aws architect Interview Questions and Answers

0
AWS Architect Interview Questions and Answers

  1. What are the core AWS services and their primary use cases?

    • Answer: Core AWS services include EC2 (compute), S3 (storage), RDS (database), Lambda (serverless compute), VPC (networking), IAM (security), and CloudFormation (infrastructure as code). Their use cases vary widely depending on the application; EC2 is used for virtual servers, S3 for object storage, RDS for managed databases, Lambda for event-driven functions, VPC for creating isolated networks, IAM for user access management, and CloudFormation for automating infrastructure deployments.

  2. Explain the difference between EC2 and Lambda. When would you choose one over the other?

    • Answer: EC2 provides virtual servers you manage, offering complete control. Lambda is a serverless compute service; you upload code, and AWS manages the infrastructure. Choose EC2 for applications needing persistent resources, precise control, or complex configurations. Choose Lambda for event-driven architectures, microservices, and functions that don't require constant uptime.

  3. Describe different AWS storage services and their use cases.

    • Answer: S3 (object storage): for unstructured data like images, videos, and backups. EBS (block storage): for persistent storage attached to EC2 instances. Glacier (archive storage): for long-term, infrequent access data. S3 Glacier Deep Archive: for extremely low-cost, long-term archival. EFS (file storage): for shared file systems across EC2 instances. The choice depends on the data access frequency, cost sensitivity, and data type.

  4. How does AWS IAM work, and why is it important for security?

    • Answer: IAM manages user access to AWS resources. It uses policies to define permissions, controlling what actions users and services can perform. This is crucial for security as it prevents unauthorized access and ensures compliance with security best practices. IAM enables the principle of least privilege.

  5. What is a VPC, and why is it important for security?

    • Answer: A VPC is a logically isolated section of the AWS Cloud, providing a virtual network environment. It enhances security by isolating resources from the public internet and other VPCs, offering control over network configurations, subnets, routing, and security groups. This improves security and allows for better network management.

  6. Explain the concept of Auto Scaling in AWS.

    • Answer: Auto Scaling automatically adjusts the number of EC2 instances based on predefined metrics like CPU utilization or request count. It ensures application availability and scalability by adding or removing instances to handle fluctuating demand. It helps maintain performance and cost-efficiency.

  7. What are AWS Elastic Load Balancers (ELBs) and their different types?

    • Answer: ELBs distribute incoming traffic across multiple EC2 instances, improving availability and performance. Types include Application Load Balancers (for application-level routing), Network Load Balancers (for Layer 4 routing), and Classic Load Balancers (older technology, gradually being deprecated).

  8. Describe the different types of AWS databases.

    • Answer: AWS offers various database services: RDS (managed relational databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle), DynamoDB (NoSQL key-value and document database), Aurora (MySQL and PostgreSQL-compatible, highly scalable database), Redshift (data warehousing), DocumentDB (MongoDB-compatible document database), and many more, catering to different needs and data models.

  9. What is AWS CloudFormation, and how does it help in infrastructure management?

    • Answer: CloudFormation is a service for provisioning and managing AWS infrastructure through code (Infrastructure as Code). It uses templates (JSON or YAML) to define resources and their configurations, automating deployments, updates, and rollbacks, improving consistency and reducing manual errors.

  10. Explain the concept of AWS CloudTrail.

    • Answer: CloudTrail is a service that logs AWS API calls made by users and services. It provides a record of changes to your AWS environment, crucial for security auditing, compliance, and troubleshooting. It helps in monitoring access and detecting potentially malicious activities.

  • What is AWS Config and how does it help with compliance?

    • Answer: AWS Config continuously monitors and records the configurations of your AWS resources. It provides an inventory of your resources and their settings, enabling you to assess compliance with organizational policies and regulatory requirements. It helps ensure that your resources are configured as intended.

  • Explain the difference between S3 Standard and S3 Intelligent-Tiering.

    • Answer: S3 Standard is a general-purpose storage class suitable for frequent access. S3 Intelligent-Tiering automatically moves objects between access tiers (frequent access, infrequent access) based on usage patterns, optimizing storage costs. Intelligent-Tiering is ideal for data with unpredictable access patterns.

  • What is AWS CloudWatch and its key functionalities?

    • Answer: CloudWatch is a monitoring and logging service that collects and tracks metrics from AWS resources and applications. Its functionalities include monitoring system performance, setting alarms, creating dashboards, and analyzing logs. It provides insights into resource utilization and application health.

  • How do you implement high availability in an AWS environment?

    • Answer: High availability is achieved through techniques like using multiple Availability Zones (AZs), employing load balancers, implementing auto scaling, using redundant resources, and designing fault-tolerant architectures. The specific strategy depends on the application's requirements.

  • What is a security group in AWS, and how is it different from an NACL?

    • Answer: A security group is a virtual firewall that controls inbound and outbound traffic for EC2 instances. Network Access Control Lists (NACLs) operate at the subnet level, providing an additional layer of security. Security groups control traffic based on instance-level rules, while NACLs operate on subnet-level rules. They work together to form a comprehensive security model.

  • Explain the concept of AWS Lambda layers.

    • Answer: Lambda layers allow you to share code and dependencies across multiple Lambda functions, reducing code duplication and improving consistency. They are used to package shared libraries, dependencies, and configurations that can be reused across different functions, promoting modularity and efficiency.

  • What is AWS Systems Manager (SSM), and how can it be used for managing instances?

    • Answer: SSM provides capabilities for managing EC2 instances and other AWS resources. It allows you to run commands, automate tasks, manage patches, collect data, and perform other operational tasks, improving automation and simplifying management.

  • How does AWS Direct Connect improve network connectivity?

    • Answer: Direct Connect establishes a dedicated network connection between your on-premises infrastructure and AWS, providing higher bandwidth, lower latency, and greater control than using the public internet. It improves network performance for applications requiring high throughput and low latency.

  • Describe the different ways to deploy applications to AWS.

    • Answer: Applications can be deployed using various methods: EC2 instances, container services like ECS or EKS, serverless functions with Lambda, or using managed services like Elastic Beanstalk. The optimal method depends on the application's architecture, scalability requirements, and management preferences.

    • Thank you for reading our blog post on 'aws architect Interview Questions and Answers'.We hope you found it informative and useful.Stay tuned for more insightful content!