Top 50 Azure DevOps Interview Questions and Answers

07 Jun 2024 - Shyam Mohan

1. What is Azure DevOps?

Azure DevOps is a suite of development tools provided by Microsoft for end-to-end DevOps including CI/CD, project management, version control, and application monitoring.

2. What services does Azure DevOps provide?

Azure DevOps offers services such as Azure Repos, Azure Pipelines, Azure Boards, Azure Artifacts, and Azure Test Plans.

3. What is Continuous Integration (CI)?

CI is a development practice where developers integrate code into a shared repository frequently, which is then automatically tested.

4. What is Continuous Deployment (CD)?

CD is an extension of CI that automatically deploys all code changes to a testing or production environment after the build stage.

5. Explain Azure Pipelines.

Azure Pipelines is a CI/CD service that supports building, testing, and deploying code using pipelines.

6. What are Azure Boards?

Azure Boards provide project management tools including work items, backlogs, and dashboards to track and plan work.

7. What is Azure Repos?

Azure Repos provide version control using Git or Team Foundation Version Control (TFVC).

8. How do you create a new pipeline in Azure DevOps?

Go to Pipelines, click on “New pipeline,” select the repository, choose the pipeline template, configure the pipeline settings, and save.

9. What is a YAML pipeline?

YAML pipelines use a YAML file to define the CI/CD pipeline as code, allowing for versioning and easier management.

10. What are agent pools in Azure Pipelines?

Agent pools are collections of agents that can be used to run jobs in a pipeline.

11. What is a self-hosted agent in Azure Pipelines?

A self-hosted agent is an agent that you set up and manage yourself to run jobs directly on your hardware.

12. What are stages, jobs, and steps in Azure Pipelines?

Stages are high-level divisions of the pipeline, jobs are collections of steps, and steps are individual tasks or scripts.

13. How do you use variables in Azure Pipelines?

Variables are used to store values that can be reused in pipelines and can be defined in the pipeline YAML file or set dynamically during the pipeline run.

14. What is an artifact in Azure Pipelines?

Artifacts are outputs of your pipeline that can be used in subsequent jobs or stages.

15. How do you implement approvals and gates in Azure Pipelines?

Approvals and gates are configured in release pipelines to ensure certain conditions are met before proceeding to the next stage.

###

16. What are some best practices for Azure DevOps?

Use version control for all production artifacts.

Implement CI/CD pipelines.

Automate testing and deployments.

Use branching strategies like GitFlow.

Monitor and optimize pipeline performance.

17. How can you secure your Azure DevOps environment?

Use Azure Active Directory for authentication.

Implement least privilege access.

Use branch policies and required reviewers.

Encrypt data at rest and in transit.

18. What is Azure Key Vault and how is it used in DevOps?

Azure Key Vault is a service for securely storing and accessing secrets, keys, and certificates. It is used in DevOps for managing secrets and ensuring secure access to sensitive data.

19. What are service connections in Azure DevOps?

Service connections are used to define and secure access to external services from within Azure Pipelines.

20. How do you manage dependencies in Azure DevOps?

Dependencies can be managed using Azure Artifacts to host and share packages, and by using package managers like NuGet, npm, Maven, or Python.

21. How would you set up a CI/CD pipeline for a .NET application?

Create a new pipeline in Azure DevOps.

Use the .NET build and test templates.

Define build, test, and deployment steps.

Set up release pipelines for deployment.

22. How do you handle infrastructure as code (IaC) in Azure DevOps?

Use tools like Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates, Terraform, or Ansible to define infrastructure. Integrate these tools in your CI/CD pipelines.

23. What is a release pipeline in Azure DevOps?

A release pipeline defines the process for deploying applications to different environments, including stages, tasks, and approvals.

24. How do you implement rollback strategies in Azure DevOps?

Implement rollback strategies by creating pipeline stages that can redeploy previous versions of the application or use blue-green deployments.

25. How do you integrate Azure DevOps with GitHub?

Use service connections to link Azure DevOps with GitHub repositories for source control and automate builds and deployments.

