Top 10 cloud computing interview questions and answers in 2022

Whether you’re an IT expert looking to specialise or a graduate stepping foot in tech for the first time – the world of cloud computing has endless career and skill opportunities to offer. 

Paired with a currently limited talent pool, aspiring cloud experts are bound to find plenty of high-paying industry pathways. 

If you’re currently seeking a job in the field, we’ve broken down the key knowledge areas (and buzz words) commonly asked about in cloud computing interviews, helping you set yourself up for both job-hunting and career success. 

Does cloud computing require coding? 

The amount of coding skills required for cloud computing will heavily depend on your specific role. Those mainly performing administrative or management tasks on the cloud, for example, will likely require fewer coding skills than those who build applications, configure networks, and implement security protocols. As most cloud platforms are comprised of applications with intuitive interfaces, users can easily navigate the environment without necessarily understanding its back-end programming. 

In addition, the rise of cloud automation software has made it easier for non-coders to carry out activities on the cloud. These tools help automate manual processes such as system maintenance, upgrading, and deployment – allowing for the faster delivery of infrastructure resources. They could also be used to help boost efficiency within software development, network diagnosis, and security maintenance on the cloud. 

Do I need to have a programming background to qualify for cloud
computing? 

A programming background is not mandatory for aspiring cloud professionals, though a basic understanding of the cloud, what it entails, and how it works is a necessity.
While not all roles in cloud computing are primarily focused on coding new programs or configuring software systems – all cloud-based jobs will require knowledge of the fundamentals. In any cloud computing job interview, you’ll likely be faced with the following questions:

Top 10 interview questions on cloud computing 

What is cloud computing? 
Answer: Cloud computing is the delivery of computer resources online – whether this be data storage, networks, servers, analytics tools, or software. Such platforms enable businesses to maintain remote databases, accessible to anyone with access to the internet. 

What are the advantages of cloud computing?
Answer: Cloud computing comes with a wide range of business and user benefits, including: 

• Cost savings – Cloud services are often scalable, with most platforms on a pay-as-you-go price model. This allows businesses to only pay for what they need, while having the flexibility of expanding or shrinking resources when necessary. 
• Increased productivity – With cloud-based resources delivered online, users can access their data when and where they please; all that’s needed is an internet connection. This allows for easier collaboration among business teams, especially for employees working remotely. 
• Greater security – Cloud hosts are primarily focused on maintaining and optimising platform security; allowing for greater, more efficient protection than relying on in-house IT teams who juggle a myriad of tech-related tasks, in which security is only one of them. 
• Disaster recovery – With your data stored and protected on the cloud, any on-premises data lost can easily be recovered in emergency scenarios (typically power outages, natural disaster, equipment damage, etc.). 

What are the differences between Iaas, PaaS, and SaaS?
Answer: Iaas, also known as Infrastructure-as-a-Service, is the delivery of computing, storage, and networking resources over the cloud. PaaS, or Platform-as-a-Service, delivers a comprehensive development and deployment environment over the cloud – providing users an online space to easily build cloud-based applications. SaaS, or Software-as-a-Service, provides users access to varying apps over the cloud. Common examples of these include e-mail, office tools (such as Microsoft Office), and project management tools. 

What are some of the most popularly-used cloud computing platforms?
Answer: Some of the most popular cloud computing platforms used today include Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Amazon Web Services, IBM Cloud, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, and Cloud Linux. 

What is edge computing, and how does it relate to the cloud?
Answer: “Edge” computing and cloud computing have their similarities, but while cloud computing provides an independent, centralised system of resources – “edge” computing focuses on bringing such resources closer to the user and device. The cloud and the edge can work together to harness both the benefits of having a remote, central network and the efficiency of local data processing among independent systems and devices. 

What is an example of open-source cloud computing? 
Answer: Open-source cloud computing are cloud-based services or solutions built and operating entirely through open-source software and technologies (i.e. open-source operating systems, workflows, business applications, firmware, etc.). Common examples of open-source cloud include Open Stack, Virtual Box, and Open Nebula.

What is the private cloud vs. the public cloud?
Answer: A private cloud is a cloud computing platform exclusively accessed by a single organisation. A public cloud, on the other hand, is a cloud service accessible to any user with a subscription to their platform.

What is a distributed cloud?
Answer: A distributed cloud is a public cloud that runs its services in multiple locations. Doing this allows organisations to fulfill specific performance and response times; compliance needs; and edge computing needs while still managing all clouds through a central public cloud provider. 

Describe a multi-cloud strategy.
Answer: A multi-cloud strategy allows organisations to spread their workloads across multiple cloud environments. This grants them the flexibility of accomplishing a variety of activities, managing growing loads of data, avoiding vendor lock-in for application development, and harnessing the benefits of various providers – leading to greater work productivity and efficiency. 

What is the difference between cloud computing and mobile computing? 
Answer: Cloud computing allows users to access data and resources over the internet – though a physical device (i.e. a computer, tablet, or smartphone) is still necessary to do so. Mobile computing, however, merely focuses on delivering us data and resources through a mobile device. While mobile computing is a primarily consumer-facing service, cloud computing is largely aimed at businesses and enterprises.

Is cloud computing a lucrative career for beginners? 

As Australia continues its widespread adoption of cloud computing, those starting out in the field are likely to find a vast – and ever-growing – range of career opportunities. The industry, however, still faces a widening skills shortage; with the demand for cloud skills (projected to be the most in-demand skillset by 2025) outpacing available talent. 

Job-seekers in the cloud computing field will thus find plenty of high-paying roles across all positions, with the average salary starting at around $85K AUD for junior-level roles, according to recent findings by Hays. As your skills and experience grow, professionals may land mid-level positions with average salaries of around $135K AUD – earnings that can go as high as $209K AUD per year for more senior-level positions. 

As such, beginners stepping foot in the cloud industry are not only bound to find a diverse range of career options, but plenty of high-paying ones, to boot. 

Looking to launch a career in cloud computing?

Upskilled offers a wide range of cloud-based courses to get you started – including an entry-level program for aspiring cloud architects, or bootcamps specifically aimed at those pursuing AWS (Amazon Web Services) or Microsoft Azure architect roles. Bolster your resume skills and stand out in the cloud computing job market today – and enquire with us on a course.