GCP DevOps Engineer Interview Questions with Answers [2025]

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) powers modern DevOps with services like Cloud Build, Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), and Cloud Monitoring, enabling scalable, secure, and compliant workflows. This guide offers 101 advanced interview questions with answers, covering CI/CD, Kubernetes, security, GitOps, and real-world scenarios. Designed for DevOps engineers and cloud architects, it prepares candidates for technical interviews in 2025, aligning with best practices in regulated industries like finance and healthcare.

GCP Core Concepts

1. What is the primary function of Google Cloud Platform?

• Offers scalable compute, storage, and networking services.
• Supports CI/CD with Cloud Build for automated pipelines.
• Enables data analytics via BigQuery and AI Platform.
• Ensures compliance with IAM and DevSecOps.

2. Why is GCP preferred for DevOps?

GCP’s integrated tools, like Cloud Build and GKE, streamline CI/CD and container orchestration. Its serverless offerings, such as Cloud Functions, minimize infrastructure management, while IAM ensures secure access. GCP’s global infrastructure supports rapid, compliant deployments in regulated sectors.

3. When should you create a new GCP project?

Create a project to isolate resources for applications or teams, enabling granular billing and access control. It supports environment separation (dev, prod) and integrates with GitOps for auditable, scalable deployments.

• Isolation: Ensures resource segregation.
• Billing: Tracks costs per project.
• Automation: Aligns with IaC tools.

4. Where are GCP IAM policies configured?

• In the IAM & Admin console for role management.
• Applied at project, folder, or organization level.
• Automated via Terraform for consistency.
• Supports GDPR compliance in regulated industries.

5. Who manages GCP service accounts?

• DevOps engineers create service accounts for apps.
• IAM controls access with least privilege.
• Keys stored in Secret Manager for security.
• Automated via IaC for auditable workflows.

6. Which GCP service enables container orchestration?

• Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) manages clusters.
• Supports autoscaling and self-healing pods.
• Integrates with Cloud Build for CI/CD.
• Ensures RBAC for secure deployments.

7. How does Cloud Build support CI/CD?

Cloud Build automates build, test, and deployment pipelines, integrating with GitHub or Cloud Source Repositories. It uses cloudbuild.yaml to define steps, ensuring consistent, auditable workflows for regulated environments.

steps:
  - name: 'gcr.io/cloud-builders/docker'
    args: ['build', '-t', 'gcr.io/$PROJECT_ID/app', '.']

8. What is the purpose of Cloud Storage buckets?

• Store unstructured data like logs or artifacts.
• Support lifecycle rules for cost optimization.
• Integrate with CI/CD for artifact management.
• Ensure encryption for compliance.

9. Why is GKE critical for microservices?

GKE simplifies deploying and scaling microservices with Kubernetes, automating load balancing and updates. It integrates with Cloud Monitoring for observability, supporting compliant DevOps workflows in complex systems.

10. When should you use Cloud Functions?

Use Cloud Functions for event-driven, serverless tasks like processing file uploads or triggering pipelines. They scale automatically, reducing overhead and aligning with serverless architecture for cost efficiency.

• Events: Trigger on Pub/Sub or Storage changes.
• Scalability: Auto-scales with demand.
• Cost: Pay-per-use model.

11. Where do you monitor GCP resources?

• Cloud Monitoring for metrics and dashboards.
• Cloud Logging for audit trails and debugging.
• Supports observability in CI/CD pipelines.
• Ensures compliance with real-time alerts.

12. Who uses Cloud Pub/Sub?

Cloud Pub/Sub enables asynchronous messaging for event-driven systems. Developers use it for decoupled architectures, while DevOps teams integrate it with CI/CD pipelines to ensure scalable, compliant workflows in regulated industries.

13. Which tool automates infrastructure in GCP?

Terraform automates GCP resource provisioning using HCL, enabling version-controlled infrastructure as code. It supports GitOps for auditable, repeatable deployments.

resource "google_compute_instance" "app" {
  name         = "my-app"
  machine_type = "e2-medium"
  zone         = "us-central1-a"
}

14. What is the difference between Compute Engine and App Engine?

• Compute Engine (IaaS): Full VM control, manual scaling.
• App Engine (PaaS): Managed platform, auto-scaling.
• Use Compute for custom workloads, App for web apps.
• Both integrate with CI/CD for automation.

15. Why use Cloud SQL?

• Managed relational database for MySQL/PostgreSQL.
• Automates backups and patching for reliability.
• Integrates with CI/CD for data pipelines.
• Ensures high availability for applications.

