68 AWS Interview Questions to Assess Candidates

As an interviewer, finding the right AWS questions to assess potential candidates can be challenging, especially when determining their expertise level and specific skill sets. To streamline the interview process and efficiently gauge the capabilities of your applicants, having a curated list of questions is invaluable.

This blog post will cover a comprehensive range of AWS interview questions tailored to different skill levels and roles, including junior engineers, mid-tier engineers, and top-tier professionals. We’ll also explore questions related to security, deployment processes, and situational challenges to provide a well-rounded evaluation of your candidates.

By using this guide, you can effectively identify the best talent for your team and make confident hiring decisions. Additionally, consider leveraging our AWS online test to further refine your candidate selection process.

Table of contents

10 AWS interview questions to initiate the interview

To gauge whether candidates have the right skills and understanding for an AWS role, ask them some of these key questions. This questions list is designed to help you initiate the interview effectively and assess the technical abilities of your applicants.

1. Can you explain what Amazon EC2 is and how you would use it?
2. What are the different types of storage options available in AWS?
3. How does AWS Lambda work and when would you use it?
4. What is the difference between an Elastic Load Balancer and an Application Load Balancer?
5. Can you describe what Amazon RDS is and its primary use case?
6. How do you secure data in AWS S3?
7. What are the benefits of using AWS CloudFormation?
8. How does Amazon VPC work and why would you use it?
9. What is AWS IAM and how do you manage permissions?
10. Can you explain how AWS Auto Scaling works and why it is useful?

8 AWS interview questions and answers to evaluate junior engineers

To evaluate whether your junior engineers have the fundamental knowledge needed to work with AWS, use these 8 interview questions. These questions are designed to gauge their understanding of essential AWS concepts and best practices, ensuring you hire the right talent for your team.

1. What is Amazon S3 and what are some common use cases for it?

Amazon S3, or Simple Storage Service, is a scalable object storage service offered by AWS. It allows you to store and retrieve any amount of data at any time. Common use cases include backup and restore, data archiving, and hosting static websites.

Look for candidates who can explain the service clearly and provide real-world scenarios where they have used Amazon S3. An ideal answer should include examples like storing log files, serving large files to users, or using S3 as a data lake for analytics.

2. Can you explain the concept of AWS Availability Zones and Regions?

AWS Regions are geographic locations around the world that consist of multiple, isolated locations known as Availability Zones (AZs). Each Region has at least two AZs to provide redundancy and fault tolerance. An AZ is essentially a data center with independent power, networking, and connectivity.

An ideal candidate should understand the importance of deploying resources across multiple Availability Zones to ensure high availability and fault tolerance. They should also be able to discuss how to choose the right Region based on compliance, latency, and cost considerations.

3. What is the Shared Responsibility Model in AWS?

The Shared Responsibility Model in AWS outlines the division of security responsibilities between AWS and the customer. AWS is responsible for 'security of the cloud,' which includes the physical infrastructure, hardware, and software that run AWS services. Customers are responsible for 'security in the cloud,' which involves managing their data, users, and applications.

Candidates should highlight that understanding this model is crucial for implementing effective security measures. Look for responses that demonstrate their awareness of the specific security tasks they need to manage, such as configuring security groups, managing IAM roles, and encrypting data at rest and in transit.

4. Can you describe the benefits of using Amazon CloudFront?

Amazon CloudFront is a content delivery network (CDN) that distributes content to end-users with low latency and high transfer speeds. It caches copies of content at edge locations worldwide, improving access speeds and reducing load on the origin server.

Strong candidates will mention benefits such as improved website performance, reduced latency, and cost savings on data transfer. They should also discuss its integration with other AWS services like S3 and EC2, and real-world use cases such as serving dynamic web content or streaming video.

5. What is Amazon Route 53 and what are its primary features?

Amazon Route 53 is a scalable Domain Name System (DNS) web service designed to route end users to Internet applications by translating domain names into IP addresses. Primary features include domain registration, DNS routing, and health checking.

