Akamai Interview Preparation Guide [2025]

Core Akamai Concepts

1. What is Akamai’s primary function in content delivery?

Akamai’s global CDN ensures low-latency content delivery using over 240,000 Edge servers across 130 countries. It caches static and dynamic content, optimizes routing, and integrates with CI/CD pipelines for automated updates. Real-time analytics monitor performance, aligning with DevSecOps principles to ensure scalability, security, and reliability for global users. Learn incident management for robust operations.

2. How does Akamai’s Edge platform manage traffic spikes?

Akamai’s Edge platform handles traffic spikes by leveraging auto-scaling servers, intelligent Anycast routing, and edge caching to distribute load efficiently. Real-time logs monitor traffic patterns, while CI/CD pipelines automate configuration updates. This aligns with DevSecOps for secure, scalable performance, ensuring minimal latency and high availability during demand surges.

3. When is Akamai’s ION suitable for web applications?

Akamai’s ION optimizes static and dynamic content for high-traffic web apps, ideal for e-commerce but not live streaming, where Media Services excel. It uses edge caching and route optimization. Logs track performance, CI/CD automates updates, and DevSecOps ensures reliable, secure delivery for enhanced user experiences.

4. Where are Akamai’s Edge servers located globally?

• Over 240,000 servers across 130 countries, strategically placed near ISPs.
• Peering points optimize routing for low latency.
• Logs capture deployment metrics for real-time monitoring.
• CI/CD pipelines automate edge configuration updates.
• DevSecOps ensures secure, scalable deployments.
• Global coverage supports high availability.
• Reduces latency for end users.

5. Who configures Akamai’s security policies?

Security engineers configure Kona Site Defender rules to protect against threats, while SREs monitor real-time logs for anomalies. DevOps teams automate updates via CI/CD pipelines, ensuring rapid response to vulnerabilities. This collaborative approach aligns with DevSecOps principles, maintaining secure, scalable configurations and robust auditing for production environments.

6. Which Akamai services enhance cloud security?

• Kona Site Defender provides WAF protection against application-layer attacks.
• Prolexic mitigates DDoS attacks with scrubbing centers.
• Bot Manager detects and blocks malicious bots using ML.
• Logs track security events for auditing.
• Integrates with Sysdig for monitoring.
• DevSecOps ensures scalable, secure cloud apps.
• Protects real-time operations effectively.

7. How does Akamai mitigate DDoS attacks?

Akamai mitigates DDoS attacks using Prolexic scrubbing centers to filter malicious traffic, rate limiting to control request floods, and behavioral analysis to detect anomalies. Real-time logs track attack patterns, while CI/CD pipelines update rules dynamically. This DevSecOps-aligned approach ensures resilient, scalable defense, maintaining app availability. Explore PagerDuty for incident response.

8. What is Akamai’s approach to Edge computing?

• EdgeWorkers enable serverless JavaScript execution at the edge.
• Optimizes dynamic content for low-latency delivery.
• Logs capture execution metrics for performance monitoring.
• CI/CD pipelines automate code deployments.
• DevSecOps ensures secure, scalable execution.
• Reduces latency for real-time apps.
• Supports efficient DevOps workflows.

CDN and Performance Questions

9. How do you optimize Akamai CDN for video streaming?

To optimize video streaming, configure Akamai’s Adaptive Media Delivery for dynamic bitrate switching and edge caching. Monitor performance via Control Center, log latency metrics, and automate rule updates with CI/CD pipelines. This DevSecOps-aligned approach ensures low-latency, scalable streaming, delivering seamless user experiences even during high traffic.

10. Why do cache misses occur in Akamai CDN?

Cache misses occur due to short TTLs, misconfigured property rules, or uncacheable content. Validate headers in Control Center, log miss events for analysis, and simulate traffic to test caching. CI/CD automates header updates, aligning with DevSecOps to optimize cache hit ratios and improve content delivery performance.

11. What is Akamai’s Dynamic Site Accelerator?

Dynamic Site Accelerator enhances dynamic content delivery through route optimization and TCP enhancements. It reduces latency by intelligently routing requests to optimal edge servers. Logs track performance metrics, while CI/CD automates rule updates. This DevSecOps-aligned solution ensures low-latency, reliable delivery for dynamic web applications in high-traffic scenarios.

