Does your cloud computing architecture plan for spikes in network traffic, and if so, how?

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Answer Example

Every cloud engineer knows that there are peaks and troughs of network activity. Many engineers will architect systems to accommodate the peaks or spikes in network traffic. While this ensures that the resources will be available to every user who needs them, it also results in higher infrastructure and maintenance costs for the organization. A better strategy is to architect an IT environment to accommodate both average traffic loads as well as occasional and infrequent peak traffic. Cloud computing contributes to accommodating the traffic by providing the availability of standby systems. Your answer to the Amazon interviewer's question should demonstrate your knowledge of this, as well as the strategies you employ to accommodate spikes in traffic while maintaining a reasonable IT operating budget.

"Every competent cloud engineer understands that network traffic is not constant. Peaks occur due to increased user activity which may be seasonal, a reaction to certain events, or a result of known issues such as end-of-year activities. Planning for both the known and unknown spikes in network traffic requires architecting a system that can handle higher than normal activity. This could involve having access to standby resources, using strategies such as IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, and other provisions which can be brought online as network activity increases or spikes. I employ all of these strategies to ensure that the IT resources are available and that the operating budget is maintained at targeted levels."

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How to Answer: Does your cloud computing architecture plan for spikes in network traffic, and if so, how?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Amazon job interview.

5. Does your cloud computing architecture plan for spikes in network traffic, and if so, how?

How to Answer

Every cloud engineer knows that there are peaks and troughs of network activity. Many engineers will architect systems to accommodate the peaks or spikes in network traffic. While this ensures that the resources will be available to every user who needs them, it also results in higher infrastructure and maintenance costs for the organization. A better strategy is to architect an IT environment to accommodate both average traffic loads as well as occasional and infrequent peak traffic. Cloud computing contributes to accommodating the traffic by providing the availability of standby systems. Your answer to the Amazon interviewer's question should demonstrate your knowledge of this, as well as the strategies you employ to accommodate spikes in traffic while maintaining a reasonable IT operating budget.

Answer Example

"Every competent cloud engineer understands that network traffic is not constant. Peaks occur due to increased user activity which may be seasonal, a reaction to certain events, or a result of known issues such as end-of-year activities. Planning for both the known and unknown spikes in network traffic requires architecting a system that can handle higher than normal activity. This could involve having access to standby resources, using strategies such as IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, and other provisions which can be brought online as network activity increases or spikes. I employ all of these strategies to ensure that the IT resources are available and that the operating budget is maintained at targeted levels."

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