Candidates should articulate how Route 53 can be used for domain management, traffic routing policies like latency-based routing, and monitoring the health of resources. Look for examples of how they have configured DNS settings and used Route 53 in conjunction with other AWS services.

6. What are AWS CloudWatch metrics and how do you use them?

AWS CloudWatch is a monitoring service for AWS cloud resources and applications. CloudWatch metrics provide data points about the performance of your resources, such as CPU usage, memory utilization, and network traffic.

An ideal candidate will explain how they use CloudWatch metrics to set alarms, create dashboards, and automate responses to changes in resource usage. They might also mention integrating CloudWatch with other services for comprehensive monitoring and management.

7. Can you explain the concept of AWS Elastic Beanstalk and its benefits?

AWS Elastic Beanstalk is an easy-to-use service for deploying and scaling web applications and services. It handles the deployment, from capacity provisioning, load balancing, and auto-scaling to application health monitoring.

Candidates should note the benefits such as simplified deployment, reduced management overhead, and quick scalability. They should also discuss how Elastic Beanstalk supports multiple programming languages and frameworks, making it versatile for various development projects.

8. What is Amazon SNS and what scenarios would you use it for?

Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS) is a fully managed messaging service for coordinating the delivery of messages to subscribing endpoints or clients. Common use cases include sending notifications, triggering Lambda functions, and fan-out message delivery.

Look for candidates who can provide examples of using SNS for real-time communication, such as sending alerts to mobile devices, triggering automated workflows, or integrating with other AWS services. An ideal response should emphasize the service's flexibility and scalability for different messaging needs.

15 intermediate AWS interview questions and answers to ask mid-tier engineers.

To assess the technical proficiency of mid-level AWS developers, use these 15 intermediate AWS interview questions. These questions will help you gauge a candidate's understanding of AWS services, architecture, and best practices, ensuring they have the skills needed for more complex cloud projects.

1. How would you design a highly available and fault-tolerant architecture using AWS services?
2. Explain the difference between Amazon EBS and Amazon EFS. When would you choose one over the other?
3. What is AWS CloudTrail and how does it differ from CloudWatch?
4. Can you describe the process of setting up a VPN connection between an on-premises network and AWS VPC?
5. How would you implement a disaster recovery strategy using AWS services?
6. Explain the concept of AWS Organizations and how it helps in managing multiple AWS accounts.
7. What are AWS Step Functions and how would you use them in a serverless architecture?
8. How does Amazon DynamoDB achieve high scalability and performance?
9. Describe the process of implementing a blue-green deployment using AWS services.
10. What is AWS Direct Connect and when would you recommend using it?
11. How would you secure an API deployed on Amazon API Gateway?
12. Explain the concept of AWS Elastic Container Service (ECS) and its key components.
13. What is AWS CloudFormation drift detection and why is it important?
14. How would you implement a caching strategy using Amazon ElastiCache?
15. Describe the process of setting up cross-region replication in Amazon S3.

9 AWS interview questions and answers related to security

When it comes to AWS security, it's crucial to assess candidates' knowledge thoroughly. These 9 AWS interview questions will help you gauge applicants' understanding of key security concepts and best practices. Use them to identify candidates who can effectively safeguard cloud environments and protect sensitive data.

1. How would you explain the principle of least privilege in AWS IAM?

The principle of least privilege in AWS IAM is a security best practice that involves granting users, roles, and services the minimum permissions necessary to perform their required tasks. This approach limits potential damage from errors or malicious actions by restricting access to only what's absolutely needed.

Key aspects of implementing least privilege in AWS IAM include:

• Regularly reviewing and auditing user permissions
• Using IAM roles for temporary access
• Implementing fine-grained access controls
• Avoiding the use of root or administrator accounts for daily tasks

Look for candidates who emphasize the importance of regularly reviewing and updating permissions, and who can provide examples of how they've implemented least privilege in previous roles.