12. How do you purge Akamai’s CDN cache?

• Use Akamai API to invalidate cache by URL or tags.
• Log purge events for audit trails.
• Automate purges via CI/CD pipelines for efficiency.
• Test invalidation with simulated content updates.
• Align with DevSecOps for secure operations.
• Ensure fresh content delivery instantly.
• Monitor purge completion in Control Center.

13. Where do you monitor Akamai CDN performance?

Monitor CDN performance in Akamai Control Center, using Prometheus for real-time metrics and Grafana for visualization. Logs capture cache hits and latency data, while CI/CD validates monitoring configs. This DevSecOps-aligned setup ensures observable operations, enabling rapid identification and resolution of performance issues in production environments.

14. Who optimizes Akamai CDN rules?

DevOps engineers optimize CDN rules for performance, SREs monitor metrics like latency and cache hits, and security teams ensure compliance. Logs track configuration changes, while CI/CD pipelines automate updates and testing. This collaborative DevSecOps approach ensures efficient, secure, and scalable CDN management for optimal content delivery.

15. Which settings reduce latency in Akamai CDN?

• Enable Dynamic Site Accelerator for route optimization.
• Set long TTLs for cacheable content.
• Use Anycast routing for traffic efficiency.
• Log latency metrics for real-time analysis.
• CI/CD validates rule updates.
• Align with Spacelift CI/CD for automation.
• Ensure low-latency global delivery.

Discover Spacelift automation for CDN optimization.

DNS Management Questions

16. How do you configure Akamai’s Edge DNS for fast resolution?

Configure Edge DNS with Anycast routing for proximity-based resolution and DNSSEC for security. Log query performance, automate zone updates via CI/CD, and test with dig for speed. This DevSecOps-aligned approach ensures reliable, low-latency DNS resolution, supporting high-availability applications with secure and scalable configurations.

17. How do you set up DNS failover for critical applications?

• Create failover policies with health checks in Control Center.
• Assign backup origins for redundancy.
• Log failover events for real-time analysis.
• CI/CD automates DNS config testing.
• Test failover with API-based simulations.
• Align with DevSecOps for reliability.
• Ensure uninterrupted app availability.

18. Why does DNS resolution fail in Akamai?

DNS resolution fails due to misconfigured records, propagation delays, or incorrect TTLs. Validate records using dig, log errors for analysis, and test zone configs via API. CI/CD automates updates to prevent issues, aligning with DevSecOps to ensure reliable, secure DNS resolution for critical applications in production.

19. Where do you manage Akamai DNS records?

Manage DNS records in Akamai Control Center or via API for automation. Log all changes for auditing, validate updates with CI/CD pipelines, and test configurations for accuracy. This DevSecOps-aligned approach ensures secure, scalable DNS management, enabling rapid updates and reliable resolution for global applications.

20. Who handles DNS updates in Akamai?

• Network engineers update zones via Control Center.
• DevOps automate updates using API integrations.
• Security teams ensure compliance with DNSSEC.
• Logs track changes for audit trails.
• CI/CD validates updates for accuracy.
• DevSecOps ensures secure, scalable updates.
• Resolves issues with minimal downtime.

21. Which DNS records are critical for Akamai?

• A/AAAA records for IP resolution.
• CNAME for domain aliasing to edge servers.
• MX for mail server routing.
• TXT for SPF/DKIM authentication.
• Log changes for real-time analysis.
• Align with Sysdig monitoring.
• Ensure secure, reliable DNS configs.

22. How do you troubleshoot DNS propagation issues?

Troubleshoot DNS propagation by validating records with dig, checking TTL settings, and logging delays. Use Edge DNS for faster resolution, automate updates via CI/CD, and test with API simulations. This DevSecOps-aligned approach ensures rapid resolution, minimizing downtime and maintaining reliable DNS performance. Explore Sysdig for monitoring.

DDoS Mitigation Questions

23. How does Akamai handle DDoS attacks?

Akamai mitigates DDoS attacks using Prolexic scrubbing centers to filter malicious traffic, rate limiting to throttle requests, and behavioral analysis to detect anomalies. Logs capture attack patterns, while CI/CD automates rule updates. This DevSecOps-aligned strategy ensures resilient, scalable protection, maintaining app availability during attacks.

24. How do you configure rate limiting for DDoS mitigation?

• Set request thresholds in Akamai Control Center.
• Define per-IP rate limits to block floods.
• Log rate limit events for real-time analysis.
• CI/CD automates rule testing and updates.
• Test with simulated traffic loads.
• Align with DevSecOps for secure mitigation.
• Block volumetric DDoS attacks effectively.