###

26. How do you troubleshoot pipeline failures in Azure DevOps?

Review the pipeline logs, check for common errors, use the Azure DevOps CLI for more detailed logs, and ensure dependencies and configurations are correct.

27. What steps would you take if a deployment fails?

• Check deployment logs for errors.

• Validate the deployment scripts and configurations.

• Rollback to the previous stable version.

• Investigate and resolve the root cause.

28. How do you handle secret management in Azure Pipelines?

Use Azure Key Vault to store secrets and integrate it with Azure Pipelines to securely fetch and use secrets during pipeline runs.

29. What is the role of a build agent in Azure Pipelines?

A build agent executes the build, test, and deployment tasks defined in the pipeline.

30. How do you implement automated testing in Azure Pipelines?

Integrate testing frameworks (e.g., NUnit, Selenium) into the pipeline and define test tasks in the pipeline YAML or classic editor.

###

31. What is the importance of DevOps culture in an organization?

DevOps culture promotes collaboration between development and operations teams, leading to faster delivery, improved quality, and continuous improvement.

32. How do you ensure continuous feedback in DevOps?

Implement monitoring and logging, use telemetry to gather data, set up automated alerts, and regularly review feedback to improve processes.

33. What is the role of version control in DevOps?

Version control systems (e.g., Git) track changes to code, facilitate collaboration, and ensure code integrity.

34. How do you manage code quality in Azure DevOps?

Use static code analysis tools, integrate unit and integration tests, conduct code reviews, and set up branch policies.

35. How does Azure DevOps support agile methodologies?

Azure Boards supports agile practices like Scrum and Kanban, providing tools for sprint planning, tracking work items, and visualizing workflows.

36. How do you integrate Azure DevOps with other tools?

Use service connections, REST APIs, or Azure DevOps extensions to integrate with other tools and services like Jenkins, Docker, and third-party applications.

37. What are Azure DevOps extensions?

Extensions are add-ons that provide additional functionality to Azure DevOps, available through the Azure DevOps Marketplace.

38. How do you customize dashboards in Azure DevOps?

Use the Azure DevOps dashboard editor to add, configure, and rearrange widgets that display project metrics and insights.

39. What are work item types in Azure Boards?

Work item types are entities such as epics, features, user stories, tasks, bugs, and issues used to track and manage work.

40. How do you implement branch policies in Azure Repos?

Set up branch policies to enforce code quality by requiring pull request reviews, successful builds, and passing tests before merging code.

###

41. What is Blue-Green Deployment in Azure DevOps?

Blue-Green Deployment is a strategy that reduces downtime and risk by running two identical production environments (Blue and Green) and switching traffic between them.

1. What is Canary Release in Azure DevOps?

Canary Release is a deployment strategy where a new version is gradually rolled out to a subset of users to ensure stability before a full rollout.

43. How do you use Azure Monitor with Azure DevOps?

Azure Monitor can be integrated with Azure DevOps to collect and analyze telemetry data, set up alerts, and visualize metrics for better monitoring and troubleshooting.

44. What is a multi-stage pipeline in Azure DevOps?

A multi-stage pipeline allows you to define multiple stages (e.g., build, test, deploy) in a single pipeline, facilitating complex CI/CD workflows.

45. How do you use environment variables in Azure Pipelines?

Environment variables are used to pass configuration settings to the pipeline and can be defined at the pipeline, stage, or job level.

46. What is Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and how is it implemented in Azure DevOps?

IaC is the practice of managing infrastructure through code. In Azure DevOps, it can be implemented using tools like ARM templates, Terraform, or Ansible integrated into CI/CD pipelines.

47. How do you manage pipeline secrets in Azure DevOps?

Use Azure Key Vault or pipeline secret variables to securely manage and use sensitive information in pipelines.

48. What is the role of Azure Artifacts in Azure DevOps?

Azure Artifacts is a package management service that hosts and shares packages such as NuGet, npm, and Maven, enabling dependency management in pipelines.

49. How do you implement feature flags in Azure DevOps?

Feature flags allow you to enable or disable features in your application without deploying new code. This can be implemented using libraries like LaunchDarkly or Azure App Configuration.