2. Can you describe AWS WAF and its primary use cases?

AWS WAF (Web Application Firewall) is a managed firewall service that helps protect web applications from common web exploits. It allows you to create security rules that control bot traffic and block common attack patterns such as SQL injection or cross-site scripting.

Primary use cases for AWS WAF include:

• Protecting web applications from common exploits
• Filtering and monitoring HTTP/HTTPS requests to CloudFront, Application Load Balancer, or API Gateway
• Creating custom rules to block specific traffic patterns
• Improving overall security posture of web applications

Strong candidates should be able to explain how WAF integrates with other AWS services and provide examples of rules they've implemented to protect applications.

3. How does AWS KMS (Key Management Service) enhance data security?

AWS KMS (Key Management Service) enhances data security by providing a centralized control over the encryption keys used to protect data across AWS services and applications. It allows for the creation, rotation, and management of cryptographic keys, ensuring that sensitive information remains secure.

Key features of AWS KMS include:

• Centralized key management
• Integration with other AWS services
• Automatic key rotation
• Audit trails for key usage
• Hardware Security Module (HSM) backing for added security

Look for candidates who can explain the importance of key management in encryption and how KMS can be used to meet compliance requirements. They should also be able to discuss scenarios where they've implemented KMS in real-world projects.

4. What is AWS GuardDuty and how does it improve security?

AWS GuardDuty is a threat detection service that continuously monitors for malicious activity and unauthorized behavior to protect AWS accounts, workloads, and data. It uses machine learning, anomaly detection, and integrated threat intelligence to identify and prioritize potential threats.

GuardDuty analyzes various AWS data sources, including:

• VPC Flow Logs
• AWS CloudTrail event logs
• DNS logs

Candidates should be able to explain how GuardDuty can help detect issues like compromised EC2 instances, unauthorized data access, and suspicious API calls. Look for those who can discuss how they've used GuardDuty findings to improve security posture and respond to potential threats.

5. How would you secure data in transit between an on-premises data center and AWS?

To secure data in transit between an on-premises data center and AWS, several methods can be employed:

1. VPN (Virtual Private Network): Set up an IPsec VPN connection between the on-premises network and AWS VPC.
2. AWS Direct Connect: Establish a dedicated network connection from on-premises to AWS.
3. SSL/TLS encryption: Use HTTPS for web traffic and SSL/TLS for other protocols.
4. AWS PrivateLink: Create private endpoints to access AWS services without using public IPs.

Strong candidates should be able to compare these methods and discuss scenarios where each might be most appropriate. They should also mention the importance of encryption and proper key management in securing data in transit.

6. Explain the concept of security groups in AWS and how they differ from Network ACLs.

Security groups and Network ACLs are both important components of AWS network security, but they operate at different levels and have distinct characteristics:

Security Groups:

• Act as a virtual firewall for EC2 instances
• Operate at the instance level
• Support allow rules only
• Are stateful (return traffic is automatically allowed)
• Evaluate all rules before deciding to allow traffic

Network ACLs:

• Act as a firewall for subnets
• Operate at the subnet level
• Support both allow and deny rules
• Are stateless (return traffic must be explicitly allowed)
• Process rules in order, stopping at the first match

Look for candidates who can clearly articulate these differences and provide examples of how they would use each in designing a secure AWS architecture. They should also be able to discuss best practices for configuring security groups and NACLs.

7. How would you handle encryption of sensitive data stored in Amazon S3?

Encrypting sensitive data in Amazon S3 can be achieved through several methods:

1. Server-Side Encryption (SSE):
   • SSE-S3: S3-managed keys
   • SSE-KMS: AWS KMS-managed keys
   • SSE-C: Customer-provided keys
2. Client-Side Encryption: Data is encrypted before uploading to S3
3. Bucket Policies and IAM: To enforce encryption on all objects uploaded to a bucket

Strong candidates should be able to explain the differences between these encryption methods and discuss scenarios where each might be most appropriate. They should also mention the importance of access controls, versioning, and logging in addition to encryption for a comprehensive S3 security strategy.

