Most frequently Asked Azure Storage Interview Question

1. What experience do you have with Azure Storage?
2. How is Azure Storage different from a traditional storage system?
3. What strategies do you use to ensure security of stored data in Azure Storage?
4. What types of applications would Azure Storage be best suited for?
5. How would you go about setting up and configuring Azure Storage?
6. What do you know about the different types of objects available in Azure Storage?
7. How would you troubleshoot issues related to Azure Storage?
8. What monitoring methods do you use to ensure high performance of stored data in Azure Storage?
9. What methods do you employ to ensure redundancy in Azure Storage?
10. How do you configure backups in Azure Storage?
11. How do you use Azure Storage tools such as Azure CLI, PowerShell, and REST API?
12. How do you optimize performance in Azure Storage?

What experience do you have with Azure Storage?

I have extensive experience with Azure Storage.
Azure Storage is a cloud-based database service provided by Microsoft that helps organizations to store, manage, and deploy data solutions. It offers a wide range of features, including scalability and durability, that make it suitable for different kinds of applications.
For example, Azure Storage can store blobs, tables, queues, and files. It also provides an infrastructure for distributed computing environments.
In terms of code snippet, here's an example of how to create a storage account using the Azure PowerShell tool:

New-AzStorageAccount -Name <storage account name> -ResourceGroupName <resource group name> -Location <region> -SkuName Standard_LRS 

This command creates a storage account with the specified name, resource group, location and sku name.
Once it is created, users can easily access the storage account and its resources such as blobs, tables, queues, and files.
Moreover, they can use the Azure portal or APIs to manage their data.
Apart from that, users can also take advantage of Azure Storage's other features such as encryption, backup and disaster recovery, global availability, performance optimization, and much more.
In addition, Azure Storage provides integration with a variety of other Azure services such as Azure Monitor, Azure Data Factory, and Azure Machine Learning.
This makes it easier for users to build applications, enrich existing ones, and analyze data.
Therefore, through leveraging the features of Azure Storage, organizations can easily store, manage, and deploy their data solutions.

How is Azure Storage different from a traditional storage system?

Azure Storage provides several advantages over traditional storage systems. First, Azure Storage is highly scalable and has unlimited storage capacity.
This means that businesses can store large amounts of data without having to worry about running out of space or needing to purchase additional hardware. Second, Azure Storage is secure and resilient.
It uses redundancy for data durability and comes with built-in encryption, ensuring that your data is always safe and secure. Third, it is cost effective and easy to use.
The pay-as-you-go pricing model makes Azure Storage very cost effective and the user-friendly interface makes it simple to configure and manage. Finally, Azure Storage also supports a wide range of programming language, including .NET, Java, and Node.js, allowing developers to easily create powerful applications using the platform.
To set up Azure Storage in your application, you will need to use a package manager such as NuGet or npm.
Once installed, you can configure your storage account settings and credentials in your application's configuration file.
You can then create a storage account object that can be used to access the storage service in your code.
From this object, you can access various data operations, such as listing containers and blobs, uploading and downloading blobs, and deleting and setting metadata on blobs.
For example, the following code snippet creates a storage account object and sets the container name for use in other operations:

// Create the storage account object
var storageAccount = CloudStorageAccount.Parse(CloudConfigurationManager.GetSetting("StorageConnectionString"));

// Create the blob client object
var blobClient = storageAccount.CreateCloudBlobClient();

// Get a reference to the container
var container = blobClient.GetContainerReference("mycontainer");

What strategies do you use to ensure security of stored data in Azure Storage?

