SECTION –A

1. Define cloud computing.

Ans. Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—such as
servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and analytics—
over the internet (“the cloud”) to offer faster innovation, flexible
resources, and economies of scale. Instead of owning and
maintaining physical data centers or servers, users can access
technology services on a pay-as-you-go basis from a cloud provider
like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud
Platform (GCP).

2. Name two virtualization tools.

Ans. Two common virtualization tools are:
1. VMware vSphere – A widely used server virtualization platform
that allows multiple virtual machines (VMs) to run on a single
physical server.
2. Oracle VirtualBox – A free and open-source virtualization software
that allows users to run multiple operating systems on a single
desktop or laptop.

3. Name two cloud storage providers.

Ans. Two popular cloud storage providers are:
1. Google Drive – Offers cloud storage with integration across
Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, etc.).
2. Dropbox – A widely used cloud storage service known for file
sharing and collaboration features.

4. What is Identity and Access Management (IAM)?

Ans. Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a framework of
policies, processes, and technologies used to ensure that the right
individuals have the appropriate access to technology resources at
the right times and for the right reasons.
IAM systems help manage digital identities and control user access to
critical information within an organization, often including
authentication (verifying identity) and authorization (granting access
to resources).

5. What is MapReduce?
Ans. MapReduce is a programming model and processing technique
used for handling and generating large data sets with a distributed
algorithm on a cluster of computers.
It works in two main phases:
1. Map phase – Processes input data and converts it into key-value
pairs.
2. Reduce phase – Aggregates, filters, or summarizes the key-value
pairs to produce the final result.
6. What is elasticity in cloud computing?
Ans. Elasticity in cloud computing refers to the ability of a system to
automatically scale computing resources up or down based on
demand. This means resources (such as CPU, memory, or storage)
can be dynamically adjusted to match workload changes, helping to
optimize performance and cost.
For example, during peak traffic, a cloud service can automatically
allocate more servers, and when traffic drops, it releases the extra
resources.

7. What is Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)?

Ans. Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) is a software design
approach where applications are built by combining loosely coupled,
reusable services that communicate over a network.
Each service in SOA performs a specific business function and can be
independently deployed, updated, or reused. These services typically
use standard protocols (like HTTP, SOAP, or REST) to interact with
each other.
SOA promotes flexibility, scalability, and integration across different
systems and platforms.

8. Define IaaS, PaaS, SaaS with one example each.

Ans.  IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)
Provides virtualized computing resources over the internet such as
servers, storage, and networking.
Example: Amazon EC2 – lets users run virtual machines on demand.
 PaaS (Platform as a Service)
Offers a platform and environment for developers to build, test, and
deploy applications without managing the underlying infrastructure.
Example: Google App Engine – enables developers to deploy
applications directly without managing servers.
 SaaS (Software as a Service)
Delivers fully functional software applications over the internet,
typically accessed through a web browser.
Example: Microsoft 365 – provides cloud-based access to Office
applications like Word, Excel.

9. Name two cloud security standards.

Ans. Two widely recognized cloud security standards are:
1. ISO/IEC 27001 – A global standard for information security
management systems (ISMS), including practices relevant to cloud
environments.
2. CSA CCM (Cloud Controls Matrix) – A cybersecurity control
framework developed by the Cloud Security Alliance specifically
for cloud service providers.

10. What is OpenStack?

Ans. OpenStack is an open-source cloud computing platform that
enables organizations to build and manage both public and private
 clouds. It provides a set of modular components (like compute,
storage, and networking) to control large pools of resources through
a web-based dashboard, CLI, or APIs.
Key components include:
 Nova for compute resources (VMs)
 Swift for object storage.

11.What is on-demand provisioning in cloud computing?

Ans. On-demand provisioning in cloud computing refers to the
ability to automatically allocate and deploy computing resources—
such as virtual machines, storage, or applications—whenever they are
needed, without manual intervention.
This allows users to:
 Instantly access resources when required
 Scale up or down based on workload
 Pay only for what they use, improving cost efficiency.

12. Define Private Cloud.

Ans. A private cloud is a cloud computing environment dedicated
exclusively to a single organization. It provides similar benefits to
public cloud—such as scalability and self-service—but is hosted on-
premises or in a third-party data center with resources not shared
with other organizations.
Private clouds are often used by organizations with strict compliance,
security, or performance requirements.

13. Define Containers.

Ans. Containers are lightweight, portable units of software that
package an application along with all its dependencies, libraries, and
configuration files, allowing it to run consistently across different
computing environments.
Example tools:
 Docker – the most popular container platform.

