Preparing for an interview with Microsoft Azure? It’s important to know what your potential employer might ask you in order to get the job, so let’s go over eight questions you might be asked and some best practices you can use to nail your answers.
Azure Services
Azure provides a number of services that can make your life easier. These include, but are not limited to: virtual machines, file storage (blobs), databases (Azure SQL Database), cloud services and more. In some cases you may be expected to explain which service is best for a specific purpose. For example, if you need to store a large amount of data that is accessed frequently Azure’s blob storage might be your best option. If you need scalability, but require real-time access to said data then consider using Azure SQL Database as opposed to a database on a virtual machine in an availability set.
Azure Pricing Plans
Microsoft Azure service comes in several pricing plans. To start, there’s a free trial that allows you to run low-cost trials of Azure applications for up to 90 days. After that, though, most organizations fall into one of two plans: pay as you go or a subscription plan. In both cases, Microsoft charges different rates depending on how much power and data you use. If your organization is ready to dive right in and start working with Azure, review its pricing plans before signing up to make sure it makes sense for your business’ needs.
Virtual Machines
Microsoft Azure provides hosting for virtual machines (VMs). A VM is an operating system and its associated storage, memory, and CPU available for running applications. Each VM is isolated from other VMs on your account to protect against data loss in case of failure. There are several deployment options: you can create a new one from scratch or use an existing image that was already uploaded to Microsoft Azure. If you have an image file (.vhd or .vhdx), you can easily upload it with a web-based interface in just a few minutes. Once an image is uploaded to Azure, you can create multiple identical copies (instances) of it at any time.
Cloud Storage Solutions
Azure has a number of services related to cloud storage, with options for both businesses and consumers. One such service is Azure Blob Storage, which allows you to store large amounts of unstructured data. If you’re looking for more than just storage, but also want to enable users to access data over a network, then Azure is also home to Azure Drive and OneDrive for Business. Businesses can use these services in conjunction with other Microsoft applications (such as Office 365), or even create their own custom solutions using tools like Visual Studio or PowerShell commands.
App Services
Azure’s App Services let you build applications that run and scale using both your own servers and Microsoft’s public cloud infrastructure. For example, your app might host its code on your own Azure virtual machines, but access data from an Azure SQL database and connect to customers through an Azure API Management portal. If you’re looking for a job as a developer, chances are good that interviewers will ask about these services. To pass with flying colors, brush up on these questions: What is Azure App Service? How is it different from Windows Server? Does App Service support all languages? Can I use it to host websites? What are some use cases of customizing APIs with API Management? Where do I go to learn more about Web Apps and Mobile Apps in App Service?
SQL Databases
Databases help you organize and manage data. SQL stands for Structured Query Language, which is a language used to create and update databases (among other things). Databases are accessed via an application known as a database management system or DBMS. Most DBMSs run on top of server operating systems, although that’s not always necessary. The most popular database management systems include Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle. Azure offers a variety of database solutions, including SQL Server Database Services, Oracle Database Cloud Service, MySQL DocumentDB and PostgreSQL Azure Database. When deciding which database service to use it’s important to note that each one serves different purposes: some handle structured or relational data whereas others handle non-relational (or semi-structured) data such as JSON documents.
Azure Resource Manager (ARM) Templates
Use Resource Manager Templates to define and deploy Azure resources in a consistent way across subscriptions. Instead of manual configuration, Resource Manager templates allow you to update multiple subscription settings by deploying just one template. When combined with automation tools like PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC), resource templates can be used for compliance or security purposes. For example, you could use a single template to enforce compliance controls on all Azure resources within your organization; and changes made to those controls will be reflected everywhere they’re deployed in just a few minutes. Here are some Azure interview questions that focus on ARM Templates: What is an ARM Template? How do I create an ARM Template? What are Visual Studio Tools for Windows Azure? Why would I choose to use Visual Studio Tools for Windows Azure?
Linux vs Windows Server in Azure VM’s
If you don’t have any preference on Linux or Windows server and are looking to use Azure as your primary cloud solution, then choose Linux. If you’re only using Azure for a specific project and don’t need anything other than a single instance with basic applications, choose Windows Server. In some instances, particularly around Active Directory functionality, it may be easier to use Windows Server even if it is not your favorite platform. As always, these are general rules-of-thumb that can help you make an informed decision when choosing between Linux and Windows Server virtual machines (VMs) in Azure. There are many different factors that should go into making your decision; these two platforms offer unique characteristics and tradeoffs based on workloads.
