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INTERVIEW QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

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Q1. Tell me about yourself and why you want to work in this Amazon AWS role?
Sample Answer:
I have always been someone who is technically-minded and over the years I have built up a wide array of
skills, qualities and experience that will enable me to excel within this Amazon AWS position. Just some of
the skills and qualities I possess include, an understanding of AWS, its uses, and best practice procedures;
proficiency in cloud-based applications using AWS; an understanding of Amazon S3, AMI, VPC and
INSTANCES, and also how all of these integrate with AWS. I also have comprehensive knowledge of
Operating Systems and Networking. I am able to work well both on my own and as part of a team, and I
can be relied upon to work quickly, to a high standard and also within strict timescales. If you hire me within
this Amazon AWS position, I will always work hard to help you achieve your commercial objectives and I
will follow the Amazon Leadership Principles in everything I do.

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Q2. What is AWS?

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Sample Answer:

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Amazon Web Services is a cloud services platform and is a subsidiary of Amazon.
AWS allows individuals and businesses – both large and small – to scale through compute power, online
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storage, and content delivery on a pay-as-you-go basis. AWS provides services for online storage and
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delivers dynamic and static content globally using CDN (content delivery network). With AWS you can
create any online application you require. AWS is a leader amongst cloud providers, allowing its users to
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become more agile.

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Q3. Why do you want to work for Amazon?

Sample Answer:
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I would like to work for Amazon because not only are you one of the greatest companies in the world, but
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your desire to continually innovate, create and design ground-breaking products and services is very
appealing. I am the type of person who doesn’t want to sit still in my job and just do the bare minimum. I
want to constantly evolve, improve, learn from others and also use the skills and experience I have gained
to good use. Amazon will continue to thrive because it puts the customer at the front of everything it does.
For those reasons, I would feel immensely proud to work for Amazon in this AWS position.

Q4. What are the main components/services of Amazon AWS?

Sample Answer:
There are many components, or services that AWS offers. The core ones can be broken down into Storage,
Management, Security, Databases, Mobile Services, Application Services, Networks, and Analytical

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services. Some of the standout components and services are Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud, also known
as Amazon EC2, which provides scalable compute capacity in the cloud. Another key component is
Amazon’s VPC (Virtual Private Cloud). This allows for users to create private virtual networks where they
have complete control to launch any AWS services in. There are many services in storage that AWS offers,
such as S3 and Elastic Block Storage. Databases are also a key component of AWS with services such
as Amazon RDS, which enables the quick setup and use of rational databases via the cloud and Amazon
DynamoDB allows for lightning quick deployment of rational databases that utilize SSD drives to store any
amount of data and hand all levels of traffic. AWS also provides fantastic application services with SWS
(Simple Workflow Service) for task management and also Amazon SQS (simple queue service) for
automation. Finally, there is an array of management services such as CloudWatch and CloudTrial.

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Q5. Tell me a time when you demonstrated one of Amazon’s Leadership Principles?

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Sample Answer:

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SITUATION: I was working on an important cloud-based project with a group of five other people.
TASK: The client had very strict timescales for completion, and although the team had not worked with
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each other before, we knew we had to work hard to meet the objectives and provide outstanding service.
ACTION: Because the project needed total customer-focus, I suggested one of the team members should
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be in constant communication with the client remotely, to make sure every step of our work was to the
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necessary specification. Everyone agreed this was a good idea, and so I volunteered to be the main point
of contact. Throughout the duration of the project I kept the client updated on a daily basis, and I also asked
them various non-technical questions to drill down deeply in to their requirements. This information was
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then relayed back to the team.

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RESULT: By maintaining constant communication, and by asking lots of in-depth questions, I was able to
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steer the group throughout the project which ultimately led to it being a massive success for the client and
they were extremely pleased with the results.

Q6. What is Amazon S3 and how it is this connected to AWS?

Sample Answer:
Amazon S3, also known as Amazon Simple Storage Service is a storage service provided by AWS. S3
allows for all types of object storage, such as user file storage, web application storage, data lakes for
analytics, backups, and more. It uses the same technology that Amazon use for its eCommerce platform.
S3 has a simple web interface making it accessible for users, and it is lightning fast and reliable. In essence,
S3 was designed for backing up and archiving data of AWS created applications with simple scalability.

