Landing a job in cloud computing requires more than just theoretical knowledge; you need to demonstrate a solid understanding of key concepts and practical applications. Preparing for cloud computing viva questions is crucial for showcasing your expertise and confidence during interviews. Mastering these commonly asked questions will significantly boost your clarity, poise, and overall performance.
What are cloud computing viva questions?
Cloud computing viva questions are interview questions specifically designed to assess a candidate's understanding of cloud computing concepts, technologies, and their application in real-world scenarios. These questions typically cover a broad range of topics, including service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), deployment models (public, private, hybrid), security considerations, and practical experience with cloud platforms. They are important because they help employers gauge your readiness to tackle the challenges of working in a cloud environment.
Why do interviewers ask cloud computing viva questions?
Interviewers ask cloud computing viva questions to evaluate several key aspects of a candidate. Primarily, they want to assess your technical knowledge of cloud computing fundamentals. They also seek to understand your problem-solving abilities, particularly in the context of designing, deploying, and managing cloud-based solutions. Furthermore, interviewers aim to determine the depth of your practical experience and how well you can articulate your understanding of complex cloud concepts. Ultimately, these questions help them determine if you possess the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in a cloud computing role.
Here's a preview list of the 30 cloud computing viva questions we'll be covering:
What is Cloud Computing?
What are the main types of Cloud Computing service delivery models?
What are the different cloud deployment models?
What are the key characteristics of cloud computing?
Explain Cloud Computing infrastructure.
What is a Virtual Machine (VM) and its role in cloud computing?
What is encapsulation in cloud computing?
What are containerized data centers?
What is rate limiting?
What are microservices and why are they important in cloud computing?
What are the benefits of moving to the cloud?
What is a hybrid cloud and why has it grown in importance?
What are the different types of cloud storage?
Explain Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) and their use.
What are serverless components in cloud computing?
How does cloud computing differ from traditional on-premise computing?
What are some real-world applications of cloud computing?
What is multi-tenancy in cloud computing?
What security measures are used in cloud computing?
What is scalability in cloud computing?
What role does virtualization play in cloud computing?
What is meant by elasticity in cloud computing?
What is fault tolerance in the cloud?
How do cloud providers ensure data backup and disaster recovery?
What is the difference between public cloud, private cloud, and community cloud?
What are the common cloud service providers?
What is an API gateway in cloud computing?
Explain the concept of Infrastructure as Code (IaC).
What is a cloud-native application?
How does cloud computing contribute to business agility?
## 1. What is Cloud Computing?
Why you might get asked this:
This question is a foundational one. Interviewers want to gauge your basic understanding of what cloud computing entails. It's about assessing if you grasp the core concept before delving into more complex topics. Your response should demonstrate that you comprehend the fundamental nature of cloud computing and its core value proposition. This is one of the most important cloud computing viva questions.
How to answer:
Begin by defining cloud computing as the delivery of computing services over the internet. Briefly mention the key service categories such as servers, storage, and software. Emphasize the benefits of cloud computing, such as on-demand access, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Avoid overly technical jargon in your initial explanation.
Example answer:
"Cloud computing, at its core, is about accessing computing resources—like servers, storage, and applications—over the internet. Think of it as renting computing power instead of owning it. It allows businesses to scale their resources as needed, reduce upfront costs, and focus on their core business rather than managing IT infrastructure. So, it offers flexibility and efficiency that traditional on-premise solutions often can't match. That understanding is crucial when addressing many cloud computing viva questions."
## 2. What are the main types of Cloud Computing service delivery models?
Why you might get asked this:
This question tests your knowledge of the fundamental service models in cloud computing. Interviewers want to see if you understand the differences between IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, and how each model caters to different needs. Your answer should showcase your familiarity with these key building blocks of cloud services.
How to answer:
Clearly define each of the three main service models: IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), and SaaS (Software as a Service). For each model, explain what it provides and give a real-world example. Highlight the level of control and responsibility that the customer has in each model.
