Top 30 Most Common basic aws interview questions You Should Prepare For
Landing a job in the cloud computing domain often requires demonstrating a solid understanding of Amazon Web Services (AWS). Preparing for basic aws interview questions is crucial, as these questions form the foundation upon which more complex technical discussions are built. Mastering these commonly asked basic aws interview questions will not only boost your confidence but also ensure you can articulate your knowledge clearly, significantly improving your overall interview performance. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the top 30 basic aws interview questions you should be ready to answer.
What are basic aws interview questions?
Basic aws interview questions are designed to assess a candidate's fundamental understanding of AWS services and concepts. These questions typically cover core services like EC2, S3, VPC, IAM, and RDS, among others. The purpose of these questions is to gauge whether a candidate has a grasp of the fundamental building blocks of the AWS ecosystem and how they are used. Understanding these basic aws interview questions is essential for anyone seeking a role involving AWS.
Why do interviewers ask basic aws interview questions?
Interviewers ask basic aws interview questions to evaluate a candidate's foundational knowledge, problem-solving ability, and practical experience with AWS. They want to determine if you have a solid understanding of core AWS services and how they can be applied to solve real-world problems. Furthermore, these questions help interviewers assess your ability to learn and adapt to new technologies within the AWS environment. By focusing on basic aws interview questions, interviewers aim to quickly assess the candidate's suitability for the role and their potential for growth within the organization.
List of 30 Basic AWS Interview Questions:
What is Amazon EC2?
What is Amazon S3?
What is Amazon VPC?
What is AWS Lambda?
What is Amazon RDS?
What is Amazon CloudWatch?
What is Amazon SNS?
What is Amazon SQS?
What is AWS Elastic Load Balancer (ELB)?
What is an Elastic IP in AWS?
How many S3 buckets can be created by default?
What is AWS CloudFormation?
What is AWS IAM?
What is Amazon DynamoDB?
What is AWS Auto Scaling?
Explain the difference between S3 and EBS.
What is AWS Snowball?
What is Amazon Route 53?
What is Amazon Elastic Transcoder?
What is the AWS Well-Architected Framework?
What are Security Groups?
What is AWS SES?
What is Amazon EBS?
What is AWS CloudTrail?
What is Amazon Redshift?
What is the difference between scaling up and scaling out?
What is AWS Trusted Advisor?
What is Amazon CloudFront?
What is a VPC Endpoint?
How can AWS protect against DDoS attacks?
## 1. What is Amazon EC2?
Why you might get asked this:
Interviewers ask this to assess your understanding of AWS's compute service and its basic function. It helps gauge your familiarity with the foundation of many AWS deployments. Understanding Amazon EC2 is a fundamental aspect of mastering basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Clearly define EC2 as a virtual server in the cloud. Explain its role in providing resizable compute capacity and its ability to run different operating systems and applications. Highlight the flexibility and scalability it offers.
Example answer:
"Amazon EC2 stands for Elastic Compute Cloud. Essentially, it's a virtual server that you can rent in the AWS cloud. Think of it as a computer in a data center that you can configure to run your applications. I've used it to deploy web servers and databases, and the best part is its ability to scale up or down based on demand, making it a very versatile tool in the AWS ecosystem."
## 2. What is Amazon S3?
Why you might get asked this:
This question probes your knowledge of AWS's object storage service. Interviewers want to know if you understand its purpose, scalability, and use cases. Grasping Amazon S3 is essential for addressing basic aws interview questions related to storage.
How to answer:
Describe S3 as an object storage service for storing and retrieving any amount of data. Emphasize its scalability, durability, and security features. Mention common use cases such as storing website assets, backups, and media files.
Example answer:
"Amazon S3, or Simple Storage Service, is AWS's object storage solution. It's designed for storing and retrieving any amount of data, from documents and images to large media files. I've used S3 to store backups and static website content. It's incredibly scalable and durable, making it a reliable choice for data storage. Its versioning and access control features are also crucial for data management."
## 3. What is Amazon VPC?
Why you might get asked this:
This question aims to evaluate your understanding of networking in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to create and manage private networks within the AWS cloud. Understanding Amazon VPC is vital when dealing with basic aws interview questions about networking.
How to answer:
Explain that VPC allows you to create a logically isolated section of the AWS cloud where you can launch AWS resources in a virtual network that you define. Highlight its role in providing security and control over your AWS environment.