50. How do you configure and manage Azure DevOps projects?

Configure and manage projects by setting up repositories, pipelines, boards, and permissions. Use project settings to define policies, security, and integrations.

###

51. What is the difference between Azure DevOps Services and Azure DevOps Server?

Azure DevOps Services is a cloud-based offering hosted by Microsoft, while Azure DevOps Server is an on-premises solution that you manage and maintain.

52. How do you migrate from on-premises TFS to Azure DevOps Services?

Use the Azure DevOps Migration Tools to migrate projects, repositories, work items, and other data from Team Foundation Server (TFS) to Azure DevOps Services.

53. How do you implement test automation in Azure DevOps?

Integrate testing frameworks like Selenium, NUnit, or JUnit into your CI/CD pipelines. Define test tasks in the pipeline YAML file to automate testing.

54. What are branch policies and how do you enforce them in Azure DevOps?

Branch policies ensure code quality and compliance by requiring pull request reviews, successful builds, and passing tests before merging. Configure these policies in the Azure Repos settings.

55. How do you use conditional insertion of tasks in Azure Pipelines?

Use conditions in your pipeline YAML file to define when specific tasks or jobs should run based on variables or expressions.

56. What are pipeline templates in Azure DevOps and how do you use them?

Pipeline templates are reusable pipeline definitions that can be referenced in multiple pipelines to ensure consistency and reduce duplication. Define templates in separate YAML files and reference them using template keywords.

57. What is a deployment group in Azure DevOps?

Deployment groups represent a set of target machines for deployment. They can be used to deploy applications to a group of servers in a controlled manner.

58. How do you use Azure DevOps REST API?

The Azure DevOps REST API allows you to interact programmatically with Azure DevOps services. Use it to automate tasks like creating work items, triggering builds, or retrieving pipeline statuses.

59. What are gates in release pipelines?

Gates are automated checks that control the progression of a release to the next stage. They can include conditions like service health checks, manual approvals, or external process checks.

60. How do you use Azure CLI in Azure Pipelines?

Integrate Azure CLI tasks into your pipelines to interact with Azure resources. Define CLI commands in pipeline scripts to perform actions like deploying resources or managing configurations.

61. What are the different types of triggers in Azure Pipelines?

There are multiple triggers including continuous integration (CI) triggers, scheduled triggers, and pull request (PR) triggers that initiate pipeline runs based on code changes or schedules.

62. How do you handle versioning in Azure DevOps?

Implement versioning strategies using Git tags, versioning scripts in pipelines, or tools like GitVersion to manage semantic versioning.

63. What is the role of Azure DevOps in microservices architecture?

Azure DevOps supports microservices by enabling independent development, testing, and deployment of services. Use Azure Repos for code management, Pipelines for CI/CD, and Kubernetes for orchestration.

64. How do you configure multi-repo pipelines in Azure DevOps?

Multi-repo pipelines allow you to use multiple repositories within a single pipeline. Define repository resources in the pipeline YAML file and reference them in your jobs and steps.

65. What is YAML schema validation in Azure Pipelines?

YAML schema validation ensures that your pipeline YAML file adheres to the correct syntax and structure, preventing errors during pipeline execution.

66. How do you set up multi-stage builds in Azure Pipelines?

Define multiple stages in your pipeline YAML file, each with its own jobs and tasks. Use dependsOn to specify dependencies between stages.

67. What is Azure DevTest Labs and how does it integrate with Azure DevOps?

Azure DevTest Labs provides environments for testing and development. Integrate with Azure DevOps to automate the provisioning and management of lab environments as part of your CI/CD pipelines.

68. How do you manage database changes in Azure DevOps?

Use tools like Azure SQL Database Projects, Entity Framework, or Flyway to manage database schema changes. Integrate these tools into your CI/CD pipelines to automate database deployments.

69. What are deployment slots in Azure App Service and how are they used in Azure DevOps?

Deployment slots are separate environments within an Azure App Service that allow you to deploy and test changes before swapping to production. Use slots in your pipelines to deploy, test, and swap environments.

