Cloud Computing

Interview Questions
Review these typical interview questions and think about how you would
answer them. Read the answers listed; you will find best possible answers
along with strategies and suggestions.
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 Chapter 1

Basic Terminology and

General Topics

1: How do you define Cloud Computing?

Answer:
By utilization of shared resources and infrastructure, the delivery
of computing as a service is called Cloud Computing. This service
is often rendered via a network.

2: What are the different kinds of services that Cloud

Computing can provide?
Answer:
The concept of Cloud Computing can be used to provide
computational, data access, storage and software services. These
services can be accessed/utilized by the end user over the internet.
3: Who is the end user in a Cloud Computing model?
Answer:
When we talk about the end user, we are usually referring to the
person accessing the cloud from a remote location. Any
person/user utilizing the services offered in a cloud as a part of a
financial agreement is known as the end user.

4: How can an end user access the services available on a Cloud?

Answer:
There are several ways by which an end user can access services
present at a particular cloud. Some of these require the user to
plug into the cloud via:
Web Browser
Cloud based application
Mobile applications
Business software

5: Explain Converged Infrastructure, in the context of Cloud

Computing?
Answer:
When multiple IT components are packaged into a single, user-
based solution; the offered package is known as a converged
infrastructure. Such an infrastructure may include services like
data storage, infrastructure management, orchestration, servers,
networking equipment and automation, all bundled into one
optimized solution for the end user.
6: What are the three fundamental models of Cloud Computing?
Answer:
The three fundamental models of Cloud computing include:
Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
Platform as a service (PaaS)
Software as a service (SaaS)

7: Describe PaaS (Platform as a Service).

Answer:
PaaS (Platform as a service) is a cloud model in which computing
platform is offered as a service rather than an equipment. This
means that an OS (Operating system), Database, language
execution environment or/and a web server is offered over a
network environment (Typically, the internet).

8: Describe SaaS (Software as a Service).

Answer:
SaaS (Software as a service) is a cloud model in which software
are remotely offered as a service. This means that rather than
installing a typical software onto your system, you can access it
and use it using a web browser or a cloud based application.

9: Describe IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service).

Answer:
IaaS (Infrastructure as a service) is a cloud model in which
computer itself is delivered as a service. This means that Cloud
service providers can offer you virtual machines, networks,
firewalls and raw storage blocks. IaaS providers usually bill the
end user based on utility computing basis (amount of resources
utilized).

10: What are the devices you can use to access a Cloud?
Answer:
Service providers may offer access to their cloud via Laptops,
tablets, smart phones and desktops. Now, some of the cloud
service providers are offering their services via thin clients and the
Chrome-book.

11: What are the different deployment models with Cloud

Computing?
Answer:
Different deployment models of cloud computing include:
Public Cloud – Standard cloud computing model.
Community Cloud – Infrastructure shared between several
organizations.
Hybrid Cloud – Composed of multiple clouds bound
together to provide services.
Private Cloud – Clouds intended for a single organization
only.

12: What was one of the first Cloud services on offer?

Answer:
Internet-based email accounts have been utilized since the
emergence and popularization of the internet. Internet-based
email accounts are another cloud service that is offered. One of the
pioneers includes Hotmail, Yahoo and MSN. This way Internet-
based email can be regarded as one of the first cloud service
because you have a fully functioning email account hosted on an
external server.

13: What are a few concerns for a typical Cloud Storage service?
Answer:
Some of the potential concerns shared by users when going for a
cloud storage service include:
Security of stored data.
Availability and reliability of offered service.
Transfer speeds and general performance.

14: What does a typical Cloud Computing service comprise of?

Answer:
A cloud computing service can be thought of as consisting of three
pyramid layers. These layers are:
Cloud Infrastructure
Cloud Platform
Cloud Application

15: How do you define the term ‘Cloud’?

Answer:
A cloud is a blend of hardware, storage, networks, interfaces and
services that aid in delivering computing as a service. A cloud
consists of three users: end user, cloud service provider and
business management user.
16: What are the basic characteristics of Cloud Computing?
Answer:
The basic four characteristics of cloud computing are:
Scalability and elasticity – Increase or decrease services on
demand
Self-service provisioning – Help yourself in major
problematic scenarios without waiting for the response of
your provider
Pay-per-usage billing model – Pay for what you use
Standardized interfaces – Interfaces applicable to all major
models

17: What are some of the main features of SaaS services?

Answer:
Some important features are as follows:
Accessing and managing software
Serve several clients at a given time
Centralizing all activities in a Web environment
Centralize the updating feature of software

18: What is Scalability, in the context of Cloud Computing?

Answer:
Scalability is the provision of expanding or reducing the extent of
services you require, depending on the situation. This means that
if you require more of a service, you only have to ask your service
provider and he will provide you with that additional service for
an additional charge.
19: What are five major problems associated with Cloud
Computing?
Answer:
Users don’t actually ‘own’ the data, service provider does.
Excessive dependability on the service provider.
Data disaster recovery can be a major concern.
There are many problems associated with data migration if
you change your service provider.
What happens if the provider goes out of business?

