If you are interested in a career in banking production support, it is important to be prepared for technical interview questions related to Microsoft SQL Server. In this article, we will cover some technical interview questions and answers that you might get help with during your job interview.
Whether you are a working professional or just starting your career in banking production support, these questions definitely will help you get a better understanding of what is expected of you in the role of a banking production support specialist.
Introduction
Production support is a critical function in the banking industry that ensures smooth operations of the banking systems. Microsoft SQL Server is a popular database management system used in the banking industry for data storage, retrieval, and manipulation.
As a production support in the banking industry, it is important to have a strong understanding of Microsoft SQL Server and its various features and functions.
Refer below top 50 technical interview questions which may help to crack your dream jobs interview –
Q1. What Is Production Support?
Production support is the process of maintaining and troubleshooting the database server, application server, and web servers in a production environment, including monitoring, observations, debugging, and resolving issues related to the software systems and applications used in the banking industry.
Q2. What Is Microsoft SQL Server?
Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system developed by Microsoft Corporation. It is used for storing, retrieving, and manipulating data in various industries, including the banking industry.
Q3. What Are The Different Editions Of Microsoft SQL Server?
There are various editions of Microsoft SQL Server, including Enterprise, Standard, Web, Express, and Developer in the market.
Q4. What is a Database?
A database is a collection of data that is organized and stored in a structured way. It can be used to store and retrieve information for various applications.
Q5. What Is The Difference Between A Database And A Schema?
A database is a collection of related data, while a schema is a collection of database objects, such as tables, views, and stored procedures, that are organized into a logical group.
Q6. What is a Table?
A table is a collection of related data that is organized in rows and columns. It is the basic unit of storage in a relational database.
Q7. What is a View?
A view is a virtual table that is based on the result of a SELECT statement. It is used to simplify complex queries and to provide an additional layer of security.
Q8. What is a Stored Procedure?
A stored procedure is a pre-compiled SQL statement that is stored in the database and can be executed multiple times with different parameters. It is used to improve the performance of frequently executed SQL statements and to ensure consistent data access and manipulation.
Q9. What is a Trigger?
A trigger is a special type of stored procedure that is automatically executed in response to certain database events, such as an insert, update, or delete operation within the database.
Q10. What is a Cursor in Microsoft SQL Server?
A cursor is a database object that allows you to iterate over a result set one row at a time. It can be useful for performing complex data manipulations or calculations.
Q11. What Is The Difference Between A Cursor And A While Loop In Microsoft SQL Server?
While loops are a programming construct that can be used to iterate over a result set in SQL Server, but they are not as efficient as cursors. Cursors are specifically designed for iterating over result sets and offer better performance in many cases.
Q12. What is a Transaction?
A transaction is a sequence of SQL statements that are executed as a single unit. It is used to ensure data consistency and to provide a way to roll back changes in case of an error or failure.
Q13. What Is A Query Plan?
A query plan is a set of steps that SQL Server uses to execute a query. It includes information about the data access methods, join methods, sorting, and other operations performed to retrieve the data.
Q14. What is a Deadlock?
A deadlock is a situation in which two or more processes are blocked and waiting for each other to release the resources they need to proceed. This can result in a system hang or a performance degradation.
Q15. How Can You Detect And Resolve Deadlocks In SQL Server?
You can use SQL Server Profiler to detect deadlocks by monitoring the Lock: Deadlock event. Once you identify a deadlock, you can resolve it by either changing the application logic, modifying the database schema, or using query hints to change the locking behavior.
Q16. What Is The Difference Between A Transaction And A Batch?
A transaction is a single logical unit of work that consists of one or more SQL statements. It is used to ensure data consistency and integrity. A batch is a collection of one or more SQL statements that are submitted to SQL Server for execution as a single unit.
Q17. What is Normalization?
Normalization is a process of organizing data in a database to minimize data redundancy and improve data integrity. There are several normal forms, with each level building on the previous one. The first normal form (1NF) requires that each column contains atomic values, meaning that it cannot be further divided into smaller parts. The second normal form (2NF) requires that each non-key column is functionally dependent on the primary key. The third normal form (3NF) requires that each non-key column is only dependent on the primary key, and not on any other non-key column.
Q18. What is Denormalization?
Denormalization is the process of adding redundant data to a database to improve performance. It involves duplicating data in multiple tables to avoid the need for complex joins.
Q19. What is Indexing?
