of ‘Don’t trust services’?

Answer 22

An airline verifying vendor data before sharing it with customers.

Question 23

What is ‘Avoid security by obscurity’?

Answer 23

Security should not rely solely on keeping system details hidden.

Question 24

Why avoid ‘security by obscurity’?

Answer 24

True security requires layered defenses beyond secrecy.

Question 25

Example of 'security by obscurity' failing?

Answer 25

Relying on hidden source code instead of solid policies and controls.

Question 26

What should real application security include?

Answer 26

Password policies, defense in depth, network architecture, and audit controls.

Question 27

How do analysts apply security principles?

Answer 27

By integrating them into development and operational practices.

Question 28

What does OWASP promote?

Answer 28

Secure coding, development, and deployment practices.

Question 29

How can entry-level analysts use OWASP principles?

Answer 29

To reduce risks and promote safe development.

Question 30

What is a SIEM dashboard?

Answer 30

A tool used to monitor security information and events.

Question 31

What is a vulnerability scanner?

Answer 31

A tool used to find security weaknesses in systems.

Question 32

Why is analyzing logs important?

Answer 32

To detect and understand potential security incidents.

Question 33

What is remediation in cybersecurity?

Answer 33

Fixing the root cause of a security issue and confirming it's resolved.

Question 34

What is the main goal of security principles?

Answer 34

To protect systems, data, and people from threats.

Question 35

What does 'contain the impact' mean?

Answer 35

Limit the damage caused by a security incident.

Question 36

What is the role of testing after fixing a security issue?

Answer 36

To ensure that the remediation is successful.

Question 37

Why is using varied security controls important?

Answer 37

To provide defense in depth and handle different types of threats.

Question 38

Why should critical actions involve multiple people?

Answer 38

To reduce the risk of error or abuse.

Question 39

What is a default secure state?

Answer 39

A setting where the most secure option is active by default.

Question 40

What is a firewall?

Answer 40

A security device that controls incoming and outgoing network traffic.

Question 41

Why is failing securely better?

Answer 41

It prevents systems from becoming vulnerable during failure.

Question 42

Why validate third-party services?

Answer 42

To ensure they meet your organization’s security standards.

Question 43

How do you monitor security events?

Answer 43

By using tools like SIEM dashboards.

Question 44

What is the impact of complexity on security?

Answer 44

It can introduce more vulnerabilities and errors.

Question 45

Why are root cause analyses important?

Answer 45

They help prevent similar future incidents.

Question 46

How can complexity hinder security fixes?

Answer 46

It can make issues harder to identify and resolve.

Question 47

What is a key takeaway for entry-level analysts?

Answer 47

Security principles are foundational in protecting organizations.

Question 48

What should not be the basis of application security?

Answer 48

Hiding the source code alone.

Question 49

What supports real security besides code secrecy?

Answer 49

Password rules, layered defense, and network safeguards.

Question 50

Why is OWASP important for new analysts?

Answer 50

It offers practical guidance for securing systems.