Application Security Interview Questions Evolution Analysis (2020-2025)

I've analyzed the evolution of AppSec interview questions over the past 5 years to identify trends and patterns that can aid your learning and dip-test the available resources on their aged content.

Historical Analysis (2020-2025)

Looking at the AppSec landscape from 2020 to 2025, I've noticed several significant shifts in interview question focus:

2020:

• Heavy emphasis on traditional web security (XSS, CSRF, SQLi)

• Basic secure coding principles

• OWASP Top 10 knowledge

2021-2022:

• Increased focus on API security

• Container security questions emergence

• Zero Trust architecture concepts

• Cloud security fundamentals

2023-2024:

• Supply chain security prominence

• DevSecOps integration questions

• Kubernetes security

• AI/ML security implications

2025 (Current):

• Zero Trust implementation specifics

• Cloud-native security

• Automated security testing

• Security in CI/CD pipelines

• AI-powered security tools

Key Trends Identified

1. Shift from isolated security concepts to integrated security approaches

2. Increased emphasis on cloud-native security

3. Growing importance of automation and DevSecOps

4. Evolution from reactive to proactive security measures

The AppSec interview landscape has evolved significantly from basic security concepts to complex, integrated security approaches. Prepping for an appsec interview soon? The key is to maintain industry topic relevance while building a strong foundation in fundamentals.