Example answer:
"There are three main service models in cloud computing: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. IaaS, or Infrastructure as a Service, provides you with the basic building blocks of computing infrastructure—servers, storage, and networks—over the internet. You manage the operating system, applications, and data. Think of AWS EC2 as a prime example. PaaS, or Platform as a Service, provides a platform for developing, running, and managing applications without the complexity of managing the underlying infrastructure. Google App Engine is a good example. Finally, SaaS, or Software as a Service, delivers software applications over the internet, on demand. You simply use the software; the provider handles everything else. Salesforce is a common example. Understanding these distinctions is key to answering many cloud computing viva questions."
## 3. What are the different cloud deployment models?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your knowledge of the different ways cloud infrastructure can be deployed. Interviewers want to know if you understand the nuances of public, private, and hybrid clouds, and when each model is most appropriate.
How to answer:
Explain the three main deployment models: public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud. Describe the characteristics of each model, including who owns and manages the infrastructure. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each model in terms of cost, security, and control.
Example answer:
"There are three primary cloud deployment models: public, private, and hybrid. A public cloud is where services are offered over the public internet and are available to anyone who wants to use them, like AWS or Azure. A private cloud is cloud infrastructure operated solely for a single organization, offering more control and security. And then there's the hybrid cloud, which is a combination of public and private clouds, allowing data and applications to be shared between them. We actually use a hybrid approach at my current company, keeping sensitive data on our private cloud while leveraging the public cloud for less critical workloads. Knowing these options helps answer many cloud computing viva questions."
## 4. What are the key characteristics of cloud computing?
Why you might get asked this:
This question is designed to ensure you understand the fundamental attributes that define cloud computing. Interviewers are looking for you to demonstrate a solid grasp of what makes the cloud unique and beneficial.
How to answer:
Outline the key characteristics such as on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and measured service. Explain each characteristic clearly and concisely, providing examples where possible.
Example answer:
"The defining characteristics of cloud computing include on-demand self-service, which means users can provision resources without requiring human interaction with the service provider. There's also broad network access, meaning services are available over a wide range of devices. Resource pooling allows providers to serve multiple customers from the same infrastructure. Rapid elasticity refers to the ability to quickly scale resources up or down based on demand. And finally, measured service means that resource usage is monitored and billed accordingly. In my previous role, we leveraged rapid elasticity to handle traffic spikes during product launches. Knowing these traits is central to understanding many cloud computing viva questions."
## 5. Explain Cloud Computing infrastructure.
Why you might get asked this:
This question dives into the underlying components that make up a cloud environment. Interviewers want to assess your understanding of the physical and virtual resources that enable cloud services.
How to answer:
Describe the physical components such as servers, storage devices, networking equipment, and data centers. Also, explain the role of virtualization software and management tools in enabling cloud services. Highlight how these components work together to deliver on-demand computing resources.
Example answer:
"Cloud computing infrastructure encompasses both the physical hardware and the software that enables cloud services. On the hardware side, it includes physical servers, storage arrays, networking devices, and the data centers that house them. But it also includes virtualization software, which allows us to create virtual machines and abstract the hardware. Management tools are crucial for provisioning, monitoring, and managing these resources. In my last project, I worked with VMware to manage the virtualization layer in our private cloud. Understanding that infrastructure is essential when approaching many cloud computing viva questions."
## 6. What is a Virtual Machine (VM) and its role in cloud computing?
Why you might get asked this:
Virtual machines are a cornerstone of cloud computing. Interviewers want to know if you understand what they are and how they contribute to the efficiency and scalability of cloud environments.
How to answer:
Define a virtual machine as a software emulation of a physical computer. Explain that VMs run their own operating systems and applications. Emphasize their role in enabling multiple virtual servers to run on a single physical machine, thereby optimizing resource utilization and providing isolation.
Example answer:
"A virtual machine, or VM, is essentially a software-based computer that runs on top of physical hardware. It has its own operating system, its own applications, and it behaves just like a physical machine. The key is that VMs allow us to run multiple virtual servers on a single physical server, which significantly improves resource utilization. In the cloud, VMs are used to provide on-demand computing resources, allowing for efficient scaling and isolation. In my experience, using VMs allowed us to quickly deploy new applications without needing to purchase additional hardware. Recognizing the role of VMs is key to many cloud computing viva questions."
## 7. What is encapsulation in cloud computing?
Why you might get asked this:
This question probes your understanding of how software and its dependencies are packaged for cloud deployment, ensuring consistency across different environments.