70. How do you use Azure Service Bus with Azure DevOps?

Integrate Azure Service Bus in your applications to handle messaging and communication between microservices. Use Azure Pipelines to deploy and configure Service Bus components.

71. What is the role of containerization in Azure DevOps?

Containerization encapsulates applications and their dependencies into containers, ensuring consistency across environments. Use Azure Pipelines to build, test, and deploy containers.

72. How do you implement automated rollback in Azure Pipelines?

Define rollback tasks or scripts in your pipeline to automatically revert to a previous version if a deployment fails. Use deployment strategies like blue-green or canary releases to facilitate rollbacks.

73. What is Azure Policy and how do you use it with Azure DevOps?

Azure Policy enforces organizational standards and compliance. Integrate Azure Policy with Azure DevOps to ensure resources meet compliance requirements during deployment.

74. How do you integrate security scanning in Azure Pipelines?

Use tools like WhiteSource, SonarQube, or Azure Security Center to scan for vulnerabilities in your code, dependencies, and container images. Integrate these tools into your CI/CD pipelines.

75. What is the role of telemetry in Azure DevOps?

Telemetry collects and analyzes data from applications to monitor performance, detect issues, and improve user experience. Use Azure Monitor, Application Insights, or other monitoring tools.

76. How do you implement disaster recovery in Azure DevOps?

Implement disaster recovery by automating backup and restore processes, using geo-redundant storage, and defining recovery plans in your CI/CD pipelines.

77. What is the difference between build pipelines and release pipelines in Azure DevOps?

Build pipelines focus on compiling and testing code, while release pipelines handle the deployment of code to various environments.

78. How do you handle secrets and credentials in Azure DevOps?

Store secrets and credentials in Azure Key Vault or pipeline variables and access them securely during pipeline execution.

79. How do you measure DevOps performance in Azure DevOps?

Measure performance using metrics like deployment frequency, lead time for changes, change failure rate, and mean time to recovery (MTTR). Use dashboards and reports to track these metrics.

80. What is the role of automation in Azure DevOps?

Automation in Azure DevOps enhances efficiency, consistency, and reliability by automating build, test, and deployment processes.

81. How do you configure GitHub Actions with Azure DevOps?

Use GitHub Actions to automate workflows in GitHub repositories and integrate them with Azure DevOps for CI/CD pipelines and deployment.

82. What is Azure DevOps CLI and how do you use it?

The Azure DevOps CLI is a command-line interface to manage Azure DevOps resources. Use it to create and manage projects, pipelines, work items, and more.

83. How do you implement CI/CD for mobile applications in Azure DevOps?

Use Azure Pipelines to build and test mobile applications. Integrate with tools like App Center for distribution and testing on real devices.

84. How do you set up notifications in Azure DevOps?

Configure notifications to alert team members about pipeline status, work item changes, and other events. Customize notification settings in project or user preferences.

85. What are agentless jobs in Azure Pipelines?

Agentless jobs run tasks that do not require a build agent, such as invoking REST APIs, running scripts, or triggering external processes.

86. How do you use Azure Blueprints with Azure DevOps?

Azure Blueprints define repeatable sets of Azure resources to ensure compliance and governance. Integrate Blueprints in your pipelines to deploy compliant environments.

87. How do you implement multi-cloud deployments in Azure DevOps?

Use Azure Pipelines to deploy applications across multiple cloud providers (e.g., Azure, AWS, GCP) by configuring tasks and service connections for each provider.

88. What is the role of container orchestration in Azure DevOps?

Container orchestration manages the deployment, scaling, and operations of containerized applications. Use Kubernetes and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) in your CI/CD pipelines.

89. How do you use Terraform with Azure DevOps?

Use Terraform tasks in Azure Pipelines to define and deploy infrastructure as code. Store Terraform state files securely and automate infrastructure changes.

90. What is Azure DevOps Wiki and how is it used?

Azure DevOps Wiki provides a space for documentation, collaboration, and sharing knowledge within the project. Create and manage wiki pages to document processes and best practices.