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What is cloud computing? List its key characteristics.
Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services like servers, storage, and databases over the internet.
What is meant by ‘on-demand self-service’ in cloud computing?
It allows users to provision resources automatically when needed, without human interaction from the provider.
Differentiate between IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS with examples.
IaaS: AWS EC2
PaaS: Google App Engine
SaaS: Microsoft 365
What is cloud orchestration? How does it differ from cloud automation?
Orchestration: Coordinates automated tasks and workflows.
Automation: Performs individual, repeatable tasks without human intervention.
What is cloud bursting? When is it useful?
Cloud bursting is a hybrid cloud configuration where an application runs in a private cloud but can burst into a public cloud during peak demand to access additional resources. It’s useful for managing unpredictable workloads.
Name and describe the three main cloud service models.
aaS: Infrastructure as a Service (e.g., AWS EC2)
PaaS: Platform as a Service (e.g., Google App Engine)
SaaS: Software as a Service (e.g., Gmail)
Explain the concept of multi-tenancy in cloud computing.
A single cloud instance serves multiple users (tenants), while keeping their data separate and secure.
What is a virtual machine (VM), and how is it different from a container?
A VM runs its own OS on virtualized hardware.
A container is a lightweight, portable application package sharing the host OS.
What is a Content Delivery Network (CDN)?
A distributed server network delivering web content to users based on location, improving speed and reliability.
Define elasticity in cloud computing. How is it different from scalability?
Elasticity refers to the automatic provision and de-provision of resources as needed, based on real-time demand.
Difference: Scalability is the capability to handle growth, while elasticity is the ability to dynamically adjust resources up or down.
Differentiate between public, private, and hybrid cloud.
Public Cloud: Shared, accessible via internet.
Private Cloud: Exclusive for one organization.
Hybrid Cloud: Combination of both.
What is cloud scalability, and how does it benefit organizations?
Scalability allows cloud resources to grow or shrink according to demand, ensuring performance and cost efficiency.
What is serverless computing? Give one example.
A cloud model where infrastructure is managed by the provider and code runs in response to events.
What are APIs in cloud computing, and why are they important?
APIs enable applications to interact with cloud services, allowing automation, integration, and efficient management.
What is the Shared Responsibility Model in cloud computing?
It defines the division of security responsibilities between the cloud service provider and the customer.
Example: The provider secures infrastructure, while customers manage data, applications, and user access.
State three advantages and three disadvantages of cloud computing.
Advantages: Cost efficiency, scalability, accessibility.
Disadvantages: Security risks, internet dependency, limited control.
Differentiate between vertical and horizontal scaling.
Vertical scaling: Adding power (CPU/RAM) to an existing server.
Horizontal scaling: Adding more servers to handle increased load.
Explain load balancing in cloud computing.
It distributes network traffic evenly across multiple servers to ensure reliability and availability.
Explain how containerization with Docker works and its benefits.
Docker packages applications and dependencies into containers for consistency across environments.
What is a hypervisor? Name two types.
A hypervisor is virtualization software that creates and manages virtual machines on a host system.
Types:
Type 1 (bare-metal): Runs directly on hardware (e.g., VMware ESXi)
Type 2 (hosted): Runs on a host OS (e.g., VirtualBox)
What is virtualization, and why is it important for cloud computing?
Virtualization creates virtual versions of hardware resources, allowing multiple virtual machines to run on one physical server, improving efficiency.
Name five popular cloud service providers.
AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, Oracle Cloud.
Name major security challenges in cloud computing.
Data breaches, insider threats, insecure APIs, account hijacking, compliance issues.
What are cloud cost models? How can organizations manage cloud costs?
Cost models: Pay-as-you-go, reserved instances, spot pricing.
Cost management: Use autoscaling, monitor usage, optimize resources, choose appropriate pricing plans.
Explain what disaster recovery (DR) is in cloud computing.
Disaster recovery is a set of strategies and services to restore data, applications, and IT services after a disruption or failure. Cloud-based DR offers faster recovery, lower costs, and remote accessibility.