8. What is AWS Config and how can it be used to enhance security?

AWS Config is a service that provides a detailed view of the configuration of AWS resources in an account. It continuously monitors and records AWS resource configurations, allowing you to assess, audit, and evaluate the configurations of your AWS resources.

Key security benefits of AWS Config include:

• Continuous monitoring and assessment of resource configurations
• Automated compliance checking against predefined or custom rules
• Historical tracking of resource configuration changes
• Integration with other AWS services for enhanced security and compliance

Look for candidates who can explain how they've used AWS Config to maintain security baselines, detect non-compliant resources, and automate remediation actions. They should also be able to discuss how Config integrates with other AWS security services for a comprehensive security strategy.

9. How would you secure an API deployed on Amazon API Gateway?

Securing an API deployed on Amazon API Gateway involves several best practices:

1. Use HTTPS endpoints to encrypt data in transit
2. Implement API keys for identification and throttling
3. Use AWS IAM roles and policies for fine-grained access control
4. Enable AWS WAF to protect against common web exploits
5. Implement request validation to ensure only valid requests are processed
6. Use API Gateway resource policies to control who can access the API
7. Enable CloudWatch logs and metrics for monitoring and auditing

Strong candidates should be able to explain these security measures in detail and discuss how they would implement them based on specific API requirements. They should also mention the importance of regularly reviewing and updating security configurations to address emerging threats.

12 AWS interview questions about deployment processes

To ensure your candidates have a strong grasp of AWS deployment processes, ask them some of these essential questions. These will help you identify their proficiency and experience in handling AWS deployments, crucial for roles such as AWS Developer and Cloud Engineer.

1. How do you use AWS CodeDeploy to automate application deployments?
2. Can you explain the benefits of using AWS Elastic Beanstalk for application deployment?
3. What steps would you take to deploy a containerized application using Amazon ECS?
4. How do you implement CI/CD pipelines with AWS CodePipeline?
5. Describe your experience with deploying serverless applications using AWS Lambda.
6. What strategies do you use for deploying updates to an application without downtime on AWS?
7. Can you explain how to perform a blue-green deployment using AWS Elastic Beanstalk?
8. How do you manage environment configurations for different stages of deployment in AWS?
9. What are some best practices for deploying large-scale applications on AWS?
10. How would you handle rollbacks in case of deployment failures in AWS?
11. What is the role of AWS CloudFormation in automating deployments, and how do you use it?
12. Can you describe a situation where you had to troubleshoot a deployment issue on AWS?

14 situational AWS interview questions for hiring top engineers

To assess a candidate's practical understanding and problem-solving skills in AWS, use these situational interview questions. They help evaluate how a cloud engineer might handle real-world scenarios, providing insight into their experience and decision-making process.

1. You notice a sudden spike in your AWS bill. How would you investigate and address this issue?
2. A critical application in your EC2 instance keeps crashing. What steps would you take to troubleshoot and resolve the problem?
3. Your team needs to migrate a large on-premises database to AWS. How would you approach this task?
4. You're tasked with improving the performance of a slow-loading website hosted on AWS. What would be your strategy?
5. An S3 bucket containing sensitive data was accidentally made public. What immediate actions would you take?
6. Your company wants to implement a multi-region disaster recovery strategy. How would you design this using AWS services?
7. You need to set up a secure way for external partners to access specific AWS resources. What solution would you propose?
8. A Lambda function is timing out frequently. How would you diagnose and fix this issue?
9. Your team is experiencing high latency with database queries. How would you optimize database performance in AWS?
10. You're asked to implement a cost-effective solution for infrequently accessed data. What AWS storage option would you recommend and why?
11. How would you set up monitoring and alerting for a mission-critical application running on EC2?
12. Your application needs to process large amounts of streaming data in real-time. Which AWS services would you use and how?
13. You need to ensure that all EC2 instances in your organization comply with specific security policies. How would you implement this?
14. A client wants to move their monolithic application to a microservices architecture on AWS. How would you approach this transition?