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Q7. What is AMI and what is its purpose?

Sample Answer:
AMI stands for Amazon Machine Image, which delivers the required information needed to launch an
instance. In other words, AMI is a master image that is used to create EC2 instances (virtual
machines/servers) in the AWS environment. Essentially, an AMI allows for the deployment of all services
delivered via EC2.

Q8. What is an ‘instance’ in AMI?

Sample Answer:
Simply put, and AMI instance is a cloud-based virtual server. An AMI is used to launch an instance over

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the cloud, which, in turn, is a copy of the AMI running on a virtual server. You can run any command or

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treat the instance just as you would with a physical computer, and you can run multiple instances of one
AMI.
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Q9. What are the different elements of AMI?
Sample Answer:
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Firstly, an AMI consists of one or multiple EBS snapshots or a template for the root volume – this is the
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case, for instance, store backed AMIs. Secondly, an AMI contains the launch permissions needed to
determine which AWS accounts have permission to launch instances from the AMI. Thirdly, an AMI uses
block device mapping to let the server know which volumes need to be attached to the instance upon
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launch.
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Q10. What are the different types of EC2 instance types?

Sample Answer:
AWS provides a huge array of instance types to suit all the different application needs that could be
required. This flexibility forms the different offerings, and also the scalability is key to the success of AWS
and what makes it a fantastic service for small or large use cases. The main instance components can be
broken down to General Purpose, Storage Optimized, Compute Optimized, Accelerated Computing, and
Memory Optimized. General Purpose offers a mixed balanced of the other components; storage-based
instance types are great for applications that need large data sets on local storage, Compute Optimized
provides great CPU focussed instances, Accelerated Computing instances work better than Compute
Optimised instances for functions such as data pattern matching or graphics processing. Finally, Memory

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Optimised instances offer fast handling of applications that require heavy memory use data sets. All
instances have their own variations offered by AWS for whatever the needs of the application are.

Q11. How do you scale an Amazon instance?

Sample Answer:
To scale up an instance is size, such as from Micro to Large, I would follow the following steps. Firstly,
within the AWS Management Console, I would go to the EC2 tab and check the instance I wanted to scale.
Secondly, I would ensure the instance was put into a “stopped” state. Then, I would use the “Instance
Actions” options to select “Change Instance Type” and select the level I wanted to scale the instance to
and confirm this change. AWS also offers a fantastic “Auto Scaling” facility, which is set up to monitors
applications and automatically adapts capacity to ensure there is always a reliable performance.

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Q12. What is the correlation between an instance and AMI?
Sample Answer:
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I like to think of an AMI as the template or blueprint and the instance as the realization of that blueprint. In
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real terms, what that means is the AMI contains all of the applications, application servers, and OS data in
a software configuration, whereas the instance is a copy of the AMI running on a virtual server.
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Q13. What is a ‘buffer’ used for in Amazon Web Services (AWS)?

Sample Answer:
A buffer is an integral part of AWS as it is there to prevent the overload of traffic by optimizing and evenly
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spreading the load across various AWS instances. The buffer ensures that there is a synchronization of
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various components and makes the required adjustments of additional elastic from a burst in load/traffic.
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Q14. How would you make a request in S3? What are the different “access keys”?
Sample Answer:
As Amazon S3 is a REST service, I would send requests using the REST API. It is also possible to use
the wrapper libraries from AWS SDK to wrap the principal S3 REST API. This can make the process much
simpler from a programming perspective. To make an authenticated request, the following request access
key can be used, either IAM User or AWS Account access keys. It is also possible to use Temporary
Credentials as an option to make requests in S3.

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Q15. When using IPv6 to access a bucket on S3, what background information about IPv6 access
would you tell a colleague new to the process?
Sample Answer:
A common mistake I see users of S3 make when using IPv6 access is that they forget to update the bucket
policies or IAM to include IPv6 address ranges when they use source IP address filtering. I’d also ensure I
tell them both the network and client that access the bucket need IPv6 to be enabled. It’s also important to
note that IP addresses in server access logs will be outputted in an IPv6 format. This will mean any scripts,
tools, or software that is used to parse S3 log files must be formatted to allow IPv6 Remote IP addresses.
Path style requests and virtual host-style are both supported by IPv6 access.

