30+ Sharepoint Administrator Interview Questions and Answers

SharePoint search is a powerful tool that allows users to find information within SharePoint sites.

• SharePoint search uses a combination of crawling, indexing, and querying to retrieve search results.

• The search architecture in SharePoint can be defined by configuring search components such as crawl components, content sources, and search scopes.

• Crawling is the process of gathering information from content sources, such as SharePoint sites, file shares, or external websites.

• Ind...read more

Patch installation procedures and main components required.

• Patch installation procedures involve planning, testing, and deployment.

• Main components required include the patch file, installation package, and documentation.

• Procedures may vary depending on the SharePoint version and environment.

• Testing should be done in a non-production environment before deployment.

• Documentation should include details of the patch, installation steps, and rollback plan.

The number of days taken by online sites to create a backup varies depending on the size of the site and the frequency of backups.

• The backup process can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours or even days.

• Factors that affect backup time include the amount of data being backed up, the speed of the internet connection, and the backup method used.

• For example, a small site with minimal data may only take a few minutes to back up, while a large site with terabytes of da...read more

SharePoint has different types of logging to track and troubleshoot issues.

• ULS (Unified Logging Service) logs all SharePoint server events

• Event logs capture system events and errors

• Usage and Health Data Collection logs usage and health data

• Developer Dashboard provides real-time performance data

• Logging is important for troubleshooting and identifying issues

• Logs can be used to monitor system performance and usage

IIS server handles App pool by isolating applications and managing their resources.

• IIS server uses Application Pools to isolate and manage applications.

• Each application pool runs as a separate process with its own set of resources.

• App pools can be configured with different settings like .NET framework version, identity, etc.

• IIS monitors the health of app pools and automatically restarts them if they fail.

• App pools can be recycled to free up resources or to apply configuration...read more

To troubleshoot SharePoint search and user profile synchronization issues, follow these steps:

• Check if the search service is running and if the search index is up-to-date

• Verify the user profile service is running and the synchronization connections are configured correctly

• Check if the search crawl account has the necessary permissions

• Review the ULS logs for any errors or warnings related to search or user profile synchronization

• Restart the search and user profile synchronizat...read more

Use PowerShell script to copy list items from one site to multiple sites

• Create a PowerShell script to connect to the source site and retrieve list items

• Loop through the 100 destination sites and use the script to copy the list items

• Ensure proper permissions and mappings are set up for the copy process

Check network connectivity, OneDrive settings, file/folder permissions, available storage space.

• Ensure network connectivity is stable

• Check OneDrive settings for any errors or conflicts

• Verify file/folder permissions are set correctly

• Check available storage space on the device

• Restart the OneDrive application or device if necessary

SharePoint provides various security features to ensure data protection.

• SharePoint has role-based access control to restrict access to sensitive data.

• It also has data loss prevention policies to prevent unauthorized sharing of data.

• Encryption at rest and in transit ensures data is secure.

• Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security.

• Audit logs track user activity and help identify security breaches.

IIS server is a web server that processes and serves HTTP requests.

• IIS stands for Internet Information Services.

• It is a component of the Windows Server operating system.

• IIS uses HTTP protocol to communicate with clients and serve web content.

• It listens for incoming requests on a specified port, usually port 80 for HTTP and port 443 for HTTPS.

• When a request is received, IIS processes it and returns the appropriate response.

• IIS can handle various types of requests, including st...read more

SharePoint is a web-based collaborative platform that integrates with Microsoft Office.

• SharePoint is a document management and storage system.

• It allows teams to collaborate on projects and share information.

• SharePoint can be used to create websites, intranets, and extranets.

• SharePoint Online is a cloud-based version of SharePoint, while on-premise refers to a self-hosted version.

• SharePoint Online is part of Office 365 and is managed by Microsoft, while on-premise requires the...read more

SharePoint is a web-based collaboration and document management platform used by organizations to store, organize, and share information.

• SharePoint is used for document management, collaboration, and workflow automation.

• It allows users to create and manage websites, lists, and libraries.

• SharePoint online is a cloud-based version of SharePoint that allows users to access and collaborate on documents from anywhere.

• It is used by organizations of all sizes and industries, includi...read more

Use database migration tools like Sharegate or Metalogix to move content without downtime

• Utilize database migration tools like Sharegate or Metalogix

• Schedule the migration during off-peak hours to minimize impact on users

• Perform a test migration in a staging environment before executing the actual migration

• Communicate with stakeholders about the migration plan and potential downtime

• Monitor the migration process closely to ensure data integrity and minimal disruption

The number of days stored in backup file depends on the backup retention policy set by the organization.

• Backup retention policy determines how long backups are kept

• The number of days can vary depending on the policy

• It is important to regularly review and update the backup retention policy

Challenges include data migration, compatibility issues, and user training.

• Data migration can be complex and time-consuming, especially for large amounts of data.

• Compatibility issues may arise due to differences in features and functionalities between SP2013 and SP Online.

• User training is essential to ensure a smooth transition and adoption of the new platform.

DLP stands for Data Loss Prevention. It is a security feature in Sharepoint that helps prevent sensitive information from being shared or leaked.

• DLP helps identify and protect sensitive information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, etc.

• To set a DLP policy in Sharepoint, go to the Security & Compliance Center, create a new DLP policy, define the rules and actions, and then apply the policy to the necessary content.

• Examples of DLP actions include blocking ac...read more

Managed properties are predefined properties in SharePoint that can be used to refine search results, while crawled properties are automatically extracted from content during the crawl process.