How to answer:
Explain that encapsulation in cloud computing refers to packaging software code along with all its dependencies, such as libraries and runtime environments, so it can run consistently across different cloud and on-premises environments. Emphasize its role in simplifying deployment and reducing compatibility issues.
Example answer:
"Encapsulation, in the context of cloud computing, is essentially packaging an application along with everything it needs to run—its code, its libraries, and its dependencies—into a single unit. This unit can then be deployed consistently across different environments, whether it's in the cloud or on-premises. It really simplifies deployment and ensures that the application behaves the same way regardless of where it's running. I used Docker containers extensively in my previous role to encapsulate our applications, which significantly reduced deployment headaches. Knowing how encapsulation works is important for cloud computing viva questions."
## 8. What are containerized data centers?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your knowledge of modern data center solutions that offer portability and scalability in cloud deployments.
How to answer:
Describe containerized data centers as modular, portable data center solutions housed in shipping container-like units. Highlight their benefits, such as scalability, rapid deployment, and cost-effectiveness.
Example answer:
"Containerized data centers are essentially self-contained, modular data center solutions that are typically housed in shipping container-like units. The idea is that you can quickly deploy and scale your data center capacity by simply adding more containers. They offer a lot of flexibility and are particularly useful for organizations that need to rapidly expand their infrastructure or deploy resources in remote locations. While I haven’t directly worked with containerized data centers, I understand they are becoming increasingly popular for their scalability and portability. That's relevant background for addressing cloud computing viva questions."
## 9. What is rate limiting?
Why you might get asked this:
This question tests your understanding of techniques used to control network traffic and prevent abuse in cloud environments.
How to answer:
Explain rate limiting as a technique to control the amount of network traffic by limiting how often an action can be repeated in a given timeframe. Emphasize its role in preventing abuse, protecting against denial-of-service attacks, and ensuring fair resource allocation.
Example answer:
"Rate limiting is a technique used to control the amount of network traffic by restricting how many times a user or application can perform a certain action within a specific time period. It's crucial for preventing abuse, like someone trying to brute-force a password, and for protecting against denial-of-service attacks. We implemented rate limiting on our API endpoints to prevent excessive requests from overwhelming our servers. It's a fundamental security measure, and that’s always a consideration for cloud computing viva questions."
## 10. What are microservices and why are they important in cloud computing?
Why you might get asked this:
Microservices are a popular architectural style in cloud-native applications. Interviewers want to assess your understanding of this approach and its benefits in cloud environments.
How to answer:
Define microservices as an architectural style where an application is composed of loosely coupled, independently deployable services. Explain that they improve scalability, development speed, and resilience in cloud environments. Highlight their advantages over monolithic architectures.
Example answer:
"Microservices are an architectural approach where you build an application as a collection of small, independent services that communicate with each other. Each service is responsible for a specific business function, and they can be developed, deployed, and scaled independently. This is really important in the cloud because it allows you to scale individual components of your application based on demand, rather than scaling the entire application. Plus, it makes development faster and more agile. We transitioned to a microservices architecture for our e-commerce platform, and it significantly improved our deployment frequency and system resilience. And that's very relevant to many cloud computing viva questions."
## 11. What are the benefits of moving to the cloud?
Why you might get asked this:
This question is fundamental to understanding why organizations adopt cloud computing. Interviewers want to see if you grasp the core advantages that the cloud offers.
How to answer:
Describe benefits such as cost savings, scalability, flexibility, disaster recovery, automatic software updates, and increased collaboration. Provide real-world examples to illustrate these benefits.
Example answer:
"The benefits of moving to the cloud are numerous. Cost savings are a big one, as you eliminate the need for upfront investment in hardware and reduce operational expenses. Scalability is another key advantage, allowing you to easily scale resources up or down based on demand. The cloud also offers greater flexibility, enabling you to quickly deploy new applications and services. Disaster recovery is improved with cloud-based backups and replication. Automatic software updates reduce the burden on IT staff. And finally, cloud-based collaboration tools enhance teamwork. In my previous role, we saw a significant reduction in IT costs and improved agility after migrating to the cloud. That's why these considerations are a part of cloud computing viva questions."