Azure Storage offers several security measures to ensure the safety and privacy of the stored data.
These include encryption at rest, role-based access control (RBAC), and virtual networks.
Encryption at rest refers to the process of encrypting data as it is stored in Azure Storage.
This feature uses a key generated by Microsoft Azure Key Vault and stored securely in the cloud.
Role-based access control (RBAC) enables administrators to grant users only the access they need to manage resources.
This ensures that only specific users are allowed to view, edit, and delete data.
Virtual networks can be used to provide extra protection for stored data. With Azure Storage, you can restrict access to traffic from a specific virtual network or subnet, thereby preventing any malicious access.
To ensure security for stored data, the following code snippet using the Azure.NET SDK can be used to enable encryption at rest:

```
// Create a storage account with encryption enabled
var storageAccount = new CloudStorageAccount(new StorageCredentials(accountName, accountKey), true);

// Create the blob client 
CloudBlobClient blobClient = storageAccount.CreateCloudBlobClient();

// Enable encryption at rest for the account
blobClient.DefaultRequestOptions.EncryptionPolicy = new BlobEncryptionPolicy(keyWrappingAlgorithm, RSA);
```

Using these strategies ensures that the data stored in Azure Storage is secure and protected from any malicious activity.

What types of applications would Azure Storage be best suited for?

Azure Storage is a cloud-based service that offers a range of storage and database capabilities.
It can be used for a variety of applications, such as storing large amounts of data, sharing data between applications, extending existing on-premise infrastructure to the cloud, and archiving business-critical data.
One of the key benefits of Azure Storage is its scalability.
It's able to scale up or down easily to meet changing needs. This makes it an ideal solution for businesses experiencing rapid growth or seasonal changes in demand.
Additionally, Azure Storage can be used for short-term projects and workloads that don't require long-term commitments.
Azure Storage can also be used to store unstructured data, such as images and videos, as well as structured data like logs and documents.
Furthermore, its built-in security features make it easy to protect sensitive data without having to set up security measures on your own.
One of the most common uses of Azure Storage is as a web application back end.
It can store data, user files, and other types of content, while providing an easy-to-use API for connecting with the application.
Additionally, its high availability ensures that content will always be available and accessible.
To get started with Azure Storage, you can use pre-configured services or create your own. Here's a code snippet for creating a storage account:

var storageAccount = CloudStorageAccount.Parse(storageConnectionString);

If you need help setting up your storage account, Microsoft provides detailed documentation as part of the Azure Documentation.

How would you go about setting up and configuring Azure Storage?

Setting up and configuring Azure Storage is relatively simple.
First, you need to create an Azure Storage account. This can be done from the Azure Portal.
Once the account is created, you will need to generate a Storage Access Key which will be used to authenticate requests.
After that, you can use the Azure Storage SDK for your language of choice to configure it.
For example, if you are using Node.js, you can use the following code snippet:

const storage = require('azure-storage');
const accountName = '<storage-account-name>';
const accountKey = '<storage-account-key>';

const blobService = storage.createBlobService(accountName, accountKey);

blobService.createContainerIfNotExists('mycontainer', { publicAccessLevel: 'blob' }, err => {
if (err) {
console.log("Error creating container:", err);
}
});

Once the container has been created, you will be able to upload and access your files from Azure Storage.

What do you know about the different types of objects available in Azure Storage?

Azure Storage is a cloud-based service that allows users to store data in the cloud.
It supports various types of objects, including blobs, files, tables, and queues.
Blobs are unstructured data, such as images, videos, audio files, documents, etc. Files are structured data, like text files. Tables use key-value pairs to store data, and queues store messages for distributed applications.
Azure Storage provides APIs and SDKs for access and management of objects. The .NET SDK, for example, provides methods for creating, listing, and deleting objects.
To create a blob, you first create an account and a storage container, then use the BlobClient object to create a blob with a given name:

//Create the BlobClient object
var blobClient = new BlobClient(NewStorageAccountCredentials(), containerName, blobName);

//Create the Blob
blobClient.Create(stream);

To list objects, you can use BlobContainerClient.ListBlobs:

//Create the BlobContainerClient object
 var blobContainerClient = new BlobContainerClient(NewStorageAccountCredentials(), containerName);

//List blobs
 await foreach (var blob in blobContainerClient.ListBlobs())
{
    Console.WriteLine(blob.Name);
}

Finally, you can use BlobClient.Delete to delete a blob:

//Create the BlobClient object
 var blobClient = new BlobClient(NewStorageAccountCredentials(), containerName, blobName);

//Delete the Blob
blobClient.Delete();

In conclusion, Azure Storage provides an easy and secure way to store your data in the cloud. It supports several types of objects, and its APIs and SDKs make it simple to interact with them.