14. Describe Cloud Disaster Recovery (CDR).

Ans. Cloud Disaster Recovery (CDR) is a cloud-based strategy and
service that allows organizations to back up and restore critical data,
applications, and IT infrastructure in the event of a disaster, such as a
cyberattack, hardware failure, or natural disaster.
Key features of CDR include:
 Remote data storage to ensure data availability even if the
primary site fails
 Automation for rapid failover and recovery.
15. Describe Amazon S3 Bucket.
Ans. An Amazon S3 Bucket is a logical container in Amazon Simple
Storage Service (S3) used to store and organize data (called objects),
such as files, images, videos, or backups, in the cloud.
Key features of an S3 Bucket include:
 Scalable object storage by AWS.
 Organizes data in buckets.
 Supports lifecycle policies, versioning, encryption.

16. What is Storage-as-a-Service (STaaS)?

Ans. Storage-as-a-Service (STaaS) is a cloud computing model where
a third-party provider offers data storage resources on a subscription
or pay-as-you-go basis over the internet.
 Example: AWS S3, Dropbox, Google Drive.

17. What is federation in cloud computing?

Ans. Federation in cloud computing refers to the interconnection
and cooperation between different cloud service providers or
systems, allowing users to access and manage resources across
multiple independent environments using a single identity or unified
interface.
Example: A user can access both AWS and Azure services using one
corporate identity via federated login.
19. What is NIST Cloud Reference Architecture?
Ans. The NIST Cloud Reference Architecture is a conceptual
framework developed by the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) to guide organizations in understanding and
deploying cloud computing services effectively and securely.
 Roles: Cloud Consumer, Provider, Broker, Auditor, Carrier.
 Deployment Models: Public, Private, Hybrid, Community.
 Service Models: IaaS, PaaS, SaaS.

20. Name two early technologies that led to cloud computing.

Ans. Two early technologies that laid the foundation for cloud
computing are:
1. Virtualization – Enabled multiple virtual machines to run on a
single physical server, maximizing hardware usage and enabling
flexible resource allocation.
2. Grid Computing – Allowed the sharing and coordination of
computing resources across multiple systems to solve large-scale
problems, introducing concepts of distributed computing used in
cloud environments.
 SECTION –B
1. Explain the pay-as-you-go model in cloud computing.
Ans. The pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model in cloud computing is a
pricing strategy where users only pay for the cloud resources
they actually use, rather than paying a fixed amount regardless
of usage. This model offers flexibility, cost-efficiency, and
scalability.
Key features of the PAYG model:
 Usage-based pricing:
Users are billed based on the actual amount of resources they
use, such as compute hours, storage space, or data transfer
volumes.
 Scalability:
The model allows users to scale their resources up or down as
needed, paying only for the resources they actually consume.
 Cost efficiency:
By only paying for what they use, users avoid the risk of
overspending on unused resources.
 Flexibility:
Users can choose from a variety of pricing options, such as
hourly or per-second billing, and can monitor their resource
usage and costs through the cloud provider's management
console or API.
 Example: In AWS, you pay for EC2 instances by the hour, and for
S3 storage, you pay based on the amount of data stored and the
data transfer used.

2. What are the benefits of cloud computing over traditional

IT infrastructure?
Ans. The benefits of cloud computing over traditional IT
infrastructure include:
 Cost Efficiency:
Cloud: No upfront investment in hardware; pay only for the
resources you use (pay-as-you-go).
Traditional IT: Requires large capital expenditures for hardware,
software, and maintenance.
 Scalability:
Cloud: Easily scale resources up or down based on demand
without needing to purchase additional physical hardware.
Traditional IT: Scaling involves buying and installing new
hardware, which can be time-consuming and costly.

 Flexibility and Agility:

o Cloud: Rapid deployment of new services and applications,
with easy adaptation to changing business needs.

o Traditional IT: New infrastructure often requires long setup

times and can be less flexible.
 Security:
 Cloud: Providers typically offer robust security features, including
encryption, identity management, and compliance certifications
(e.g., ISO 27001, GDPR).
 Traditional IT: Requires internal resources for implementing and
maintaining security protocols, which may be more prone to gaps.