Example answer:
"Amazon VPC, or Virtual Private Cloud, lets you create your own private network within AWS. It's like having your own data center in the cloud, where you can launch resources like EC2 instances and databases. I've used VPC to isolate applications and control network access using security groups and network ACLs. This allows for a more secure and organized environment."
## 4. What is AWS Lambda?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your knowledge of serverless computing in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to run code without managing servers. AWS Lambda is a key element in modern cloud architectures, and understanding it is important for basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Describe Lambda as a serverless compute service that allows you to run code without provisioning or managing servers. Explain its event-driven nature and its ability to automatically scale based on demand.
Example answer:
"AWS Lambda is a serverless compute service, meaning you can run code without having to manage any servers. You simply upload your code, and Lambda executes it in response to events, like changes to data in an S3 bucket or HTTP requests. I've used Lambda to create APIs and automate tasks. Its ability to scale automatically makes it a cost-effective solution for many workloads."
## 5. What is Amazon RDS?
Why you might get asked this:
This question probes your understanding of managed database services in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to deploy and manage relational databases in the cloud. Amazon RDS is a critical service, and questions about it are typical in basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Explain that RDS is a managed relational database service that supports several database engines. Highlight its role in simplifying database administration tasks like backups, patching, and scaling.
Example answer:
"Amazon RDS, or Relational Database Service, is a managed database service that supports various database engines like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server. It simplifies tasks like backups, patching, and scaling, allowing you to focus on developing your applications. I've used RDS to deploy and manage databases for web applications. It’s a great way to offload the operational overhead of database management."
## 6. What is Amazon CloudWatch?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your knowledge of monitoring and observability in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to monitor applications and resources in the AWS cloud. Amazon CloudWatch is central to monitoring, making it relevant to basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Describe CloudWatch as a monitoring and observability service that provides data and insights to monitor applications, respond to system-wide performance changes, and optimize resource utilization.
Example answer:
"Amazon CloudWatch is a monitoring and observability service in AWS. It provides metrics, logs, and alarms to monitor your AWS resources and applications. I've used CloudWatch to track CPU utilization, memory usage, and network traffic. Setting up alarms based on these metrics helps me proactively identify and address performance issues."
## 7. What is Amazon SNS?
Why you might get asked this:
This question checks your knowledge of messaging services in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to send notifications to a large number of subscribers. Knowing Amazon SNS helps in answering basic aws interview questions about messaging.
How to answer:
Explain that SNS is a fully managed pub/sub messaging service that allows you to send messages to a large number of subscribers, such as distributed systems and serverless applications.
Example answer:
"Amazon SNS, or Simple Notification Service, is a fully managed pub/sub messaging service. It allows you to send messages to multiple subscribers, like applications, devices, and email addresses. I’ve used SNS to send notifications about system events, such as order confirmations or security alerts. It's a great way to decouple systems and ensure messages are delivered reliably."
## 8. What is Amazon SQS?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your understanding of message queuing services in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to decouple and scale microservices using queues. Amazon SQS is often covered in basic aws interview questions related to application architecture.
How to answer:
Describe SQS as a fully managed message queuing service that enables decoupling and scaling of microservices, distributed systems, and serverless applications.
Example answer:
"Amazon SQS, or Simple Queue Service, is a fully managed message queuing service. It enables decoupling of microservices and distributed systems by allowing them to communicate asynchronously. I’ve used SQS to buffer incoming requests and process them at a later time. This helps improve system resilience and scalability."
## 9. What is AWS Elastic Load Balancer (ELB)?
Why you might get asked this:
This question tests your knowledge of load balancing in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to distribute traffic across multiple targets to improve application availability. Understanding AWS ELB is essential for basic aws interview questions on high availability.
How to answer:
Explain that ELB automatically distributes incoming application traffic across multiple targets, such as EC2 instances, containers, and IP addresses, to increase fault tolerance.
Example answer:
"AWS Elastic Load Balancer, or ELB, automatically distributes incoming application traffic across multiple targets, such as EC2 instances. It helps improve application availability and fault tolerance. I've used ELB to distribute traffic across multiple EC2 instances running web servers, ensuring that the application remains available even if one instance fails."
## 10. What is an Elastic IP in AWS?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your understanding of IP addressing in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand the purpose and usage of Elastic IPs. Elastic IPs are a fundamental concept, so they are often part of basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Describe an Elastic IP address as a static IPv4 address designed for dynamic cloud computing. Explain that it allows you to mask the failure of an instance by remapping the address to another instance.
