AWS Interview Prep Guide: Real Questions from Top Companies



Amazon Web Services (AWS) has emerged as the backbone of cloud computing across the globe. From startups to Fortune 500 companies, everyone is harnessing the power of AWS to build scalable, secure, and high-performance applications. As a result, AWS professionals are in high demand, and so are interviews that test their cloud knowledge.

Whether you're applying for a role as a Cloud Engineer, DevOps Specialist, Solutions Architect, or even a Data Engineer, you're likely to face technical and scenario-based questions related to AWS. This guide breaks down the most commonly asked AWS interview questions from top companies like Amazon, Accenture, TCS, Infosys, and others—helping you prepare effectively and confidently.

Why AWS Skills Matter Today

Cloud computing isn’t just the future—it’s the present. AWS holds the lion’s share of the cloud market, which means hiring managers are actively searching for candidates who can deploy, manage, and optimize cloud environments using AWS.

To land a job in this space, you’ll need more than just certifications. You must understand how AWS services work together, and how to apply them in real-world scenarios. That’s why preparing for AWS interview questions with practical context is crucial.

1. What are the key components of AWS architecture?

Answer:
AWS architecture includes a combination of the following key components:

  • Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2): For scalable virtual servers.

  • Simple Storage Service (S3): For object storage.

  • Virtual Private Cloud (VPC): For creating isolated networks.

  • Elastic Load Balancer (ELB): For distributing traffic.

  • Auto Scaling: For automatically adjusting the number of EC2 instances.

  • Route 53: AWS’s DNS and domain registration service.

  • CloudFront: Content delivery network service.

Understanding how these services interact is fundamental for designing solutions in AWS.

2. What is the difference between scalability and elasticity in AWS?

Answer:

  • Scalability refers to the ability to increase or decrease resources based on workload demands. It can be vertical (upgrading instance types) or horizontal (adding more instances).

  • Elasticity is the ability to automatically scale up or down based on real-time demand. This is particularly useful for applications with fluctuating workloads.

AWS Auto Scaling and Elastic Load Balancing help achieve both.

3. Explain the different types of storage in AWS.

Answer:
AWS provides several storage options, each designed for specific use cases:

  • Amazon S3: Object storage for backup, archival, and static website hosting.

  • Amazon EBS (Elastic Block Store): Block-level storage for use with EC2 instances.

  • Amazon EFS (Elastic File System): Scalable file storage for Linux-based workloads.

  • Amazon Glacier (now part of S3 Glacier): Low-cost archival storage.

Knowing when to use which storage solution is key in most AWS-related job interviews.

4. How does IAM work in AWS?

Answer:
IAM (Identity and Access Management) enables secure access control within AWS. It allows you to create users, groups, and roles, and assign them specific permissions using policies written in JSON.

IAM ensures that the principle of least privilege is maintained—users only get access to what they absolutely need.

5. What is EC2 and what are its different instance types?

Answer:
Amazon EC2 is a virtual server in the AWS cloud. It supports multiple instance types categorized as:

  • General Purpose (t2, t3)

  • Compute Optimized (c5, c6g)

  • Memory Optimized (r5, x1e)

  • Storage Optimized (i3, d2)

  • Accelerated Computing (p3, inf1)

Understanding the difference helps in choosing the right resources based on application requirements.

6. How do you secure data in AWS?

Answer:
Security is a shared responsibility in AWS. You can secure your environment by:

  • Using IAM roles and policies for controlled access.

  • Encrypting data at rest using AWS KMS or server-side encryption in S3.

  • Encrypting data in transit using HTTPS or VPN tunnels.

  • Implementing network security through VPC, security groups, and NACLs.

Top companies often ask scenario-based questions to test your security understanding.

7. What is the difference between S3 and EBS?

Answer:

  • Amazon S3 is object storage used for storing large volumes of unstructured data. It's ideal for backup, archiving, and data lakes.

  • Amazon EBS is block storage designed to work with EC2 instances and is ideal for databases and transactional applications.