3. Explain disaster recovery in virtualized cloud systems.

Ans. Disaster recovery in virtualized cloud systems refers to the
strategies and technologies used to back up, replicate, and
restore virtual machines (VMs), applications, and data to
ensure business continuity in the event of a system failure,
cyberattack, or natural disaster.
Key Features of Disaster Recovery in Virtualized Cloud
Systems:
1. Virtual Machine Replication:
o Virtual machines are continuously or periodically copied to a
backup cloud region or data center.
o Enables rapid failover to backup systems with minimal
downtime.
2. Snapshot and Image Backups:
o Regular snapshots of VMs or entire systems allow
restoration to a specific point in time.
o Useful for recovering from ransomware or data corruption.
3. Automated Failover and Failback:
o When a disaster occurs, systems automatically switch to
standby virtual environments in the cloud.
o After recovery, operations can be restored to the original
environment (failback) with minimal manual effort.
4. Geographic Redundancy:
o Data and systems are replicated across multiple cloud
regions to protect against local failures.
5. Cost Efficiency and Flexibility:
o No need to maintain a full secondary physical data center.
o Pay only for storage and minimal compute unless a disaster
occurs.

4. How does I/O virtualization work in cloud environments?

Ans. I/O virtualization in cloud environments refers to the
abstraction of input/output (I/O) operations—such as
networking and storage—so that multiple virtual machines
(VMs) can efficiently share physical I/O resources on a host
server.
How It Works:
1.  Virtual I/O Devices:
Each VM is assigned virtual network interfaces (vNICs) and virtual
storage devices (vDisks), which appear to the VM as if they are
dedicated hardware.
2.  Hypervisor Management:
A hypervisor (e.g., VMware ESXi, KVM, or Hyper-V) intercepts and
manages I/O requests from VMs.
It maps these requests to the actual physical devices on the host
system.
3.  Shared Physical Hardware:
Physical network interface cards (NICs) and storage controllers are
shared among VMs.
The hypervisor ensures fair access, isolation, and efficient usage of
these devices.
4.  I/O Offloading and Acceleration:
Technologies like SR-IOV (Single Root I/O Virtualization) allow VMs
to access physical I/O devices more directly , reducing overhead
and improving performance.

5. Differentiate between public, private, and hybrid clouds.

Ans. Here is a clear differentiation between public, private, and
hybrid clouds:
Featur Public Private Hybrid
e Cloud Cloud Cloud
Owner Third- Single Mix of
ship party organiza public
provider tion and
private
Cost Pay-as- High Mixed
you-go setup (depen
and ds on
mainten usage)
ance
Securit Standar High Balanc
y d, control ed
shared and securit
environ security y
ment
Scalabi Very Limited Scalabl
lity high by e via
internal public
resource cloud
s when
neede
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6. What are the advantages of cloud storage over traditional
storage?
Ans. the advantages of cloud storage over traditional storage:
Traditional
Feature Cloud Storage
Storage
Accessible
Limited to
anytime,
Accessibility physical location
anywhere via
or VPN access
internet
Instantly Requires manual
Scalability scalable as hardware
needed upgrades
High upfront
Pay-as-you-
investment and
Cost go; no upfront
ongoing
hardware cost
maintenance
Automated
Manual backups,
Backup & backups, fast
slower recovery
Recovery disaster
processes
recovery
Managed by Requires in-
Maintenance cloud house IT staff
provider and resources
 Traditional
Feature Cloud Storage
Storage
Limited
Real-time
collaboration
sharing and
Collaboration unless using a
multi-user
networked
access
system
Data Depends on
encrypted, local security
Security &
stored across setup and
Redundancy
multiple redundancy
locations planning

7. Differentiate between vertical and horizontal scaling in

cloud resource management.
Ans. differentiation between vertical scaling and horizontal
scaling in cloud resource management:
 Vertical Scaling Horizontal
Feature (Scale Scaling (Scale
Up/Down) Out/In)
Adding more
Adding or
power (CPU,
removing
Definition RAM, storage) to
multiple servers
an existing
to handle load
server
Upgrade a single Distribute the
How It
machine’s load across many
Works
capacity machines
More flexible and
Limited by the
scalable as more
Flexibility physical capacity
servers can be
of a single server
added easily
Often requires a Can often be
Downtime system reboot or done without
downtime downtime
Suitable for Ideal for large-
small-scale apps scale, distributed
Use Case
or legacy systems (e.g.,
systems web apps)
 8. How does IAM enhance cloud security?
Ans. Identity and Access Management (IAM) enhances cloud
security by controlling who can access cloud resources, what
actions they can perform, and what data they can interact with.
Here’s how IAM contributes to cloud security:
1. Access Control: IAM allows organizations to define and enforce
policies that grant or restrict user access to specific cloud services
and data based on roles and responsibilities.
2. Authentication: It ensures that only verified users (via passwords,
MFA, etc.) can access the cloud environment, reducing the risk of
unauthorized entry.
3. Authorization: Once authenticated, IAM verifies what operations
a user is allowed to perform (e.g., read, write, delete), enforcing
least privilege access.
4. Audit and Monitoring: IAM logs all access activities, enabling
organizations to track user behavior, detect anomalies, and meet
compliance requirements.
5. Separation of Duties: It supports the segregation of tasks across
different users or roles, helping prevent internal threats and
accidental changes.
6. Policy Enforcement: IAM automates the enforcement of security
policies consistently across all cloud services and environments.

