Top Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Interview Questions and Answers
Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is a leading cloud provider that offers a range of services for infrastructure, data analytics, machine learning, and more. If you're preparing for a GCP-related role, such as cloud engineer, architect, or data engineer, you need to be ready to answer a mix of theoretical and practical questions.
Here’s a curated list of common GCP interview questions and answers to help you prepare confidently.
General GCP Questions
- What is Google Cloud Platform (GCP)?
Answer:
GCP is a suite of cloud computing services provided by Google. It offers infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS), and software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions for building, deploying, and managing applications. Key features include scalability, reliability, and integration with Google’s AI and machine learning tools.
- What are the key components of GCP?
Answer:
- Compute: Compute Engine, App Engine, Kubernetes Engine.
- Storage: Cloud Storage, Persistent Disk, Filestore.
- Big Data: BigQuery, Dataflow, Dataproc.
- Machine Learning: AI Platform, BigQuery ML, AutoML.
- Networking: VPC, Cloud CDN, Cloud Load Balancing.
- What differentiates GCP from AWS and Azure?
Answer:
- Strong focus on data analytics and machine learning with tools like BigQuery and AI Platform.
- Advanced networking infrastructure leveraging Google’s global network.
- Cost-effectiveness with sustained use discounts and custom VM configurations.
Compute Questions
- What is Compute Engine, and how is it used?
Answer:
Compute Engine is GCP’s IaaS offering that provides virtual machines (VMs). It is used for running scalable applications, hosting websites, or deploying custom solutions.
- What is the difference between App Engine and Compute Engine?
Answer:
- App Engine: A PaaS for deploying and managing applications without managing the underlying infrastructure.
- Compute Engine: An IaaS for running virtual machines with full control over the OS and environment.
- How do you optimize the cost of VMs in Compute Engine?
Answer:
- Use preemptible VMs for non-critical workloads.
- Take advantage of sustained use discounts.
- Right-size VMs based on actual usage.
- Use custom machine types to tailor resources.
Storage and Database Questions
- What are the storage options available in GCP?
Answer:
- Cloud Storage: Object storage for unstructured data.
- Persistent Disk: Block storage for VMs.
- Filestore: Managed file storage for applications requiring shared file systems.
- BigQuery: Serverless data warehouse for analytics.
- Cloud SQL/Cloud Spanner: Managed relational databases.
- What is the difference between Cloud SQL and BigQuery?
Answer:
- Cloud SQL: A fully managed relational database for OLTP use cases.
- BigQuery: A serverless data warehouse designed for OLAP use cases and large-scale analytics.
- How do you ensure data security in Cloud Storage?
Answer:
- Use IAM roles to control access.
- Enable bucket-level and object-level permissions.
- Encrypt data at rest and in transit.
- Use VPC Service Controls for restricting access.
Networking Questions
- What is a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) in GCP?
Answer:
A VPC is a logically isolated network within GCP. It allows you to define IP ranges, subnets, and firewall rules to securely connect resources.
- What is the difference between a static and an ephemeral external IP in GCP?
Answer:
- Static IP: Permanently reserved IP that doesn't change across reboots.
- Ephemeral IP: Temporary IP assigned to a resource that changes if the resource is stopped or restarted.
- How do you configure load balancing in GCP?
Answer:
Use Cloud Load Balancing, which supports HTTP(S), TCP/UDP, and SSL proxy load balancing. Configure it through the GCP Console or CLI by specifying backend services and health checks.
Data Analytics and Machine Learning Questions
- What is BigQuery, and what are its key features?
Answer:
BigQuery is GCP’s serverless data warehouse for large-scale analytics. Key features include:
- SQL-based querying.
- Integration with Google Sheets and BI tools.
- Support for partitioned and clustered tables.
- Machine learning capabilities through BigQuery ML.
- What is the role of Pub/Sub in data pipelines?
Answer:
Pub/Sub is a messaging service that enables asynchronous communication between services. It is commonly used for event-driven architectures and streaming data pipelines.
- How do you use BigQuery ML?
Answer:
Use SQL queries to build, train, and deploy machine learning models directly within BigQuery without exporting data to external tools.
IAM and Security Questions
- What is IAM in GCP?
Answer:
Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a system for managing permissions. It enables fine-grained control over who can access specific GCP resources and what actions they can perform.
- What are service accounts in GCP?
Answer:
Service accounts are special accounts used by applications or services to authenticate and access GCP resources securely.
- How do you secure a GCP environment?
Answer:
- Use IAM roles and policies.
- Enable VPC Service Controls.
- Use encryption (default in GCP).
- Enable Cloud Armor for protection against DDoS attacks.
Scenario-Based Questions
- How would you design a data pipeline on GCP?
Answer:
- Use Pub/Sub for real-time data ingestion.
- Process the data using Dataflow.
- Store the data in BigQuery for analytics.
- Visualize results using Data Studio.
- How would you migrate an on-premises application to GCP?
Answer:
- Assess the application’s architecture and dependencies.
- Select appropriate GCP services (e.g., Compute Engine, Kubernetes Engine).
- Use tools like Migrate for Compute Engine for seamless migration.
- Test the application and optimize for cloud performance.
Final Tips for GCP Interviews
- Understand GCP’s Core Services: Be familiar with key services and their use cases.
- Practice Hands-On: Use tools like Qwiklabs to gain real-world experience.
- Be Ready for Scenario Questions: Employers often assess your problem-solving skills with real-world challenges.
- Stay Updated: GCP evolves rapidly, so know the latest features and updates.
With this preparation, you’ll be ready to tackle GCP interviews with confidence.