8. What are AWS Lambda functions used for?

Answer:
AWS Lambda lets you run code without provisioning or managing servers. It supports event-driven architecture and is used for automating tasks like:

  • Running back-end processes

  • File processing

  • Real-time stream handling

  • Triggering alerts based on conditions

Lambda supports languages like Python, Node.js, Java, and more.

9. How do you monitor AWS resources?

Answer:
Monitoring is done using:

  • Amazon CloudWatch: For performance metrics and logs.

  • AWS CloudTrail: For auditing API calls and user activity.

  • AWS Config: For tracking configuration changes over time.

These tools help ensure visibility, compliance, and operational efficiency.

10. What is a VPC and why is it important?

Answer:
A Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) allows you to create a logically isolated section of the AWS cloud. You can launch AWS resources in a virtual network that you define. VPC provides control over:

  • IP address ranges

  • Subnets

  • Route tables

  • Network gateways

  • Security groups

This is a critical concept in almost every cloud infrastructure role.

Wrapping Up: Mastering AWS Interviews

Preparing for AWS interview questions isn't just about memorizing facts—it’s about understanding how to build, deploy, and secure real-world cloud solutions. Companies like Amazon, Deloitte, Wipro, and Capgemini expect candidates to have both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience.

To succeed:

  • Set up your own AWS free-tier account and practice.

  • Focus on services like EC2, S3, IAM, VPC, and Lambda.

  • Understand cost optimization, scalability, and high availability strategies.

  • Study scenario-based questions to sharpen your problem-solving skills.

Final Thoughts

AWS roles are competitive, but the demand continues to grow. With the right mindset and preparation, you can land your dream role in cloud computing. Let this guide to AWS interview questions be your first step toward acing your next technical round and building a strong career in the cloud space.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

HTML Tutorial: A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Web Development

Image
Are you ready to build your first website but don’t know where to begin? Don’t worry—you’re not alone. The journey into web development often starts with learning HTML , the backbone of every webpage. In this HTML Tutorial: A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Web Development , we’ll take you through the fundamentals in a simple, human-friendly manner. Whether you're a student, career-changer, or just curious about how websites work, this guide will get you up and running quickly. Let’s dive in and make your web development journey smooth, step by step. What is HTML? HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard markup language used to create web pages. It provides the structure and layout of a webpage by using a series of elements and tags. Think of HTML as the bones of a website—it holds everything together while allowing you to add meaning to content like headings, paragraphs, links, and images. Why is HTML Important in Web Development? HTML is the first language every web...
Read more

Learn C++ Fast: A Beginner-Friendly Programming Tutorial

Image
  Are you new to programming and wondering where to start? Or maybe you're looking to strengthen your foundation in one of the most powerful and time-tested languages in the coding world? If so, this C++ tutorial is the perfect starting point for you. C++ has stood the test of time. It powers everything from operating systems and game engines to embedded systems and high-performance applications. Learning C++ opens the door to understanding how computers work under the hood, giving you the tools to become a truly skilled and versatile programmer. In this beginner-friendly guide, we’ll break down the basics of C++ in a simple, structured way — helping you start coding with confidence and clarity. Why Learn C++? Before diving into the code, let’s understand why learning C++ is such a great idea — especially for beginners. Performance : C++ is known for its speed and efficiency. It’s often used when performance is critical. Foundation for Other Languages : Learning C++ hel...
Read more

Understanding Apache Airflow DAG Runs: A Complete Guide

Image
  Apache Airflow has become a cornerstone tool in the world of data engineering and workflow orchestration. Its Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) provide a powerful way to define, schedule, and monitor workflows. But one of the most crucial yet often misunderstood aspects of Airflow is the DAG run—the actual execution instance of a workflow. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into Apache Airflow DAG Runs , helping you understand what they are, how they work, and how you can manage them effectively to ensure your data pipelines run smoothly and reliably. What is a DAG in Apache Airflow? Before we talk about DAG runs, let’s quickly revisit what a DAG is. A DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph) is a collection of tasks organized in a way that reflects their dependencies and execution order. In Airflow, DAGs are written in Python and describe how and when your workflows should be executed. However, a DAG is just a blueprint—what brings it to life is the DAG run. What is a DAG Run...
Read more