Compliance Analyst Interview Questions

Are you interested in a booming career in cybersecurity? The compliance analyst role can help you attain financial and social security at the same time. Read on to find out how to crack your upcoming compliance analyst interview here!

Compliance Analyst Role Overview

In a business firm or a company, the compliance analyst plays a vital role in making sure that the laws, standards, procedures, and internal policies are strictly followed and maintained. It is the duty of the compliance analyst to make sure that the laws and regulations are followed without any interference within an organisation.

Between the operations of business and requirements in regulatory compliance, the only person who acts as a binding bond is the compliance analyst.

In IT, finance, data-driven business, healthcare, academics, etc., which are highly focused on the regulatory environment, the compliance analyst has so much to do. 

The major duties of a compliance analyst include

• Risk assessment 
• Compliance controls monitoring 
• Audit compliance 
• Documentation
• Adherence to frameworks

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It is solely the duty of the compliance analyst to support audits and adhere to ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA and GDPR frameworks. It is the compliance analyst who works closely aligned with the management, IT, legal and security teams for the company to avoid paying a lump sum amount as penalties.

For a compliance analyst interview, the employers will focus on your understanding of risk management, regulatory compliance procedures, documentation requirements, auditing requirements and your ability to make decisions and provide solutions to real-world problems. Here are the key interview questions for compliance analysts from freshers to experienced professionals. 

Compliance Analyst Interview Questions for Freshers

Freshers will be interviewed to analyse their competency in analytical thinking, awareness of compliance, understanding of their regulatory duties and decision-making. 

Basic compliance questions 

1. Define control?
2. What is risk?
3. Elaborate on regulatory requirements?
4. Who is a compliance analyst?
5. What is compliance?
6. Why is compliance important for business organisations?
7. What is a policy?
8. Elaborate on audit strategies 
9. What is integrity?
10. Define data privacy.
11. Explain information security compliance.
12. Explain how compliance is different from governance.
13. Define audit. 
14. What do you mean by internal controls?
15. Define compliance risks?
16. What are the different types of compliance risks?
17. What is non-compliance?
18. Define compliance documentation.
19. What is the relation between details and compliance analysis?
20. What is the importance of maintaining confidentiality?
21. Define the term availability.
22. Elaborate on the compliance frameworks

The freshers should have a strong knowledge of the concepts and the objectives of each terminology.

Regulatory & Standards-Based Questions

A compliance analyst should have thorough knowledge of security standards, procedures for industry regulations and regulatory standards. 

ISO 27001 interview questions 

This is the most widely and comprehensively recognised information security standard.

1. What is ISO 27001?
2. What are Annexe A Controls?
3. What is the objective of ISO 27001?
4. Define the purpose of ISO 27001.
5. Elaborate on ISMS?
6. What is SoA?
7. What is a management review?
8. Define ‘internal audit’ in ISO 27001.
9. What is risk assessment?
10. Define ISO 27001 certification.
11. Define the PDCA cycle.
12. What is the evidence to be submitted during audits?
13. How to choose applicable controls?
14. What are the maintenance criteria for ISO 27001 compliance?
15. Different ways to handle non-conformities?
16. What are the different types of risk treatment?
17. How to perform an ISO 27001 risk assessment?
18. What are applicable controls?

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SOC 2 interview questions 

For service organisations, SOC 2 projects the security controls and service criteria.

1. Define SOC 2 Type 1.
2. What are the differences between SOC 2 Type I and Type II? 
3. Explain the control gap.
4. Define SOC 2.
5. What is TSC?
6. What is SOC 1?
7. How is SOC1 different from SOC2?
8. What is the purpose of SOC2 in SaaS companies?
9. How to prepare for a SOC 2 audit?
10. Elaborate on TSC map controls?
11. Define vendor compliance.
12. How to ensure SOC 2 compliance?
13. Elaborate on control effectiveness?
14. Explain evidence collection procedures?
15. Define continuous monitoring.
16. Explain how the SOC2 audit is performed.
17. Why is SOC 2 important?
18. Challenges due to SOC 2 audits?

GDPR-Related Questions

GDPR is a data privacy and protection regulation. GDPR is very crucial for a compliance analyst.

1. What is GDPR?
2. Explain consent under GDPR.
3. What is data breach notification?
4. Elaborate on DSARs?
5. How to ensure GDPR compliance?
6. Elaborate on the GDPR breach reporting timeline.
7. Define GDPR Penalties.
8. Define data minimisation.
9. What is the purpose of GDPR?
10. What is the application of GDPR?
11. Define personal data.
12. Elaborate on sensitive personal data?
13. Explain data processing?
14. Define data subject rights.
15. Role of DPO?
16. Define DPIA.

HIPAA-Related Questions

HIPAA is related to the compliance role directly applied to the healthcare industry 

1. Define HIPAA.
2. Compliance criteria for HIPAA?
3. How to respond to HIPAA breaches?
4. How to protect PHI?
5. Elaborate on the HIPAA violation?
6. Define administrative safeguards.
7. HIPAA documentation?
8. What is the difference between technical and physical safeguards?
9. Define PHI.
10. Define privacy rules?
11. Define a security rule.
12. Define breach notification rule?
13. HIPAA non-compliance penalties

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Risk Assessment & Audit Questions

Here are the popular  risk assessment and audit questions that you can refer to

1. What is risk assessment?
2. Define residual risk.
3. What is an audit finding?
4. What is the difference between follow-up audits and audit trails?
5. What is inherent risk?
6. What is risk mitigation?
7. What is a risk register?
8. Define internal and external audit.
9. What is the audit scope?

Policy & Documentation Questions

Documentation is the key element in compliance analysis.

1. What is a procedure?
2. Elaborate on review policies?
3. How to ensure policy awareness?
4. Define compliance policy.
5. Define standard

Compliance Tools & Reporting

Tools and automation are an integral part of compliance. Here is the list of questions you can refer to

1. What are the techniques to ensure data accuracy?
2. How to report risks?
3. What is the use of a compliance tool?
4. Define GRC.
5. Define a compliance dashboard.
6. What is control mapping?
7. How to maintain transparency?
8. Define a compliance report.
9. How to communicate non-compliance?

Scenario-Based Compliance Questions

Here, your practical approach will be evaluated. 

1. How to respond to the department violation?
2. How to handle non-compliance 
3. What is a data breach
4. How to respond to missing audit evidence?

Pro Tips to Become a Compliance Analyst

Here are the best tips to become a skilled compliance analyst after clearing the  compliance analyst interview

1. Learn the basic concepts.
2. Know about risk management. 
3. Understand the nuances of compliance frameworks.
4. Have an idea about risk assessment fundamentals 
5. Practice daily audit scenarios 
6. Work on documentation skills
7. Stay updated.
8. Improve communication skills
9. Learn about ethical integrity.

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Conclusion

The compliance analyst interview focuses on how well you can handle the real-world compliance challenges. The interview will evaluate the challenges and regulatory skills of the candidates

. The practical knowledge in compliance analysis will help you to crack the interview with the desired scores. The Entri app can help you with expert guidance and a hands-on learning experience.