16. When is BigQuery preferred?

BigQuery excels for serverless data analytics, handling large-scale SQL queries for data warehousing or ML pipelines. It integrates with CI/CD, ensuring efficient, compliant data workflows.

17. How does IAM ensure security?

• Defines roles for least privilege access.
• Applies policies at multiple levels.
• Integrates with Terraform for automation.
• Ensures compliance in regulated sectors.

18. What is the role of Cloud Deployment Manager?

Cloud Deployment Manager automates resource provisioning with YAML templates, supporting version-controlled IaC. It ensures consistent, auditable deployments in CI/CD pipelines for regulated industries.

19. Why is Cloud Armor important?

Cloud Armor provides DDoS protection and WAF capabilities, securing applications via load balancers. It supports DevSecOps compliance by enforcing security policies early in the pipeline.

20. When should you use Cloud Run?

Cloud Run deploys stateless, containerized applications with automatic scaling, ideal for microservices or APIs. It reduces management overhead and supports serverless DevOps workflows.

21. Where is Cloud Monitoring used?

• Tracks metrics like CPU and latency.
• Creates dashboards for real-time insights.
• Sets alerts for proactive monitoring.
• Integrates with GitOps for observability.

22. Who uses Cloud Functions for automation?

• DevOps engineers automate event-driven tasks.
• Developers trigger pipelines or notifications.
• Integrates with Pub/Sub for scalability.
• Supports cost-efficient serverless workflows.

23. Which service supports hybrid cloud?

Anthos enables consistent Kubernetes deployments across GCP, on-premises, and other clouds, supporting hybrid DevOps with unified management and GitOps integration.

24. How does Cloud Pub/Sub work?

Cloud Pub/Sub decouples producers and consumers via topics and subscriptions, enabling asynchronous messaging. It supports scalable, event-driven systems in CI/CD pipelines for regulated environments.

25. What is a service account in GCP?

Service accounts authenticate applications to GCP APIs, using keys or IAM roles. They’re managed via Terraform, ensuring secure, auditable access in DevOps workflows.

26. Why is autoscaling critical in GCP?

Autoscaling adjusts resources based on demand, ensuring performance and cost efficiency. It integrates with CI/CD for dynamic, compliant deployments in high-traffic applications.

27. When do you use Cloud Composer?

• Orchestrates workflows with Apache Airflow.
• Automates data pipelines in CI/CD.
• Schedules tasks for ML or ETL processes.
• Ensures auditable, scalable workflows.

28. What is the purpose of Cloud KMS?

Cloud KMS manages cryptographic keys, securing data and applications. It integrates with secure software supply chains, ensuring compliance in regulated industries.

• Encryption: Protects sensitive data.
• Automation: Manages keys via IaC.
• Auditability: Tracks key usage.

29. How does GKE Autopilot differ from standard GKE?

GKE Autopilot automates cluster management, handling node provisioning and scaling, while standard GKE offers manual control. Autopilot simplifies DevOps but limits customization for complex workloads.

30. Why use Cloud Source Repositories?

• Hosts private Git repositories.
• Integrates with Cloud Build for CI/CD.
• Supports version control for IaC.
• Ensures auditable code management.

31. When is Cloud NAT used?

Cloud NAT enables instances without public IPs to access the internet securely, supporting private subnets in VPCs for compliant DevOps environments.

32. Where do you configure load balancers?

• In the Cloud Console under Networking.
• Set up HTTP(S) or TCP load balancing.
• Integrate with GKE for scalability.
• Ensure high availability for apps.

33. Who uses Cloud Logging?

Cloud Logging provides audit trails and debugging capabilities. DevOps teams use it for compliance, developers for troubleshooting, and security teams for monitoring in CI/CD pipelines.

34. Which service supports big data analytics?

• BigQuery for serverless data warehousing.
• Handles large-scale SQL queries.
• Integrates with CI/CD for analytics.
• Supports ML and reporting workflows.

35. How does Cloud SDK enhance DevOps?

Cloud SDK’s gcloud CLI automates GCP resource management, streamlining provisioning and deployments. It supports GitOps for version-controlled, auditable workflows.

gcloud compute instances create my-app --zone=us-central1-a

36. What is the role of Cloud Endpoints?

• Manages and secures APIs with authentication.
• Integrates with Cloud Monitoring for insights.
• Supports OAuth for secure access.
• Ensures compliant API deployments.