Example answer:
"An Elastic IP address in AWS is a static IPv4 address designed for dynamic cloud computing. You can associate it with an EC2 instance, and if that instance fails, you can quickly remap the Elastic IP to another instance. This ensures that your application remains accessible, even if there's an underlying infrastructure issue. I've used Elastic IPs to maintain consistent DNS records for my web servers."
## 11. How many S3 buckets can be created by default?
Why you might get asked this:
This question checks your practical knowledge of AWS service limits. Interviewers want to know if you are aware of the default constraints and how to work within them. Understanding limitations is important for practical cloud deployments, hence its inclusion in basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
State that by default, you can create up to 100 buckets per AWS account.
Example answer:
"By default, you can create up to 100 S3 buckets per AWS account. If you need more, you can request an increase through the AWS support console. I usually keep track of my bucket usage to avoid hitting the limit unexpectedly."
## 12. What is AWS CloudFormation?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your understanding of infrastructure as code in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to automate the deployment and management of AWS resources. AWS CloudFormation is a critical service for infrastructure as code, making it a common topic in basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Explain that CloudFormation allows you to model, provision, and manage AWS and third-party resources by treating infrastructure as code.
Example answer:
"AWS CloudFormation allows you to define your infrastructure as code using templates. You can then use these templates to provision and manage AWS resources in a consistent and repeatable way. I've used CloudFormation to automate the deployment of entire application environments, including EC2 instances, databases, and networking components. This ensures consistency and reduces the risk of manual errors."
## 13. What is AWS IAM?
Why you might get asked this:
This question probes your understanding of identity and access management in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to control access to AWS resources securely. AWS IAM is central to security, making it a key topic for basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Explain that AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) enables you to manage access to AWS services and resources securely by creating users, groups, and roles.
Example answer:
"AWS Identity and Access Management, or IAM, enables you to manage access to AWS services and resources securely. You can create users, groups, and roles, and assign permissions to control what users can do in your AWS environment. I always follow the principle of least privilege when granting permissions, ensuring that users only have access to the resources they need."
## 14. What is Amazon DynamoDB?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your knowledge of NoSQL databases in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to use DynamoDB for fast and scalable data storage. Amazon DynamoDB is a popular NoSQL database, so it's often part of basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Describe DynamoDB as a fully managed NoSQL database service that provides fast and predictable performance with seamless scalability.
Example answer:
"Amazon DynamoDB is a fully managed NoSQL database service. It provides fast and predictable performance with seamless scalability. I've used DynamoDB to store session data and user profiles. Its ability to handle high volumes of traffic and scale automatically makes it a great choice for demanding applications."
## 15. What is AWS Auto Scaling?
Why you might get asked this:
This question tests your understanding of scalability in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to automatically adjust your EC2 capacity based on demand. AWS Auto Scaling is essential for maintaining application availability, making it relevant to basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Explain that Auto Scaling helps maintain application availability by automatically scaling your Amazon EC2 capacity up or down according to conditions you define.
Example answer:
"AWS Auto Scaling helps maintain application availability by automatically scaling your Amazon EC2 capacity up or down based on demand. You can define scaling policies based on metrics like CPU utilization or network traffic. I've used Auto Scaling to ensure that my web applications can handle traffic spikes without any manual intervention."
## 16. Explain the difference between S3 and EBS.
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your understanding of different storage options in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand the use cases and characteristics of object storage versus block storage. Differentiating between S3 and EBS is a common theme in basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Explain that S3 is object storage for storing and retrieving any amount of data from anywhere, while EBS provides block-level storage volumes for use with EC2 instances.
Example answer:
"S3 is object storage designed for storing and retrieving any amount of data, like images, videos, and documents. EBS, or Elastic Block Storage, provides block-level storage volumes that you can attach to EC2 instances, similar to a hard drive. I use S3 for storing static assets and backups, while EBS is used for the operating system and applications on my EC2 instances."
## 17. What is AWS Snowball?
Why you might get asked this:
This question tests your knowledge of data transfer solutions in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to move large amounts of data into and out of AWS. AWS Snowball is specifically designed for large data transfers, making it a key area for basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Describe AWS Snowball as a data transport solution that uses secure physical devices to transfer large amounts of data into and out of AWS.
