10 Azure Web App Service Interview Questions and Answers

Azure Web App Service is a robust platform-as-a-service (PaaS) offering from Microsoft Azure, designed to host web applications, RESTful APIs, and mobile backends. It supports a variety of programming languages and frameworks, including .NET, Java, Node.js, and Python, making it a versatile choice for developers. With built-in auto-scaling, load balancing, and high availability, Azure Web App Service simplifies the deployment and management of web applications, allowing developers to focus on writing code rather than managing infrastructure.

This article provides a curated selection of interview questions tailored to Azure Web App Service. By reviewing these questions and their detailed answers, you will gain a deeper understanding of the platform’s features and best practices, enhancing your readiness for technical interviews and boosting your confidence in discussing Azure Web App Service.

Azure Web App Service Interview Questions and Answers

1. Describe the steps to create a new Web App in the Azure portal.

To create a new Web App in the Azure portal, follow these steps:

• Log in to the Azure portal.
• Select “Create a resource” from the menu.
• Choose “Web App” under “Compute.”
• Enter details like App name, Subscription, Resource Group, and Hosting Plan.
• Set additional options like Runtime stack, OS, and Region.
• Review and click “Create” to deploy.

2. Explain how you would deploy a web application using Azure DevOps.

To deploy a web application using Azure DevOps, follow these steps:

• Create a Project: Start by creating a new project in Azure DevOps.
• Set Up a Repository: Add your source code to a repository within the project.
• Configure Build Pipeline: Automate building your application using a build pipeline.
• Create a Release Pipeline: Automate deployment to Azure Web App Service using a release pipeline.
• Define Deployment Stages: Set stages for different environments like development and production.
• Configure Azure Web App Service: Add tasks to deploy build artifacts to the Web App Service.
• Trigger Pipelines: Set up triggers for automatic pipeline starts based on events like code commits.
• Monitor and Manage Deployments: Use Azure DevOps and Portal for monitoring and managing deployments.

3. How do you configure custom domains and SSL certificates for a web app?

To configure custom domains and SSL certificates for an Azure Web App Service, follow these steps:

1. Custom Domain Configuration:

• Navigate to your web app in the Azure portal.
• Select “Custom domains” and click “Add custom domain.”
• Verify domain ownership by adding a CNAME or TXT record to your DNS settings.

2. SSL Certificate Configuration:

• Obtain an SSL certificate from a trusted CA or use Azure’s Managed Certificate.
• Upload your SSL certificate in “TLS/SSL settings” and bind it to your custom domain.

4. Describe the process of setting up continuous deployment from GitHub to an Azure Web App.

To set up continuous deployment from GitHub to an Azure Web App, follow these steps:

1. Create an Azure Web App: First, create a new Web App in the Azure portal.

2. Connect to GitHub: In the Azure portal, select “Deployment Center” and choose GitHub.

3. Authorize Azure to Access GitHub: Log into GitHub and grant permissions.

4. Select Repository and Branch: Choose the repository and branch for deployment.

5. Configure Build Settings: Select Azure Pipelines or GitHub Actions for the build process.

6. Set Up Deployment: Azure will create webhooks in your GitHub repository for automatic deployments.

7. Monitor Deployment: Changes pushed to the branch will trigger deployments, which can be monitored in the Azure portal.

5. Explain how to use Application Insights to monitor the performance of a web app.

Application Insights is a service for monitoring web applications. To use it for a web app in Azure, follow these steps:

• Enable Application Insights: In the Azure Portal, enable it for your web app and link it to an Application Insights resource.
• Instrumentation: Add the Application Insights SDK to your application.
• Configuration: Use your Instrumentation Key to send telemetry data.
• Telemetry Collection: Application Insights will collect data like request rates and response times.
• Monitoring and Analysis: Use the portal to monitor data, create dashboards, and set alerts.
• Performance Optimization: Use insights to identify bottlenecks and optimize performance.

6. How would you secure sensitive data in your web app configuration settings?

To secure sensitive data in your Azure Web App configuration settings, consider these methods:

• Azure Key Vault: Store sensitive data like API keys securely in Azure Key Vault.
• Application Settings: Use encrypted application settings for storing sensitive data.
• Managed Identities: Use managed identities for Azure resources to avoid managing credentials.
• Environment Variables: Store sensitive data in environment variables set in the Azure portal.
• Access Control: Implement role-based access control to restrict data access.

7. Explain how to integrate an Azure Web App with Azure SQL Database.

To integrate an Azure Web App with an Azure SQL Database, follow these steps:

1. Create the Azure SQL Database: Configure the database settings in the Azure portal.
2. Create the Azure Web App: Set up the web app with necessary settings.
3. Configure the Connection String: Add a connection string in the Web App settings.
4. Set Up Firewall Rules: Allow connections from the Web App to the SQL Database.
5. Enable Managed Identity (Optional): Use Managed Identity for secure authentication.
6. Update Application Code: Use the configured connection string in your application code.

8. Describe a scenario where you would use Azure Traffic Manager with your web app and explain how to set it up.

Azure Traffic Manager is a DNS-based load balancer for distributing traffic across global Azure regions. Use it when you have a globally distributed user base to ensure users are directed to the nearest endpoint. This improves performance and provides redundancy.

To set up Azure Traffic Manager with your web app, follow these steps:

• Create a Traffic Manager profile in the Azure portal.
• Choose a routing method like Priority, Weighted, or Performance.
• Add your web app endpoints to the profile.
• Configure monitoring settings for endpoint health checks.
• Update DNS records to point to the Traffic Manager profile.

9. What are the best practices for scaling and performance management of an Azure Web App?

For scaling and performance management of an Azure Web App, follow these best practices:

• Auto-Scaling: Use auto-scaling to adjust instances based on demand.
• Load Balancing: Distribute traffic across multiple instances with load balancing.
• Caching: Use Azure Cache for Redis to store frequently accessed data.
• CDN Integration: Cache static content closer to users with Azure CDN.
• Monitoring and Diagnostics: Enable Application Insights for real-time performance tracking.
• Database Optimization: Optimize your database with indexing and query optimization.
• Asynchronous Processing: Offload tasks to background processes using Azure Functions.
• Resource Management: Regularly review and adjust the pricing tier of your Web App.
• Security Best Practices: Implement SSL/TLS encryption and secure coding practices.

10. What are some security best practices for managing an Azure Web App?

When managing an Azure Web App, follow these security best practices:

• Use HTTPS: Encrypt communications by enabling HTTPS.
• Enable Authentication and Authorization: Use identity providers for user authentication.
• Implement Network Security: Use NSGs and Azure Firewall to restrict access.
• Regularly Update and Patch: Keep your app and dependencies updated.
• Use Managed Identities: Securely access Azure services without managing credentials.
• Monitor and Log Activity: Enable logging and monitoring for access tracking.
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF): Use WAF to protect against web vulnerabilities.
• Secure Configuration: Grant only necessary permissions and use Azure Policy.