## 12. What is a hybrid cloud and why has it grown in importance?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your understanding of a popular cloud deployment model that combines public and private cloud resources. Interviewers want to know why it's becoming increasingly relevant for organizations.
How to answer:
Explain that a hybrid cloud integrates private and public cloud services to leverage benefits like flexibility and security. Discuss its importance for organizations with mixed workloads and specific compliance requirements.
Example answer:
"A hybrid cloud is essentially a combination of a private cloud and a public cloud, allowing organizations to leverage the best of both worlds. It's grown in importance because it offers a balance between the security and control of a private cloud and the scalability and cost-effectiveness of a public cloud. For example, a company might keep sensitive data on its private cloud while using the public cloud for less critical workloads. This is particularly important for organizations with strict compliance requirements or those that want to optimize costs. My current company uses a hybrid cloud approach to maintain control over sensitive data while still benefiting from the scalability of the public cloud. Hybrid approaches come up in many cloud computing viva questions."
## 13. What are the different types of cloud storage?
Why you might get asked this:
This question tests your knowledge of the various storage options available in the cloud and their respective use cases.
How to answer:
Describe object storage, block storage, and file storage, explaining the characteristics and use cases for each type. Provide examples of cloud storage services that offer each type of storage.
Example answer:
"There are three main types of cloud storage: object storage, block storage, and file storage. Object storage is designed for storing unstructured data like images, videos, and documents. It's highly scalable and cost-effective, and it's often used for archiving and content delivery. Amazon S3 is a good example. Block storage is designed for storing structured data like databases and virtual machine disks. It offers high performance and low latency. Amazon EBS is an example. File storage provides a shared file system that can be accessed by multiple users and applications. It's often used for file sharing and collaboration. Amazon EFS is an example. Choosing the right storage type depends on the specific requirements of the application. And knowing your options is important when addressing cloud computing viva questions."
## 14. Explain Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) and their use.
Why you might get asked this:
This question specifically targets your knowledge of AWS and its core services, particularly AMIs, which are essential for deploying virtual machines.
How to answer:
Explain that AMIs are pre-configured templates used to launch virtual servers (EC2 instances) in AWS. Describe how they enable consistent and rapid deployment of applications.
Example answer:
"Amazon Machine Images, or AMIs, are basically pre-configured templates that contain the operating system, application server, and applications needed to launch an EC2 instance in AWS. They allow you to quickly and consistently deploy virtual servers without having to manually configure each instance from scratch. You can use a pre-built AMI from the AWS Marketplace, or you can create your own AMI with your specific configurations. In my previous role, we used AMIs to ensure that all our EC2 instances were configured identically, which greatly simplified management and reduced errors. And that kind of platform knowledge is crucial for many cloud computing viva questions."
## 15. What are serverless components in cloud computing?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your understanding of serverless computing, a modern approach that abstracts away server management. Interviewers want to know if you understand its benefits and drawbacks.
How to answer:
Explain that serverless computing allows running applications without managing servers. Highlight advantages like cost-effectiveness and scalability, but also mention potential disadvantages like security vulnerabilities and debugging challenges.
Example answer:
"Serverless computing is a model where you can run applications without having to manage the underlying servers. The cloud provider takes care of all the server management, so you can focus solely on writing code. The main advantages are cost-effectiveness, as you only pay for the resources you consume, and automatic scalability. However, there are also some drawbacks, such as potential security vulnerabilities and challenges with debugging. I've used AWS Lambda to build serverless APIs, and it's been a great way to quickly deploy and scale applications without the overhead of managing servers. Being aware of that tradeoff is key when addressing cloud computing viva questions."
## 16. How does cloud computing differ from traditional on-premise computing?
Why you might get asked this:
This question aims to highlight your understanding of the fundamental differences between the cloud and traditional IT infrastructure.
How to answer:
Explain that cloud computing offers on-demand resource availability, pay-as-you-go pricing, and scalability, whereas on-premise requires upfront investment and manual resource management.
Example answer:
"The key difference between cloud computing and traditional on-premise computing lies in resource availability and management. Cloud computing offers on-demand resource availability, meaning you can provision resources whenever you need them. It also follows a pay-as-you-go pricing model, so you only pay for what you use. And it provides automatic scalability, allowing you to easily scale resources up or down based on demand. On the other hand, on-premise computing requires a significant upfront investment in hardware and software, as well as manual resource management. We moved to the cloud to eliminate the need for large capital expenditures and to gain the agility to quickly respond to changing business needs. So that makes it a recurring consideration with many cloud computing viva questions."