25. Why is Prolexic essential for DDoS mitigation?

Prolexic provides dedicated scrubbing centers to filter malicious traffic in real-time, ensuring app availability during DDoS attacks. It uses advanced analytics to detect threats. Logs track attack patterns, and CI/CD automates rule updates. This DevSecOps-aligned solution delivers robust, scalable protection for critical applications under attack.

26. What happens during a DDoS attack on Akamai?

During a DDoS attack, Akamai diverts traffic to Prolexic scrubbing centers, applies WAF rules, and enforces rate limiting. Logs analyze attack patterns, while CI/CD updates defenses dynamically. This DevSecOps-aligned approach ensures rapid mitigation, minimizing downtime and maintaining application availability under high-volume malicious traffic.

27. How do you monitor DDoS attacks in Akamai?

• Use Akamai analytics for real-time attack insights.
• Integrate Prometheus for metric collection.
• Log attack events for debugging and auditing.
• CI/CD configures automated alerts.
• Visualize metrics with Grafana dashboards.
• Align with DevSecOps for proactive monitoring.
• Detect and respond to attacks swiftly.

28. Where do you configure SOCC for DDoS protection?

Configure SOCC in Akamai Control Center for real-time threat monitoring and DDoS mitigation. Logs track traffic patterns, while CI/CD automates configuration updates and testing. This DevSecOps-aligned setup ensures secure, scalable protection, enabling rapid detection and response to attacks while maintaining application uptime.

29. Which WAF settings optimize DDoS mitigation?

• Enable Kona managed rules for common threats.
• Configure custom rules for specific attack vectors.
• Log WAF events for real-time analysis.
• CI/CD automates rule updates and testing.
• Test with simulated attack traffic.
• Align with DevSecOps for secure WAF.
• Protect against app-layer DDoS attacks.

Learn about Spacelift automation for WAF configs.

Cloud Security Questions

30. How do you configure Kona Site Defender for WAF protection?

Configure Kona Site Defender with managed rules for common threats and custom rules for specific vulnerabilities. Log threat events for analysis, automate updates via CI/CD, and test with simulated attacks. This DevSecOps-aligned approach ensures robust, scalable cloud security, protecting applications from sophisticated attacks while maintaining performance.

31. How do you set up Akamai’s Bot Manager?

• Define bot detection rules in Control Center.
• Use ML-based behavioral analysis for accuracy.
• Log bot activity for auditing and insights.
• CI/CD automates rule updates and testing.
• Test with simulated bot traffic.
• Align with DevSecOps for secure detection.
• Block malicious bots effectively.

32. Why does a Kona WAF rule block legitimate traffic?

Kona WAF rules block legitimate traffic due to overly broad expressions or false positives. Review rules in Control Center, whitelist trusted IPs, and log blocked requests for analysis. CI/CD automates rule testing, while DevSecOps ensures accuracy, minimizing disruptions and maintaining secure, reliable application access.

33. How do you implement Akamai’s Zero Trust model?

Implement Zero Trust with Enterprise Application Access (EAA) for identity-based access and Secure Internet Access (SIA) for traffic filtering. Log access events, automate policy updates via CI/CD, and test with simulated users. This DevSecOps-aligned approach ensures secure, scalable app access, preventing unauthorized entry in production.

34. How do you manage SSL/TLS encryption in Akamai?

• Automate SSL certificate issuance and renewals.
• Support secure TLS protocols for encryption.
• Log certificate renewals for monitoring.
• CI/CD automates renewal workflows.
• Test certs with API-based checks.
• Align with DevSecOps for secure HTTPS.
• Ensure encrypted, reliable traffic delivery.

35. Where do you monitor WAF performance in Akamai?

Monitor WAF performance in Akamai Control Center, using Prometheus for metrics and Grafana for visualization. Log rule hits and anomalies, while CI/CD validates monitoring configs. This DevSecOps-aligned setup ensures observable security, enabling rapid detection and resolution of issues to maintain robust application protection.

36. Who troubleshoots Akamai security policy failures?

Security engineers troubleshoot Kona WAF and Zero Trust failures, validating rules and IdP integrations. SREs monitor logs for anomalies, while DevOps automate tests via CI/CD. This DevSecOps-aligned collaboration ensures rapid resolution, maintaining secure, reliable policies for production environments with minimal downtime. Explore cloud security.