37. Why is BeyondCorp used in GCP?

BeyondCorp implements zero-trust security, controlling access based on users and devices. It enhances Kubernetes security by securing remote access without VPNs.

38. When should you use Anthos?

Anthos manages hybrid and multi-cloud Kubernetes deployments, ensuring consistency across GCP and on-premises. It’s ideal for complex, compliant DevOps environments.

39. Where do you store container images?

• Artifact Registry or Container Registry.
• Integrates with GKE for deployments.
• Supports secure image scanning.
• Ensures auditable CI/CD pipelines.

40. Who implements disaster recovery in GCP?

• DevOps engineers design failover strategies.
• Use multi-region storage and backups.
• Automate with Terraform for consistency.
• Ensure compliance with recovery plans.

41. Which tool monitors application performance?

Cloud Trace tracks latency and performance, integrating with Cloud Monitoring for observability. It optimizes applications in CI/CD pipelines for regulated industries.

42. How does Cloud Data Loss Prevention work?

Cloud DLP identifies and protects sensitive data, redacting or masking it in storage or pipelines. It ensures GDPR compliance and integrates with DevSecOps for secure workflows.

43. What is the purpose of VPC Service Controls?

• Restricts data access within VPCs.
• Enforces security perimeters for compliance.
• Integrates with IAM for access control.
• Supports GitOps for automation.

44. Why is Cloud Interconnect used?

Cloud Interconnect provides low-latency, high-speed connections between on-premises networks and GCP, ensuring secure, scalable data transfer for hybrid DevOps setups.

45. When is binary authorization used?

Binary authorization enforces trusted container deployments, verifying image signatures. It’s critical for DevSecOps, ensuring secure, auditable CI/CD pipelines.

46. What is the role of AI Platform in GCP?

AI Platform supports training and deploying ML models, integrating with CI/CD for automated workflows. It leverages AIOps to optimize performance and reduce operational overhead.

• Training: Scales model training.
• Deployment: Serves predictions.
• Automation: Integrates with pipelines.

47. How does Cloud Build integrate with GitHub?

Cloud Build connects to GitHub via webhooks, triggering builds on code pushes. It uses cloudbuild.yaml to define steps, ensuring consistent, auditable CI/CD pipelines.

48. What is the difference between Cloud Storage and Bigtable?

Cloud Storage handles unstructured data with high durability, ideal for backups, while Bigtable is a NoSQL database for low-latency, high-throughput analytics workloads.

49. Why is Cloud Spanner used?

• Provides globally consistent relational databases.
• Scales horizontally for high availability.
• Integrates with CI/CD for data pipelines.
• Ensures compliance for critical apps.

50. When should you use Cloud Run vs. GKE?

Cloud Run is ideal for stateless, serverless containers with minimal management, while GKE suits complex, stateful workloads requiring full Kubernetes control. Choose based on scalability and complexity.

51. Where do you configure firewall rules?

• In the VPC Network section of Cloud Console.
• Define rules for ingress/egress traffic.
• Automate with Terraform for consistency.
• Ensure secure, compliant networking.

52. Who configures autoscaling policies?

Autoscaling policies are set by DevOps engineers using CPU or load-based metrics in GKE or Compute Engine. They integrate with Cloud Monitoring to optimize performance and cost in CI/CD workflows.

53. Which service supports data pipelines?

• Cloud Dataflow for streaming/batch processing.
• Integrates with BigQuery and Pub/Sub.
• Automates data workflows in CI/CD.
• Supports scalable analytics pipelines.

54. How does Cloud Armor secure applications?

Cloud Armor enforces WAF rules and DDoS protection, integrating with load balancers. It supports DevSecOps by securing applications early in the development lifecycle.

55. What is the purpose of Cloud Trace?

Cloud Trace analyzes application latency, identifying bottlenecks. It enhances observability, optimizing CI/CD pipelines in distributed systems.

56. Why is Secret Manager used?

• Stores API keys, passwords, and tokens.
• Integrates with IAM for access control.
• Ensures DevSecOps compliance.
• Automates secret management via IaC.

57. When do you use Cloud Scheduler?

Cloud Scheduler automates recurring tasks like backups or pipeline triggers, using cron jobs. It integrates with Cloud Functions and CI/CD for reliable, auditable workflows.

58. Where is Cloud Build configured?

• In the Cloud Console or cloudbuild.yaml.
• Defines build and deployment steps.
• Integrates with Git repositories.
• Supports auditable CI/CD pipelines.

59. Who manages GKE clusters?

• DevOps engineers configure and scale clusters.
• Use kubectl or Terraform for automation.
• Monitor with Cloud Operations suite.
• Ensure compliant, secure deployments.