9. What are the four levels of federation in cloud?

Ans. Four levels of federation in cloud computing are:
 1. Identity Federation
Definition:
Identity federation enables users to access multiple cloud
services or platforms using a single digital identity across
trusted domains.
How It Works:
 Uses protocols like SAML, OAuth, or OpenID Connect.
 A user logs into one identity provider (e.g., Google, Azure AD), and
that identity is trusted by other services or clouds.
 Eliminates the need to manage separate credentials for each cloud
provider.
Example:
A user logs into a third-party SaaS application using their
corporate Microsoft 365 credentials.

2. Data Federation
Definition:
Data federation enables access and integration of data from
multiple cloud sources or databases without physically moving or
copying it.
How It Works:
 Uses a virtual data layer or a data virtualization platform.
 Allows users to query data from multiple locations as if it's from a
single source.
 Data remains in its original location but is aggregated virtually.
Example:
A dashboard pulls real-time sales data from AWS S3 and customer
data from Azure SQL in a single report.

3. Resource Federation
Definition:
Resource federation involves sharing and coordinating cloud
infrastructure resources (compute, storage, network) across
multiple cloud providers or data centers.
How It Works:
 Orchestration tools or APIs manage resources across federated
clouds.
 Enables resource pooling, balancing, and scaling across providers.
Example:
A cloud application uses compute power from AWS and storage
from Google Cloud simultaneously.

4. Application Federation
Definition:
Application federation allows applications distributed across
different cloud environments to work together seamlessly.
How It Works:
 Uses APIs, service meshes, or containers for integration.
 Federated applications communicate, authenticate, and share
data while residing on separate clouds.
Example:
An e-commerce app with frontend hosted on Azure, payment
service on AWS, and user database on IBM Cloud.

10. Differentiate between Google App Engine and AWS

Lambda.
Ans. Difference between Google App Engine and AWS Lambda
are:
Google App
Feature AWS Lambda
Engine
Function as a
Platform as a
Type Service (FaaS) /
Service (PaaS)
Serverless
Execution Runs full Executes event-
Model applications driven functions
Running backend
Hosting web logic on file
Use Case
apps and APIs uploads or API
calls
 Google App
Feature AWS Lambda
Engine
Automatically
Automatically
scales each
Scalability scales the whole
function
application
independently
Deploying a Resizing images
Django web app on-the-fly when
Example
for an online uploaded to an S3
store bucket

SECTION –C
1. Discuss the challenges faced in cloud computing adoption.
Ans. Here are some key challenges faced in cloud computing
adoption:
 Security and Privacy:
Organizations must ensure the security of their data in the
cloud, protecting against breaches and unauthorized
access. Compliance with data privacy regulations is also crucial.
 Cost Management:
Cloud costs can be difficult to predict and manage, potentially
leading to over- or under-provisioning of
resources. Understanding and optimizing costs is essential for
successful cloud adoption.
 Expertise and Skills Gaps:
Many organizations lack the necessary expertise in cloud
technologies and processes, making migration and
management challenging. Training and development are crucial
to bridge this gap.
 Vendor Lock-in:
Organizations can become overly dependent on a single cloud
provider, potentially hindering future flexibility and hindering
innovation. Strategies to avoid vendor lock-in are important.
 Performance:
Network dependence can affect performance, especially for
applications that require high bandwidth. Ensuring adequate
bandwidth and network infrastructure is crucial.
 Compliance:
Organizations must adhere to various compliance regulations
when using cloud services, which can be complex and vary by
industry.