Edge Computing Questions

37. What are Akamai EdgeWorkers?

EdgeWorkers enable serverless JavaScript execution at the edge for dynamic content processing, reducing latency. Deploy via Akamai CLI, log execution metrics, and automate updates with CI/CD. This DevSecOps-aligned approach ensures scalable, secure edge computing, supporting real-time applications with efficient, low-latency content delivery.

38. How do you deploy an EdgeWorker in Akamai?

• Develop JavaScript code using Akamai CLI.
• Deploy to edge servers via CI/CD pipelines.
• Log execution metrics for performance analysis.
• Test in sandbox environment for validation.
• Ensure secure routes with API tests.
• Align with DevSecOps for reliable deployments.
• Support scalable edge execution.

39. Why does an EdgeWorker fail to execute?

EdgeWorker failures occur due to syntax errors, resource limits, or misconfigured logic. Validate code with Akamai CLI, log errors for analysis, and test in sandbox. CI/CD automates testing, aligning with DevSecOps to ensure reliable execution, minimizing disruptions, and maintaining performance for edge-based applications.

40. Where do you store state for EdgeWorkers?

Store state in EdgeKV, Akamai’s key-value database for edge computing. Log storage operations for auditing, validate configs with CI/CD, and test with simulated data. This DevSecOps-aligned approach ensures stateful, scalable edge applications, enabling efficient data management and low-latency processing for dynamic workloads.

41. Who manages EdgeWorker deployments?

DevOps engineers manage EdgeWorker deployments using Akamai CLI and CI/CD pipelines. SREs monitor performance metrics, while security teams ensure compliance. Logs track deployment events, and DevSecOps alignment ensures secure, scalable management, enabling reliable execution of serverless code at the edge for dynamic applications.

42. Which limits affect Akamai EdgeWorkers?

• CPU time limits restrict execution duration.
• Memory constraints limit script resources.
• Log execution metrics for performance analysis.
• CI/CD optimizes code for efficiency.
• Test in sandbox for compliance checks.
• Align with DevSecOps for scalability.
• Ensure reliable edge performance.

43. How do you optimize EdgeWorkers for performance?

Optimize EdgeWorkers by minimizing subrequests, using EdgeKV for caching, and logging execution times. Test code with Akamai CLI, automate updates via CI/CD, and simulate workloads for validation. This DevSecOps-aligned approach ensures low-latency, scalable edge computing, enhancing performance for real-time applications. Learn cloud security.

System Design Questions

44. How do you design a scalable Akamai CDN system?

Design a CDN with Anycast routing, edge caching, and global load balancing to handle high traffic. Log performance metrics, automate configs via CI/CD, and test with simulated loads. This DevSecOps-aligned architecture ensures scalable, low-latency content delivery, supporting reliable performance for global applications.

45. What is the system design for Akamai’s Zero Trust?

• EAA enforces identity-based access control.
• SIA filters traffic for security.
• Log access events for real-time auditing.
• CI/CD automates policy updates.
• Test with simulated user access.
• Align with DevSecOps for secure design.
• Ensure enterprise-grade app security.

46. How do you architect a DDoS mitigation system?

Architect DDoS mitigation with Prolexic scrubbing centers, rate limiting, and Kona WAF rules. Log attack patterns, automate defenses via CI/CD, and test with simulated traffic. This DevSecOps-aligned design ensures resilient, scalable protection, maintaining application availability during volumetric and application-layer DDoS attacks.

47. Why design a load balancer for Akamai?

A load balancer distributes traffic across origins using health checks and geo-steering to ensure high availability. Logs monitor balancing events, while CI/CD automates config updates. This DevSecOps-aligned approach prevents single points of failure, optimizes traffic flow, and ensures reliable content delivery for global applications.

48. How do you design a还不

Design a low-latency DNS resolver with Anycast routing for proximity-based resolution and DNSSEC for security. Log query performance, automate updates with CI/CD, and test with dig. This DevSecOps-aligned design ensures fast, secure DNS resolution, supporting high-availability applications with reliable, scalable configurations.

• Use Anycast for proximity-based routing.
• Enable DNSSEC for secure resolutions.
• Log queries for performance analysis.
• CI/CD automates DNS updates.
• Test with dig for resolution speed.
• Align with DevSecOps for reliability.
• Ensure fast, secure DNS operations.

49. What is the architecture for Akamai EdgeWorkers?

EdgeWorkers use V8 isolates for serverless JavaScript execution at the edge, with EdgeKV for state storage. Logs track performance, CI/CD automates deployments, and sandbox testing ensures reliability. This DevSecOps-aligned architecture supports scalable, low-latency edge computing, enabling dynamic content processing for real-time applications.