Indexing is the process of creating indexes on tables to improve query performance. It involves creating data structures that allow for fast data retrieval.
Q20. What is a clustered Index?
A clustered index is an index that determines the physical order of data in a table. It is used to improve the performance of queries that retrieve large amounts of data.
Q21. What is a Non-Clustered Index?
A non-clustered index is an index that does not determine the physical order of data in a table. It is used to improve the performance of queries that retrieve small amounts of data.
Q22. What Is The Difference Between Clustered And Non-Clustered Indexes In SQL Server?
An index is a database object that provides a quick way to look up data based on the values in one or more columns. In SQL Server, there are two types of indexes: clustered and non-clustered. A clustered index determines the physical order of the data in the table, based on the values in the indexed columns. Each table can have only one clustered index. A non-clustered index creates a separate structure that contains the indexed columns, and a pointer to the corresponding row in the table. Each table can have multiple non-clustered indexes.
Q23. What is a Backup?
A backup is a process of creating a copy of the database or a portion of the database to protect against data loss due to hardware failure, software failure, or other unexpected events.
Q24. What is a Restore?
A restore is a process of recovering data from a backup and restoring it to the database.
Q25. How To Perform Database Backup And Restore In SQL Server?
SQL Server provides built-in functionality to backup and restore databases. The backup process is essential to protect data in case of hardware failures, disasters, or other unexpected events. To perform a backup, you can use the SQL Server Management Studio or T-SQL commands. The restore process allows you to recover data from a backup file. You can use the same tools to restore the database to the same or different server.
Q26. What Is The Difference Between A Full Backup And A Differential Backup?
A full backup is a backup of the entire database, while a differential backup is a backup of only the changes made to the database since the last full backup.
Q27. What is a Transaction Log Backup?
A transaction log backup is a backup of the transaction log, which contains all the transactions made to the database since the last transaction log backup or the last full backup. It is used to recover the database to a specific point in time.
Q28. What Is The Importance Of Database Backups In The Banking Industry?
Database backups are essential in the banking industry to protect against data loss and ensure business continuity in case of a system failure or disaster.
Q29. What Is The Difference Between A Hot Backup And A Cold Backup?
A hot backup is a backup taken while the database is online and accessible, while a cold backup is a backup taken while the database is offline and not accessible.
Q30. What Are Some Common Best Practices For Managing Backups In SQL Server?
Best practices for managing backups in SQL Server include regular backups, proper storage and retention, testing backup and restore procedures, and monitoring for errors or failures.
Q31. What is a Checkpoint in SQL a Technical Interview Questions?
A checkpoint is a process of writing all the modified pages from memory to disk and updating the metadata information in the transaction log. It is used to ensure that all the committed transactions are permanently saved to disk.
Q32. What is a Database Mirroring a Technical Interview Questions?
Database mirroring is a feature in SQL Server that allows creating a redundant copy of a database on a separate server. It is used to ensure high availability and data protection in case of a system failure.
Q33. What is a Database Snapshot?
A database snapshot is a read-only copy of a database at a specific point in time. It is used for reporting, analysis, and other non-production activities.
Q34. What is a Database Replication?
Database replication is a process of copying and distributing data from one database to one or more destination databases. It is used to ensure data consistency and availability across different locations and systems.
Q35. What is a SQL Server Agent (Technical Interview Questions)?
SQL Server Agent is a component in SQL Server that is used to automate administrative tasks, such as backups, restores, database maintenance, and other jobs. It includes a scheduling engine, an alerting system, and a notification system.
Q36. What is SQL Profiler in SQL Server Technical Interview Questions?
SQL Profiler is a tool that allows you to capture and analyze SQL Server events in real time. You can use SQL Profiler to monitor performance, troubleshoot problems, or audit database activity. SQL Profiler provides a graphical user interface that allows you to create and manage trace definitions, which specify the events and data to capture. You can also save and replay trace data for later analysis. SQL Profiler is a powerful tool that can help you gain insights into how your database is being used and identify areas for improvement.
Q37. What Is A SQL Server Trace And How Is It Used?
An SQL Server trace is a mechanism for collecting information about events that occur on an instance of SQL Server. It allows you to capture information about various types of events, such as SQL statements, stored procedures, and database events. This information can then be used for troubleshooting, performance tuning, and auditing purposes.
Q38. What Is A Performance Monitor In Microsoft SQL Server?
Performance Monitor is a tool in Windows that can be used to monitor the performance of SQL Server and other system components. It can be used to identify performance bottlenecks and other issues.