60. Which service secures API endpoints?

API Gateway manages and secures APIs with authentication and rate limiting, integrating with Cloud Endpoints for DevSecOps-compliant deployments in regulated industries.

61. How does Terraform integrate with GCP?

Terraform uses HCL to provision GCP resources, enabling version-controlled IaC. It supports GitOps, ensuring auditable, repeatable deployments in CI/CD pipelines.

provider "google" {
  project = "my-project"
  region  = "us-central1"
}

62. What is the role of Cloud Operations?

Cloud Operations combines Monitoring, Logging, and Trace for observability. It ensures real-time insights and integrates with GitOps for compliant, automated DevOps workflows.

63. Why is multi-region deployment used?

• Enhances availability and disaster recovery.
• Replicates data across regions.
• Integrates with CI/CD for reliability.
• Ensures compliance for critical apps.

64. When should you implement blue-green deployments?

Blue-green deployments minimize downtime by running two identical environments, switching traffic after testing. They integrate with CI/CD for safe, auditable rollouts in regulated industries.

• Testing: Validates new versions.
• Switching: Uses load balancers.
• Rollback: Ensures quick recovery.

65. Where do you store sensitive data?

• Secret Manager for API keys and tokens.
• Cloud KMS for encryption keys.
• Integrates with IAM for security.
• Ensures GDPR compliance.

66. Who configures Cloud Load Balancers?

• DevOps engineers set up load balancing.
• Use HTTP(S) or TCP for traffic.
• Integrate with GKE for scalability.
• Ensure high availability for apps.

67. Which tool automates GKE deployments?

Cloud Build automates GKE deployments using kubectl or YAML configurations, integrating with Git repositories for consistent, auditable CI/CD pipelines.

68. What is the purpose of Cloud Marketplace?

• Offers pre-configured solutions.
• Simplifies deployment of third-party tools.
• Integrates with CI/CD for automation.
• Supports compliant software stacks.

69. Why is GKE’s Autopilot mode used?

GKE Autopilot automates node management, reducing overhead for DevOps teams. It’s ideal for stateless apps but limits customization for complex Kubernetes workloads.

70. When should you use Cloud Spanner?

Cloud Spanner is ideal for globally distributed, mission-critical applications requiring strong consistency and scalability, like financial systems in compliant DevOps environments.

71. Where do you analyze application logs?

• Cloud Logging for centralized log storage.
• Query logs with Log Analytics.
• Integrate with BigQuery for insights.
• Support compliance with audit trails.

72. Who deploys serverless applications?

DevOps engineers deploy serverless apps using Cloud Run or Functions, automating with Cloud Build and monitoring with Cloud Operations for scalable, compliant workflows.

73. Which service enables event-driven systems?

Cloud Pub/Sub supports decoupled, asynchronous messaging, enabling event-driven architectures. It integrates with event-driven workflows in CI/CD pipelines.

74. How does Cloud Monitoring support alerting?

• Sets alerts on metrics like CPU or latency.
• Notifies via email or PagerDuty.
• Integrates with CI/CD for proactive monitoring.
• Ensures compliance with real-time alerts.

75. What is the role of Cloud DLP?

• Identifies sensitive data in streams or storage.
• Redacts or masks for GDPR compliance.
• Integrates with CI/CD for security.
• Supports DevSecOps practices.

76. Why is Cloud Interconnect preferred?

Cloud Interconnect offers high-speed, low-latency connections, ideal for hybrid cloud setups requiring secure, scalable data transfer in DevOps workflows.

77. When do you use Cloud Run Anthos?

Cloud Run Anthos extends serverless containers to hybrid environments, ensuring consistent deployments across GCP and on-premises with GitOps integration.

78. Where are service accounts stored?

• Managed in IAM & Admin console.
• Keys stored in Secret Manager.
• Automated via Terraform for IaC.
• Ensure secure, auditable access.

79. Who configures autoscaling policies?

DevOps engineers configure autoscaling policies in GKE or Compute Engine, using metrics like CPU or load, and integrate with Cloud Monitoring for optimized, compliant workflows.

80. Which service supports data pipelines?

Cloud Dataflow processes streaming and batch data, integrating with BigQuery and Pub/Sub for scalable, automated data pipelines in CI/CD workflows.

81. How does Cloud Armor secure applications?

Cloud Armor enforces WAF rules and DDoS protection, integrating with load balancers. It supports DevSecOps by securing applications early in the CI/CD pipeline.