50. How do you design a secure WAF system?

• Use Kona managed rules for common threats.
• Add custom rules for specific vulnerabilities.
• Log rule hits for real-time analysis.
• CI/CD automates rule updates.
• Test with simulated attack traffic.
• Align with DevSecOps for security.
• Ensure robust app protection.

Understand cloud security engineering for WAF design.

Troubleshooting Questions

51. What causes a CDN outage in Akamai?

CDN outages stem from misconfigured cache rules, origin server failures, or routing issues. Validate headers, log cache misses, and test origin health with API tools. CI/CD automates config updates, while DevSecOps ensures rapid recovery, minimizing downtime and restoring reliable content delivery across global edge servers.

52. How do you troubleshoot a DNS failure in Akamai?

• Validate records using dig or nslookup.
• Check zone configs in Control Center.
• Log resolution errors for analysis.
• CI/CD automates DNS config testing.
• Test failover with API simulations.
• Align with DevSecOps for reliability.
• Resolve outages with minimal impact.

53. Why does a Kona WAF rule cause downtime?

Kona WAF rules cause downtime by blocking legitimate traffic due to broad expressions or false positives. Review rules, whitelist IPs, and log blocked requests for analysis. CI/CD automates testing, while DevSecOps ensures accurate configurations, minimizing disruptions and maintaining secure, reliable application access in production.

54. How do you debug an EdgeWorker failure?

Debug EdgeWorker failures by analyzing logs for syntax or resource errors, validating code with Akamai CLI, and testing in sandbox. CI/CD automates updates, ensuring reliable execution. This DevSecOps-aligned process identifies issues quickly, restores functionality, and maintains low-latency performance for edge-based applications.

55. What causes a Zeroについての質問を翻訳しますか？Trust policy failure?

Zero Trust policy failures result from misconfigured EAA settings, IdP integration issues, or incorrect SIA rules. Log authentication errors, validate policies with API tests, and automate updates via CI/CD. This DevSecOps-aligned approach ensures rapid resolution, restoring secure access and maintaining reliable application authentication in production.

56. Where do you monitor performance issues in Akamai?

Monitor performance in Akamai Control Center, Prometheus for real-time metrics, and Grafana for visualization. Log cache hits, latency, and errors, while CI/CD validates monitoring configs. This DevSecOps-aligned setup ensures comprehensive observability, enabling quick identification and resolution of performance issues in production environments.

57. Who handles DDoS mitigation in Akamai?

SREs configure Prolexic scrubbing and WAF rules, security engineers update defenses, and DevOps automate via CI/CD. Logs track attack patterns for analysis, ensuring rapid response. This DevSecOps-aligned collaboration ensures resilient DDoS mitigation, minimizing downtime and maintaining application availability. Learn cloud security.

Coding and Implementation Questions

58. How do you implement a rate limiter for Akamai?

Implement a token bucket rate limiter in Golang, using Redis for distributed state to handle request bursts. Log rate limit events, test with simulated traffic via CI/CD, and align with DevSecOps principles. This ensures scalable, secure DDoS protection, maintaining application availability under high traffic conditions.

59. What is the complexity of Akamai’s DNS lookup?

• Uses trie for O(log n) prefix matching.
• Anycast routing optimizes resolution speed.
• Logs capture lookup times for analysis.
• CI/CD automates code testing.
• Test with simulated DNS queries.
• DevSecOps ensures efficient, secure DNS.
• Delivers fast, reliable resolutions.

60. How do you code an EdgeWorker for API routing?

• Use JavaScript for dynamic routing logic.
• Define routes in Akamai CLI.
• Log routing decisions for analysis.
• CI/CD automates deployments.
• Test in sandbox for reliability.
• Align with DevSecOps for security.
• Ensure low-latency API routing.

61. Why use Golang for Akamai’s backend systems?

Golang’s goroutines enable high-throughput, low-memory networking, ideal for Akamai’s backend systems. Its concurrency model supports scalable traffic handling. Logs monitor performance, while CI/CD automates deployments. This DevSecOps-aligned approach ensures efficient, reliable backend operations, supporting high-performance content delivery and security services.