Q16. What’s the maximum number of buckets that can be created in S3?

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Sample Answer:

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There is a standard limit of 100 buckets per AWS account. However, if a service limit increase is submitted,

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S3 can support up to a maximum of 1000 buckets per AWS account.
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Q17. Can you explain what key-pairs are in AWS?
Sample Answer:
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AWS uses two keys, a key-pair, to encrypt and decrypt login information. It works by a sender using public
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key cryptography to encrypt data, and then when it is received, its receiver uses a private key to decrypt
the data. Thus, forming the key-pair. A key-pair is needed to connect instances. This provides secure
access to instances, which only the user has the private key for, and Amazon EC2 the public key – EC2
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uses 2048-bit SSH-2 RSA keys.

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Q18. What is VPC and what’s its purpose?

Sample Answer:
A VPC is a virtual private cloud that provides on-demand computing resources that are fully configurable
in a public cloud environment. The computing resources are shared. Amazon VPC is designed to be similar
to a standard network used in an individual’s or organization’s own data center. Amazon VPC provides all
of the pros of the scalable AWS infrastructure.

Q19. What’s the maximum number of subnets per VPC?

Sample Answer:

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AWS allows for us to 200 subnets per VPC, per region. It is possible to request an increase to this quota if
needed. By doing this, it will increase all the quotas for the resources in that region.

Q20. What’s the role of Snowball?

Sample Answer:
Simply put, AWS Snowball allows for the secure transit of data between S3 and an organization’s or
individual’s own on-site storage solution. AWS Snowball uses physical storage devices to make this
transfer, which offers speeds faster than that available via the internet. These devices are secured by the
AWS Key Management Service, otherwise known as AWS KMS. 50TB storage devices are available as
standard globally, with 80TB versions available in the US. These physical devices are shipped to an
organization with all their S3 data encrypted. The device itself if the shipping package with an e-ink display.

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They are intended for organizations with a large amount of data 10TB or more is the recommendation.

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Q21. Are there any advantages of Amazon EC2 auto-scaling?
Sample Answer: 89
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Yes, Amazon EC2 auto-scaling provides many benefits by allowing your application to fully utilize the power
of AWS Cloud. For one, it greatly improves the reliability of your application by ensuring it has the correct
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capacity for the traffic load going into your application and will scale as needed. This also provides better
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cost management as an organization pays per ECS instances used. Therefore, auto-scaling can reduce
costs if certain instances aren’t needed, as it will decrease capacity as needed. In addition, it provides
strong fault tolerance as EC2 can identify a faulty or unhealthy instance and will quickly replace it with a
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new instance.
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Q22. Whilst working in this AWS role you will have numerous problems to solve on a daily basis.
What steps do you follow when trying to resolve complex problems?
Sample Answer:
I always use the same, fundamental steps when solving any problem whilst working in AWS. These are:
DEFINING THE PROBLEM and gaining CLARITY of the issue or solution I need to come up with;
CONFIRMING the exact problem by utilizing all relevant facts and information available whilst also tapping
into the knowledge of the other team members; ASSESSING THE OPTIONS we have available to
overcome the issue or problem; DEVELOPING A SOLUTION, TESTING THE SOLUTION and then finally
IMPLEMENTING THE SOLUTION through collaborative working and TESTING. I would also need to

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consider the TRAINING stage. Training may have to carried out by the end user(s) so they aware of how
everything works and operates.

Q23. What is a subnet?

Sample Answer:
They easiest way I like to describe a subnet is by viewing the Virtual Private Network (VPC) as a container,
and the subnets are different segments containing the different resources inside and, therefore, varying
levels of access to those segments as you define. If a house represents your VPC, then a subnet would
be the rooms inside. The rooms may need to be locked or have different access for different people.

Q24. What’s the difference between a MAC address and an IP address?

