When it comes to managing and automating tasks in Microsoft Azure, administrators rely heavily on tools like PowerShell and Azure CLI. These scripting tools provide the flexibility to deploy, configure, and troubleshoot resources faster than using the portal alone. That’s why in many Azure interviews, you’ll face questions specifically focused on scripting in Azure and automation scenarios.

In this blog, we’ll cover some of the most common Azure PowerShell interview questions and Azure CLI questions in a practical Q&A format. These examples will help you prepare for real-world troubleshooting and cloud automation interview discussions.

Why PowerShell and Azure CLI Matter in Cloud Administration

Azure administrators are expected to go beyond basic portal operations. Automation reduces errors, saves time, and ensures consistency across environments. Both Azure PowerShell and Azure CLI play a key role in infrastructure-as-code practices and day-to-day administration. Knowing these tools demonstrates you are ready for advanced tasks and automation strategies.

Azure PowerShell Interview Questions and Answers

Q1: What is Azure PowerShell, and how is it different from Azure CLI?

Answer: Azure PowerShell is a set of cmdlets for managing Azure resources using PowerShell scripting. It integrates well with Windows environments and automation tools. Azure CLI, on the other hand, is a cross-platform command-line tool designed for simplified, scriptable management. While both serve similar purposes, PowerShell is preferred for complex automation in Windows-heavy environments.

Q2: How do you authenticate to Azure using PowerShell?

Answer: I would use the Connect-AzAccount cmdlet. This command opens a browser window to log in interactively. For automation scripts, service principal authentication using Connect-AzAccount -ServicePrincipal with client ID, secret, and tenant ID is often used.

Q3: How do you create a new resource group with Azure PowerShell?

Answer: You can create a resource group using the cmdlet:

New-AzResourceGroup -Name “MyResourceGroup” -Location “EastUS”

This command creates a new resource group in the East US region.

Q4: How do you troubleshoot a failing PowerShell script in Azure?

Answer: First, I’d run the script with -Verbose to capture detailed output. Then, I’d check for typos in cmdlets, invalid parameters, or authentication issues. Using Try/Catch blocks helps handle errors gracefully. Reviewing logs in Azure Monitor can also provide insights if the script triggers API-level errors.

Q5: What are some common use cases of Azure PowerShell?

Answer:

  • Automating VM deployments
  • Configuring role-based access (RBAC)
  • Managing storage accounts and blobs
  • Deploying Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates
  • Scheduling tasks with Azure Automation Runbooks

Azure CLI Interview Questions and Answers

Q1: What is Azure CLI, and why is it popular?

Answer: Azure CLI is a cross-platform command-line tool used to create and manage Azure resources. It’s popular because of its simplicity, scripting flexibility, and ability to run consistently across Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Q2: How do you log in to Azure using CLI?

Answer: I would use the command:

az login

This opens a browser window for interactive login. For automation, a service principal can be used with az login –service-principal.

Q3: How do you create a VM using Azure CLI?

Answer:

az vm create –name MyVM –resource-group MyResourceGroup –image UbuntuLTS –admin-username azureuser –generate-ssh-keys

This creates a new VM with Ubuntu LTS image, auto-generating SSH keys.

Q4: How do you troubleshoot Azure CLI commands that fail?

Answer: I’d start by running the command with –debug to capture detailed logs. Then, I’d verify the resource names, subscription context (az account show), and permissions. If the issue persists, I’d check the Azure status page to confirm no service outages.

Q5: What are some real-world use cases of Azure CLI?

Answer:

  • Rapid provisioning of VMs and storage
  • Automating deployments in CI/CD pipelines
  • Exporting resource data in JSON format
  • Managing Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) clusters
  • Scripting infrastructure automation across platforms

Combined PowerShell and Azure CLI Scenarios

Scenario 1: Deploying Resources Across Multiple Subscriptions

Question: How would you deploy resources across multiple Azure subscriptions using PowerShell or CLI?
 Answer:

  • In PowerShell, I’d use Set-AzContext to switch between subscriptions before running resource commands.
  • In CLI, I’d use az account set –subscription <subscriptionID> to change context.

Scenario 2: Automating Daily Reports

Question: How would you automate a daily report of all running VMs?
 Answer:

  • PowerShell: Get-AzVM | Where-Object {$_.PowerState -eq “VM running”} and export results to CSV.
  • CLI: az vm list –show-details –query “[?powerState==’VM running’]” -o table.

Scenario 3: Infrastructure as Code Integration

Question: How do PowerShell and CLI integrate with ARM or Bicep templates?
 Answer: Both tools support deploying templates. In PowerShell, New-AzResourceGroupDeployment is used, while in CLI, az deployment group create is the standard command.

Conclusion

Mastering scripting in Azure with PowerShell and Azure CLI is essential for every administrator. These tools not only improve efficiency but also demonstrate strong cloud automation skills during interviews. By practicing these Azure PowerShell interview questions and Azure CLI questions, you can show employers that you are capable of handling both interactive and automated tasks effectively.