"Ever walked into an AWS interview and felt like you were speaking a different language? Let’s fix that."

Whether you’re preparing for your first cloud job or trying to land that next-level DevOps role, AWS interviews can feel intimidating. But they don’t have to be.

In this series, I’ll break down the most common AWS interview questions with simple, beginner-friendly answers, using real-world analogies and explanations that stick.

🎯 Who's This For?

Self-taught devs or bootcamp grads
Career switchers aiming for cloud roles
Anyone who wants AWS clarity without the jargon

Let’s dive into Round 1 of the AWS Interview Series. 💥

☁️ Q1: What is AWS?

Answer:
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is like a giant online toolbox for developers. Instead of buying servers, storage, and networking hardware, you rent them from AWS on demand.

Analogy: Think of AWS like Netflix for IT infrastructure. You don’t own the DVDs (hardware), but you can stream (use) anything you need, anytime.

🚀 Q2: What is EC2?

Answer:
EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) lets you run virtual machines (called instances) in the cloud. You can install OS, software, and run code like it's a normal computer.

Analogy: Imagine EC2 as renting a computer in the cloud that you can turn on, off, and pay for only when you use it.

💾 Q3: Difference between S3, EBS, and EFS?

Answer:

S3: Store files (images, videos, backups) like Google Drive
EBS: Hard drive for your EC2 instance
EFS: Shared folder across multiple EC2s (like a network drive)

Analogy:

S3 = Locker
EBS = Laptop's SSD
EFS = Shared office folder

🔐 Q4: What is IAM?

Answer:
IAM (Identity and Access Management) is AWS's way of managing "who can do what" in your AWS account.

Analogy: Think of it like door keys and roles in an office building — some people can enter the lobby, some can access the server room.

🌍 Q5: What is a VPC?

Answer:
A Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) is your private network inside AWS. You control IP addresses, subnets, gateways, and security settings.

Analogy: Like setting up a secure Wi-Fi network for your cloud servers.

📦 Q6: What is a Load Balancer?

Answer:
It distributes incoming traffic across multiple servers so no single server gets overwhelmed.

Analogy: Like a restaurant host assigning customers to different tables to avoid crowding.

📜 Q7: What are IAM Policies?

Answer:
Policies are JSON documents that define permissions. They control what actions a user or role can perform.

Example:

{
  "Effect": "Allow",
  "Action": "s3:PutObject",
  "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*"
}

This lets the user upload files to a specific S3 bucket.

🛠️ Q8: Difference between CloudFormation and Terraform?

Answer:

CloudFormation is AWS’s built-in Infrastructure-as-Code tool
Terraform is open-source and supports multiple clouds

Analogy: CloudFormation is like using an Apple-only charger. Terraform is the universal charger that works with everything.

📊 Q9: What is CloudWatch vs CloudTrail?

CloudWatch: Monitor performance and set alarms
CloudTrail: Audit who did what and when (like activity logs)

Analogy:

CloudWatch = Health tracker for your AWS resources
CloudTrail = Security camera footage of user actions

🧠 Q10: What's the Shared Responsibility Model?

Answer:
AWS secures the cloud (hardware, infra), while you secure what you put in it (apps, data, configs).

Example: AWS locks the data center. You have to set the correct S3 bucket permissions.

💬 Final Thoughts + CTA

These questions aren’t just for interviews — they’re the core building blocks of AWS.

✅ Save this blog as a reference.
✅ Practice explaining each concept in your own words.
✅ Want more rounds (incl. scenario-based Qs)? Drop a comment!

👉 Which question was most helpful to you?
❤️ Like, 💬 Comment, and 🔁 Share with your study group or dev buddy.

Let’s ace AWS interviews together!

AWS Interview Series: Top Questions with Simple Answers ✅