Which AWS skills should you evaluate during the interview phase?

While it's impossible to evaluate every aspect of a candidate's AWS expertise in a single interview, focusing on core skills can provide valuable insights. The following key areas are particularly important when assessing AWS proficiency during the interview process.

Cloud Architecture

Cloud architecture is fundamental to AWS. It involves designing scalable, reliable, and secure systems using AWS services.

To assess this skill, consider using an AWS online test that includes multiple-choice questions on architectural concepts and best practices.

You can also ask targeted interview questions to gauge the candidate's understanding of cloud architecture. Here's an example:

Can you describe a multi-tier architecture you've designed on AWS and explain your choice of services?

Look for responses that demonstrate knowledge of AWS services, understanding of scalability, and awareness of security considerations. A strong answer would include mentions of services like EC2, RDS, and ELB, along with explanations of their roles in the architecture.

Security

Security is critical in AWS environments. It encompasses understanding of AWS security services, best practices, and compliance requirements.

An assessment test with security-focused questions can help evaluate a candidate's knowledge of AWS security features and protocols.

To further assess security skills, consider asking a question like:

How would you secure data in transit and at rest in an AWS environment?

Look for mentions of encryption techniques, AWS Key Management Service (KMS), IAM roles, and security groups. A good answer should demonstrate an understanding of both network-level and application-level security measures.

DevOps

DevOps practices are integral to efficient AWS operations. This includes skills in automation, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), and infrastructure as code.

A DevOps online test can help assess a candidate's knowledge of DevOps principles and tools commonly used with AWS.

To evaluate DevOps skills specific to AWS, you might ask:

Describe how you would set up a CI/CD pipeline for an application on AWS.

A strong answer should mention AWS services like CodePipeline, CodeBuild, and CodeDeploy. Look for understanding of automated testing, deployment strategies, and monitoring practices in the context of AWS.

3 tips for using AWS interview questions

Before you start putting what you’ve learned to use, here are our top tips for effectively utilizing AWS interview questions.

1. Implement skill tests before interviews

Using skill tests before interviews can help you filter out candidates who lack the necessary expertise early in the hiring process.

Consider using tests that evaluate specific AWS skills relevant to the position, such as the AWS DevOps Test or the AWS Online Test.

Implementing these tests can save time by ensuring that only qualified candidates proceed to the interview stage, making the entire recruitment process more efficient.

2. Curate your interview questions effectively

Due to limited time, selecting the right questions to ask during interviews is crucial. Focus on questions that cover the most critical aspects of the role.

Utilize other relevant interview questions, such as those related to DevOps or Machine Learning, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the candidate's skill set.

3. Ask follow-up questions

Just asking the initial interview questions isn’t enough. Follow-up questions are essential to gauge the depth of a candidate's knowledge and to ensure they aren't merely providing surface-level answers.

For example, if you ask a candidate how they would set up an AWS S3 bucket, a good follow-up question could be: 'Can you describe how you would secure this S3 bucket against unauthorized access?' This follow-up question helps you evaluate their understanding of AWS security best practices.

Hire top AWS talent with skill tests and targeted interview questions

Looking to hire someone with AWS skills? Make sure they have the right expertise. The best way to do this is by using skill tests. Consider using our AWS online test or AWS DevOps test to evaluate candidates accurately.

After using these tests to shortlist the best applicants, you can call them for interviews. Ready to streamline your hiring process? Sign up for our assessment platform or check out our AWS test library for more options.

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