20: What are six major benefits of Cloud Computing?

Answer:
You get access to a big range of applications without having
to actually own them
Advantage of mobility – Excess anything, anywhere
Cost efficient
Effective resource sharing
Pay for what you use, rather than paying for what you own
On demand scalability at any instance

21: What type of applications can run in the Cloud?

Answer:
Technically speaking, all applications can be run by a cloud but it
is always a good idea not to put system dedicated applications
(that run on minimum latency) on the cloud. Good examples
include Windows default Disk Defragmentation Tool.
22: What are the major concerns related to the privacy and
security of data in the Cloud?
Answer:
Some big concerns include:
Secure transfer of your data – No external attacks while
transfer of data from/to the cloud.
Location of your data – Geographical location of data.
Control of your data – Who has access to your data?

23: How would you define a Cluster?

Answer:
Cluster is defined as a large group of computers that merge their
capabilities and work as one. This aggregating of computational
power is also called clustering of services. Each cluster is then
referred to a single node in computing terms.

24: What is a Data Center?

Answer:
A data center can be thought of as a collection of servers which
hosts applications and storage space. Physically, a data center can
be a big room full of servers that can be accessed from anywhere
in the world via the internet.

25: What are the biggest concerns with a Mobile Cloud Client?
Answer:
The two biggest concerns for a Mobile client are:
Security of data
Speed of data transmission
26: What are the advantages of using the public Internet for
Cloud computing?
Answer:
This model has the following advantages:
There is a large audience for this model.
It is highly fault tolerant.
HTTPS-encrypted access provides privacy.
Many provider options are available.
It is cost-effective.

27: What are the disadvantages of using public Internet for

Cloud Computing?
Answer:
Lack of end-to-end QOS (quality of service)
Service-level agreements (SLAs) are difficult to reach
Latency problems are widespread
Downtime is out of your control

28: What are the two main types of Hypervisors?

Answer:
There are two types of hypervisors:
Bare metal Hypervisor – runs directly on hardware.
Virtualized Hypervisors – run on a virtualized platform.
29: What different Internet connection methods can a user use,
to connect to a Cloud?
Answer:
Basic public internet
Accelerated internet
Optimized overlay
Site-to-site VPN

30: What is a Cloud Storm?

Answer:
A Cloud Storm occurs when multiple cloud computing
environments are attached collectively. A Cloud Storm can also be
regarded as a Cloud Network.

31: What factors determine the amount of bandwidth required

by a Cloud?
Answer:
The Internet bandwidth between the cloud and your
organization
The round-trip time between the cloud and your
organization
The actual response time of the cloud

32: What is the difference between symmetric and asymmetric

connections, between a service provider and a user?
Answer:
When connecting to the cloud, it is important to determine if your
connection type is symmetric or asymmetric. In a symmetric
connection, sending and receiving data rate is the same. In an
asymmetric connection, upload speed to the cloud is usually
slower than the download speed.

33: What potential latency issues can arise in a Cloud?

Answer:
The geographical distance between the source of the data and the
client using it is usually quite large. This means that there is
always a lag time between the transmission of data between client
and service provider. This makes instantaneous operations very
problematic. Good examples would be Cloud providers hosting
high-end graphics games. These would be hard to play owing to
the latency issues as discussed since there will always be a delay
between ‘Button pressed at user’s end’ and ‘the action taken in the
game itself.’

34: What factors can be used to evaluate a SaaS setup?

Answer:
The following factors are important as applied to SaaS:
Time to value
Trial period – How long is the trial period of the service?
Low entry costs
Offered Service – What is the level of service required?
Total Investment – How much investment is required in
your choice of Cloud?
Security – How secure is your data?
Reduced Capital Expense – How much you save when you
switch to another service?
35: What are Mobile Cloud clients?
Answer:
Mobile clients run the service from their laptops to PDAs and
smartphones, e.g. BlackBerry or iPhone. Although some
applications are not supported by such a setup but as the
popularity of mobile devices is on the high, most of the providers
are turning their heads to Mobile solutions for Cloud Computing.
Mobile cloud clients do not access the cloud from their systems as
their choice resides with gadgets they can use ‘on the go’.

36: What are the subcategories of SaaS?

Answer:
SaaS can be divided into two major categories:
Customer-oriented services – Offered to general public on a
subscription
Line of business services – Offered to enterprises and
companies via subscription

37: In the context of SaaS, what is an SOA?

Answer:
SOA or service-oriented architecture covers current and future
requirements. From EDI (Electronic Data Exchange) to online
auctions, SOA covers it all. SOA plays an important role in
integrating smaller services to provide smooth business processes.
SOA improves system quality and it is quite similar to SaaS. SOA
is just another name given to software as a service. It can be
thought of as cloud architecture just like PaaS.