## 17. What are some real-world applications of cloud computing?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your ability to connect cloud concepts to practical applications and demonstrate a broader understanding of its impact.
How to answer:
Provide examples such as online streaming services, e-commerce platforms, social media, and educational platforms. Explain how the cloud enables these applications to function efficiently and scale effectively.
Example answer:
"Cloud computing powers a wide range of real-world applications. Online streaming services like Netflix rely on the cloud to store and deliver vast amounts of video content to millions of users. E-commerce platforms like Amazon use the cloud to manage their inventory, process transactions, and personalize customer experiences. Social media platforms like Facebook use the cloud to store and process user data, and to deliver content to users around the world. Educational platforms like Coursera use the cloud to host online courses and deliver learning materials to students. All of these applications benefit from the cloud's scalability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. And those benefits are why we consider those applications when we are addressing cloud computing viva questions."
## 18. What is multi-tenancy in cloud computing?
Why you might get asked this:
This question dives into a core concept of cloud architecture, where multiple customers share the same infrastructure.
How to answer:
Explain that multi-tenancy means multiple customers share the same physical resources securely without affecting each other’s data. Emphasize the importance of isolation and security in a multi-tenant environment.
Example answer:
"Multi-tenancy in cloud computing refers to the ability of multiple customers to share the same physical infrastructure while maintaining isolation and security. Each customer's data and applications are kept separate from those of other customers, so they don't have access to each other's information. This is achieved through virtualization and access control mechanisms. Multi-tenancy allows cloud providers to efficiently utilize their resources and offer cost-effective services to their customers. We use multi-tenancy in our cloud environment to reduce costs and improve resource utilization. So it's a background consideration when addressing cloud computing viva questions."
## 19. What security measures are used in cloud computing?
Why you might get asked this:
Security is a paramount concern in cloud environments. Interviewers want to assess your understanding of the measures used to protect data and applications in the cloud.
How to answer:
Describe common measures such as encryption, identity and access management, firewalls, compliance certifications, and regular security audits. Explain the role of each measure in ensuring cloud security.
Example answer:
"Cloud security relies on a multi-layered approach. Encryption is used to protect data both in transit and at rest. Identity and access management (IAM) controls who can access what resources. Firewalls protect against unauthorized network access. Compliance certifications, such as SOC 2 and ISO 27001, demonstrate that the cloud provider meets certain security standards. Regular security audits help identify and address vulnerabilities. We implemented strong encryption and IAM policies to protect sensitive data in our cloud environment. And that's why it’s one of the most critical cloud computing viva questions."
## 20. What is scalability in cloud computing?
Why you might get asked this:
Scalability is a key benefit of the cloud. Interviewers want to ensure you understand what it means and how it's achieved in a cloud environment.
How to answer:
Explain that scalability refers to the ability of the cloud system to handle increased or decreased workload by provisioning resources dynamically. Differentiate between vertical and horizontal scaling.
Example answer:
"Scalability in cloud computing refers to the ability of a system to handle increasing or decreasing amounts of workload. This is done by dynamically provisioning or de-provisioning resources as needed. There are two main types of scalability: vertical and horizontal. Vertical scalability involves increasing the resources of a single instance, such as adding more CPU or memory. Horizontal scalability involves adding more instances to the system, such as adding more servers to a web farm. We leveraged horizontal scalability to handle traffic spikes during our product launches, ensuring that our application remained responsive even under heavy load. And that's something that comes up quite frequently when addressing cloud computing viva questions."
## 21. What role does virtualization play in cloud computing?
Why you might get asked this:
Virtualization is a foundational technology in cloud computing. Interviewers want to assess your understanding of its importance in enabling cloud services.
How to answer:
Explain that virtualization abstracts physical hardware to create multiple virtual resources, enabling efficient use and isolation essential for cloud services.