Q39. How Do You Monitor SQL Server Performance?
To monitor SQL Server performance, you can use SQL Server Profiler, which can help you identify performance issues by capturing and analyzing SQL Server events. Additionally, you can use the SQL Server Management Studio to view performance data and identify bottlenecks.
Q40. How Can You Troubleshoot An SQL Server Instance That Is Experiencing Connectivity Issues?
Some potential causes of connectivity issues in SQL Server include firewall settings, network configuration, and SQL Server configuration settings. Troubleshooting steps may include checking network connectivity, reviewing firewall settings, and verifying SQL Server configuration settings.
Q41. How Do You Handle A Large Database That Is Running Slow In an SQL Server?
There are several approaches to optimizing the performance of a large database in SQL Server, such as using proper indexing, partitioning, and data compression. It’s also important to monitor and analyze query performance, as well as manage database statistics and memory allocation.
Q42. What is a Function in SQL Server (Technical Interview Questions)?
In SQL, a function is a named, reusable block of SQL code that performs a specific task or set of tasks and returns a value or a result. Functions are used to take input parameters, process them, and produce an output. SQL functions are classified into two main categories – Scalar Functions and Table-Valued Functions.
Q43. What Is The Difference Between A Stored Procedure And A Function In SQL Server?
A stored procedure is a set of SQL statements that are stored in the database and can be executed by calling the procedure name. It can have input and output parameters and can be used to perform complex operations on the database. A function, on the other hand, is a set of SQL statements that returns a single value. It can be used in SQL statements like a table column or a scalar value, but cannot perform complex operations.
Q44. What Is The Role Of The TempDB Database In SQL Server?
The tempdb database is a system database in SQL Server that is used to store temporary data. It is used to store temporary tables, variables, and stored procedure output. It is also used for sorting and hashing operations that require temporary storage. The tempDB database is recreated every time the SQL Server is restarted, so it is important to monitor its size and manage its growth.
Q45. How Can You Optimize The Performance Of SQL Server?
There are several ways to optimize the performance of SQL Server, including –
- Indexing tables and views
- Writing efficient queries and stored procedures
- Managing database statistics
- Properly configuring server hardware and memory
- Using partitioning and data compression
- Monitoring and analyzing query performance using tools like SQL Profiler and Performance Monitor.
Q46. What is SQL Injection (Technical Interview Questions)?
SQL injection is a type of security vulnerability where an attacker is able to insert malicious code into a SQL statement, allowing them to execute unauthorized commands or access sensitive data.
Q47. What Is The Difference Between SQL Server And MySQL?
SQL Server is a database management system developed by Microsoft, while MySQL is an open-source relational database management system. SQL Server is known for its robust security features and scalability, while MySQL is known for its speed and ease of use.
Q48. What Is The Difference Between A Primary Key And A Unique Key?
A primary key is a column or a set of columns that uniquely identifies each row in a table, and it cannot contain null values. A unique key is a column or a set of columns that uniquely identifies each row in a table, and it can contain null values.
Q49. How Do You Maintain Data Integrity In SQL Server?
Maintaining data integrity in SQL Server involves enforcing constraints, such as primary and foreign keys, and performing regular data validation and cleansing. It’s also important to implement proper security measures to prevent unauthorized access or modifications to the data.
Q50. What Is A Join In Microsoft SQL Server?
A join in Microsoft SQL Server is a mechanism for combining data from two or more tables based on a common column. There are several types of joins, including inner join, left join, right join, and full outer join.
FAQs
Production support is responsible for maintaining and troubleshooting the production environment, ensuring system availability, performance, and reliability.
Production support should have strong technical skills in SQL Server, as well as problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills.
Some common challenges faced by production support teams in banking include managing large volumes of data, maintaining high levels of system availability, and ensuring data security and privacy.
To prepare for a technical interview in banking production support, you should review the key concepts and technologies related to the role, including SQL Server, database design, and data management best practices.
Some common technical interview questions for banking production support include questions related to SQL Server, database design, data management, and performance optimization.
To improve your chances of success in a banking production support technical interview, you should be well-prepared, demonstrate your knowledge and skills, and show a willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies and processes.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed the technical interview questions and answers related to banking production support in Microsoft SQL Server. These questions cover a wide range of topics, from basic concepts to advanced features, and can help you prepare for your next interview in the banking industry. We hope you like this very well.
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