Example answer:
"AWS Snowball is a data transport solution that uses secure physical devices to transfer large amounts of data into and out of AWS. It's particularly useful when transferring data over the internet is impractical due to bandwidth limitations or cost. I've used Snowball to migrate large datasets from on-premises data centers to AWS."
## 18. What is Amazon Route 53?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your understanding of DNS services in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to route end users to Internet applications. Amazon Route 53 is the primary DNS service in AWS, so its understanding is often tested in basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Explain that Route 53 is a scalable and highly available Domain Name System (DNS) web service designed to route end users to Internet applications.
Example answer:
"Amazon Route 53 is a scalable and highly available DNS web service. It's used to route end users to Internet applications by translating domain names into IP addresses. I've used Route 53 to manage DNS records for my websites and applications. It supports various routing policies, like weighted routing and latency-based routing, allowing you to optimize performance and availability."
## 19. What is Amazon Elastic Transcoder?
Why you might get asked this:
This question checks your knowledge of media transcoding services in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to convert media files into formats required by consumer playback devices. Amazon Elastic Transcoder is a specialized service, understanding the basics is useful in basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Explain that it is a media transcoding service in the cloud that converts media files into formats required by consumer playback devices.
Example answer:
"Amazon Elastic Transcoder is a media transcoding service in the cloud that converts media files into various formats suitable for different devices, like smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs. I've used it to convert video files to ensure they can be played on a wide range of devices. It simplifies the process of creating multiple versions of the same video."
## 20. What is the AWS Well-Architected Framework?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your understanding of best practices for designing systems in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you are familiar with the five pillars of the Well-Architected Framework. The AWS Well-Architected Framework is a cornerstone of cloud design, making it relevant to basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Explain that it's a set of best practices for designing and operating reliable, secure, efficient, and cost-effective systems in the cloud, based on five pillars: operational excellence, security, reliability, performance efficiency, and cost optimization.
Example answer:
"The AWS Well-Architected Framework is a set of best practices for designing and operating systems in the cloud. It's based on five pillars: operational excellence, security, reliability, performance efficiency, and cost optimization. I always refer to the Well-Architected Framework when designing new systems to ensure they are well-structured and aligned with AWS best practices."
## 21. What are Security Groups?
Why you might get asked this:
This question probes your understanding of network security in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to control inbound and outbound traffic for your EC2 instances. Security Groups are fundamental to AWS security, so understanding them is a key part of basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Explain that Security groups act as virtual firewalls controlling inbound and outbound traffic for your EC2 instances.
Example answer:
"Security groups act as virtual firewalls that control the inbound and outbound traffic for your EC2 instances. You can define rules that allow or deny traffic based on IP addresses, ports, and protocols. I always configure security groups to allow only the necessary traffic, minimizing the attack surface of my instances."
## 22. What is AWS SES?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your knowledge of email services in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to send transactional, marketing, or bulk emails. Amazon SES is the AWS email service, so it's often included in basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Explain that Amazon Simple Email Service (SES) is a cost-effective email service designed to help businesses send transactional, marketing, or bulk emails.
Example answer:
"Amazon Simple Email Service, or SES, is a cost-effective email service designed to help businesses send transactional, marketing, or bulk emails. It integrates well with other AWS services, like Lambda and SNS. I've used SES to send password reset emails and order confirmations from my applications."
## 23. What is Amazon EBS?
Why you might get asked this:
This question probes your understanding of block storage in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to use EBS volumes with EC2 instances. Amazon EBS is an essential storage component, so it's important to cover in basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Explain that Elastic Block Store provides persistent block storage volumes for use with EC2 instances.
Example answer:
"Elastic Block Store, or EBS, provides persistent block storage volumes that you can attach to EC2 instances. Think of it as a virtual hard drive. It's used to store the operating system, applications, and data for your instances. I always use EBS volumes with my EC2 instances to ensure that my data persists even if the instance is terminated."
## 24. What is AWS CloudTrail?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your knowledge of auditing and compliance in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to track API calls and monitor user activity. AWS CloudTrail is the go-to service for auditing, making it highly relevant to basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Explain that CloudTrail records AWS API calls and delivers log files, enabling governance, compliance, and risk auditing.
Example answer:
"AWS CloudTrail records AWS API calls and delivers log files, enabling governance, compliance, and risk auditing. It helps you track user activity and identify potential security issues. I always enable CloudTrail in my AWS accounts to maintain a detailed audit trail of all API calls."