Example answer:
"Virtualization plays a critical role in cloud computing by abstracting physical hardware and creating multiple virtual resources. This allows cloud providers to efficiently utilize their hardware resources and offer on-demand computing services to their customers. Virtualization also provides isolation between different virtual machines, ensuring that one customer's workload doesn't interfere with another's. We used virtualization extensively in our private cloud to maximize resource utilization and improve security. It's a foundational component, and that's often reflected in many cloud computing viva questions."
## 22. What is meant by elasticity in cloud computing?
Why you might get asked this:
Elasticity is another key benefit of the cloud. Interviewers want to know if you understand how it differs from scalability and its importance in adapting to changing demands.
How to answer:
Explain that elasticity is the ability to automatically grow or shrink resources based on demand, ensuring optimal performance. Emphasize the automatic and dynamic nature of elasticity.
Example answer:
"Elasticity in cloud computing refers to the ability to automatically scale resources up or down in response to changing demand. This means that the system can automatically add more resources when the workload increases, and automatically remove resources when the workload decreases. This ensures that the system always has the right amount of resources to meet the current demand, without over-provisioning or under-provisioning. We leveraged elasticity to automatically scale our web application based on traffic patterns, ensuring that it remained responsive even during peak hours. It allows systems to be much more flexible and efficient, and that's a key understanding when addressing cloud computing viva questions."
## 23. What is fault tolerance in the cloud?
Why you might get asked this:
Fault tolerance is essential for ensuring the reliability of cloud services. Interviewers want to assess your understanding of how systems are designed to withstand failures.
How to answer:
Explain that fault tolerance enables systems to continue operating properly even when some components fail, often achieved through redundancy.
Example answer:
"Fault tolerance in the cloud is the ability of a system to continue operating properly even if some of its components fail. This is typically achieved through redundancy, which means having multiple copies of critical components so that if one fails, another can take over. For example, a cloud provider might replicate data across multiple data centers so that if one data center goes down, the data is still available. We designed our cloud application to be fault-tolerant by replicating critical components and implementing automatic failover mechanisms. And that's always a key goal to remember with any cloud computing viva questions."
## 24. How do cloud providers ensure data backup and disaster recovery?
Why you might get asked this:
Data loss can be catastrophic. Interviewers want to know how cloud providers protect against it and ensure business continuity.
How to answer:
Explain that cloud providers ensure data backup and disaster recovery by replicating data across multiple geographically dispersed data centers and offering automated backup solutions.
Example answer:
"Cloud providers ensure data backup and disaster recovery by replicating data across multiple geographically dispersed data centers. This means that if one data center goes down due to a natural disaster or other event, the data is still available in another data center. They also offer automated backup solutions that allow customers to easily back up their data and restore it in case of a disaster. We leveraged these features to implement a robust disaster recovery plan for our cloud application, ensuring that we could quickly recover from any potential data loss. That's an integral part of approaching many cloud computing viva questions."
## 25. What is the difference between public cloud, private cloud, and community cloud?
Why you might get asked this:
This question tests your understanding of the different cloud deployment models and their suitability for various scenarios.
How to answer:
Explain that a public cloud is open to the general public; a private cloud is exclusive to one organization; and a community cloud is shared by several organizations with common concerns.
Example answer:
"The main difference between public, private, and community clouds lies in who has access to the infrastructure. A public cloud is open to the general public and is offered by a third-party provider, like AWS or Azure. A private cloud is exclusive to one organization and is typically managed by the organization's IT department. A community cloud is shared by several organizations that have common concerns, such as regulatory requirements or security needs. We chose a private cloud for our sensitive data to maintain greater control over security and compliance. And that's why these deployment models are so important when considering cloud computing viva questions."
## 26. What are the common cloud service providers?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your familiarity with the major players in the cloud computing market.
How to answer:
List major providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and IBM Cloud.
Example answer:
"The most common cloud service providers include Amazon Web Services (AWS), which is the market leader, Microsoft Azure, which is rapidly growing, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), which is known for its innovation, and IBM Cloud, which is focused on enterprise solutions. Each provider offers a wide range of cloud services, including computing, storage, networking, and databases. I've worked primarily with AWS, but I'm also familiar with Azure and GCP. Being conversant in the options is key when facing cloud computing viva questions."
## 27. What is an API gateway in cloud computing?
Why you might get asked this:
This question tests your knowledge of a key component in microservices architectures and API management in the cloud.