62. How do you implement an LRU cache for CDN?

Implement an LRU cache in Golang using a hash map and doubly linked list for O(1) access. Log cache operations, test with simulated traffic via CI/CD, and align with DevSecOps. This ensures efficient caching, reduces latency, and enhances CDN performance for high-traffic applications.

63. How do you code a DDoS detector for Akamai?

• Use anomaly detection for traffic patterns.
• Implement in Golang with Prometheus metrics.
• Log suspicious traffic for analysis.
• CI/CD validates detection models.
• Test with simulated attack datasets.
• Align with DevSecOps for security.
• Enhance proactive DDoS mitigation.

64. How do you code a consistent hash ring for load balancing?

Code a consistent hash ring in Golang with virtual nodes for balanced traffic distribution. Log hash operations, test with simulated loads via CI/CD, and align with DevSecOps. This ensures scalable, reliable load balancing, minimizing disruptions and optimizing performance for Akamai’s global CDN infrastructure.

Explore SRE FAQs for coding prep.

Production Questions

65. What causes a production CDN outage?

Production CDN outages result from misconfigured cache rules, origin server failures, or routing errors. Validate headers, log cache misses, and test origins with API tools. CI/CD automates config updates, while DevSecOps ensures rapid recovery, restoring reliable content delivery across Akamai’s global edge network.

66. How do you troubleshoot a production DNS failure?

• Validate records with dig or nslookup.
• Check zone configs in Control Center.
• Log resolution errors for analysis.
• CI/CD automates DNS testing.
• Test failover with API simulations.
• Align with DevSecOps for reliability.
• Minimize downtime with quick resolution.

67. Why does a production WAF rule cause downtime?

Production WAF rules cause downtime by blocking legitimate traffic due to overly strict expressions or false positives. Review rules, whitelist trusted IPs, and log blocked requests. CI/CD automates testing, while DevSecOps ensures accurate configurations, restoring access and maintaining secure, reliable application performance.

68. How do you handle a production DDoS attack?

Handle production DDoS attacks by enabling Prolexic scrubbing, configuring WAF rules, and applying rate limiting. Log attack patterns, update defenses via CI/CD, and monitor with Prometheus. This DevSecOps-aligned approach ensures rapid, resilient mitigation, minimizing downtime and protecting critical applications.

69. What causes an EdgeWorker to exceed resource limits in production?

• Complex logic or excessive subrequests.
• Log execution times for analysis.
• Optimize code with Akamai CLI.
• Test in sandbox for efficiency.
• Use EdgeKV for caching.
• Align with DevSecOps for scalability.
• Ensure reliable edge performance.

70. How do you manage a production SSL certificate expiration?

Manage SSL certificate expiration with Akamai’s automated renewal system, monitoring via API checks and logging events. CI/CD automates alerts and updates, ensuring uninterrupted HTTPS. This DevSecOps-aligned approach prevents outages, maintains secure traffic encryption, and supports reliable content delivery for production applications.

71. Where do you monitor production performance issues?

Monitor production performance in Akamai Control Center, Prometheus for metrics, and Grafana for visualization. Log latency, cache hits, and errors, while CI/CD validates monitoring configs. This DevSecOps-aligned setup ensures comprehensive observability, enabling rapid issue detection and resolution for reliable operations. Learn GitLab practices.

Advanced Questions

72. What causes a DNS failover failure in production?

DNS failover failures occur due to misconfigured pools, incorrect health checks, or routing issues. Validate configs with API, log failover events, and test with simulations. CI/CD automates updates, while DevSecOps ensures reliable DNS failover, minimizing downtime and maintaining high availability for critical applications.

73. How do you configure Zero Trust for production apps?

• Define EAA policies with IdP integration.
• Use SIA for secure traffic filtering.
• Log authentication events for analysis.
• CI/CD automates policy updates.
• Test with simulated user access.
• Align with DevSecOps for security.
• Ensure reliable app authentication.

74. Why does a production app show high CDN latency?

High CDN latency results from suboptimal routing, cache misses, or origin delays. Optimize with Dynamic Site Accelerator, validate headers, and log performance metrics. CI/CD automates updates, while DevSecOps ensures low-latency delivery, improving user experience and maintaining reliable content delivery across global edge servers.

75. How do you debug an EdgeWorker failure in production?

Debug EdgeWorker failures by analyzing logs for syntax or resource errors, validating code with Akamai CLI, and testing in sandbox. CI/CD automates updates, ensuring reliable execution. This DevSecOps-aligned process quickly resolves issues, restoring low-latency performance for edge-based applications in production environments.