• Managed properties are predefined and can be mapped to crawled properties

• Crawled properties are automatically extracted during the crawl process

• Managed properties can be used to refine search results

• Examples: Managed property 'Author' can be mapped to crawled property 'ows_Author'

WSP stands for Windows SharePoint Services Solution Package.

• WSP is a file format used to package and deploy SharePoint solutions.

• It contains all the necessary components like features, web parts, workflows, etc.

• WSP files can be deployed using PowerShell or Central Administration.

• They can also be installed and uninstalled using SharePoint Solution Management.

• Examples of WSP files include SharePoint Foundation Solution Package, SharePoint Server Solution Package, etc.

SharePoint can be configured through Central Administration, PowerShell, or SharePoint Designer.

• Central Administration is a web-based interface used to manage SharePoint settings.

• PowerShell commands can be used to automate configuration tasks.

• SharePoint Designer is a tool used to customize SharePoint sites.

• Configuration can also be done through XML files and code.

• Configuration can include settings for security, search, content types, and more.

External users can be shared sites by adding them as guests or using anonymous links.

• Add external users as guests in Azure Active Directory

• Use anonymous links to share sites without requiring login

• Set permissions for external users to limit access

• Monitor and manage external user access regularly

WSP deployment is the process of packaging and deploying custom SharePoint solutions.

• WSP stands for Windows SharePoint Services Solution Package

• It is a CAB file containing features, site definitions, assemblies, and other resources

• Deployment can be done using PowerShell commands like Add-SPSolution and Install-SPSolution

Yes, a SharePoint site can have multiple URLs.

• SharePoint allows for alternate access mappings, which enable a site to be accessed by different URLs

• This can be useful for providing different URLs for internal and external access

• For example, a site can be accessed by both http://intranet and http://extranet

User profiles in Active Directory can be synced using tools like Azure AD Connect or third-party synchronization tools.

• Use Azure AD Connect to synchronize user profiles between on-premises AD and Azure AD

• Configure synchronization rules to map AD attributes to Azure AD attributes

• Monitor synchronization status and troubleshoot any issues that may arise

Content type is a reusable collection of settings and metadata that you can apply to a certain category of content.

• Content types define the metadata, workflows, and behaviors for a category of items or documents in a SharePoint list or library.

• They can include columns, document templates, and information management policies.

• Content types can be inherited by other content types, allowing for consistency and reusability.

• Examples of content types include 'Document', 'Announcemen...read more

There are four main versions of SharePoint: SharePoint Server, SharePoint Online, SharePoint Foundation, and SharePoint Designer.

• SharePoint Server is the on-premises version of SharePoint that organizations can install and manage themselves.

• SharePoint Online is the cloud-based version of SharePoint that is part of Microsoft 365.

• SharePoint Foundation was a free version of SharePoint that has been discontinued.

• SharePoint Designer is a tool for customizing SharePoint sites and w...read more

A zone is a logical partition of a SharePoint farm that contains one or more web applications.

• Zones are used to separate different authentication methods or security levels.

• Each zone has its own URL and can have different authentication settings.

• Examples of zones include Default, Intranet, Internet, and Extranet.

• Zones can be managed through Central Administration or PowerShell commands.

Ambition company is a term used to describe a company that is driven by goals, aspirations, and a desire for success.

• An ambition company sets clear goals and objectives for its employees to strive towards.

• It encourages innovation and creativity among its workforce.

• Ambition companies often have a strong focus on growth and expansion.

• Employees in an ambition company are motivated to excel and achieve their full potential.

• Examples: Google, Amazon, Tesla

Lists are collections of items, while libraries are collections of documents.

• Lists contain items such as tasks, contacts, or calendar events.

• Libraries contain documents such as Word files, Excel spreadsheets, or PowerPoint presentations.

• Lists can have custom columns for organizing data, while libraries have metadata for documents.

• Lists can have different views for displaying data, while libraries have versioning for documents.

Permission levels in SharePoint determine the actions users can perform on sites, lists, libraries, and items.

• SharePoint has default permission levels such as Full Control, Design, Edit, Contribute, Read, Limited Access, and View Only.

• Permission levels can be customized to meet specific requirements.

• Permissions can be assigned at the site, list, library, or item level.

• Users can be granted unique permissions to specific items within a site.

• Permissions can be inherited from par...read more

SharePoint is a web-based collaboration and document management platform from Microsoft.

• Allows users to create, manage and share content and applications

• Provides tools for document management, workflow automation, and business intelligence

• Integrates with other Microsoft products like Office 365 and Teams

• Can be used for intranets, extranets, and public-facing websites

To restore a site in Sharepoint, you can use the SharePoint admin center or PowerShell commands.

• Navigate to the SharePoint admin center

• Select the site you want to restore

• Click on 'Deleted sites' and then 'Restore' to restore the site

• Alternatively, you can use PowerShell commands like Restore-SPODeletedSite

One commonly used tool for migration is Sharegate.

• Sharegate is a popular tool for migrating content to SharePoint.

• It allows for seamless migration of documents, lists, libraries, and more.

• Sharegate also provides pre-migration analysis and reporting to ensure a smooth transition.

Yes, I have experience with patching in Sharepoint.

• Regularly applying patches to Sharepoint servers to ensure security and performance updates

• Testing patches in a non-production environment before applying them to the live system

• Documenting the patching process and any issues encountered for future reference