How to answer:
Explain that an API gateway acts as a single entry point for API calls, managing traffic, security, and protocol translation.
Example answer:
"An API gateway acts as a single entry point for all API requests in a cloud-based application. It handles tasks like routing requests to the appropriate backend service, authenticating users, rate limiting, and transforming protocols. By centralizing these functions, the API gateway simplifies the development and management of APIs. We used an API gateway to secure our microservices and to provide a consistent interface for our clients. And that’s a key factor in many modern cloud computing viva questions."
## 28. Explain the concept of Infrastructure as Code (IaC).
Why you might get asked this:
IaC is a modern approach to managing infrastructure. Interviewers want to assess your understanding of its principles and benefits.
How to answer:
Explain that IaC is managing and provisioning computing infrastructure through machine-readable definition files rather than manual processes.
Example answer:
"Infrastructure as Code, or IaC, is the practice of managing and provisioning infrastructure using code rather than manual processes. This means that you can define your infrastructure in a configuration file, and then use a tool to automatically create and manage the infrastructure based on that file. This makes infrastructure deployments more consistent, repeatable, and auditable. We used Terraform to manage our cloud infrastructure as code, which greatly improved our deployment speed and reduced errors. And that's why it’s a top consideration in modern cloud computing viva questions."
## 29. What is a cloud-native application?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your understanding of applications designed specifically for the cloud and their architectural characteristics.
How to answer:
Explain that a cloud-native application is designed specifically to run in the cloud, leveraging microservices, containers, and dynamic orchestration.
Example answer:
"A cloud-native application is an application that is designed and built specifically to take advantage of the cloud computing model. This means that it's typically built using microservices, packaged in containers, and deployed using dynamic orchestration platforms like Kubernetes. Cloud-native applications are more scalable, resilient, and agile than traditional applications. We rebuilt our legacy application as a cloud-native application using microservices and containers, which significantly improved its performance and scalability. And that's why it makes for such a valuable discussion point in answering cloud computing viva questions."
## 30. How does cloud computing contribute to business agility?
Why you might get asked this:
This question is about the broader business impact of cloud computing and how it enables organizations to be more responsive and competitive.
How to answer:
Explain that cloud computing accelerates innovation by providing rapid provisioning of resources, enabling quick scaling and deployment of new applications.
Example answer:
"Cloud computing significantly contributes to business agility by enabling organizations to rapidly provision resources, quickly scale their applications, and easily deploy new services. This allows businesses to respond more quickly to changing market conditions and customer demands. For example, a company can quickly launch a new product or service by leveraging cloud-based infrastructure, without having to wait for hardware to be procured and installed. We were able to launch new features much faster after migrating to the cloud, which gave us a significant competitive advantage. And that agility is one of the key benefits of cloud migrations and a consideration when addressing cloud computing viva questions."
Other tips to prepare for a cloud computing viva questions
Preparing for cloud computing viva questions requires a multifaceted approach. Start by thoroughly reviewing the fundamentals of cloud computing, including service models, deployment models, and key characteristics. Practice answering common interview questions out loud to improve your fluency and confidence. Consider using mock interviews to simulate the interview experience and identify areas for improvement.
Stay up-to-date with the latest cloud technologies and trends by reading industry blogs, attending webinars, and completing online courses. Highlight your practical experience with cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or GCP by showcasing relevant projects and certifications on your resume. Tailor your answers to the specific role and company you're interviewing for, demonstrating your understanding of their needs and how you can contribute to their success.
Remember, preparation is key to acing your cloud computing interview. Also, consider leveraging tools like Verve AI Interview Copilot to enhance your preparation and refine your interview skills.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the most important topics to study for a cloud computing viva?
A: Focus on understanding cloud service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), deployment models (public, private, hybrid), key characteristics (scalability, elasticity, security), and practical experience with cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or GCP.
Q: How can I prepare for technical questions about specific cloud services?
A: Review the documentation and tutorials for the specific cloud services you're likely to be asked about. Practice deploying and managing those services in a sandbox environment to gain hands-on experience.
Q: What should I do if I don't know the answer to a cloud computing viva question?
A: Be honest and admit that you don't know the answer. However, try to relate the question to something you do know, and explain how you would approach finding the answer.
**Q: How
