Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a false positive or false negative in incident response.

Sample answer to the question

Sure! I remember a time when we received an alert about a potential security threat in our network. Upon investigation, it turned out to be a false positive. The alert was triggered by a misconfiguration in one of our network devices. We quickly resolved the issue by identifying the misconfiguration and correcting it. To prevent similar false positives in the future, we updated our monitoring tools to account for this specific misconfiguration. We also conducted a team training session to improve our understanding of network device configurations and their impact on security alerts.

A more solid answer

Certainly! I can recall an incident where our SIEM system flagged a potential malware infection in one of our servers. After investigating the issue further, we discovered that it was a false positive caused by a recently updated antivirus signature. The new signature mistakenly identified a legitimate system process as a potential threat. To address the false positive, we consulted with the antivirus vendor to discuss the issue and find a solution. They promptly released an updated signature that resolved the problem. In response, we updated our incident response procedures to include a verification step for antivirus signatures after updates, ensuring that false positives are minimized and genuine threats are appropriately addressed.

Why this is a more solid answer:

The solid answer expands on the basic answer by providing more details about the incident and the candidate's actions. It demonstrates the candidate's proficiency in using SIEM tools and their ability to effectively communicate and document incidents. The inclusion of updated incident response procedures also shows the candidate's understanding of incident response protocols and their ability to learn from past experiences.

An exceptional answer

Absolutely! In one particular incident, our intrusion detection system (IDS) generated an alert indicating a potential network breach from an external IP address. Upon investigation, we realized it was a false negative, as the traffic was originating from a legitimate partner organization. We immediately reached out to our contact at the partner organization to verify their activities during that time. After confirming the legitimacy of their actions, we identified a misconfiguration in our IDS rules that led to the false negative. To prevent similar occurrences, we revised our IDS rules and conducted comprehensive testing to ensure accurate detection and minimize false negatives in the future. Furthermore, we incorporated this incident into our training curriculum to educate our team members on the importance of regularly reviewing IDS rules and the impact false negatives can have on incident response effectiveness.

Why this is an exceptional answer:

The exceptional answer goes beyond the solid answer by providing a more detailed and complex scenario. It showcases the candidate's strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as their ability to effectively communicate with external stakeholders. The inclusion of comprehensive testing and incorporating the incident into training demonstrates the candidate's commitment to continuous improvement and their ability to learn from mistakes.

How to prepare for this question

Familiarize yourself with common false positive and false negative scenarios in incident response.
Be prepared to provide specific examples from your past experience where you dealt with false positives or false negatives.
Highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to learn from incidents to improve incident response procedures.
Demonstrate your understanding of incident response protocols and your ability to effectively communicate and document incidents.

What interviewers are evaluating

Analytical and problem-solving skills
Understanding of incident response protocols and procedures