## 25. What is Amazon Redshift?
Why you might get asked this:
This question tests your knowledge of data warehousing in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to analyze large datasets using standard SQL. Amazon Redshift is a key data warehousing service, which is why it is often tested in basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Explain that Redshift is a fast, scalable data warehouse that makes it simple and cost-effective to analyze data using standard SQL.
Example answer:
"Amazon Redshift is a fast, scalable data warehouse service that makes it simple and cost-effective to analyze large datasets using standard SQL. I've used Redshift to perform complex queries on historical data, helping me gain insights into trends and patterns."
## 26. What is the difference between scaling up and scaling out?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your understanding of scaling strategies in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand the different approaches to increasing application capacity. Understanding the difference between scaling up and scaling out is fundamental for basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Explain that scaling up refers to adding more power (CPU, RAM) to an existing machine, whereas scaling out refers to adding more instances to distribute the workload.
Example answer:
"Scaling up means adding more resources, like CPU and RAM, to an existing machine to increase its capacity. Scaling out, on the other hand, means adding more instances to distribute the workload across multiple machines. I typically prefer scaling out because it provides better fault tolerance and scalability."
## 27. What is AWS Trusted Advisor?
Why you might get asked this:
This question checks your knowledge of cost optimization and best practices in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to use Trusted Advisor to improve your AWS environment. AWS Trusted Advisor is designed to help optimize your AWS usage, so understanding it is valuable for basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Explain that Trusted Advisor is an online resource that helps you reduce cost, increase performance, and improve security by providing real-time recommendations.
Example answer:
"AWS Trusted Advisor is an online resource that provides real-time recommendations to help you reduce costs, increase performance, and improve security. It analyzes your AWS environment and identifies potential issues. I regularly check Trusted Advisor for recommendations on optimizing my AWS resources."
## 28. What is Amazon CloudFront?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your understanding of content delivery networks (CDNs) in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to deliver content to users with low latency. Amazon CloudFront is the AWS CDN, making it an important topic for basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Explain that CloudFront is a content delivery network (CDN) that securely delivers data, videos, applications, and APIs to customers globally with low latency.
Example answer:
"Amazon CloudFront is a content delivery network, or CDN, that securely delivers data, videos, applications, and APIs to customers globally with low latency. It caches content at edge locations around the world, so users can access it quickly. I've used CloudFront to deliver static website assets and streaming video content."
## 29. What is a VPC Endpoint?
Why you might get asked this:
This question tests your knowledge of private connections to AWS services. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to access AWS services from within a VPC without using the public internet. VPC Endpoints are key for secure and private access, so they are often part of basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Explain that A VPC Endpoint enables private connections between your VPC and supported AWS services without requiring an internet gateway, NAT device, VPN connection, or AWS Direct Connect.
Example answer:
"A VPC Endpoint enables private connections between your VPC and supported AWS services, like S3 and DynamoDB, without requiring an internet gateway or NAT device. This allows you to access these services securely without exposing your traffic to the public internet. I use VPC Endpoints to ensure that my data remains within the AWS network."
## 30. How can AWS protect against DDoS attacks?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your understanding of security measures in AWS. Interviewers want to know if you understand how to mitigate Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. AWS has multiple services for DDoS protection, which are often covered in basic aws interview questions.
How to answer:
Explain that AWS offers services like AWS Shield for DDoS protection, AWS WAF to filter web traffic, and Elastic Load Balancers to distribute traffic and absorb spikes, enhancing security and scalability.
Example answer:
"AWS offers several services to protect against DDoS attacks, including AWS Shield, which provides always-on DDoS protection, AWS WAF, which allows you to filter malicious web traffic, and Elastic Load Balancers, which can distribute traffic and absorb spikes. By using these services in combination, you can significantly reduce the impact of DDoS attacks on your applications."
Other tips to prepare for a basic aws interview questions
Preparing for basic aws interview questions requires more than just memorizing definitions. It involves practical experience and a deep understanding of how the various services work together. Consider building small projects on AWS to gain hands-on experience. Mock interviews are also incredibly valuable, allowing you to practice articulating your knowledge under pressure. Use available AWS documentation and online courses to solidify your understanding of core concepts. Additionally, consider using AI-powered interview tools to simulate real-world scenarios and get personalized feedback on your responses. Thorough preparation for basic aws interview questions will significantly increase your chances of success.
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