2. Discuss the role of web services in cloud computing with

examples.
Ans. Web services are essential building blocks of cloud
computing. They enable interoperable communication between
different applications and systems over the internet, regardless
of platform or programming language. In cloud computing, web
services facilitate the delivery of services such as storage,
processing, and software over the web.
Key Roles of Web Services in Cloud Computing
1. Interoperability
Web services use standard protocols (HTTP, XML, JSON, SOAP,
REST) to allow different systems to communicate easily.
Example: A web app developed in Java can consume a RESTful API
written in Python.
2. Service Delivery
Cloud services (like SaaS, PaaS, IaaS) are often exposed to users
through web services.
Example: Amazon EC2 provides web service APIs to manage
virtual servers (instances).
3. Scalability and Modularity
Applications can be designed using modular web services, making
it easier to scale and maintain.
Example: A microservices-based cloud app uses different web
services for user management, billing, and notifications.
4. Platform Independence
Since web services use standard web protocols, they are not tied
to any specific platform or language.
Example: Google Maps API (a web service) can be integrated into
web, mobile, or desktop apps.
5. Integration and Automation
Web services enable seamless integration between cloud-based
and on-premise systems.
Example: A CRM in the cloud integrates with an on-premise ERP
system via web service calls.
3. Compare IaaS, PaaS, SaaS in terms of control, flexibility,
and use cases.
Ans. comparison of IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS in terms of control,
flexibility, and use cases:

IaaS
SaaS
(Infrastru PaaS
Aspe (Softwa
cture as (Platform as
ct re as a
a a Service)
Service)
Service)
Minimal
Full
Control over control;
control
applications only
Contr over OS,
and data, not over
ol storage,
underlying user-
network,
infrastructure specific
and VMs
settings
Flexi Highly Moderate Low
bility flexible – flexibility – flexibilit
can limited to y–
install supported predefi
and platforms/lan ned
configure guages softwar
anything e
function
 IaaS
SaaS
(Infrastru PaaS
Aspe (Softwa
cture as (Platform as
ct re as a
a a Service)
Service)
Service)
ality
Hosting Developing
Email,
virtual and testing
CRM,
Use machines web apps
collabor
Cases , storage, without
ation
custom managing
tools
networks servers
End-
System
Developers users
User administr
and DevOps and
Type ators, IT
teams busines
teams
s users
Google
Amazon Worksp
Google App
EC2, ace,
Exam Engine, AWS
Microsoft Salesfor
ple Elastic
Azure ce,
Beanstalk
VMs Dropbo
x

4. Discuss global exchange of cloud resources and its benefits.

 Ans. The global exchange of cloud resources refers to the ability
of cloud providers and users to share, allocate, and access
computing resources (like storage, compute power, and
applications) across geographic regions and across different
cloud platforms.
It involves:
 Multi-region data centers
 Federated cloud environments
 Cross-provider integrations
 Resource brokerage systems

Benefits of Global Cloud Resource Exchange

Benefit Description
Applications and data can be
1. High
replicated across regions, ensuring
Availability
uptime even if one region fails.
Resources can be dynamically
2. Scalability on
allocated from different regions
Demand
based on workload or user demand.
Organizations can utilize the most
3. Cost
cost-effective cloud regions or
Optimization
providers for specific needs.
4. Geographic Distributing resources globally
Redundancy enhances disaster recovery and data
 Benefit Description
durability.
Resources can be delivered from the
5. Performance
nearest region or cloud for faster
Optimization
response and reduced latency.
Examples:
 Content Delivery: Using global CDNs (e.g., Cloudflare, AWS
CloudFront) to serve content from edge locations.

5. Compare VM-based vs. container-based virtualization in

cloud computing.
Ans. Here's a comparison between VM-based and container-
based virtualization in cloud computing:
Container-
VM-Based
Aspect Based
Virtualization
Virtualization
Virtual
Containers
Machines
virtualize at the
(VMs) emulate
Definition OS level,
an entire
sharing the
hardware
host OS
environment
Resource Heavier – each Lightweight –
Usage VM runs its containers
own OS and share OS, using
 Container-
VM-Based
Aspect Based
Virtualization
Virtualization
requires more
fewer resources
resources
Slower – takes Faster – starts
Startup Time minutes to in seconds or
boot a full OS milliseconds
Less isolated,
Strong isolation but still secure
Isolation (each VM is with
fully isolated) namespaces
and cgroups
Highly portable
Less portable –
– containers
VM images are
Portability can run
larger and more
consistently
complex
anywhere
Higher – Lower –
managing VMs containers are
Management
requires more easier to
Overhead
tooling and deploy and
maintenance manage
Use Case Running Deploying
Example multiple OS microservices
environments and scalable
 Container-
VM-Based
Aspect Based
Virtualization
Virtualization
(e.g., Windows cloud-native
+ Linux) applications
VMware, Docker,
Example
Microsoft Kubernetes,
Technologies
Hyper-V, KVM Podman