How would you troubleshoot issues related to Azure Storage?

Troubleshooting issues related to Azure Storage can be done by following a few simple steps.
First, you should determine the root cause of the issue. This can be done by studying the logs and analyzing the data flow.
Once the root cause is identified, you should create a recovery plan. This could involve restoring from a backup or using a schema fix script.
After that, the code should be tested on a local environment to ensure the issue is resolved.
If necessary, a configuration change can be made to the hardware or software. Lastly, the system needs to be monitored to make sure the issue does not reappear.
To further assist with troubleshooting, here is a code snippet which can be used to list all containers in a blob storage account:

// Get the connection string
string connectionString = "[storage account connection string]";

// Create a CloudStorageAccount object
CloudStorageAccount storageAccount = CloudStorageAccount.Parse(connectionString);

// Create the blobclient
CloudBlobClient blobClient = storageAccount.CreateCloudBlobClient();

// Creates a list to store containers
List<IListBlobItem> containers = new List<IListBlobItem>();

// Iterate through each container in the storage account
foreach (var c in blobClient.ListContainers())
{
    // Add the containers to the list
    containers.Add(c);
}

What monitoring methods do you use to ensure high performance of stored data in Azure Storage?

Azure Storage provides comprehensive monitoring and logging capabilities to ensure optimal performance of stored data.
The built-in actionable insights allow for quick response time to any detected issues.
The following is a snippet of code demonstrating how to monitor storage performance:

// Configure the request options 
var requestOptions = {method: "GET", uri: "/monitoring/usage"}; 

// Initiate the request 
var response = await request(requestOptions); 

// Parse the response 
var performanceData = JSON.parse(response); 

// Log the performance data 
console.log(performanceData); 

Using these metrics, users can easily identify areas of concern, including large latency values or high throughputs.
In addition, Azure Storage also allows users to store multiple copies of the data, which helps to increase both reliability and availability.
Finally, automated alerts and notifications can be used to ensure that any potential problems are identified early and properly addressed. This helps to ensure optimal performance of stored data in Azure Storage.

What methods do you employ to ensure redundancy in Azure Storage?

Azure Storage offers several methods for ensuring redundancy in its services.
Redundancy helps improve the durability, availability and scalability of your data.
One way is to use the geo-redundant storage (GRS) feature, which allows data to be replicated across two different Azure regions. This feature ensures that your data will remain available even if one region experiences an outage or other problem.
Another way to ensure redundancy is through backup. Azure allows you to configure automated backup so that your data is stored in a safe location in case of an unexpected problem.
You can also use the read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS) feature to replicate data across regions. This feature provides failover capability by allowing you to access the same data from either region in the event of an outage.
Additionally, Azure Storage can be configured to support multiple disaster recovery options.
For example, you can configure Azure Site Recovery for replication, failover, and recovery of your data.
Below is an example code snippet of how you can use the GRS feature to ensure redundancy in Azure Storage:

// Setup GRS for a storage account
Azure.StorageAccounts.SetGeoRedundantBackup(accountName, "GeoRedundant");

// Enable RA-GRS for a storage account
Azure.StorageAccounts.SetReadAccessGeoRedundantBackup(accountName, "ReadAccessGeoRedundant");

How do you configure backups in Azure Storage?