82. What is the difference between Cloud SQL and Spanner?

Cloud SQL is a managed relational database for standard workloads, while Spanner offers global consistency and scalability for mission-critical apps. SQL suits regional apps; Spanner suits enterprise-scale systems with secure database practices.

• SQL: Cost-effective, regional.
• Spanner: Global, high-performance.
• Use Case: SQL for apps, Spanner for enterprise.

83. Why is Cloud Run used for microservices?

Cloud Run auto-scales containerized microservices, reducing management overhead. It integrates with CI/CD and supports serverless, compliant deployments in regulated industries.

84. When is Cloud Functions vs. Cloud Run preferred?

• Cloud Functions: Lightweight, event-driven tasks.
• Cloud Run: Containerized, stateless apps with control.
• Choose based on workload complexity.
• Both integrate with CI/CD pipelines.

85. Where do you configure GKE RBAC?

• In GKE’s IAM and RBAC policies.
• Define roles via YAML or kubectl.
• Integrate with GitOps for automation.
• Ensure secure, compliant access.

86. What is the role of Cloud Composer in workflows?

Cloud Composer orchestrates complex workflows using Apache Airflow, automating data pipelines and CI/CD tasks for scalable, auditable processes in regulated environments.

87. Why is Cloud Logging critical?

• Provides audit trails for compliance.
• Supports debugging with log queries.
• Integrates with BigQuery for analytics.
• Aligns with GitOps for observability.

88. When do you use Cloud VPN?

Cloud VPN connects on-premises networks to GCP using IPsec tunnels, supporting secure, compliant hybrid cloud deployments in DevOps workflows.

89. How does Cloud Build support testing?

Cloud Build automates unit and integration tests via cloudbuild.yaml, ensuring quality in CI/CD pipelines. It integrates with GKE or Cloud Run for deployments.

90. What is the purpose of Cloud Marketplace?

Cloud Marketplace offers pre-configured solutions, simplifying third-party tool deployments. It integrates with CI/CD for automation and supports compliant software stacks.

91. Why is GKE’s Autopilot mode used?

GKE Autopilot automates node management, reducing DevOps overhead. It’s ideal for stateless apps and integrates with Kubernetes automation for simplified, compliant deployments.

• Automation: Manages nodes automatically.
• Scalability: Adjusts to demand.
• Limitation: Less control for complex apps.

92. When should you use Cloud Spanner?

• For globally distributed, critical applications.
• Ensures strong consistency and scalability.
• Integrates with CI/CD for data pipelines.
• Supports compliance in regulated sectors.

93. Where do you analyze application logs?

Cloud Logging centralizes logs for analysis, offering Log Analytics for queries and integration with BigQuery for deeper insights, ensuring compliance in DevOps workflows.

94. Who deploys serverless applications?

• DevOps engineers use Cloud Run or Functions.
• Automate with Cloud Build pipelines.
• Monitor with Cloud Operations.
• Ensure scalable, compliant deployments.

95. Which service enables event-driven systems?

• Cloud Pub/Sub for asynchronous messaging.
• Triggers Cloud Functions or Run.
• Integrates with CI/CD for automation.
• Supports scalable, decoupled systems.

96. How does Cloud Monitoring support alerting?

Cloud Monitoring sets alerts on metrics like CPU or latency, notifying teams via email or PagerDuty. It ensures proactive, compliant DevOps workflows in CI/CD pipelines.

97. What is the role of Cloud DLP?

Cloud DLP identifies and protects sensitive data, redacting or masking it for GDPR compliance. It integrates with DevSecOps for secure, auditable CI/CD pipelines.

98. Why is Cloud Interconnect preferred?

• Provides high-speed, low-latency connections.
• Supports hybrid cloud data transfer.
• Integrates with CI/CD for reliability.
• Ensures secure, scalable workflows.

99. When do you use Cloud Run Anthos?

Cloud Run Anthos extends serverless containers to hybrid environments, ensuring consistent deployments across GCP and on-premises with GitOps integration.

100. Where are service accounts stored?

• Managed in IAM & Admin console.
• Keys stored in Secret Manager.
• Automated via Terraform for IaC.
• Ensure secure, auditable access.

101. What is the role of feature flags in GCP?

Feature flags enable controlled rollouts, minimizing risk in deployments. They integrate with progressive delivery, ensuring safe, compliant updates in CI/CD pipelines.

• Control: Toggles features dynamically.
• Testing: Validates in production.
• Rollback: Reduces deployment risks.