76. What causes a WAF false positive in production?

• Broad rule expressions misidentify legitimate traffic.
• Log blocked requests for analysis.
• Review and refine rules in Control Center.
• Whitelist trusted IPs to prevent blocking.
• CI/CD automates rule testing.
• Align with DevSecOps for accuracy.
• Ensure reliable threat detection.

77. Where do you validate Akamai configurations in production?

Validate configurations in staging using Akamai API, CLI for EdgeWorkers, and Control Center for DNS/WAF. Log errors, automate testing with CI/CD, and align with DevSecOps. This ensures reliable, secure configurations, preventing production issues and maintaining consistent performance across CDN, DNS, and security services.

78. Who manages a production DDoS mitigation?

SREs configure Prolexic and WAF rules, security engineers update defenses, and DevOps automate via CI/CD. Logs track attack patterns, ensuring rapid response. This DevSecOps-aligned collaboration minimizes downtime, maintains application availability, and ensures resilient mitigation of DDoS attacks in production. Explore GitLab CI/CD.

Advanced Coding Questions

79. How do you implement a token bucket rate limiter?

Implement a token bucket rate limiter in Golang using Redis for distributed state, enabling controlled request bursts. Log rate limit events, test with simulated traffic via CI/CD, and align with DevSecOps. This ensures scalable, secure DDoS protection, maintaining application availability under high traffic conditions.

80. What is the complexity of Akamai’s BGP routing?

• Uses trie for O(log n) prefix matching.
• BGP announcements optimize routing efficiency.
• Logs capture route lookups for analysis.
• CI/CD automates code testing.
• Test with simulated BGP routes.
• DevSecOps ensures efficient routing.
• Delivers fast, reliable traffic handling.

81. How do you code an EdgeWorker for CDN caching?

Code an EdgeWorker in JavaScript, using EdgeKV for state storage and Cache API for responses. Log cache operations, test with simulated traffic via CI/CD, and align with DevSecOps. This ensures efficient caching, reduces latency, and enhances CDN performance for dynamic, high-traffic applications.

82. How do you optimize EdgeWorkers for low latency?

Optimize EdgeWorkers by minimizing subrequests, using EdgeKV caching, and logging execution times. Test with Akamai CLI, automate updates via CI/CD, and simulate workloads. This DevSecOps-aligned approach ensures low-latency, scalable edge computing, enhancing performance for real-time applications with dynamic content.

83. How do you implement a traffic anomaly detector?

• Use statistical models for anomaly detection.
• Implement in Golang with Prometheus metrics.
• Log anomalies for real-time analysis.
• CI/CD validates detection models.
• Test with simulated attack datasets.
• Align with DevSecOps for security.
• Enable proactive threat detection.

Learn GitLab CI/CD for automation.

Advanced Production Questions

84. What causes a CDN outage in production?

Production CDN outages result from misconfigured cache rules, origin failures, or routing issues. Validate headers, log cache misses, and test origins with API tools. CI/CD automates config updates, while DevSecOps ensures rapid recovery, restoring reliable content delivery across Akamai’s global edge network.

85. How do you mitigate a production DDoS attack?

• Enable Prolexic scrubbing in Control Center.
• Configure WAF and rate limiting rules.
• Log attack patterns for analysis.
• CI/CD updates defense configurations.
• Monitor with Prometheus metrics.
• Align with DevSecOps for resilience.
• Minimize downtime effectively.

86. Why does an EdgeWorker exceed resource limits?

EdgeWorkers exceed resource limits due to complex logic, excessive subrequests, or inefficient code. Optimize with Akamai CLI, use EdgeKV caching, and log execution times. Test in sandbox, update via CI/CD, and align with DevSecOps to ensure reliable, low-latency performance for edge-based applications in production.

87. How do you troubleshoot a WAF false positive?

Troubleshoot WAF false positives by reviewing rule expressions, whitelisting IPs, and logging blocked requests. Test with safe traffic, automate updates via CI/CD, and align with DevSecOps. This ensures accurate threat detection, minimizes disruptions, and maintains secure, reliable application access in production environments.

88. What causes DNS propagation delays in production?

• Misconfigured TTLs or zone settings.
• Log propagation delays for analysis.
• Validate records with dig queries.
• CI/CD automates DNS updates.
• Test with API-based simulations.
• Align with DevSecOps for reliability.
• Ensure fast, secure propagation.