Configuring backups in Azure Storage requires configuring an Azure Backup service to back up data from Azure Blob Storage.
The first step is to define an Azure Backup service using the Azure Portal.
Next, create a Recovery Services vault, which is the container in which all backup items are stored.
An Azure Backup service needs to be associated with the Recovery Service vault. Once the Recovery Service vault is setup, proceed with the backup configuration. Select the Azure Blob Storage Account, and create the backup policy.
The policy defines the frequency of backups, the retention policy and the backup schedule.
Finally, you need to run the backup job. This triggers the storage account to be backed up via the Azure Backup service.
To deploy the entire solution, use the following PowerShell script:

$resourceGroupName = ""
$recVaultName = ""
$storageAccountName = ""
$loc = ""

#Create the Resource Group
New-AzureRmResourceGroup -Name $resourceGroupName -Location $loc

#Create the Recovery Service Vault
New-AzureRmRecoveryServicesVault -Name $recVaultName -ResourceGroupName $resourceGroupName -location $loc

#Associate the Azure Backup service with the Recovery Vault
Set-AzureRmRecoveryServicesBackupProperties -Vault $recVaultName -BackupEnabled $true

#Create the Backup
$StorageAccount = Get-AzureRmStorageAccount -Name $storageAccountName -ResourceGroupName $resourceGroupName
Add-AzureRmRecoveryServicesBackupContainer -ContainerType "AzureStorage" -StorageAccount $StorageAccount -Vault $recVaultName

#Create a Backup Policy for the Backup
$policy = New-AzureRmRecoveryServicesBackupProtectionPolicy -Name 'MyBackupPolicy' -WorkloadType AzureStorage -RetentionDaily 2 -SchedulePolicy Daily -TimeZone 'UTC-05:00'
Add-AzureRmRecoveryServicesBackupProtectionPolicy -Policy $policy -Vault $recVaultName

#Configure the Backup
$BackupItem = Add-AzureRmRecoveryServicesBackupItem -StorageAccount $StorageAccount -Policy $policy -Vault $recVaultName
Register-AzureRmRecoveryServicesBackupItem -BackupItem $BackupItem

#Run the Backup Schedule
Start-AzureRmRecoveryServicesBackupJob -Item $BackupItem -Vault $recVaultName

How do you use Azure Storage tools such as Azure CLI, PowerShell, and REST API?

Azure Storage Tools such as Azure CLI, PowerShell, and REST API can be used together to manage your data in Microsoft Azure Storage.
The Azure CLI is a command-line tool that you can use to manage Azure subscriptions, create and manage Azure Storage accounts, manage blobs, queues, and files, manage permissions, etc.
PowerShell is an object-oriented scripting language based on the common scripting language of Windows that provides a powerful scripting environment for automation tasks.
You can use PowerShell to manage your storage accounts, blobs, queues, and files. And the REST API is a Representational State Transfer application programming interface that you can use to programmatically access the Azure Storage services.
Below is a code snippet of how to create a new storage account using Azure CLI:

az storage account create --name <storage account name> --location <Azure location> --resource-group <resource group name> --sku Standard_LRS

This code will create a storage account named <storage account name>, located in the specified <Azure location>, and use the Standard_LRS SKU for the account. 

The Azure Storage Tools can be used together to effectively manage your data in Microsoft Azure Storage.

How do you optimize performance in Azure Storage?

Optimizing performance in Azure Storage is an important part of ensuring your application runs smoothly.
To do this, you should take advantage of the service level agreement (SLA) provided by Azure Storage.
This SLA guarantees that a certain number of transactions per second are met for a particular storage account type.
Additionally, you can leverage the built-in features of Azure Storage such as caching, compression, sharding and parallel processing.
Finally, you can use advanced techniques such as query optimization, refactoring code and optimizing indexes to reduce resource usage and improve performance.
To implement these advanced techniques in code, you can use the following code snippet:

public void OptimizeQuery(string query)
{    
    //Replace '*' with all columns needed
    query = query.Replace("*", "column1, column2, column3");
 
    //Apply predicate push down
    query = query.Replace("WHERE", "WHERE predicate");
 
    //Add join conditions
    query += " INNER JOIN table WITH (nolock) ON condition";
 
    //Add grouping
    query += " GROUP BY column1, column2, column3";
}