Self Introduction

Hi, I'm Manali Agarwal, a Senior DevOps Engineer with over 3.5 years of experience in automating
infrastructure, managing CI/CD pipelines, and optimizing AWS environments. At SpanIdea
Systems, I've led key projects like Intermiles and IFAS Edutech, focusing on cloud migrations,
security, and infrastructure efficiency. I’m proficient in tools like Docker, Jenkins, Kubernetes,
Terraform, and Ansible, with extensive experience in AWS services. I also have significant
experience in application monitoring using tools like New Relic, CloudWatch, Grafana, and
Prometheus to ensure system reliability and performance. Additionally, I’ve been involved in hiring
and mentoring talent for DevOps roles, ensuring the successful execution of AWS-related projects
and activities.

Question Based on Resume

1. Project Impact & Achievements:
Question: Can you tell us about the impact you’ve made on your projects?
Answer:
“In my role at SpanIdea Systems, I’ve worked on a variety of large-scale projects such as Intermiles
and IFAS Edutech. For Intermiles, I played a key role in optimizing the cloud infrastructure, which
resulted in improved efficiency and reduced cloud costs. I also implemented robust security
measures, ensuring 100% compliance. For IFAS Edutech, I managed the AWS environment and
automated CI/CD pipelines, significantly reducing deployment times while enhancing overall
reliability. These improvements directly contributed to smoother operations and better system
performance across all projects.”

2. Technical Expertise:
Question: What are your core technical skills and how have you applied them?
Answer:
“I have deep expertise in cloud platforms, particularly AWS, where I’ve extensively worked with
EC2, RDS, S3, and CloudFront. I’ve also handled DNS management using Route 53 and
configured SSL with ACM. My technical skillset extends to Docker and Kubernetes for
containerization and orchestration, which I used to streamline deployments and improve system
reliability. In terms of infrastructure as code, I’ve used Terraform and Ansible for automating
provisioning and configuration management, helping speed up deployments and reduce manual
errors.”

3. Team Leadership and Talent Acquisition:

Question: Have you had any experience leading teams or being involved in hiring?
Answer:
“Yes, I’ve been actively involved in hiring and mentoring DevOps talent at SpanIdea Systems. I’ve
worked closely with my team to identify gaps, interview candidates, and bring in the right talent to
ensure smooth execution of DevOps projects. In addition to hiring, I’ve also mentored new team
members, helping them ramp up on AWS, Docker, and Kubernetes, ensuring they can contribute
effectively to our projects.”

4. Security & Compliance:

Question: Can you share your experience with security and compliance in cloud environments?
Answer:
“Security is a key focus in every project I work on. For example, in the Intermiles project, I
configured MongoDB authentication and set up security measures like Akamai for content delivery.
I’ve also managed SSL renewals, implemented audits, and applied server hardening techniques
across various systems. In another project, I used OpenVPN to secure internal portals, ensuring
secure access for over 350 users. These measures have helped improve security posture while
ensuring compliance with industry standards.”

5. Problem Solving & Troubleshooting:

Question: How do you approach problem-solving and troubleshooting?
Answer:
“My approach to problem-solving is methodical and data-driven. For instance, when we faced AWS
Windows server downtime related to CrowdStrike in the Intermiles project, I worked on identifying
the root cause, performing detailed RCA, and quickly resolving the issue to restore service. In other
projects, I’ve analyzed code to find performance bottlenecks and fixed application issues that
impacted system reliability. I use monitoring tools like CloudWatch, New Relic, and Grafana to
track performance, which helps me proactively identify and resolve issues before they escalate.”

6. Cost Optimization:
Question: How have you contributed to cost optimization in your projects?
Answer:
“Cost optimization is an important aspect of cloud management, and I’ve implemented several
strategies to reduce infrastructure expenses. For instance, in the IFAS Edutech project, I was able to
reduce AWS costs by optimizing resource utilization. I also automated scaling and server
management, which further reduced operational costs. In another project, I used performance
analysis to cut cloud costs and improve overall system efficiency. Monitoring tools like Grafana and
CloudWatch have been instrumental in identifying underused resources and making adjustments
accordingly.”

7. Certifications & Continuous Learning:

Question: What certifications do you have, and how do you stay current with new technologies?
Answer:
“I am AWS Certified as a Cloud Practitioner and have completed the AWS Architecting course as
well. These certifications help me stay updated with the latest best practices and tools in cloud
computing. Additionally, I continuously explore new DevOps tools and techniques, staying engaged
with the DevOps community and taking online courses when needed. This commitment to learning
ensures I can apply the most current solutions to my projects.”

8. Automation Focus:
Question: How have you implemented automation in your role?
Answer:
“Automation is central to my work. I’ve automated various aspects of infrastructure provisioning
and scaling using Terraform and Ansible, which has significantly reduced manual intervention and
errors. For instance, I used pm2 to automate server startup processes, which improved system
reliability in the IFAS Edutech project. Additionally, I’ve written Bash and Shell scripts to automate
routine tasks, saving time and improving overall system efficiency. This focus on automation has
allowed me to drive faster, more reliable deployments across all projects.”

Question Based on Skills

1. Cloud Platforms – AWS | Azure
Question: Can you describe a project where you utilized AWS or Azure services to optimize
performance or reduce costs?
Answer:
“In the IFAS Edutech project, I managed the AWS environment, focusing on resource optimization.
By analyzing usage patterns and adjusting instances, I was able to reduce infrastructure costs by
20%. I also implemented AWS CodePipeline to automate deployments, which reduced deployment
times by 15%. Additionally, I used S3 and CloudFront to optimize content delivery, improving the
user experience by reducing latency.”