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Sample Answer:

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IP addresses utilize a number that has been assigned to a connection within a network, whereas MAC

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addresses identify a device that wants to take part in a network.
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Q25. What’s the function of AWS CloudTrail?
Sample Answer:
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AWS CloudTrial provides operational auditing by recording every API call to all resources in an AWS
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account to a log. Essentially, AWS CloudTrial is a compliance and auditing tool. An API call that is recorded
can come from a person, application, or other AWS service when a resource is accessed, an AWS CLI
command is run, or when a REST API call is made. AWS CloudTrial enables a view of all account activity
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on AWS. Users can monitor, log, and hold all of this account activity.
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Q26. Where do you see yourself in 5 years' time?

Sample Answer:
In five years’ time, I see myself progressing within Amazon to the point where not only am not only well-
respected in this AWS role, but I’ve also taken on further responsibilities. I believe that, in five years’
time, I will have proven myself as an invaluable member of the Amazon AWS team. I would also take
great pleasure in assisting the training and development of newer colleagues who occupy a similar role.

Q27. What’s your biggest weakness?

Sample Answer:

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If I’m being entirely honest, I would say in the past I have been the type of person who prefers to go away
and figure things out for myself, instead of asking others for help or advice. Obviously, asking other people
for help or advice is a faster way of getting things done, and I think my weakness has been down to the
fact I love a challenge and like to learn new things for myself. Having said that, one of my strengths as a
Solutions Architect, is the fact I am always looking to improve, and if you give me feedback on my
performance that helps me and the organization to grow and develop, then I will always be open to that
and I will take it onboard.

Q28. Why do you want to leave your current job?

Sample Answer:
I want to leave my job because I am looking for a fresh challenge with a company that has exciting and

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ambitious plans for the future, and one that will also use my skills and technical abilities to the full. My

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employer has been great, and we have achieved some fantastic things whilst I have been there, but I am

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now ready for a new challenge with Amazon in this AWS role.
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Q29. What are your salary expectations in this Amazon AWS role?
Sample Answer:
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I have carried out some research in relation to the average salary for this AWS position, and the general
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range is between $47,000 and $65,000. Whilst I do personally feel I am worth the higher end of the salary
scale, I understand and appreciate I need to prove to you my worth. On that basis, I would be comfortable
with a salary of $57,000.
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NOTE: Please carry out your own research in relation to the average salary for your AWS job position with
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Amazon and then amend the range accordingly.

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Q30. That’s the end of your Amazon AWS interview, do you have any questions for the panel?
Sample Answer:
Thank you. Yes, I do:
Q. If I am successful, what would you need me to concentrate on immediately within the first few things of
starting?
Q. What, if anything, has frustrated about other people who have occupied similar AWS roles in the past?
Q. Would I have the opportunity to get involved with the development and testing of new Amazon products
in the future?

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How to Use These Interview Questions and Answers:

These interview questions and answers are intended to guide you in your preparation for your job
interview. These questions have been picked by the PassMyInterview team because we believe
that they are the best representative of what you will face in your interview.

The sample answers in this resource are collated from years of experience and research in the
recruitment sector. The answers confidently display the appropriate qualities and competencies
that the interviewer expects from successful candidates.

Read the sample answers carefully, and take note of what skills and competencies they

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demonstrate. You might notice that, when the question asks for examples, the answer uses the

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STAR method to construct the response:

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Situation. Start off your response to the interview question by explaining what the ‘situation’ was
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and who was involved.

Task. Once you have detailed the situation, explain what the ‘task’ was, or what needed to be
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done.
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Action. Now explain what ‘action’ you took, and what action others took. Also explain why you
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took this particular course of action.

Result. Explain to the panel what you would do differently if the same situation arose again. It is
good to be reflective at the end of your responses. This demonstrates a level of maturity and it
will also show the panel that you are willing to learn from every experience.

In order to get the best possible results, apply this system to your own examples and experiences
in working life. These sample answers are intended to inspire you to create your own responses
to the questions.

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Disclaimer:
PassMyInterview is not responsible for anyone failing any part of any selection process as a result
of the information contained within this resource. PassMyInterview and their authors cannot accept
any responsibility for any errors or omissions within this resource, however caused. No
responsibility for loss or damage occasioned by any person acting, or refraining from action, as a
result of the material in this publication can be accepted by PassMyInterview.

Get more guides, books and training courses at the website www.How2Become.com.

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Copyright © PassMyInterview.com. All Rights Reserved. For personal use only.

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