89. How do you manage a production load balancer failure?

Manage load balancer failures by validating health checks, logging failover events, and testing with API simulations. Update configs via CI/CD, aligning with DevSecOps to ensure reliable traffic distribution. This restores high availability, minimizes downtime, and maintains consistent performance for critical applications.

90. Where do you monitor real-time production metrics?

Monitor real-time metrics in Akamai Control Center, Prometheus for scrape jobs, and Grafana for visualization. Log performance issues, validate monitoring configs with CI/CD, and align with DevSecOps. This ensures comprehensive observability, enabling rapid issue detection and resolution. Explore ArgoCD.

Interview Preparation Questions

91. What should you study for an Akamai DevOps interview?

Study Akamai’s CDN, DNS, WAF, EdgeWorkers, and Zero Trust solutions. Practice with Akamai CLI, simulate scenarios with API, and learn Prometheus monitoring. Understand CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps principles. This comprehensive preparation ensures readiness for complex, real-world DevOps scenarios in Akamai interviews.

92. Why does a production app experience high CDN latency?

High CDN latency stems from suboptimal routing, cache misses, or slow origins. Optimize with Dynamic Site Accelerator, validate headers, and log performance metrics. CI/CD automates updates, while DevSecOps ensures low-latency delivery, enhancing user experience and maintaining reliable content delivery across global edge servers.

93. How do you configure real-time DDoS mitigation?

• Enable Prolexic for traffic scrubbing.
• Configure WAF rules for app-layer protection.
• Apply rate limiting to control traffic.
• Log attack patterns for analysis.
• CI/CD automates defense updates.
• Align with DevSecOps for resilience.
• Ensure robust app protection.

94. How do you debug an EdgeWorker failure?

Debug EdgeWorker failures by analyzing logs for errors, validating code with Akamai CLI, and testing in sandbox. CI/CD automates updates, ensuring reliable execution. This DevSecOps-aligned process quickly identifies and resolves issues, restoring low-latency performance for edge-based applications in production environments.

95. How do you troubleshoot a production DNS issue?

Troubleshoot DNS issues by validating records with dig, checking zone configs, and logging errors. Automate testing with CI/CD, test failover with API simulations, and align with DevSecOps. This ensures rapid resolution, minimizing downtime and maintaining reliable DNS performance for production applications.

96. What causes a Zero Trust failure in production?

• Misconfigured EAA or IdP settings.
• Incorrect SIA filtering rules.
• Log authentication failures for analysis.
• CI/CD automates policy testing.
• Test with simulated user access.
• Align with DevSecOps for security.
• Ensure reliable authentication.

97. Where do you test Akamai configurations?

Test configurations in staging using Akamai API, CLI for EdgeWorkers, and Control Center for DNS/WAF. Log errors, automate testing with CI/CD, and align with DevSecOps. This ensures reliable, secure configurations, preventing production issues and maintaining consistent performance across Akamai’s services.

98. Who manages WAF issues in production?

Security engineers manage WAF issues by validating rules and whitelisting IPs. SREs monitor logs, while DevOps automate tests via CI/CD. Logs track rule performance, and DevSecOps ensures accurate, secure operations, minimizing disruptions and maintaining reliable application protection in production environments.

99. How do you code a rate limiter for Akamai apps?

• Implement token bucket in Golang.
• Use Redis for distributed state management.
• Log rate limit events for analysis.
• CI/CD automates code testing.
• Test with simulated request bursts.
• Align with DevSecOps for security.
• Protect apps from DDoS attacks.

100. What causes a load balancer failure in production?

Load balancer failures result from misconfigured health checks, failover pool issues, or routing errors. Validate configs, log failover events, and test with API simulations. CI/CD automates updates, while DevSecOps ensures reliable traffic distribution, restoring high availability and minimizing downtime for critical applications.

101. How do you optimize EdgeWorkers for real-time apps?

Optimize EdgeWorkers by minimizing subrequests, using EdgeKV caching, and logging execution times. Test with Akamai CLI, automate updates via CI/CD, and simulate workloads. This DevSecOps-aligned approach ensures low-latency, scalable edge computing, enhancing performance for real-time applications. Learn ELK for logging.

102. How do you simulate a DDoS attack for testing?

Simulate a DDoS attack using Locust to generate high traffic against Akamai endpoints. Log attack patterns, validate WAF rules, and test with CI/CD pipelines. This DevSecOps-aligned approach ensures robust defense validation, confirming effective mitigation and maintaining application availability under simulated attack conditions.