2. DevOps Tools – Docker | Kubernetes | Jenkins | CI/CD | Argo CD | Akamai

Question: How have you used Kubernetes and Docker in your projects?
Answer:
“In most of my projects, like Intermiles, I used Docker for containerizing applications, ensuring
that they run consistently across different environments. Kubernetes was used for orchestrating
these containers at scale, which helped in improving reliability and reducing downtime. I also set
up Jenkins pipelines for continuous integration, which automated the build and deployment process.
For content delivery, Akamai’s CDN helped reduce latency and secure the application.”

3. Version Control – Bitbucket | GitHub | GitLab

Question: How do you manage version control in a collaborative DevOps environment?
Answer:
“I typically use Bitbucket and GitLab for managing version control in my projects. We follow a
Gitflow workflow where we use feature branches for development, and once a feature is ready, we
merge it into the main branch via pull requests. This setup, combined with CI/CD tools like Jenkins
or GitLab CI, ensures that our code is always tested and deployed consistently. Code reviews also
play a big role in maintaining quality.”

4. Monitoring Tools – New Relic | Pingdom | CloudWatch | Grafana |

Prometheus | Kibana
Question: What monitoring tools have you used, and how do they help maintain system health?
Answer:
“I’ve used tools like New Relic, Grafana, and Prometheus for real-time monitoring and alerting.
For instance, in the Quanergy project, I integrated CloudWatch with Grafana to visualize key
performance metrics and set up alerts for high CPU usage and memory issues. I also use
Prometheus for more detailed application-level monitoring and Kibana for analyzing logs, which
allows me to quickly identify and troubleshoot issues before they impact end-users.”

5. Scripting Languages – Bash and Shell Scripting

Question: Can you provide an example of a time when you used scripting to automate a task?
Answer:
“In one project, I used Bash scripting to automate server health checks and log rotations, which
significantly reduced manual intervention. I also wrote Shell scripts to automate backups of
databases like Postgres and MongoDB, which ran on a daily schedule and ensured data safety
without the need for human oversight. The scripts were integrated into our CI/CD pipeline, saving
both time and effort.”

6. Infrastructure Automation – Terraform | CloudFormation

Question: How do you manage infrastructure as code (IaC) in your projects?
Answer:
“I primarily use Terraform and CloudFormation for infrastructure automation. For example, in a
recent project, I used Terraform to set up AWS infrastructure, including EC2 instances, RDS
databases, and S3 buckets, ensuring the environment could be easily replicated and scaled. This
reduced setup time by 50%. CloudFormation has also been useful for managing AWS-specific
resources, especially for automating tasks like setting up VPCs and configuring security groups.”

7. Configuration Management – Ansible

Question: How do you ensure consistent configuration across environments?
Answer:
“I use Ansible for configuration management to ensure that all environments—whether
development, staging, or production—are configured consistently. For instance, I’ve automated the
installation of dependencies, setup of firewalls, and deployment of applications using Ansible
playbooks, which ensures repeatability and reduces configuration drift. This has helped improve the
overall stability and reliability of our environments.”
8. Database Management – Postgres | Redis | MongoDB
Question: How do you manage databases in your infrastructure?
Answer:
“I’ve managed databases like Postgres, Redis, and MongoDB across multiple projects. For
example, in the IFAS Edutech project, I optimized Postgres by tuning parameters for better
performance, and in another project, I used Redis for caching, which improved the application’s
speed by 30%. I’ve also configured MongoDB authentication and security, ensuring that our
database met industry security standards while remaining performant.”

9. Web Server – Apache | Nginx | Httpd | Tomcat

Question: Which web servers have you worked with, and how did you use them in your projects?
Answer:
“I’ve worked extensively with Nginx, Apache, and Tomcat. In the Dhister/Lurnigo project, I used
Nginx as a reverse proxy to handle traffic between clients and the backend applications. I also used
Apache for serving static content and implemented SSL for secure connections. For Java-based
applications, I’ve deployed them using Tomcat, ensuring that the application server is configured
correctly for optimal performance and security.”

10. Network Protocols – DNS | VPN

Question: Can you explain your experience with DNS management and VPNs?
Answer:
“I’ve managed DNS using AWS Route 53 for domain routing and failover in several projects. This
setup ensures high availability and reliable domain management. Additionally, I’ve configured
VPNs like OpenVPN to secure internal communication between systems, particularly in the
Medtronics project. I managed over 350 users on VPN, ensuring secure access to resources.”

11. Security Best Practices – Server Hardening | Patch Management

Question: How do you ensure the security of your infrastructure?
Answer:
“I follow security best practices like server hardening and regular patch management. I ensure that
servers are configured with only the necessary services and ports open. For instance, I’ve applied
security measures such as disabling root login, configuring firewalls, and automating patch updates
using tools like Ansible. I’ve also implemented SSL/TLS encryption for web servers to ensure data
integrity and security during transmission.”

12. Efficiency – Reducing Lead Time and MTTR

Question: How have you reduced lead times or Mean Time to Recovery (MTTR) in your projects?
Answer:
“One of the ways I reduced MTTR is by setting up detailed monitoring and alerting systems with
Grafana and CloudWatch, which allowed us to detect and respond to issues faster. For example, in
the Intermiles project, I implemented automated health checks and recovery scripts, which reduced
downtime by 25%. Additionally, by streamlining our CI/CD pipelines, I was able to reduce
deployment lead times significantly, allowing faster feature releases and system updates.”

I focused on gaining practical experience in AWS through my role as a Senior DevOps Engineer
rather than pursuing additional certifications immediately. While I earned the AWS Certified Cloud
Practitioner for foundational knowledge, I believe hands-on experience is crucial for mastering
AWS services. I plan to pursue further certifications in the future to enhance my skills and career
growth.